My Moriones Festival 2024 Experience
Happening every year, especially during the Holy Week of the Catholic Faith, the Moriones Festival is one of the major tourist drawers in the province of Marinduque. Locally known as “Moryonan,” the festival is highly religious as it commemorates the story of Longinus, the Roman soldier who struck Jesus on his side during the crucifixion. The locals also mask up and dress up like Roman soldiers during the Moriones Festival.
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My Moriones Festival Experience
As it is my first time celebrating the Moriones Festival in Marinduque, I did not expect much because I knew that this was going to be a solemn celebration commemorating the Passion of Christ. I arrived there on Maundy Thursday where Morions are just roaming around the Boac Plaza, amazing every local and tourist that sees them.
I for one, I was also starstruck deep within because it was my first time seeing morions up close. At the evening of Maundy Thursday, the Boac Cathedral celebrated the Last Supper Mass before heading to a short morion procession downtown. Morions were then holding torches that lit up the streets of Boac during the procession.
Good Friday came and one of the major highlights of the Moriones Festival happened – the Via Crucis. This is the re-enactment of the Passion of Christ during his procession to calvary for his crucifixion. Here, masked morions guide and beat up Jesus all through Boac’s athletic center. It is where many locals and tourists line up the streets of Boac to witness a solemn and historic reenactment. The end of the program culminated with Jesus being crucified on the cross.
In the afternoon, a procession of Saints and other religious figures paraded along the streets of Boac – after the death of Jesus. Morions were also present and the procession lasted in the early evening.
I had a little time roaming around Boac as it was also my birthday weekend. I will be back next year for sure for a more in-depth Moriones Festival experience! On to the next festival!
We’re born to travel!
About Aldrick 'chiki' Agpaoa
