Exploring Philippines 76 - Marinduque (Post 11 - Moriones Festival)

I could not believe that I was able to survive the station of the cross that morning.  I was only able to take my brunch right after the station of the cross and it was already quarter to 12. The two-hour marathon around the town of Boac proved to be exciting and challenging for me and for these reasons, I was not mindful of my empty stomach.  This was also my first time to experience Good Friday outside our home and I must say that this experience was truly an unforgettable one.

After our brunch, we stayed at the house of Tin and spent some time with her family.  They shared so many exciting and heart warming stories about the Moriones tradition as well as the participation of the family to this festival.  Time and again, just by participating in the Moriones festival always bring joy and pride to the family.

It was almost 1pm when the station of the cross ended.  When the lone participant from the family of Tin went home, we asked permission to try the complete Morion outfit which they gladly approved.  The wooden headdress alone is heavy for a first timer like me and the whole outfit could literally make one perspire heavily under the heat of the sun.  No wonder the outfit was a bit smelly. Hehe.  Plus the fact that the whole outfit should be worn from Wednesday to Sunday (except for Black Saturday) without washing/cleaning it.  I guess it does not really matter if you are the only one wearing it and smelling your own sweat is no big deal.

We waited for the procession that day and it started at around 5pm.  As expected, devotees from around the town flocked to the church and to the route where the procession will pass.  This kind of activity, just like in any rural areas around the country, is one important occasion for the faithful that should be observed.  And here in Boac, it seemed like the whole town participated that time.

Poem 76 - Last Glance

It's been a while
Since I last saw you
And after all these time
You're still a beautiful you.

When you stand
Right in front of me
With no effort at all
You still capture me.

I can't get
My sticky eyes off you
I am completely glued
I get hooked on you.

As I gaze
Into your sweet face
You make me smile
Amidst my worries.

I tried to memorize
Each and every line
I want to safely keep
Your beautiful memory in mine.

How many times
I wanted to describe you
But I always fall short
There's so much to say so.

But this time
I just want to make sure
With this last glance
It will be my lifelong treasure.

If only I can make time
To stand still just for you
I bet I'll never allow
A moment seeing you go.

My last glance of you
Is my dreaded reality
Tomorrow you'll be gone
And maybe til eternity.

Last glance, last chance
Mix emotions unreciprocated
But you'll always have a soft spot
To this life that you've completed.

Quote 152 - Passage

Moment 76 - Taal Volcano Crater Mishap

Safety, above all else, must be the top priority even if you are enjoying a fun-filled activity.

We had the chance to explore the crater of Taal Volcano. That particular moment, we were the only people inside the crater and it seemed like we had this natural wonder all by ourselves. Since all of us were first timers, we had so much fun exploring the place, unmindful that it was high noon.

For the first time, we saw firsthand the bubbling water on the cracks inside the crater and the sulfuric fume that the volcano emits was really foul. Though, according to our guide, some foreign visitors love the smell of the sulfuric fumes. From the viewing deck on the opposite side of the crater, the fumes are very much visible. But deep down here, one can directly examine its source.

Our guide told us that one can swim on a certain part of the crater's lake. And since they are very much familiar with the place, they exactly know the right spot. Though experiencing a dip would be an added experience, we were not prepared for this activity.

At a particular instance, the one that simply accompanied us for free, washed his feet on a nearby shore. We were told earlier that that particular spot was somehow hot because one can literally see the water boiling. But the guy is already used to the heat as if it is just like any ordinary water.

One of our colleagues, Leo, accidentally lost his footing by the edge of the shore. The sand where he stood suddenly collapsed and he was too slow to react and seconds later, he was shouting. His foot got soaked for only a couple of seconds and yet he sounded like he was in great pain. The moment his foot landed in the water, his rubber sandal was like melting and it seemed like it was clinging onto Leo's foot. Luckily, his wife had her composure and poured some mineral water into Leo's foot for the much needed relief. After examining, the damage was barely a scratch on the surface.

Quote 151 - Give Thanks

Random Thought 76 - World of Silence

 When a friend retreats to a world of silence, he needs a break. 

Usually, we come to the rescue if our friend is in trouble.  We try to make ourselves available and extend a helping hand to a friend who is in distress.  We can't have a peace of mind if we know that our friend badly needs us.

When our friend suddenly disconnects himself from us and we know something is wrong with him, our worries are intense like that of his family.  Though we are not experiencing the burden he has as of the moment, still, our concern for him never ceases.  We know that our presence by his side could make a big difference and at times, our presence might all he needs in order to gain more strength in dealing with his problems.

