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| ==[[Marinduque News]]== | | ==[[Marinduque News]]== |
| '''New Road To Economic Prosperity In Far-Flung Village Communities''' | | '''Moriones: A Festival of Faith''' |
| *Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356242/new-road-to-economic-prosperity-in-farflung-village-communities | | *Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=794594 |
| *April 4, 2012, 9:48am | | * April 05, 2012 09:25 AM |
| :by MIKE U. CRISMUNDO | | :by Jun Pasaylo |
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| TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur – Carabao-pulled cart, the only means of transportation of residents and big number of farmers will be a thing of the past when the road construction currently implemented by the Department of Public Works (DPWH) Agusan del Sur 1st District Engineering Office (ADS 1 DEO) will be completed soon.
| | 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. |
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| The big number of residents and farmers in areas of Campo, San Miguel, Batucan and Del Mote in the river town of Talacogon are very much grateful and lucky when this road construction project of President Benigno S. Aquino lll will be completed on July28, this year, ahead of its completion target.
| | 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. |
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| It is seen that this new road will improve the lives of the big number of village community folks, some of them highland people which will give them access to basic services like education, health and economy.
| | 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. |
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| Town and community village officials expressed heartfelt gratitude to the DPWH-ADS 1 DEO for the construction of this new road.
| | 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. |
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| The construction of NRJ-Batucan-Campo Farm to Market Road (FMR), funded under the Department of Agriculture CY 2011 program in the amount of Php 7 Million was started January 31, 2012.
| | 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. |
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| It is being implemented by the DPWH-ADS I DEO) under the leadership of District Engineer (DE) Jaime T. Bernat, Sr, and under contract with Roim Builders and Construction Supply.
| | "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. |
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| As of this posting, the project is still on-going. “We are ahead of schedule and our technical personnel, project engineer and resident engineer are on the ground 24/7 to hit our objective – good quality of works and good quality materials being implemented by the contractor under its program of work,” stressed DE Bernat.
| | While Morion soldiers can amaze people with their intricate costumes, he said they have struggles to overcome too during the eight-day event. |
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| The area is producing rubber, rice and corn, falcata and varied rootcrops. These produce were transported before only by carabao-pulled cart that will take the farmers long hours before they reached the nearest market. With the construction of this road, exchange of goods and services will be fast, easier and accessible, added DE Bernat.
| | At full costume gear, he noted that the hardest part was making visuals when a Morion walked across the streets of Marinduque. |
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| In another development, in compliance with the directive of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson to engage local civil society organizations (CSOs) to enter into budget partnerships with DPWH regional offices, the DPWH Regional office 13 has recently signed a budget partnership agreement (BPA) with its CSO partner Butuan-Agusan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (BACCIFI).
| | "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. |
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| During the signing of the BPA, Region Xlll DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Versola reiterated Secretary Singson’s statement that DPWH wants to enhance the quality of its budget process by involving CSO partners in the annual budget preparation.
| | “It’s very, very hot when we will have to walk across the streets at noon time," he added. |
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| “This agreement with BACCIFI will help enhance efficiency and effectiveness of our office. With BACCIFI monitoring our programs, projects and activities for this year and beyond, transparency and accountability will be achieved and quality of public service will be improved particularly here in Caraga region,” said Director Versola.
| | 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. |
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| The signing of the BPA is part of the DPWH program to establish stronger ties with people’s organizations in the preparation and execution of the agency’s budget for FY 2013 and beyond. This is in support to the national government’s commitment to institutionalize citizen participation in the budget process as means of enhancing transparency and accountability in the preparation, allocation and utilization of public funds.
| | “You can have the best costumes, and yet lose the essence of being a Morion. It’s really on faith,” he added. |
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| The BPA was signed at the DPWH Regional Office 13 by Director Versola, BACCIFI President Joseph Omar O. Andaya and witnessed by DPWH 13 Planning Chief Samson L. Hebra, BACCIFI Executive Director Virginia L. Rosales, Agusan del Norte District Engineer Alipio Grana and Butuan City District Engineer Nicolas Alameda.
| | 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. |
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| The BPA is in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management National Budget Circular No. 536 dated January 31, 2013 to standardize partnership program with civil society organizations (CSOs) and other concerned stakeholders.
| | "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. |
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| | 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." |
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| | "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. |
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| To date, DPWH has signed budget partnership agreements with 5 CSO partners Bantay Lansangan; Research Education and institutional Development (REID) Foundation, Inc.; Southern Philippines Muslim Unity and Development Association, Inc. (SPMUDA); Marinduque First Saturday Movers, Inc. (MFSMI); and Butuan-Agusan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (BACCIFI) who agreed to adhere at all times to the principles of constructive engagement such as transparency, accountability, integrity, partnership, consultation and mutual empowerment, respect for internal processes, sustainability, and national interest.
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| ==[[:Category:Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery|Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery]]== | | ==[[:Category:Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery|Marinduque, Philippines Photo Gallery]]== |