House local gov't panel OKs Marinduque Day bill
Speaker-in-waiting Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has hailed the House committee approval of his pet bill declaring every Feb. 21 as "Araw ng Marinduque" (Marinduque Day).
Under House Bill (HB) No. 6552, the commemoration of the founding anniversary of the province of Marinduque will be declared a special non-working holiday to allow local folk to celebrate the occasion.
The Committee on Local Government chaired by Tarlac Rep. Noel Villanueva recently gave its nod to the measure, meaning it is now ripe for plenary approval at the House of Representatives.
“The foundation day of a province is a reminder to the local community about the long standing culture and tradition of the province. The festivities that accompany the celebration are part of the Filipino culture. They boost the morale of our people and forge a stronger bond among the local population," Velasco said.
In his proposed legislation, Velasco noted the “ambivalent history” of his home province of Marinduque. In the 1500s during the Spanish regime, Marinduque was made part of Laguna, Mindoro, Batangas, and Quezon, he said.
Along with Mindoro, on the southeast portion of Laguna and Camarines, Marinduque was made a part of Batangas when it was founded in 1581 by the Spaniards. It also became part of Mindoro in the early 1700s.
On April 28, 1898, Marinduque separated from Mindoro and from Spanish rule. It was ratified by the ruling class from different towns of the island province. Martin Lardizabal, the military governor of Marinduque’s first revolutionary provincial government, led the local struggle.
On May 1, 1901, Marinduque finally became a new province by virtue of Philippine Commission Act No. 125. Its status as a province was short-lived after it was annexed to the Province of Tayabas (now Quezon) by virtue of Act No. 499 on Nov. 10, 1902.
Five years later, Marinduque was declared a sub-province of Tayabas under Act No. 1649 with Juan Nieva as lieutenant governor. Then finally, on Feb. 21, 1920, Act No. 2880 re-established it as a separate and independent province from Tayabas.
Marinduque is home to the famous Moriones festival, which is held annually during Holy Week. It brings to centerstage the "Moriones" or men and women in costumes and masks replicating the garb of biblical Roman soldiers as interpreted by local residents.