MORYONAN 2012 (MARINDUQUE) is on!

The Battle of Morions conceptualized in 2009, by now Congressman Lord Allan Velasco goes on its fourth year with "MORYONAN 2012 (BATTLE OF MORIONS)". Traditional and modern day morions consisting of young people from Marinduque's six towns are given the chance to participate in this competition that requires them to come up with a choreographed marching drill or synchronized movement to the accompaniment of a drum and bugle corps or a musical group playing all-percussion instruments. (Some creative groups in the past have used kalutang, bamboo instruments and drums for this purpose).

Previous choreographed interpretations ranged from re-enacting the rituals undergone by Moryonan participants, to the role played by Roman soldiers during the Crucifixion and Resurrection with focus on Longhino, the blind centurion, to movements inspired by Roman battle scenes as portrayed in the movies.

For costumes, participants this year have been encouraged to incorporate local materials that are commonly used or are unique to their localities. It has been noted that while many participants still use wooden masks, masks made of papier-mache are extensively used for the Battle of Morions competition.

Prizes to be given are Php 80,000.00 (First Prize), Php 50,000.00 (2nd Prize), Php 30,000.00 (3rd prize) and consolation prize of Php 10,000.00 each to the 4th to the 10th placer.

Organized by Club Marinduqueno in cooperation with Congressman Lord Allan Velasco, Mayor Percival Morales and the Municipality of Sta. Cruz. Main event is on MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012,  at STA. CRUZ PLAZA at 3:00 pm.

The 17 Lovely Candidates for Mutya ng Marinduque 2012

"Mutya ng Marinduque 2012" Jeanlie Mendoza
with Congressman Lord Allan Velasco

L-R: Jean Saguid (3rd Runner-Up  /Ms. Environment); Jeanlie Mendoza (Mutya ng Marinduque 2012); Evangeline Ranoza (1st Runner-Up / Ms. Maja Kultura); Vic Ann Zoleta (2nd Runner-Up / Ms. Tourism)

No. 1 is MARIA KARLA LIM (Torrijos)

No. 2: GENOVA JOSIELLE PELAEZ (Sta. Cruz)

No. 3: DREAMLYN MACAILAO (Torrijos)

No. 4: MIA MICA ZEELINA SADIWA (Buenavista)

No. 5: JEANLIE MENDOZA (Sta. Cruz)
MUTYA NG MARINDUQUE 2012

No. 6: JENNYFER ROMEY (Torrijos)

No. 7: MA. MONETTE PERMEJO (Sta. Cruz)

No. 8: CHARMAINE BUENVIAJE (Sta. Cruz)

No. 9: JEAN SAGUID (Gasan)
3rd Runner Up - Ms. ENVIRONMENT

No. 10: JOY ANNE RAMENTO (Sta. Cruz)

No. 11: CHERRY LYN MARQUEZ (Torrijos)

No. 12: ARLYN MANTALA (Sta. Cruz)

No. 13: VIC ANN ZOLETA (Buenavista)
(2nd Runner-Up - Ms. TOURISM)

No. 14: EVANGELINE RANOSA (Mogpog)
1st Runner-Up - Ms. MAJA KULTURA

No. 15: MURIEL MONROYO (Boac)

No. 16: JANICE RAMENTO, (Sta. Cruz)

No. 17: JENNYFER CAJAYON (Torrijos)

Jeanlie Mendoza is Mutya ng Marinduque 2012

Jeanlie Mendoza of Sta. Cruz was crowned MUTYA NG MARINDUQUE 2012 during the first annual beauty pageant in celebration of "Araw ng Marinduque". Ms. Mendoza was chosen by a distinguished panel of judges in last night's glittering affair held at the Sta. Cruz Plaza. Officially launched this year "Mutya ng Marinduque" saw 17 beauties from the island-province's six municipalities vying for the title. 

Winners of the pageant who are seen to exemplify beauty, poise, grace and intelligence will then vie for titles in national beauty pageants, such as Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Jeanlie shows her winning form. Mutya ng Marinduque is a joint project of Marinduque State College, the Office of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco, Club Marinduqueno and the six municipalities of Marinduque.

Cong. Velasco inaugurates Boac Riverside Multi-Purpose Covered Court

Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and Boac Mayor Roberto M. Madla recently inaugurated the Riverside Multi-Purpose Covered Court located in Brgy. Poras. The day's highlight was a friendly basketball match between Team Velasco composed friends and staff of Velasco's District Office led by the Congressman himself and Chief of Staff for Marinduque Affairs, Erick Abad.  

Boac Riverside is composed of Barangays Poras, Tabi, Tabigue, Lupac, Pili, Buliasnin, Tanza and Bantad.  

School children who performed a dance number during the inauguration are shown here with their family members.

Multi-purpose buildings with funding under Velasco's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), that have either been completed or are in various stages of construction or repairs for the year 2011 are those in Balaring, Boi, Cawit, Ihatub, Isok II, Caganhao and Poras (in Boac).