But when he disappears, knowing that he is burdened by something, is a different matter.  There are people that prefer to keep their distance from others, even from their own family, because they have their own ways in facing their problems.  In as much as we want to extend any help possible, most probably our friend is not yet ready to discuss some things with us or he is not yet ready to open up himself.

In this particular case, we should learn to respect him and we don't have to be intrusive.  When the time is right, maybe, we can play our part afterwards.  As long as our friend knows that he can run to as the moment he is ready to ask for some help, until then we can act accordingly.

Food Trip 75 - Grilled Pork Tenders

After our recent out-of-town escapade, it was already late in the afternoon when we returned to Manila.  Since we were not able to have a decent meal since that morning, my stomach was already complaining along the way.  The moment we set foot in the city, my first and immediate concern would be to fill my empty stomach.

I hurriedly went inside a famous fast food chain in the country.  While queuing, I was weighing my possible options for a delightful meal that day.  Since I had already tasted almost all the meals of this fast food except for one, I gave it a try.

I ordered a grilled pork tenders meal.  Aside from gratifying my hunger, I would like also to experience its taste and find out if it was really true to its name.  And true enough, it was really tender.  Even with the disposable spoon and fork, I did not encounter any difficulty in slicing the grilled meat.  The moment I tasted it, the taste was subtle and I did not exert much effort in chewing the meat.   

Exploring Philippines 75 - Marinduque (Post 10 - Moriones Festival )

That morning, I had no idea what kind of station of the cross I will be expecting from this part of Marinduque.  I thought that I'll just confine myself in a particular corner taking pictures.  But the moment it started, I just found myself following the event and we basically walked the roads of the entire town of Boac.

After the first fall, the next turn of the road is an ascending slope.  All of a sudden, everybody began to shout.  We were caught by surprise when every participant of the parade began to ran.  And just like the flock of birds and the school of fish, the behavior of one tends to influence the action of others.  With the sudden frenzy, we were running likewise.  The reason behind the rush was to gain momentum in climbing the slope.  A slow walk would exhaust the actors before reaching the flat part of the road. So, they need to ran in order to hasten the pace.

For the whole duration of the station of the cross, I must say that they were able to successfully mimic what is being observe as part of the tradition of the Catholic community.  The fall, the meeting with his mother, the wiping of his face, etc.  The performance and the execution were dramatic and convincing.  If you are a tourist here, then, the station of the cross is the one thing that you should not miss.

Some times, even with the most rehearsed and well-prepared show, there are some glitches that are inevitable.  During the turn over of the cross to "Simon" when "Jesus" can no longer carry it, the Morions need to fix the cross first because apparently one of nails had been detached when the cross experienced several hard fall to the ground.  Another instance would be fixing the appearance of the lead actor because he was perspiring heavily and he needed some retouch on his facial makeup.  And for several occasions, due to the intense heat of the sun and the intensity of the parade, buying some breather under the shades of trees put the parade to a halt for the much needed rest.

After reaching the house of Tin which is a couple of blocks away from the town's plaza, I opted to stay. Though my experience was somehow incomplete, the process of following the station of the cross that morning was tiring and exhausting.  Besides, my stomach was literally empty the whole morning and I don't know if I can still afford to last the whole morning until the end of the station of the cross.

 

Poem 75 - I Miss You

For no reason at all
I suddenly remember you
I guess my lonely heart
Suddenly misses you.

It's been a while
Since I last saw you
For the longest time now
It is hard to find you.

You bring some melancholy
Just the thought of you
Especially now that I'm alone
The sadness is hard to let go.

All those wonderful memories
Become flashes in my mind
They keep on playing
Like a player with an auto rewind.

I just want you to know
That I terribly miss you
I hope one of these days
In my doorstep, you'll show.

Quote 150 - Lead Me

Moment 75 - Stuntmen

I am fond of watching action movies and I am always amazed whenever action sequences are well executed and well directed.  And just like any craft, the action sequences must be thoroughly practiced in order to perfect it.

When I came across a group of stuntmen in a park doing their routines, I literally kill some time just to watch them.  From the audience perspective, it looked like they were having fun. They were being coached with every routine and they took turns in executing it.  Each roll, kick, and punch seem harmless and effortless on their end. But if you will observe intently, their effort is a serious matter.

As they execute their routines, physical contacts cannot be avoided. And whenever an unintentional hit was made, we can see a grimace on their face but they simply shrugged it off and laugh. In their line of work, mistakes should not be committed. Otherwise, they'll suffer for each wrong move or worst, accident may fall upon them and their fellow actors.

Whenever I watch action packed movies, I can't help but to admire the effort and dedication of the people behind those heart stopping and death defying stunts. And most of the time, the lead stars get the credit instead of the unknown stuntmen who makes the movie more exciting to watch. Kudos to you guys.