Being the smallest province in the Southern Tagalog, with the shape of a human heart floating on a clear blue sea, Marinduque is rich in historical and cultural attractions that capture the hearts of tourists and travelers.
Marinduque has a great picture proving that we, Filipinos, are truly engaged in finding ways and time to celebrate good things in life. In the merry month of January, three known festivities are celebrated that make the province a leading destination when it comes to festivals and special interest tours.
Feast of the Three Kings (January 3)
Celebrated every January 6, the feast of the Three Kings marks the official end of the liturgical Christmas of the Philippines. The twelve days of Christmas end with the Feast of Epiphany also called the “The Adoration of the Magi” or the “The Manifestation of God”. It is also known as the Pasko ng Matatanda (Feast of the Elderly), the day that especially honors senior citizens.
The town of Gapan in Marinduque also has its own celebration of the feast. There is a religious folk play in which the Three Kings follow a star, meet Herod, and eventually find the holy Infant Jesus.
The Feast of the Three Kings is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. The magi presented three gifts to Jesus Christ which reflect who Jesus is and what His mission was to fulfill. The gold represented the fact that Jesus was royal, the frankincense supported the claim that Jesus is divine, and the myrrh was for the importance of the mortality of Jesus.
Feast of Sto Niño (January 19)
Marinduque has its own version of the Feast of the Sto. Niño. It is one of the tourist attractions in the capital town of Sta. Cruz where thousands of devotees and domestic tourist come to join the street dancing parade and witness the festival.
Unlike the Sinulog of Cebu City, Dinagyang of Iloilo, City and Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Marinduque’s festival is a celebration of the children’s dynamism and early devotion to the Child Jesus. Participants of street dancing are consisted of 25-50 children aged 4 to 12 years. They are clad with colorful tribal costumes with black or colored paints on their faces and body. The feast also features traditional Higantes, giant mascots made of painted papier-mache.
Haring Kalabaw (3rd week of January)
The carabaos are very important part of Marinduque’s livelihood. Aside from helping the farmers, they do more satisfying jobs and are one way of transportation in the farm.
To recognized their efforts, people of Marinduque celebrate the Haring Kalabaw every 3rd week of January. It is a festival where the carabaos are dressed and parade around the barangay. The happy thing is that while in the parade, participants are dancing and singing with the beat of the drums. After the parade there is night long merrymaking in the town.