Sunday, April 08, 2012

Marinduque - A Preview

The Morions of Marinduque
This is a preview of my photo-adventure in a sleepy little island province which is often eclipsed by its neighbors' heavily marketed popularity. A hidden bounty of both white sand and coral beaches, clear and radiant waters, century old churches and ancestral homes, caves and islands that collectively comes alive every Easter for the quirky Moriones Festival.

A heart-shaped island right at the heart of the Philippine archipelago, Marinduque is chaotically festive during lent while at the rest of the year, it's in a kind of suspended animations as far as tourism is concerned, and that travelers here must content themselves with beautiful scenery anchored by the dormant Mount Malindig on the south, Bathala Caves on the north and tropical islands and beautiful beaches on the east and west coasts.

More than the festivities and beautiful sceneries, Marinduque has some of the most welcoming and kind people I have met and that the term "kindness of strangers" won't even give justice on how hospitable Marinduquenos are. But first, here are some photos of places and events I will feature in detail in my coming posts about Marinduque:

Festival Masks

Pinoy Halo-Halo

Boac Cathedral

Old Houses of Boac

Poctoy White Beach

Fishing and Mount Malindig

Sta. Cruz Cathedral

Bathala Cave

Balanacan View Deck

Off We Go

Getting There:

By air transport - Marinduque can be reached via Zestair, from Manila Domestic Airport to Gasan Airport which normally takes 40 minutes. Flight schedules are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It leaves Manila at 7 am and flies back at 8 am. On Sundays, it departs from Manila at 9 am and departs Marinduque at 10 am. Boac is 30 minutes drive away from Gasan Airport.

By land and sea - From Kamias in Cubao and LRT Buendia, there are regular bus trips going to Dalahican Port in Lucena City. From the Port, one has to take a ferry ride bound to either Balanacan , Cawit or Buyabod for abour three hours. It is also possible to bring your private vehicle through the roll-on, roll-off ferries servicing the same route. At present, JAC and JAM Liners plies the Manila-Marinduque-Manila direct route daily.

More of Marinduque on my next posts.

25 comments:

  1. Looks like a fun, colorful place to me!! Hope you've enjoyed a very Happy Easter and a lovely weekend, Oman!

    Sylvia

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  2. The Morions - sana next year mapicture-an ko ito. I remember seeing photos and reading stories about them nung bata pa ako. Ang ganda ng mga photos.

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  3. Nice to be back here,Lawstude!:-)

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  4. i have always wanted to visit Marinduque during the Holy Week. in fact, i have a standing invitation from a former colleague who is from Boac. but something always comes up---hayy. kakainggit ang mga photos mo. i love the rustic charm. ganda!

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  5. I wanna go experience that Moriones Festival but first, I have to experience Sinulog. Thanks for posting.

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  6. Marinduque pala yung blind item mo sa Facebook! Hehe. I have relatives sa Boac although I met them once lang sa isang reunion at hindi na naulit. Want to attend the Moriones din sana. Kung alam ko lang, sapilitang sasabit sana ako sayo haha. Can't wait to read the rest of your adventures :D

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  7. Was supposed to go to Marinduque during Holy Week, but wasn't able to find accommodation for the whole family. Can hardly wait for the other posts!

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  8. The first pic looks like a still shot for 300. Excited for the features.

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  9. This is what I've missed this Lenten Season :) Still wishing to step on this magnificent island...

    Thanks for sharing.

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  10. what a intriguing island. the old houses needed fresh coat of paint.

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  11. Hi Kuya,

    I was looking for schedule of the recent marinduque festival, and you're blog went on first page search, at naalala ko po kayo.. Kami po yung nakasabayan nyong tourists sa Poctoy beach.. :) Nice, ang dami nyo na po palang napuntahan.. we have not reached Bathala Cave, sayang.. natakot kasi kami sa ahas. But Mongpong, Maniwaya and Sulfur Hotspring were kinda unique experience din.. :)

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  12. Aabangan ko ang series na to!!! :D

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  13. gusto ko rin jan.. antay ko next post.. kung san ka nag-stay? and what to do? :P saka nice ng mga shots mo.. :)

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  14. This place seems to be on the news nowadays. Hope to visit it one day.

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  15. Nice cover!
    the Morions look good! :)

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  16. Looks like a happy place to visit.

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  17. These are nice shots of Marinduque. I will be awaiting your posts specially on that White Beach.

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  18. Waaaaa Marinuduque! Gusto ko talagang maranasan ang Moriones Festival! Waaaaaa

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  19. I always wnted to go there and experience Moriones Festival. Will surely go back here for future reference.

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  20. prof na prof yung shots! galing po! <3 such a colorful place! <3


    www.wandershugah.com

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  21. Wow hidden beaches! I think Marinduque is an underrated destination for Summer.

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  22. Parang 300 nga yung mga Morions. Astig.

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  23. nice..love the banca with the mountain background pic..

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  24. the best ang moriones festival ng mga taga marinduque......

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