Real underwater Marinduque treasures

Speaking of finding treasures underwater, Marinduque will not run out of such areas to explore. One of them, quite easy to reach is right along the coast of Torrijos town where a series of ridges and underwater crevices reveal impressive marine life as shown here.

Remember that this area of Marinduque is still within the outskirts of the Verde Island Passage marine biodiversity corridor (declared the center of the center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity, remember?), which covers the stretch of water surrounding the provinces of Batangas, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.

Yes indeed, More Fun in Marinduque!

Photos courtesy of Gabriel Dela Pena.

Treasure object magically surfaced!

A year ago, town officials of Gasan trooped to this estuary near the boundary of Boac-Gasan to check reports about the presence of heavy equipment there in relation to some treasure hunting. Denials followed from here and there, some quarters coming up with what seems to be absurd claims that the heavy equipment were there for 'some improvements' on the site such as planting peanuts that needed tight guarding.

Today, this is what we find there. The much talked about 'lamesang bato' ('lamesang ginto' is another variation) has surfaced. After reportedly securing the area including the narrow estuary with fences, one of the mystery objects has been dug up months ago and dragged towards the riverbank by whom and by how many, we don't know; turned upside down to see what's under and what's on that site... and was abandoned. We wouldn't know the complete straightforward story, maybe.

"NAGMALIW" (vanished) is what we hear in whispers as far as the treasures (that were supposed to be there), are concerned. But, listen, use of that almost archaic word, 'nagmaliw', now really means something vanishing into thin air. We are probably dealing with a different world here, remember? The realm of fairy tales and magic, you know...

A closer look reveals that the rock object is hollow inside. Was there anything there when found or was there simply nothing, nothing but air bubbles?

Photo taken a year ago when SB members of Gasan conducted an ocular inspection of the same site.

Pleasures with Kalesas, Gasan's 'Kalesayahan'

A mode of transportation in the Philippines during the Spanish period is the kalesa, a horse-drawn cart with two wheels that could take in up to four passengers, plus the kotsero, driver. It became a status symbol for the wealthy to own a kalesa back then.

Kalesas have become a rarity today and could be found in places elsewhere, visited by tourists such as Intramuros and Vigan. In the old Binondo district of Manila, few kalesa units are still in use and people make use of them for short trips to transport goods that could not be loaded by other vehicles.

'Kalesayahan' was coined from the word 'kalesa' and 'kasiyahan', pleasure, and is the name of a festival in Gasan that was introduced during the last decade. It was intended to generate interest on the existing kalesas, preserve them and use them as a vehicle to attract visitors. Fact is, there is at least one kalesa in every barangay here.

During the town's celebration of its "Araw ng Gasan", founding anniversary (August 20), gaily-decorated kalesas are paraded carrying young couples dressed in Filipiniana attire. Decorating the kalesas for this competition is taken very seriously by barangay residents as prizes, in the form of cash or livelihood projects for the community, are given.

Elsewhere in Marinduque, such as in Buenavista, kalesa wheels are made use of as bar and restaurant decor. This photo was taken at CURVA GRILL in Buenavista. (Photo with DAVE KATAGUE, owner of CHATEAU DU MER in Amoingon, Boac).

Kalesa paraded. The prestige of winning and the recognition for their ingenuity and creativity are inebriating enough for the barangay folks.

Kalesayahan photo credits: Boyet Villamin of Gasan

Mogpog's 'Flores de Mayo' children, prayers and answers.

It is a nationwide practice for devout Catholic parents to encourage their children to dutifully go to church or to their barangay chapels for the afternoon praying of the Rosary, singing and offering of flowers at the feet of Mama Mary. Such is also the case in Mogpog, Marinduque.

Maytime flowers in all colors and scents the Mogpog children offer to the Virgin Mary. Daisies, hibiscus, lilies, birds of paradise, amarillos, camias, orchids, zinnias, roses and others. 

Pre-school to elementary school children participated in Mogpog's 'flores'.

But at month's end (like yesterday), the children come in their best clothes for the final celebration with drinks, snacks and gifts, like turning this special day into 'Christmas in May'.

Often the children pray in unison for the rains to come after the long and hot summer season.

Then they each receive gifts directly, by tradition, from the Hermana or Hermano.

Hermano, Cong. Lord Allan Velasco is shown turning over his special gift to a participant in the Alay.

Cong. Velasco's girl, Wen, gifts a young girl with a school bag and school supplies.

More kids line up for their surprise.

'Give me five' says Cong. Velasco to this kid.

Special gift for the 'flores' children.

