Marinduque Island: Buhay Probinsya (Life in the Province)

"You will never succeed in life unless you look back to where you came from".

A common saying that was always taught and reminded to us by our parents as we grow older.

I think this is the main reason why most Filipinos always find time to spent at least a part of the summer or any other holiday occassions to their home province. 

My husband is one of them.

He felt that it is his duty to go back once in a while in his native land or province.

So for 2018, our family spent the summer in Marinduque Island.

We were kind of too excited since the last time that we visited the place was 2015.  And a lot has changed from the province particularly in the main capitol of Sta. Cruz where different commercial establishments, atm machines, banks can be seen.  And these is a welcome relief for us travellers that even if we are in an island access to common commodities can be easily reacheable. 

But the most exciting part is knowing that you will be away from the busy life of Metro Manila.  That for once, stress will not be part of your daily routine.

So say hello, for a very simple and yet exciting "Buhay Probinsya".

So what is new?

...

That when you wake up in the morning, this is what your eyes can see.

... and that the cocking of the roosters will be your alarm clock that will wake you up in the early morn.

And that instead of dogs you are feeding it is the native pigs that keeps on roaming freely around the wide farm.

and that instead of instant coffee for morning,  it is the coconut water that you drink from a freshly picked coconut tree.

... and that for you to take a bath you have to walk through paddies and steep mountains. 

to go through this which is worth the tiresome walk with its refreshing water.

and... food for the dinner table is not a problem.  you won't spend a single cent to get the food for as long as your  patience enough to harvest rootcrops.

or you might try doing some "balunas" a provincial way of extracting coconut milk instead of buying ready-made coconut milk.

... or yet experience what my daughter tried to do. The traditional food preparation called "yubak" 

to come out with a delicious snack called "niyubak" or in Tagalog region known as "nilupak"

but for my daughter and I this is our all-time favorite merienda while in the province. 

Of course, life in the province won't be complete if you won't mingle with the locals.  This is where you will really have first-hand experience and get acquainted with their culture and tradition.

Marinduquenos have lots of traditions that they still maintain up to this time.  One of them is their Santacruzan.  Which was very much different from the Tagalog's Santacruzan were several native beauties parade in the streets wearing beautiful gowns and depicting differents saints.  In Marinduque, Santacruzan is a nine-days prayer accompanied with song and dance as thanksgiving for the Good Lord for a bountiful harvest.  The nine days prayer will end-up with a feast hosted by one of the members.  Everyone in the barrio are expected to attend.

Really, if you are in a place like this you will say, "I hope the clock will stop so that I will remain here forever. You will realize how simple life is worth living. 

And I am glad that my husband has a home province in which we can always go back.

We will definitely go back to this place called Marinduque. 

Happy reading and traveling!

Arlene