The annual Moriones Festival is a week-long religious event that begins on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is one of the most colourful events in the Philippines and sees participants re-enact the story of Longinus, a Roman centurion who, it is said, speared the crucified body of Jesus Christ. Legend has it that the blood which flowed from Christ’s body landed in Longinus’ bad eye, curing him of blindness. This miracle caused him to convert to Christianity and he was consequently hunted by his fellow centurions. This part of the story is dramatically retold by costumed participants, the Romans wearing huge painted masks depicting fearsome faces. The performances take place in various locations throughout the island of Marinduque.
Other Bits of Info:
Morion means mask or visior, refer to the colorfully garbed and masked soldiers and centurions during Christ's Passion, a part of Roman armor which covers the face. Morion serves as the focal point of the Moriones festival and celebrations.
The towns of Boac, Gasan, Santa Cruz, Buenavista and Mogpog on the island of Marinduque are the main focus during the festival.
An interesting bit of this festival is the reverence given to a sculpture depicting the dead body of Christ (Santo Sepulcro) in which old women exchange Biblical verses as they stand in wake of the dead Christ.
The hagiography claims that Longinus "pierced the side of Our Lord while He was hanging on the cross." So far so good. It also informs that, when blood and water poured out from the wound, Longinus said, "Indeed, this was the Son of God."Read on...
In Philippine history, Marinduque island only played a role in 1646 when it was the site of a battle between the Spanish and an attacking Dutch force. The Spanish won. Since then and up to today, military events have spared the island and its population as even the NPA has not opened a front there.
St. Longinus is the centurion who pierced the side of Our Lord while He was hanging on the Cross. St. Longinus, who was nearly blind, was healed when some of the blood and water from Jesus fell into his eyes. It was then he exclaimed "Indeed, this was the Son of God!" [Mark 15:39]
For more information please contact: Marinduque Provincial Tourism Office Tel. No. (6342)3321018
Published: Mar.16.2008 @ 9:14 am
| Last edited: Mar.15.2008 @ 6:56 pm
Babala: Ang susunod na babasahin ay hindi para sa utak na bastos. Hindi po ito tungkol kay Mary Palmer o mas kilala bilang Mariang Palad sa mga Pinoy.
Palaspas kung tawagin sa ating madertang, narito ang ilang impormasyon tungkol sa Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday
Ang Palaspas o Palm Sunday ay ang ika-anim at huling Linggo ng Lent at ang umpisa ng Cuaresma o Holy Week.
Ang petsa ng Palaspas sa taong 2008 ay sa ika-16 Marso
Holy Week is the week before Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life on Earth. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Monday.
Special Days in Holy Week.
Palm Sunday the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Last Supper and the betrayal by Judas.
Good Friday (Holy Friday), the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ.
Holy Saturday, the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave.
Ang Palm
Sunday ay oras ng selebrasyon at gayun din ng pagtangis dahil sa pagkamatay ni Hesus sa krus less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem.
What is Palm Sunday?
The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday.
It celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of
Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches
to welcome him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on
the road – and even laid down their clothes. They shouted 'Hosanna!'
which means 'Save us Now!'
Why is it called Palm Sunday?
The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved
palm branches as they followed Jesus' procession into Jerusalem.
Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem?
It was the time of the Jewish feast of Passover. Many Jews travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast together.
What happens on Palm Sunday in the Philippines?
Ang mga katoliko ay nagdarasal ng taimtim ng kanilang pananampalataya. Nagkakaroon din ng bendisyon ng palaspas. Tayo ay nagdiriwang sa matagumpay na pagpasok ni Kristo sa Herusalem at ang pagbabalik at muling pagkabuhay nya sa lupa. Ang mga bata ay binibigyan ng krus gawa sa palm leaves (hindi masyadong sikat) habang ang iba naman ay may hawak na palaspas na gawa sa palm leaves na kanilang iwinawagayway sa hangin. Traditionally, ang mga simbahan ay mangangasiwa ng prusisyon sa palibot ng parokya habang umaawit ang mga tao at iwinawagayway nila ang palaspas nila.