And voila! Early last night PAGASA, the state weather bureau, officially announced the start of the rainy season after spotting tropical depression named "Ambo" northeast of Samar, the first storm for 2011. Cloudiness and scattered rains expected in the country's western section. 

BATTLE OF THE BANDS in MOGPOG a SMASH!

Battle of the Bands, Marinduque style, is an off-and-on staged local competition in which many bands playing a range of different styles compete. This may be held anywhere in the island's six towns. A panel of judges and 'audience impact' determine the winner.

Above photo: Lead vocalist ALGER MARCIANO of "PIPE REGGAE"

The recent Battle of the Bands competition in Mogpog invited local bands from this town and nearby Boac 'just for fun' (katuwaan lamang), but it surprisingly drew eleven strong band groups. The event was part of Mogpog's Flores de Mayo celebration.

In photo: ALIBABA

Each band was required to play a love song and their free choice of song, that may be an original  or popular piece. Ability to arrange the order of songs in such a way that excitement's built up is rated, as well as stage presence and rapport with the audience.

In photo: PIPE REGGAE

Instrumental arrangement and harmony, together with vocal quality and clarity of lyrics are  likewise considered.

In photo: LA VENDETTA

New wave, pop rock, punk rock, funk, metal or jazzreggae bands they may be, their stage actions and identifiable style come into play.

In  photo: PONY TAIL

The panel of judges: Atty. TRICIA NICOLE Q. VELASCO-CATERA (Judicial Staff Head, OAJ Velasco), Atty. MONTANO T. NAZARIO, JR. (Chief of Staff, Office of Congressman Velasco) and Mr. ELI J. OBLIGACION (Consultant, Marinduque Congressional District Office).

Part of the mammoth crowd that came to watch and stayed till past midnight.

The program started at 7:30 p.m. and lasted till 12:30 a.m.

VINCENT MICHAEL "MIKE" VELASCO playing with his band as guest performers.

Stand-up comedians ATE GUY and BOOBAY were also there to entertain the audience, their funny spiels well-received.

'TITA BABY' , Mrs. LORNA QUINTO-VELASCO (Hermana), WEN (Cong's fiancee), and CONG. VELASCO  (Hermano).

The Unanimous Choice as CHAMPION:  PIPE REGGAE.
They performed "KALAYAAN" by Peacepipe and "SORRY NA, PWEDE BA?" by Brownman Revival.
... they now also hold bragging rights as Battle of the Bands Champion.

1st RUNNER UP: "NO NAME"

2nd RUNNER-UP: "GILINGGITING" 

PIPE REGGAE: Solid rhythm, winning style.

Battle of the Band performers were: PONY TAIL, OVERDUE, BETAMAX, PIPE REGGAE, AZCARIAH, GILINGGITING, LA VENDETTA, KANOPHI, ALIBABA, REDEMTIONISTA and NO NAME

Perstaym Filipino Boy Scouts, 1922

1922 photo of the very first Filipino Boy Scouts and this unit was formed in Marinduque. In those days there was almost absolute freedom for the young and the adventurous to dare to explore and to learn. 

This Marinduque Boy Scouts preceded the founding of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in 1923. It was organized by a 16-year old boy from Boac, Celso Mirafuente, who was inspired upon getting a copy of Handbook for Boys of the Boy Scouts of America and clippings of Boy's Life magazine.
The existence of the group surprised American Governor General in the Philippines, Leonard Wood, who kept a diary and wrote therein the following entry on December 10, 1922:

"We arrived off Boac about five o'clock or a bit afterwards and were met on the beach by the Governor, the Provincial Treasurer, the Judge of the Court of First Instance, the Mayor of the town, and a number of local officials, and also by about 25 or 30 boy scouts, an organization made up of young men of, I should say, 15 to 20 years of age. They were armed with wooden guns, carrying the American and Filipino flags and also a flag of their own company. They are full of enthusiasm and I did everything to encourage them by showing an appreciation of their turning out. Told them that I hoped that every boy in the Philippines of proper age and character would belong to the Boy Scouts; that we should soon have military training in the schools and colleges; that I felt the Boy Scout organization would have a fine influence throughout the Islands; all of which pleased them very much, and all of which I meant in all sincerity..."

A few days later came out in the Manila Times issue of December 13, 1922, the following entry: "Boy Scouts Unit praised by Chief Executive" "-xxx. He also mentioned the reception accorded to him in Boac, Marinduque, by a company of some 30 boy scouts who, he said "made an excellent showing".

Photo and source documents courtesy of Mr. Ernesto Sotto, BSP MARINDUQUE. 

