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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF MARINDUQUE
FAST FACTS
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LOCATION
Marinduque is an island province between the Bondoc Peninsula in southeastern Luzon and Mindoro Island. It is bounded on the north and west by Tayabas Bay, on the east by Mompog Pass, and on the south by the Sibuyan Sea.
THE LAND
The island is a volcanic mass with mostly plains on the western part and mountains on the eastern side, rising in the south to Mt. Malindig at 1,157 m. It has 17 outlying islets, mostly in the north, but the more familiar ones are in the southwest: the Tres Reyes, named after the biblical Three Kings and the Elephant Island resort. The province has two pronounces seasons: dry from December to May and wet the rest of the year. It is occasionally on the path of typhoons.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Legend has it that the heart-shaped island was formed as a consequence of a tragic love affair between Marina and Garduke. Because Marina's father disapproved of the romance, her ordered the beheading of his lover. Before this could be done, however, the pair sailed out to sea and drowned themselves. The island that rose from the waters became Marinduque. Another version says that the original name of the island was "Malandik" which was derived from its highest peak, Mt. Malindig. Because the Spaniards found this hard to pronounce, they called the island Marinduc which eventually became Marinduque.
At various times in its history, Marinduque was a part of three other provinces. During the 16th century, it was under the administration of Balayan (now Batangas). Early in the 17th century, it became a part of Mindoro. In 1901, the Americans created the province of Marinduque. A year later, the US-Philippine Commission annexed the islands of Mindoro and Lubang to the new province. Four months later, Marinduque was made a part of Tayabas (now Quezon). Finally, on February 21, 1920, Act No. 2280 reestablished the former province of Marinduque.
THE PEOPLE
Marinduque has always been a part of Southern Luzon. Its people speak Tagalog. But because of its proximity to the Visayas, many words in the island's dialect are Visayan in origin and ordinary Tagalog speakers cannot understand them. The Marinduqueños unique hospitality may be seen in their custom of welcoming and honoring friends and visitors in a ceremony called putong. The honorees are crowned with flowers while local women sing and dance before them. Other well-wishers throw petals and coins for long life.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Marinduque is agricultural, with rice and coconut as the major crops. It also has vast fishing grounds. Mining is the principal industry; Marcopper in the town of Sta. Cruz is one of the largest mines in the country.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:January 27, 1999.
