By Land and Sea:

JAC, JAM. Tritran. Lucena Lines and South Star Bus companies service the Manila - Lucena route. Choose specific buses that bring passengers to Talao-Talao Pier. Brgy, Talao-talao, Lucena City.  

(Tip: look for "Talao-Talao/Dalahican Pier" signboard on their front windshield or inquire from bus conductor).

There are door-to-door van transport service mostly Besta, L-300. Hi-Ace and MBenz vans that pick you up directly from your Metro manila residence and bring you all the way directly to Talao-Talao Pier in Dalahican, Lucena City or direct Marinduque destination. Phone Nos. 646-4717, 713-5310, 741-1233 and 801-6347; all are with telephone area code (02) for Metro Manila.

From Talao-Talao Pier, passengers bound for Mogpog, Boac, Gasan or Buenavista must choose Balanacan Pier while passengers bound for Sta. Cruz and Torrijos may choose Buyabod Pier. It is also possible to bring your car, van, trucks and buses to Marinduque through the roll-on, roll-off ferries servicing the same sea route. (Tip: vehiches are loaded on first come, first serve basis, also bring photo copy of OR & CR of vehicle).

From Balanacan Pier, aircon FX vans and regular passenger jeepneys take you to your local hotel or residence. From Buyabod Pier, tricycles and jeeps are available to take you to Sta. Cruz poblacion while aircon vans and regular jeeps are available for Torrijos-bound passengers.

JAC Liner plies the Manila-Marinduque-Manila Direct Route daily, call (02) 404-2073, Manila for schedule, reservation and booking.

For additional information, you can also call

Boac Mayor's Office: Tel nos. (+6342) 332-1011, 311-1378

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   Boakeño culture, like that in any other town of the province, can be described as a culture of hospitality and with unique cultural traditions, expressions and artifacts. Religiosity is also evident among its people through their ritual celebrations of barangay and town fiestas in honor of the Blessed Virgin, Moriones Festival during the Lenten Season, Buling, Bulating, Tubungan or Putong, unique cultural expressions of songs and prayers through ceremonial crowning, Mayflower Festival or Santacruzan during the month of May and the newly launched Bila-bila Festival, a cultural and literary activity focusing on the butterfly. Practices like the "Pamanhikan, Harana, Urungan, Bayanihan, Mano", among others, are still commonly practiced among the people. The inherited Filipino values and traits are still observed and practices.

Moriones

Tradition has it that the Moriones Festival was first introduced by a farmer in the Parish of St. Isidore in Mogpog, Marinduque during the time of Padre Dionisio Santiago. The exact year of its origin was not established but most Marinduquenos agree that the Morion originated in Mogpog at that time a barrio of Boac. However, historical significance says, it came from the Spanish word Morion which stands for helmet that Spanish conquistadores wore.     It is said that in the early days there were only three Moriones; the first acted as the "Longinus" the Roman centurion with his blind right eye who pierced the side of the crucified Christ, from his wounded side burst forth blood and water, spurts of which hit "Longinus" blind eyes... it was him who also witnessed Jesus rising from his tomb. The incident became the real turning point for "Longhino" who was converted to Christ. He publicly announced to the people the instruction of the Jewish Priests and

elders against Jesus Christ. The second morion was played by the "Kapitan"  popularly  known  as  the chief of the guards who also acted as the executioner of "Longinus" on Easter Sunday and the third was played by an ordinary Roman soldier.

   The Morion participants annually join these activities as their vow or "panata" or as an act of atonement for a sinful existence or an act of gratitude for having passed a crisis in their lives, such as sickness or accidents and even as Thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

   As time went on, many made the "panata", increasing in that way, the number of the Morions. Most of the "panata" extended from seven to fourteen years and some even lasted for as long as their physical strength would permit.

   It has been a tradition that those who played the role of "Longinus" and that of the "Kapitan" wore wooden masks with turbans or headgear bedeck with flowers. These were known to be the "Moryong kahoy". However, those who played the role of the ordinary Roman soldier simply wore paper masks with a Spanish style helmet. They were called by the people "Moryong papel.

   It was gathered from the past interviews of elderly people that the number of flowers on the headgear represents the number of years of their "panata". Every year, one flower was taken out to mean the number of years of the "panata", until only one flower remained on their headgear. For those whose "panata” is for lifetime, the number of flowers remained constant.

Before, it was intriguing, when those Morions roamed the streets incognito and not even their relatives recognized them for they used to hide the costumes in the mountain or fields and adorned them in secret places. They came out with the "Kalutang" to announce to the people their coming from the mountains or fields.      For several decades, these Moriones appeared only on Monday, Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

    For example, it is only around 1935 that the Morions started their activities on Holy Monday with the "Amargura" procession in Mogpog. It was also around that time that many variations of costumes and masks appeared, probably due to the introduction of movies in the Philippines. Today not only penitent morions appeared but non-penitent morions also join the group.

Senakulo

   One of the many religious practices or "panata" still existing in Boac is the presentation of the "Senakulo" on Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday. It features or re-enacts the first visions of God’s saving plan for the world with pertinent characters of Adam and Eve, the story of Moses, God's prophet, the marriage of the Virgin with Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth – member of the royal family of David, the Annunciation of Mary, The Visitation and Nativity, the Shepherds and the Three Kings, Mary during Christ's Public Life", and Christ's Passion and Resurrection. The Senakulo itself encourages everybody’s participation. However, Lord's Passion is presented during the VlA CRUSIS on Good Friday which traditionally features the Fourteen Stations of the Cross.

Salubong

The SALUBONG is another custom that has always been part of the Holy Week Rites in Marinduque. It depicts the meeting of the Resurrected Christ and his Mother. Re­enacted on Easter Sunday under the supervision of different parishes.

Bulating

BULATING is a tradition in Brgy. Malbog, Boac, but was only revived through the unfinished research made by the late Punong Barangay Eriberto Olpot in 2001. According to him, it was only started by a single family in the said barangay who covers their whole body with mud from the springs of Masalakot in Malbog. They also carry bushes and twigs as their headdress. According to the local folks, it is also an act of thanksgiving to the Creator for the realization of their dreams and aspirations and a recovery from a recent illness. The activity starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.

Tubungan

TUBUNGAN is an age old tradition passed on from generation to generation. The ceremony is usually offered in honor of the one who is celebrating his or her birthday anniversary, or to a guest/visitor in the area referred in the poem song as the "Santo" or "Santa as the case maybe. It is highlighted by the act of coronation, the strewing of flowers and coins to signify good health and for a long and blessed life for the celebrant.

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