The Gasan Easter Festival

In 2002 a new daytime Easter festival for Gasan that involved wider participation by barangays residents was conceptualized. It was aimed to entice Holy Week visitors to stay longer in the island, particularly in Gasan that prided itself as the cultural nerve-center of Marinduque.

Gasan was where the moriones tradition, referred then as "Muryon" was discovered by Manila-based journalists in the 1960s. Prior to its 'discovery' there was no other account of any Philipine festival characterized by the use of masks. Years thereafter, the moriones festivities became centered in the town of Boac being the capital town where the moriones tradition had a considerable following.

"Gasang-Gasang Easter Sunday Festival" was thus introduced. (This blogger, who was invited in 2001 to take part in Gasan's cultural affairs by the mayor, Vicky Lao Lim, had thought of the name "Gasang-Gasang Festival", (gasang-gasang, corals, is where the name of the town originated), for another new festival to be held in August of each year to celebrate the town's founding anniversary.

Gasan's Lenten celebration organizers, Prof. Rex Asuncion and Councilor Joey Luna, however, decided to use that name instead for its Easter festival until it became officially adopted, through a resolution, by the municipal board).

This festival, although popular now and has attracted participation even by contingents from neighboring towns continues to evolve as it attempts to break away from apparent infuences in the sounds and street-dance movements from similar festivals elsewhere, such as Cebu's "Sinulog" and Iloilo's "Dinagyang".

Guidelines on the headgear and costume requirement are updated annually. This year, organizers introduced the use of native costumes and dances purportedy drawing inspiration from the Easter Salubungan's "Bati" dances, with costume changes incorporating the moriones regalia and "samaritana" costumes for the final act.

"Viva El Kristo", shouts are then heard in praise for the Risen Christ, apparently plucked from the popular cry, "Viva Senor Sto. Nino!"