Exploring Philippines 66 - Marinduque (Post 1 - The Arrival)

During the holy week, I hardly go out. It has been part of our tradition and discipline to stay at home while observing the lenten season. We've been discouraged to engage ourselves in joyful festivities and other fun-filled activities for they are uncalled for during this time of the year.

One time, a friend and a colleague invited me to Marinduque to observe and celebrate the Moriones festival which is held every lenten season. I have not known that my friend, Tin, hails from this province and that time was the perfect opportunity to go there. It was a dream come true for me and so I said yes right away.

I thought there were several of us joining the said trip but at the last moment, many backed out because of fear of riding the ship. They thought that it was not a safe trip because we will be traveling by the sea and they are afraid that we might encounter a sea mishap. Well, I can't blame them because they are still inexperience about sea travels. When that fruitful day arrived, Joy's family, Tin, and me were the ones headed to Marinduque.

We passed the Laguna loop towards the province of Quezon where we rode the ship. It took us three hours to reach Marinduque. There was no room for worries because this time of the year is the perfect time to travel because the sea is calm. And besides, it only took us three hours and we were traveling in broad daylight.

We reached the port of Balanacan at Mogpog before 12 noon and under the scorching heat of the sun, we stopped at the port for some picture taking activities. Even if the sun was already unfriendly, the cool wind that blew from time to time made us complacent about the little fun at the port. And unlike the port in Manila, the water at the port of Marinduque is very much clear.

The heat of the sun can be felt at the port but the moment we started to travel towards Boac, the trees along the way provide a good cover and the wind that sweeps the mountain side provided a total relief and it was like traveling in cool places in the countryside at midday. We rolled down the windows of the car, turned off the aircon and simply enjoyed the fresh air that day. And the moment we reached a good view deck, we stopped for a while and enjoyed the view.

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