Similar projects have, likewise, been undertaken in barangays Silangan, Danao, Hinadharan, Hinangayon, Paye, Argao, Mangyan-Mababad, Anapog-Sibucao, Tarug, Lamesa, Banto and Poblacion (in Mogpog); Malibago, Bonliw, Sibuyao, Dampulan, Matuyatuya, Talawan, Tigwi, Malinao, Buangan, and Maranlig(in Torrijos); Banahaw, Biga, Tawiran, Landy (Sta. Cruz); Yook, Brgy Uno (Buenavista), Tiguion, Tabionan, Matandang Gasan, Pangi, Pinggan, Bachao-Ilaya, Gasan ABC Hall and Bognuyan, (Gasan).

Mayor Madla and Congressman Velasco are shown here with some Boac barangay heads  who graced the occasion, led by Poras barangay captain, Heracleo Marmol.

Velasco also took the occasion to visit Brgy. Maligaya to inspect the completed portion of its newly concreted barangay road.

PBB's The Great Marinduque Adventure!

Many Marinduquenos were glued to their seats last night watching the first part of Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited Season 4's special feature with the housemates, "The Great Marinduque Adventure". 

Kuya: "Anong alam mo tungkol sa Marinduque?" (What do you know about Marinduque?)

Slater: "Wala po talaga Kuya, zero po!" (Nothing really, Brother, zero!)

With that, would Slater and Biggel travelling via Balanacan Port, and Divine with Paco travelling via Cawit Port, succeed in their separate Marinduque missions? Slater and Biggel appear to have easily lost their way from Balanacan to Boac Market to buy fish for breakfast, salt and matches. Abangan uli mamaya sa primetime, 9:30 pm sa ABS-CBN Channel 2. (Last night, "The Great Marinduque Adventure" was Twitter trending topic no. 2.)


PBB teaser on the extraordinary trip, "The Great Marinduque Adventure":

Joseph Biggel's Fan Pages

Joseph Biggel

http://josephbiggel.weebly.com

It appears that among the stars of PBB Unlimited Season 4 edition, Joseph Biggel of Marinduque has inspired the creation of the most number of fan sites administered by various supporters from within and outside the country. The above website offers easier access to regularly updated Biggel fb pages that chronicle his activities.

Marinduque is Trending Topic this Time

#Marinduque instantly became trending topic the other night after Big Brother of PBB Unlimited Season 4 made an announcement that housemate Joseph Biggel, better known as "Biggel" would be given the chance to visit his island-province. Biggel, together with Cebu housemate Slater Young were blindfolded right then and there and were spirited out of the PBB house to a waiting van, off to Dalahican Port in Lucena City sailing on via a roro-vessel to Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque. 

There they awaited written instructions on what they were tasked to do in the island of Marinduque. Incidentally, we have blogged about the excitement of CNN International, The Western Australian and Elle Canada about this island called Marinduque in the Philippines. Pick up names like "next travel hotspot", "next-gen tourist hotspot", "one of world's top islands", etc. were written to describe this island-province.

In a meeting with then Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim sometime last year, Congressman Velasco stressed the need to improve the local airport facilities, particularly the runway, to really attract more tourists. Maybe the "it's more fun in the Philippines" new Big Boss would recognize that "its' more fun and cheaper to promote the Philippines by first recognizing the island that the outside world is excited to watch"!

To refresh our memories, am reposting this blog, "ONE OF WORLD'S TOP ISLANDS" (posted here May 4, 2011):

In March 2010, Christina Pfeiffer, as guest of the Department of Tourism writing for Escape (Australia) asked: “Is Marinduque Island the next travel hotspot?” There are no sleek nightclubs, bars or tacky souvenir shops here, she said, yet even Marinduque island is only 170km away from Manila “it’s a world away from the traffic, skyscrapers and frenetic pace of the big city”. Pfeiffer wrote that this island is such “a pristine natural treasure trove of sandy beaches, diving sites, caves, hot springs and waterfalls” and that “the few local resorts on the island are simple and inexpensive”.

...children play with carefree abandon

She wrote of the Moriones festival, the Gothic Boac Church, her visits to a butterfly farm, a local museum, and of inter-actions with the local people who look happy, she said. “The streets are clean, homes are neat and children play with carefree abandon.” Buenavista “lives up to its name with stunning ocean views, sandy beaches and swaying palms” was how she described that small town.

Of Bellarocca she also wrote thus: “Bellarocca's setting is stunningly Mediterranean. White-washed buildings are a stark contrast to green Mt Malindig and the turquoise ocean. Facilities include a nine-hole golf course, cigar room, gym and fitness centre, swimming pools and a spa. Rooms are luxurious and furnished with amenities such as L'Occitane and Aveda cosmetics, plasma television sets and iPod docks.” Read

It should be noted that unlike the seclusion of guests applied by an earlier resort that once stood where it sits now, Bellarocca has decidedly partnered with local government units so that visitors are able to also sample the many wonderful things that mainland Marinduque has to offer. The 6-star resort has encouraged the development of eco-tourism sites with potentials to generate livelihood as part of its social responsibility program. Resort visitors therefore who enjoy the luxury and amenities offered there have the option to see for themselves the many cultural and tourism attractions found in this island-province. Read

In April 2010, now Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr visiting the Moriones festival with his family made a statement that Marinduque should be promoted as a major tourism destination because of its vast resources and natural beauty. “Marinduque is known worldwide for its colorful Moriones Festival and that’s good, but it has so much more to offer in terms of world-class attractions and facilities that we must and will capitalize on to boost tourism, spur economic activities, and uplift the quality of lives of Marinduquenos,”, he said. (In the middle of rehearsals for a passion play, this blogger was tasked to coordinate his visits to the municipalities. Marcos and family did not have the opportunity to visit Bellarocca then). Read

By May 2010, CNN International was saying that Marinduque could very well be “the next tourist hotspot in Asia”, together with Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Hainan Island in China and the Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam where billion dollar investments for resorts were being funneled by their governments and developers.