Pax Cakes (sa Inglatera)
In some English churches small buns called pax cakes (symbolic of peace and goodwill) are given to the congregation as they leave after a Palm Sunday service.
Palm Sunday also has the nick name 'Fig Sunday'
because Christ had wanted to eat some when travelling to Jerusalem
(Mark 11: 12-14). Figs were once traditionally eaten on this day.
What happens to any Palm crosses left over?
Any left over Palm Crosses are kept and burned to make ashes for next years Ash Wednesday services (see Ash Wednesday )
February na naman! Hearts Day or Valentine's Day na naman! Yan ang pangkaraniwang naiisip o sinasabi ng mga Pinoy kapag buwan ng Pebrero ang napapag usapan.
Hep! Hindi lang po Feb. 14 ang dapat nating tandaan...
Sa buong buwan ng Pebrero ay makulay, presko at masaya sa Baguio. Bakit? Panagbenga Festival kasi :-) Here are some information about Panagbenga Festival:
The Panagbenga Festival is held yearly during the month of February. The celebrations are held for over a month and peak periods are the weekends. The Panagbenga Festival showcases the many floral floats and native dances. The fragrant smells that could be presently teasing olfactory senses are probably less from the now-dried flowers from Valentine's Day than air floating all the way from Baguio City. At this time of year, the City of Pines is almost surely in flower fury over Panagbenga festival, the city's biggest festival.
Panagbenga is a kankanaey term for "a season of blooming." It is also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, a homage to the beautiful flowers the city is famous for as well as a celebration of Baguio's re-establishment. Since February 1995, it has been held to help Baguio forget the 1990 earthquake that distressed much of the city.
Panagbenga festival will have spectators enjoying a multiple floral and float parades over two days. The Baguio Flower Festival Association (BFFA) will have a street dancing parade and band exhibition. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF), meanwhile, will hold a parade. So where should spectators be stationed to not miss any of the float and floral parades? Session Road and Burnham Park. A search for the Mr. and Ms. Baguio Flower Festival, FM Panagbenga Pop Fiesta, Skateboard competition and Dolls of Japan exhibit were added to the BFFA calendar. The festival is supported by constituents of La Trinidad, La Union, Pangasinan, Marinduque and Masbate.
Often a Cañao is an undertaken to kick-off & celebrate the occasion. A Cañao is a dance that also is regularly performed at special occasions such as fiestas. In this two-person dance, the men hang blankets usually woven with an indigenous pattern or design-over each shoulder. The woman wraps a single similar blanket around her. The man leads her and dances in a circle with a hop-skip tempo to the beat of sticks and gongs. The dance must continue until the viewers decide to honor the dancers twice with a shout of "Ooo wag, hoy! hoy!" Once this has happened, the dancers can stop. It is an honor to be invited to join the dance, and elders and other respected members of the community are expected to join in at every occasion.
Other notable events:
Bulaklak Rock Battle of the Bands at the Skating Rink; Local Arts Show at the People’s Park; Veteran Records Skateboard Competition at the Skating; Dolls of Japan Exhibit and Eiga Sai at the Baguio Convention Center Lobby; Kitefest at the Athletic Bowl.
