Gasan Gasan is an Easter Sunday Festival held in early morning in Gasan ( butterfly capital of the Philippines). The town's mayor in 2002 and her advisers conceptualize a new daytime Easter festival that can compete with the other towns in terms of attracting visitors during the Holy Week celebration. The towns of Mogpog, Boac and Gasan draw the most tourists because of the unique Lenten rituals and practices observed in these three towns. Santa Cruz, Torrijos and Buenavista, the other three towns of Marinduque also have Lenten events attracting tourists and visitors. For example this year, Santa Cruz hosted another Morionan competition on Holy Thursday ( the same day in Boac) while Buenavista sponsored a boat race. I do not know of any event in Torrijos this 2011 Holy Week celebration.
Gasan claims to be the cultural center of Marinduque for good reason. It was in Gasan where the Moriones tradition was discovered by local journalists in the early 1960's. Prior to this there was no other account of any Philipine festival that is charaterized by the use of masks. Menfolk of the towns of Mogpog (where the tradition originated), Boac and Gasan wore wooden masks during the Holy Week with costumes similar to those worn by Roman soldiers.
Several barangays of Gasan compete for cash prizes during this event. Below are two videos for your viewing pleasure.
Gasan Gasan Festival, 2008
Gasan Gasan Festival 2011
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