The Moriones Festival

The Moriones first appeared in Mogpog in 1807 as initiated by the Parish Priest, Father Dionisio Santiago. This is the reason why Mogpog claimed to be the origin of Moriones. This tradition is observed by men, and now, even by some women during the Holy Week starting from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday.

The Moriones Festival is a religious and cultural festival held during Holy Week on the island of Marinduque in the Philippines. It is a popular and colorful celebration that attracts tourists from all over the country.

The festival is named after the "morions," which are men and women who dress up in masks and costumes resembling Roman soldiers. The costumes are made of brightly colored materials and are designed to be as realistic as possible.

During the festival, the morions parade through the streets of Marinduque, reenacting the story of the Roman soldier Longinus. According to legend, Longinus was blind in one eye and was present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. When he saw Jesus die, he was overcome with emotion and proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God. As punishment, Longinus was blinded in his remaining eye and forced to become a Roman soldier. He later converted to Christianity and was eventually martyred for his faith.

The Moriones Festival also includes a number of other events and activities, including street parties, religious processions, and reenactments of other biblical stories. The festival is a time for the people of Marinduque to come together and celebrate their faith and culture, as well as to welcome visitors from other parts of the Philippines and around the world.