GETTING THERE Baguio is easy to get to by air and land transportation. From Manila, the latter is the more popular choice, although at this time of the year, it may prove to be a hassle. If you prefer to fly to the City of Pines, some airlines maintain a daily schedule of flights from Manila to Baguio and back, like Asian Spirit. If, however, you go for a four-hour joyride, there are a variety of bus companies, garage cars, and tour operators for the convenience of tourists and visitors. HISTORY It all began in 1995 when lawyer; Damaso E. Bangaoet, Jr., John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC) Managing Director for Camp John Hay, offered to the Board of Directors of JPDC the idea of organizing the holding of a flower festival in Baguio City. The Board, then directed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Victor A. Lim and JPDC President Rogelio L. Singson, approved the project immediately. It was also decided that the Festival be held every February. From the very start, JPDC saw itself as the maker, not the producer of the Festival. As a result, its plan was to present the idea to the different sectors of the community: government, education, business, media and civic organizations. This was not only to solicit their support, but also to gather their suggestions and ideas. Their response was generally warm and immediate, except for a few doubting Thomases. Nevertheless, the idea had fallen on fertile ground. It grew as a wellspring of community support fed resources into the project. The Baguio Flower Festival was an idea on its way to becoming a reality. Making the idea a reality fell into the hands of the BFF Secretariat which was chaired by Attorney Bangaoet and operated by JPDC staff and volunteers led by Eric Jonathan Picart. In Addition, an advisory group of flower enthusiasts like Rebecca Domogan, Gloria Vergara, Julie Cabato, Willie Magtibay and Efren Chat was formed. They began by creating an identity for the Festival, one that would reflect the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. In October 1995, the Baguio Flower Festival obtained face. Its official logo was chosen from entries to the Annual Camp John Hay Art Contest. The competition was open to elementary, high school and college students of Baguio. Its theme revolved around preserving the environment with a special importance on the flowers of the Cordillera. Instead of a complete painting, the eminent board of judges led by well-known artist BenCab chose a spray of sunflowers on the corner of the entry submitted by Trisha Tabangin, a student of the Baguio City National High School. Shortly thereafter, a Festival hymn was composed by Professor Macario Fronda of Saint Louis University. To this music was added the rhythm and movements of the Bendian dance, an Ibaloi dance of celebration. The Bendian dance's circular movements speak of unity and harmony among members of the tribe - themes that foretell the coming together of the various sectors of the community to bring the Baguio Flower Festival to life.
"Pasaka," the native word for Assumption, is a street spectacle in honor of Our Lady of Assumption. Venue: Tanuan, Leyte Date: 14 August
The festival is called "Pasaka" which is a waray word meaning invitation to progress, health, and luck for the inhabitants for the coming year.
The festival is so popular and so merry that it encourages expatriates to visit during this time of year. The festival also invites people from elsewhere who wish to join and enjoy the festivity and are all welcomed by the locals in their own homes regardless of whether they know them or not.
...
The Pasaka Festival which runs August 1 to 15, is seen as another opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Tanauan, Leyte, where Tinikling, the national dance of the Philippines, is said to have originated.
It is during the nightly activities when the various sectors of the municipality are able to show their unity in paying homage and thanksgiving to the town's Patroness, Our Lady of the Assumption.
Showcasing the best talents and the culture and tradition of the municipality, will also ensure that the younger generations are given the chance to know the culture and tradition of their forefathers. It is only by knowing, that the younger generation will learn to love and to be proud of their roots and their cultural heritage.
Nightly cultural presentations from August 1 to 14 features the talents in the various schools, the local government unit and the non-government organizations in Tanauan.
The Pasaka Festival competition is grouped into three categories, the senior category participated in by high school students, the junior category composed of elementary pupils and the merry makers. August 15 which has been proclaimed as Tanauan Day and at the same time the feast of the town's patroness, is focused on the religious rites, thus, the cultural presentations are scheduled only up to August 14.
This October, Bacolod will celebrate their biggest annual event called MassKara Festival. This is a Mardi Gras-like
celebration that features masked and costumed street dancers, with
fairs and carnivals. This is held on the third week of October (and
coincides with the city's Charter Day celebration) although this year it will be a three-week event starting October 1.
Brass band competitions, beauty pageants, the Charter Day street Party are among the events to watch out for. The climax is a colorful and joyous parade where revellers don elaborate masks and costumes and
dance in the streets all over the city.
Truly, the City of Smiles has a lot to smile about as Bacolod will once again be filled with tourists and enthusiasts and will be the center of attention in the next three weeks. Our brothers and sisters from Bacolod will have the chance to show the whole country how they party and celebrate their fiesta in style!
