An international cruise ship carrying foreign tourists is docking in a port in Marinduque on Wednesday, November 8.
This is the first time the island will be visited by a large luxury ship filled with vacationers. The boat Coral Adventurer is coming from Australia. It is a state-of-art ship operated by Coral Expeditions. Its travels in Kimberley, Cape York, Arnhem Land in Australia. It also visits Papua New Guinea, the Spice Islands, Indonesia and the South Pacific.
This week, Coral Adventurer will head to Cawit Port in Boac, the capital of Marinduque. Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed by bright and colorful centurions called ‘Morions.’ They are men and women wearing wooden-carved masks and armors, embodying the army officers in Ancient Rome. Centurions portray a major role in Moriones Festival being celebrated by the province during Holy Week.
Aside from this treat, tourists will be honored in the traditional ‘putong’ ritual. Marinduqueńos will put native crowns on the tourists’ heads while dancing and singing delightful folk songs for the visitors. The special number is capped with a shower of flowers, petals and coins for good luck and well wishes.
Marinduque Governor and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. and son, Former House Speaker and Marinduque Lone District Representative Lord Allan Velasco, organized the event.
“We are hoping that cruise ships like the one coming over this week will show up more frequently in our shores,” Governor Velasco said.
This story was first published on Inquirer
