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Marinduque's masquerade of faith

Roman pageant is act of faith for participants
Marinduque's masquerade of faith
Morion soldiers walk the streets of Marinduque
Published: April 20, 2012 08:08 AM GMT
Updated: April 20, 2012 08:24 AM GMT

Every year, faith takes center stage in the province of Marinduque as people showcase art and culture in a week-long festival of masks and costumes dubbed "Moriones". Life in the province is slow-paced and laid-back for most of the year, but during Holy Week the island comes alive with the sights and sounds of a Roman garrison town. Tourists from across the country, along with international visitors, flock to Marinduque to witness the transformation. Local residents of all ages and walks of life participate in the telling of the story of Longinus, reputed to be the centurion who stabbed the crucified Jesus with a spear and was healed by Jesus’ blood. For residents of Marinduque, the festival is more than a display of artistry in the rendering of beautiful and garish costumes; it constitutes a religious vow of sacrifice. "This is a practice that has been handed to us for over two centuries now," said Raymund Nepumuceno, head of the Legions of Marinduque, one of the three Morion groups in the province. "It is a lifetime commitment to God," he said. He said that wearing the Morion costume – a Roman centurion's helmet, cape, breast plate, leggings and weapons – brings a sense of pride. "Walking with those defines the meaning of a Morion's sacrifice," Nepumuceno said. Costumes can weigh up to 20 kg, so a Morion soldier must first learn to walk in the heavy “caligae” or military boots, where controlling one’s steps is crucial to remaining upright. "It’s not as easy as it looks. People look at the glamour of our costume, but behind the mask is a struggle and a prayer that God gives us the grace to survive," Nepomuceno said. For his part, 68-year-old Alfredo Maglakas, a Morion for more than four decades, one can have the best costume "but without faith it is nothing." When asked how he endures the grueling life of a Morion, he says that life would be much harder without God.. "Moriones is a festival of faith." The Moriones festival traces its roots to 1807, when Padre Dionisio Santiago, parish priest in Mogpog town, organized a group of players to re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The staging of the play evolved around Roman centurion Longinus, who it is believed also served as officer of the guards outside Jesus's tomb and witnessed the resurrection. Tradition holds that Longinus was the one who rushed into town to spread the news, which prompted the high priest and scribes to order his execution.

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