The Masskara Festival Schedule of Activities:
October 1 - Monday Festival Opening
Food and drinks kiosks will operate until Oct. 21 (Public Plaza and SM City)
Ongoing till Oct. 31 Magica MassKara (Orange Gallery)
Oct. 13, 2007 MassKara Queen Pageant
Oct. 18, 2007 Countdown to Charter Day Street Party
Street Dancing Competition Schools category Oct. 19, 2007 CHARTER DAY celebration
Civic Military Parade
Electric MassKara
MassKara Fantasy Costume Show
Oct. 20, 2007 Street Dancing Competition Barangay Category
Masquerade Ball
Electric MassKara
MassKara Drum Beating Contest
Oct. 21, 2007 Street Dancing Competition Open Category
Known not only because of the
Geothermal Power, Tiwi is famous originally because of the "Coron" or
pottery products that are shaped in different forms and sizes either in
round or hexagonal shapes.
This traditional industry can
be traced back in the early part of the seventeenth century when the
sticky clay dug at the hilly place near the sea named bolo was discovered
to have a useful way when the early settlers formed them in different
shapes which they used for cooking, eating or drinking.
Not ceasing to this discovery,
it soon became a big and productive livelihood for the people in the years
to come, spreading them commercially to other towns and regions.
Description:
"Coron" is a Bicol dialect meaning claypot or pottery which the town of
Tiwi is known for. Thus, the festival's main feature is the pottery
industry which is passed from parents to children and perfected through
long years of practice without the benefit of formal training. A
showcase of events highlighted by a street presentation participated in
by the town’s different public/private schools and sectors gives a week
of fun and merriment to visitors and locals. The religious package of
devotion and prayer in honor of Albay’s patroness, Nuestra Señora de
Salvacion (Our Lady of Salvation), is the peak event of the festival,
colorfully drawing thousands of devotees and religious groups through a
long maritime procession of different local sea vessels on the sea
spray of the serene Pacific ocean going to the quiet barangay of
Joroan, the home of the miraculous image.
Linggo ng Wika...yan ang dating tawag sa pagdiriwang ng ating Pambansang Wika. Sa ngayon ay Buwan ng Wika na ang ginagamit. Hindi lang isang linggo ang selebrasyon kundi isang buwan na! Ngayong Agosto ang Buwan ng Wika. Ayon sa Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, ang pagdiriwang ay alinsunod sa Proklamasyon bilang 1041, s.1997 na nagtatadhana sa Agosto bilang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.
Bawat linggo ay may kanya-kanyang paksang pagtutuunan ng pansin. Ang paksa sa unang linggo ng Agosto ay “Wikang Filipino: Kasangkapan sa Preserbasyon ng Kultura. Sa linggong ito idinaraos ang palatuntunan na nagpapakita ng mga tampok na kultura ng buong bansa gaya ng awit, sayaw tula at mga iba pa. Nagsasagawa rin ng eksibit na nagpapakita ng katutubong kasuotan ng iba’t ibang rehiyon na may deskripsyon na nakasulat sa orihinal na wika ng rehiyon at may salin sa Filipino. Sa ikalawang linggo ng Agosto, ang paksa ay Wikang Filipino: Instrumento ng Pagkakaisa at Pagkakaunawaan na tatampukan ng pangangalap at pagtatalakay ng mga kaugalian ng Pilipino. Kalakip din ang paghahanda at paggawa ng sulatin na tumatalakay sa tema sa linggong ito. Ang huling linggo ng buwan ay magbibigay diin sa temang “Wikang Filipino: Simbolo ng Pambansang Pagkakakilanlan. Sa panahong ito ginaganap ang talakayan hinggil sa paksa ng Buwan ng Wika. Tatampukan din ng pagdaraos ng debate sa isyu ng “Pagkakaroon ng National ID” ng mga Filipino.
Ang buhay tulad ng isang awit lamang,
mayroong simula at may katapusan;
Ang araw at gabi'y
lumulungkot hirang
sa mga suliraning pinaglalabanan.
Ang ating pagkukunwari
sa buhay,
pagbabalat-kayo sa katotohanan;
Ano man ang ating maging
kapalaran,
tanging Diyos lamang
ang nakakaalam.
