International cruise ship arriving in Marinduque, a first in island’s history
A cruise ship from Australia named Coral Adventurer is docking at Cawit Port in Boac Marinduque on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. This is the first time a huge luxury boat will arrive in the island. (Photo from MARINDUQUE NEWS)
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.
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MORIONES/People dressed in Roman centurion costumes parade in the streets of Boac, Marinduque during the annual Moriones Festival on April 14, 2014. (INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA)
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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 Representative Lord Allan Velasco (in green) and Marinduque Governor and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. (right). (Photo courtesy of Rep. Velasco’s office)
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.
“We would like holidaymakers in other parts of the globe to discover Marinduque as a beautiful tropical destination, as they embark on their exciting and memorable island-hopping experiences,” he emphasized.