Above photo shows: 1st Row: Scouters GAUDENCIO LEONIDA, ARTURO STO. DOMINGO, MANUEL MORENO, LUIS ALINO, EFREN JABAT, JOSE GARCIA 

& HILARIO NEPOMUCENO.

2nd Row: Scouters SANTIAGO LUZ, JOSE MARAPIA, ENRIQUE NEPOMUCENO, EUFEMIO ROSAS, ARTURO MARIPOSQUE & GREGORIO MONTALES.

3RD rOW: Scouters TOMAS ANGELES, NAZARIO MANAY, CELSO MIRAFUENTE (Organizer), PEDRO DEL MUNDO (Adviser) & JOSE RIVERA.

4th Row: Scouters BENITO ABAD LUKBAN, MARTIN MONLEON, PERFECTO MIRAFUENTE, IGNACIO ARAULLO and LEON MANDIA.

Biggel visits Marinduque colleges, continues to inspire youth

Joseph Biggel visited two Marinduque colleges yesterday. The first was Educational Systems Technological  Institute (ESTI), where he enrolled in 2010 but dropped out for financial reasons. ESTI staff turned over to him all school requirements to enable him to enroll in a Manila college that recently offered a 100% scholarship to help him realize his goal of earning a college degree. 

Biggel later paid a courtesy visit to the administrative staff of Marinduque State College (MSC) whose students and staff extended support to him through text voting when he was still a housemate in the country's popular yellow house,
the Pinoy Big Brother house.

Biggel receives his school credentials from the ESTI staff as this blogger looks on. The staff also shared with Biggel how they followed his PBB adventures never giving up on their support to him.

Faculty and staff of Marinduque State College (MSC) were pleasantly surprised with Biggel's unannounced
courtesy visit to MSC yesterday.

An official administrative meeting was temporarily suspended to give way to a brief, impromptu and light-hearted open forum where Biggel answered questions ranging from his feelings toward PBB love interest, Tin Patrimonio, his 'perstaym' experiences, his toughest experiences at the PBB House, his willingness to act as Tourism Ambassador for Marinduque, if ever, and his college plans.

Biggel expressed his gratitude for all support and the kind words from the school's officials about his being an inspiration to the Marinduque youth, particularly to the less fortunate ones. A move was undertaken during the meeting to make formal and official, through a college resolution, MSC's appreciation of Biggel's drive to follow his dreams and succeed, serving as an inspiration to many from this 
island-province. 

Biggel on the Runway

Friday, May 25 at MALL OF ASIA:

Biggel at the court!

The much-awaited basketball invitational with Congressman Lord Allan Velasco and Joseph Biggel of PBB Season 4 attracted a huge crowd at the Mogpog Covered Court. This game saw Biggel fans screaming out loud the moment he stepped into the court. The popular PBB ex-housemate was then besieged by fans wanting his autograph or their photos taken with him.

The bedimpled Promdihirang Tisoy ng Marinduque.
No doubt about it, Biggel simply attracts fans of all ages, probably why he could hardly say no to those excited fans approaching him with their celphones or digi-cams for that
'picture picture please!'


Then there was a sense of uneasiness in the crowd when an unsmiling referee approached Biggel and briskly led him to the scorer's table where some basketball staff were seated.
It was their turn for souvenir shots with Biggel 
lang naman pala. 
Shouts of 'Biggel' turned to 'gigil, gigil' and there was laughter!  

It appears that neither team was under extreme pressure throughout the friendly match as the crowd cheered for Biggel. But the equally good-looking Congressman Velasco also got loud cheers from the crowd with his fast break attacks.

The members of TEAM VELASCO. Congressman Velasco (in blue jersey flashing the V-sign) and Biggel at the center.

Velasco at the court.

.

The opponents: TEAM VELASCO vs. LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY (LNMB)

The mood of the evening with everyone smiling with Biggel and Velasco, this photo was taken during a break.

Biggel at the court.

Scoreboard during the last ten minutes:
Velasco Team, 73; LNMB , 66
Team Velasco with Biggel started well and controlled the game from start up to the last two minutes. 

The final scoreboard reading.

Things changed when the score was suddenly tied at 
83-83 during the last two minutes.
So the match played at the Mogpog Covered Court last night ended up with Liga ng mga Barangay beating Team Velasco 87-83.

And Biggel was besieged by the fans again after the game.

Seen last night: Cong. Velasco's fiancee, Wen.

Overheard from this fan: "Kumusta na si Tin?"

Most definitely an enjoyable basketball evening with 
Velasco Team and Biggel, an evening of absolute "GV" (good vibes).
Till the next invitational with Biggel, then!