May ibong kakanta-kanta
sa sanga ng punong mangga,
ang awit
kay tamis-tamis,
ang tunog
kay saya-saya,
sa himig
na kabit-kabit
ang diwa
ay mahalaga:
ang buhay mo raw
giginhawa rin
kung masipag ka! Langit ang buhay
sa tuwing ika'y mamasdan.
Anong ligaya
sa tuwingika'y hahagkan.
Sa piling mo
ang gabi'ytila araw.
Ikaw ang pangarap,
ikaw lamang!
Tinikling sa saliw ng Hip Hop...Hmmm sounds interesting... Modernization ba na matatawag? Or baka Collaboration ng Black Eyed Peas at ng Bayanihan Dancers? Panoorin sa You Tube...
Published: Jul.13.2007 @ 4:32 pm
| Last edited: Jul.13.2007 @ 2:32 am
Harana and Kundiman
The Harana first gained popularity in the early part of the Spanish occupation of the Philipines. It's influence comes from folk Music of Spain and the Mariachi sounds of Mexico. It is a traditional form of courtship
music in which a man woos a woman by singing underneath her window at
night. It is (was) widely practiced in many parts of the Philippines with a
set of protocols, a code of conduct, and a specific style of music.
Harana itself uses mainly Hispanic
protocols in music, although its origins lie in the old pre-colonial
Philippine musical styles which still practiced around the country. The main instrument used for Harana is the Guitar, played by the courter, although other string instruments such as the Ukulele and less frequently, the Violin and Trumpets are also used.
Hindi ko na naabutan ang panahon na uso pa ang harana sa probinsiya namin sa Cavite. Napanood ko na lang ito sa mga lumang pelikula kung saan ang leading lady ay hinaharana ng leading man habang naggigitara at nagbaback up ang tatlong itlog mga side kicks. Kung romantic movie eh tagumpay ang panghaharana. Kikiligin si babae at paakyatin sa bahay ang lalaki. Kung comedy film naman siguradong mabubuhusan ni Dely Atay Atayan (na asawa ni Andoy Balunbalunan) ang mga nanaghaharana ng ihi mula sa arinola.
Ang Harana ang isa sa masasabi nating unique Filipino Tradition. Parte lang ito actually ng panliligaw ng isang binata sa isang dalaga. Palaging kasama ng harana ang paninilbihan. Sayang nga lamang at dahil sa makabagong panahon ay unti unti na rin itong kinalimutan ng mga bagong Pinoy. Kung ako siguro ay nangharana hindi ko na kailangan ang side kick dahil marunong naman ako mag -gitara at kumanta. Ang kailangan ko lang ay lakas ng loob. Anyway, balik tayo sa harana. Noon ay kundiman ang ginagamit na kanta. Ito ang signature Pinoy love song noong araw (favorite expression ng mga tiyahin ko). Ngayon ay musika na ng mga rapper ang gamit ng kabataan o kaya naman ay ang mga kantang ni-revive ng MYMP (walang originality shet! pero sarap pa rin pakinggan). Maririnig mo karaniwan sa mga bagong Pinoy ang: "Hmm ang corny naman nyan!", "Wow pare oldies pala type mong music.", "Jologs!" pag may umaawit ng lumang awitin. Ewan ko ba at talagang kinalimutan na natin hindi lang ang mismong harana kasama na rin ang totoong Original Pilipino Music (OPM) na kundiman.
Naalala ko pa nung ako ay high school student pa lang ay palagi kaming nanonood sa bahay ng isang programa sa Channel 4 (Gov't Channel sa Pinas) na nag-papa contest ng pag-awit ng Kundiman. Ang galing ng banda na tumutugtog. Karamihan sa kanila either puti na ang buhok or balbas na lang ang buhok. Sayang at nawala na lang parang bula ang programang ito. Ito pa naman sana ang makakatulong upang muling buhayin at least ang Kundiman kahit hindi na ang harana sa Pinoy music scene.
Palm Sunday
The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday.
It celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of
Passover. Great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches
to welcome him. The people were very excited. They spread branches on
the road – and even laid down their clothes. They shouted 'Hosanna!'
which means 'Save us Now!' 
