MORIONES FESTIVAL 2013 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Moriones Festival is a festival held on Holy Week on the island Province of Marinduque. The “Moriones” are men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local folks. The Moriones or Moryonan tradition has inspired the creation of other festivals in the Philippines where cultural practices or folk history is turned into street festivals.

These colorful characters, a parody of Roman soldiers during the time of Christ, are costumed in articles fashioned from clothes to shells, weaves of nito-vines and other indigenous materials limited only by the creativity of its maker. Fierce-looking, often bearded masks of handcarved wood or paper-mache topped by a helmet adorned with multi-hued paper flowers complete the typical morion garb. Painted wooden swords, spears, and shields are considered basic paraphernalia. For a whole week, these pesky figures populate the town's streets: engaging in mock swordfights, playing pranks on children, marching or dancing in groups, doing antics or springing surprises for everyone while safely hiding their identity behind their mask.

One of the highlights of this festival is the Via Crucis, a re-enactment of the suffering of Christ on his way to the Calvary. Men inflict suffering upon themselves by whipping their backs, carrying a wooden cross and sometimes even crucifixion. They see this act as their form of atonement for their sins. This week-long celebration starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday.

Moriones Festival 2013 Schedule of Events and Activities in the Capital town of Boac:

MARCH 24, 2013 – PALM SUNDAY

05:00 am – Holy Mass

06:30 am – Holy Mass

07:00 am – Blessing of Palms

              - Hosanahan & Procession (a celebration of Christs Entry to Jerusalem)

08:00 am – Holy Mass

03:00 pm – Holy Mass

04:00 pm – General Station of the Cross

MARCH 25, 2013 – HOLY MONDAY

05:30 am – Holy Mass

07:00 am – Participation in the GRAND PARADE

08:00 am – Pilgrimage

              – Registration of all Morions

10:00 am - Opening of LEGIONS PHOTO EXHIBIT

10:00 am - Opening of the Marinduque Moriones Festival Trade Expo

03:00 pm – Moriones Parade Around the town

06:30 pm – Morions Torch Parade (MISTAH)

07:00 pm – mass & Installation of New MISTAH Members

MARCH 26, 2013 – HOLY TUESDAY

04:00 am – Pagbasa ng Pasyon sa mga Barangay ng Boac

05:30 am – Holy Mass

07:00 am – Pagbasa ng Pasyon

08:00 am – Registration of Morions

              – Visita Iglesia to 7 Parachial Churches in the Province

09:00 am – Morion Parade

04:00 pm – Morion Parade

MARCH 27, 2013 – HOLY WEDNESDAY

05:30 am – Holy Mass

08:00 am – Participation in the GRAND PARADE / Community Parade of Costumes

10:00 am - Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo

03:00 pm – Sacrament of Confession

              – Morion Parade

04:00 pm – Holy Mass

05:00 pm – Religious Procession

07:00 pm – SENAKULO

MARCH 28, 2013 – MAUNDY THURSDAY

05:00 am – Holy Mass

08:00 am – Chrism Mass / Morion Parade / Battle of the Morions

10:00 am – Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo

03:00 pm – Morion Parade

05:00 pm – Celebration of the Last Supper & Washing of Apostles Feet

06:00 pm – Start of Vigil at the Blessed Sacrament

07:00 pm – SENAKULO (The Last Supper)

MARCH 29, 2013 – GOOD FRIDAY

09:00 am – Via Crucis (Way of the Cross Re-Enacted along the street of Boac)

10:00 am – Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo

01:00 pm – The Seven last Words

03:00 pm – Celebration of the Passion of Christ

04:00 pm – Veneration of the Holy Cross

05:00 pm – Religious Procession

MARCH 30, 2013 – BLACK SATURDAY

08:00 am – Survival KAbugsakan

09:00 am – Morion Parade

10:00 am-Maskara Mo, Kulayan Mo

03:00 pm – Morion Parade ( All Morion Groups)

07:00 pm – SENAKULO (The Beheading of Longhinus)

08:00 pm – Torch Parade

09:00 pm – Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ

              - Blessing of Fire and Bonfire

MARCH 31, 2013 – EASTER SUNDAY

04:00 am – SALUBONG ( ritual and dance celebrating the appearance of the Risen Christ before the Blessed Mother

05:00 am – Holy Mass

06:30 am – Holy Mass

08:00 am – Holy Mass

09:00 am – CHASE OF LONGHINUS (Day Version) and Morion Parade

10:00 am – PUGUTAN SA ARAW NG LINGGO NG MULING PAGKABUHAY