Marinduque/ Moriones

The Moriones festival, said to be one of the most unique Easter celebrations in the world, commemorates the martyrdom of St. Longinus, a one-eyed blind Roman soldier who is said to have pierced Christ's side at the crucifixion. Legend has it that drops of Christ's blood landed on his bad eye and restored his sight. The miracle converted him and he was beheaded consequently.

Participants to the festival are called "morion" (Spanish for mask, thus the name Moriones). They wear huge painted masks and colorful Roman soldier inspired costumes. The act of donning this attire and roaming around town under the heat of the sun is done during Lent as a form of yearly penance or to show gratitude after being healed of an illness. As they go around town, they sometimes play pranks on people and scares little children.

The folk religious festival starts on Holy Monday and ends on Easter Sunday, with "Pugutan" (Tagalog for beheading), a local theatrical play reenacting the beheading of Longinus.