CNN reported: "For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights…”

It also cited that Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile, and quoted Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who said that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.”

In June 2010, CNN followed up its Marinduque sojourn with “25 killer things to do this summer”. That’s for people who look to the beach for some relief from the heat during vacation. No. 12 is its recommendation to “visit one of Asia’s next gen tourist hotspots”, citing Marinduque in the Philippines and the three other places in Vietnam and China, which are “up and coming tourist hotspots…amazing summer destinations, each for unique reasons.”Read

TWIST AND SHOUT

On October 10, 2010, however, was published in The Philippine Star an article that gallantly trumpeted the following:

“CNN says the hottest Asian tourism spot is in Marinduque” by Christine S. Dayrit . This entire lengthy article was devoted not to Marinduque but to Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. Waxing poetic: “The ethereal paradise of Bellarocca, an ultra-luxuriousresort, is sanctioned by God since it takes its role in environmental stewardship not just seriously but very seriously. Like a beautiful enigmatic woman, the resort charms and beguiles discriminating travelers with a bespoke experience of soaking in nature’s jewels as you immerse yourself in a trip of a lifetime that doesn’t cost the earth”, it said.

There’s no doubt about it, the unfortunate distortion of what CNN reported is much too clear. The Dayrit article could have been closer to the truth if it bannered that “the hottest Asian tourism spot is in the Philippines”.

Said article went on to say: “As if that wasn’t enough, even CNN International has given Bellarocca a thumbs up for being the hottest New Generation Asia tourist hotspot. There is a Bedouin saying that fosters hospitality to the highest degree: “Each guest is a guest of God.” With this philosophy in mind, Bellarocca delivers only the most indefatigable degree of loving kindness.” Hmmm.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the same article appeared elsewhere, more deliberate, this time in its pronouncement: “CNN says Marinduque resort, hottest Asian tourism spot”. Read

Sicily was on top, followed by Marinduque

10 TOP ISLANDS

By January 2011, The Western Australian’s John Borthwick chose 10 of the world’s best islands where Marinduque landed in the No. 2 position. These islands, in chronological order are: Sicily (Italy), Marinduque (Philippines), Reunion (Indian Ocean), Manihi (French Polynesia), Maldives, Phu Quoc (Vietnam), Koh Lanta (Thailand), Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Santorini (Greece).

Borthwick’s exact description of Marinduque:

“Little Marinduque, a short flight south of Manila, is one of the loveliest islands in the Philippines. It's a quiet place of waterfalls, villages, jungles, a butterfly farm and old Spanish churches - in short, authentic, regional Philippines.
“The island is most famous for its annual Moriones Festival held each April, featuring actors dressed as Roman soldiers at Christ's Crucifixion.
“Just off Marinduque's southern tip is a surprising new resort, Bellarocca, whose Mediterranean-style whitewashed walls are framed by the vivid blue Sibuan Sea. Luxurious suites and private pools just add to the romance.”

Elle Canada’s approach was different. It identified top islands by continent or island groups, stating the “then” and “now” islands. First part of Elle’s choices entitled “Travel destinations: The new hot spots” listed the “now” islands as Punta del Este for South America, Bonaire for Carribean, MARINDUQUE FOR ASIA, and Hvar for Europe. Elle echoed Pfeiffer “Asia: Then, Phuket; Now, Marinduque -There are no Starbucks on this volcanic Philippine island—life in Marinduque calls for a calmer pace. (Think white-sand beaches and sulphuric hot springs.) Its sole concession to luxe tourism is the Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, which sprawls over its own island…”

Even a Bellarocca manager was apparently incredulous seeing that list, that he posted in the Elle comments page thus: “Thank you for including/rating Marinduque in the new travel hot spots. I work for Bellarocca and seeing it here is somewhat surreal, but definitely pleasant…”

Well said.

The upset part is that the Dayrit article that claimed it's the resort and not the island found its way into the Department of Tourism website as a featured article. Read

But these facts must be stated, put on record, considering that up to three years ago the spark of an idea that Marinduque Island could ever get noticed in the world tourism and travel map is unimaginable. But the world has changed, and it keeps getting smaller everyday as we know it today.

Through creative ways one’s imagination could get caught in an idea, then others could find themselves drawn to that same idea until it finds magical manifestation somewhere, somehow… up until someone comes along from elsewhere to blow it into smithereens for whatever reason.

But, blowing up a good thing really, really is the easiest thing to do. And that isn’t art.