|
|
| Line 211: |
Line 211: |
|
| |
|
| ==[[Marinduque News]]== | | ==[[Marinduque News]]== |
| '''Moriones: A Festival of Faith''' | | '''P1-M fine for treason proposed''' |
| *Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=794594 | | *Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/p1-m-%EF%AC%81ne-for-treason-proposed/#.T36KQvAzDQA |
| * April 05, 2012 09:25 AM | | *Friday, April 06, 2012 |
| :by Jun Pasaylo | | :by Ben R. Rosario |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| MARINDUQUE, Philippines – As the annual Moriones Festival entered fifth day today, the event continues to draw people from inside and outside this province to join the weeklong celebration.
| | Manila, Philippines – Citing the rapid devaluation of the peso in the past few years, a neophyte congressman has sought fines of over P1 million for the crime of treason that already carries a penalty of life imprisonment. |
| | | In pushing for the approval of House Bill (HB) No. 5828, Marinduque Rep. Lor Allan Jay Velasco presented computations on the inflation rate that has triggered rapid peso devaluation since the Revised Penal Code (RPC) was passed in 1930. The RPC penalizes treason with a maximum life imprisonment and fine of P20,000. |
| Since the opening day, the intensity of the celebration and volumes of revelers from all walks of life continue to soar plugging the streets of this laid-back-but-culturally-rich province.
| | Velasco argued that the RPC based the imposable fine on the |
| | | current prices prevailing in 1930 that have long been considered of small value today due to massive inflation and peso devaluation. |
| Moriones festival gathered people from all ages and different walks of life bringing them into a single platform that completes the element of this most anticipated event here. And that is, the peoples’ faith in God.
| | “It is in this light that an adjustment of the fine through an amendment is highly in order. In order to uphold the full force and teeth of our penal laws, the punishment for offenses or crimes, including the fine, imprisonment, and civil disqualification components, must be up to date,” said Velasco, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments. |
| | | However, the administration lawmaker noted that there is no data available for the Consumer Price Index earlier than 1955 in |
| While other festivities sourced their beginnings from good harvests or commendable economic activities, among others, the dynamic of Moriones festival came from one common part of the diverse people here – their faith in God.
| | the Philippines and from 1986 to 1988. Moreover, there had been a total of eight rebasing of base years for the computation of inflation rates. |
| | | Given these limitations, Velasco said the year 1955 shall be used as the base year for the computation up to 2011, and disregarding the inflation rate in the years 1986 to 1988, making the derived inflation rate a conservative one. |
| At the age of 12, Jake Sembrano has been doing the vow of a Morion for over half a decade now. He joined the flock of Roman-inspired soldiers since he was four.
| | “Using the derived inflation rate of 8,102 percent, we can now compute the adjusted value of fines after factoring in the change in prices in the country, more precisely the effect of the inflation rate,” Velasco explained. |
| | |
| "At first, it’s my parents who inspire me to do this. Now, I am doing this because I want to express my true faith to God." he said in an interview with www.philstar.com.
| |
| | |
| While Morion soldiers can amaze people with their intricate costumes, he said they have struggles to overcome too during the eight-day event.
| |
| | |
| At full costume gear, he noted that the hardest part was making visuals when a Morion walked across the streets of Marinduque.
| |
| | |
| "The eye holes in our mask are very small so it’s very hard to walk, you have to make sure that you will walk in the middle of the streets, or else you can fall into an open drainage," he said.
| |
| | |
| “It’s very, very hot when we will have to walk across the streets at noon time," he added.
| |
| | |
| For his part, 70-year-old Alfredo Maglakas said being a Morion is not only to display the glamour of Roman-inspired costumes but one's utmost faith in God.
| |
| | |
| “You can have the best costumes, and yet lose the essence of being a Morion. It’s really on faith,” he added.
| |
| | |
| For over 40 years, he has been doing the vow of a Morion, doing rounds on the streets of Marinduque with his costumes, and he has no plans of retiring from it.
| |
| | |
| "I, my wife and my children are wearing our costumes during this season because of our vow to God. It has been a practice that my family never fails to do every year," he added.
| |
| | |
| When asked of his inspiration in enduring the eight-day grueling of a Morion’s life during the Lenten season, he said "Life has been harder if God has forsaken us."
| |
| | |
| "Such is the essence of Moriones festival. It is not a feast for good harvests or any other else. Moriones is a festival of faith," he said.
| |
| | |
|
| |
|
| ==[[:Category:Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery|Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery]]== | | ==[[:Category:Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery|Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery]]== |