MARINDUQUE: The Literal Center of Attention

Moriones Festival (source)

To be able to function, a human and an animal need to have a heart amongst everything important in the body. Perhaps it is the most vital. Lo and behold, even the Philippines has a heart!

Proclaimed as the Heart of the Philippines because of its literal heart-shape, Marinduque is also the geographical center of the Philippine Archipelago! Marinduque is best known for the Moriones Festival (image above) done every Holy Week. This age-old tradition goes to show the deep devotion of the believers of the Catholic faith by re-enacting what was done to Jesus Christ by whipping their backs, arms, and legs as an act to receive forgiveness for their sins.

Putong: "The Crowning" (source)

This is just one of the reasons to visit Marinduque. There's also the beautiful natural attractions and beaches, native craftsmanship, scrumptious delicacies, and of course the warm Filipino hospitality magnified here is known as putong: a traditional welcome ritual, steeped in color and mirth, performed through song and dance; it is only found in Marinduque!

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FAST FACTS ABOUT MARINDUQUE

• CAPITAL: Boac
• FOUNDED ON: February 21, 1920
• TOPOGRAPHY: Geographical center of the Philippine Archipelago
• AREA: 952.58 km2 (367.79 sq mi)
• POPULATION: 288,270 people (2014)
• LANGUAGE: Visayan dialect, Tagalog and English
• CLIMATE: Dry season from November to April and wet season from May to October. It is occasionally in the path of typhoons as well.

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 GEOGRAPHY

Marinduque is part of Region IV-B, Luzon, Philippines, Southeast Asia with geographical coordinates of 13°24′N 121°58′E.

This island province is located between Bondoc Peninsula (southeastern Luzon) and Mindoro Island. It is bounded by Lucena (Quezon Province) and Tayabas Bay on the north, Mindoro on the west, Mogpog Pass on the east, and Sibuyan Sea and Romblon on the south.

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 POLITICAL SUBDIVISONS

6 MUNICIPALITIES

Map of Marinduque (source)

1. Boac
2. Buenavista
3. Gasan
4. Mogpog
5. Santa Cruz
6. Torrijos

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HOW TO GET THERE

• By Air Marinduque's airport is situated in Gasan and only Zest Air accommodates flights to and from Marinduque. The travel time is approximately 45 minutes.
• By Land... then by Sea Ride a bus bound to Dalahican Port in Lucena, Quezon Province or a bus bound to Lucena Grand Terminal, then ride a jeepney going to Dalahican Port.

  

  A RORO (Roll-on, Roll-off)

• From Dalahican Port, there are ferries or RORO (Roll-on, roll-off) bound to Marinduque. Travel time is approximately 3 hours.

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Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinduque http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/marinduque https://jlvillareal.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/the-moriones-festival-experience/ http://yesmarinduque.com/main/culture-and-heritage-2/ http://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/marinduque-travel-guide/ http://www.lawstude.net/2012/04/marinduque-preview.html

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