History is one of the most important subjects in a school, college, and

university curriculum. Studying past events, people develop a better

understanding of the processes that take place in the world so that they can
build a bright future. There is a saying that history repeats itself; so we can use
this to our advantage by tracing cultural and economic patterns and learning
from past mistakes. Such an approach will allow us to make more reasonable
decisions and live a better life.

Every intelligent person should know how our world reached the current
development stage and how wars, tragedies, and other misfortunes could have
been avoided if certain circumstances were different. Working on interesting
history research paper topics could give you answers to these questions.

History also allows students to get acquainted with the culture and traditions
of other nations, find out why specific laws are established, as well as discover
the roots of social movements. For example, studying the slavery period, you
will understand why there are so many human rights organizations nowadays.
In addition, you will be able to develop your critical analysis skills as each
historian interprets events differently, so you have an opportunity to look at
one event from different perspectives. That is why there are so many
controversial history research paper topics for college students. In this case,
your task is to uncover the truth in the informational flow and offer your
readers an idea supported by convincing arguments.

The island province of Marinduque is most known for

its Lenten tradition of Moriones Festival. This annual
religious festivity that originated in the municipality
of Mogpog, is characterized by colorful Roman
costumes and masks. Moriones, is a play based
festival from a biblical story of Longinus. During holy
week, aside from Moriones, the island province also
holds a unique tradition of pabasa (recitation of
Christ’s passion in verse) in every municipalities. In
general, Lenten celebration in Marinduque is about
the religious devotion of its townspeople. A vow of
penance or thanksgiving among its practitioners,
which is passed down from generation to generation.

History of Marinduque
    Marinduque started as a story of two lovers . The only story is about its
ancient beginnings when the Island was first formed.

It was said that two lovers went out to sea and drowned for their love was
forbidden on land. The earth felt so sorry for the

two lovers, it decided to leave a mark in the place where they drowned. An
island named Marinduque - a combination of both

of their names, Marina and Garduk - arose out of the sea in a heart shaped
form.

(Click here for My own version of the Marinduque Story )

    In the Spanish accounts, the people called the island Malandik or
Malindig because that was the name of the volcano on the

island. But the Spanish could not pronounce it, so they called it Marinduk
and it eventually, became Marinduque (maybe due

to extra spanish influence or maybe after the spanish left, they just wanted it
to sound spanish.).

    It was settled by people mainly from Batangas and Mindoro. Marinduque
was an extension of a settlement whose
permanent base was in Batangas. Dumagsil and Balkasusa were the two
Bornean Datus who ruled over these settlements

called the Bonbon settlements.

    I believe Mindoro has influences because that is the only island which can
be easily reached from Marinduque. The Visayas

and the Bikol region are unreachable from Marinduque by boat because of
unfavorable currents. Tagalog became the main

dialect in Marinduque because Tagalogs were the more dominant ethnic

group in the area. These Tagalog influences came

from Batangas. Other people in Marinduque, like Mangyans from Mindoro,

probably were assimilated into the Tagalog

culture, because they had a less dominant culture. I believe there are some
superstitions which Mangyans and Marinduquenos

share, but that still has to be further researched. Other proof of the link
between Mindoro and Marinduque is the Moriones

festival and the use of the Kalutang, a wooden instrument.

Marinduque Province
is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. Its capital
is Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and Sibuyan Sea to the south.
It is located south and west of Quezon, east of Mindoro, and north of Romblon.
BRIEF PROFILE
Capital: Boac
Land Area: 952.58 km²
Population: 227828 (2010)
Cities: -
Munacipalities: 6
Barangays: 218
Districts: Lone district of Marinduque
Languages: Tagalog, English
A Brief History___________________________

Legend has it that the island of Marinduque was formed as a consequence of a tragic love
affair between two people: Mariin and Gatduke. Mariin's father, a local chieftain, did not
approve of this affair and ordered the beheading of Gatduke. Before this could be done,
the couple sailed out to sea and drowned themselves, forming the island now called
Marinduque.

During the Spanish and early American occupations, Marinduque was part of Balayan
Province (now Batangas) in the 16th century, Mindoro in the 17th century, and had a brief
period as an independent province in 1901, when the Americans arrived.

During the Philippine-American War, Marinduque was the first island to have American
concentration camps. Marinduque is the site of the Battle of Pulang Lupa, where 250
Filipino soldiers under Colonel Maximo Abad, defeated a smaller force of 54 American
Infantrymen.

In 1902, the US-Philippine Commission annexed the islands of Mindoro (now two separate
provinces) and Lubang (now part of Occidental Mindoro) to the province.

Four months later, the province became part of the province of Tayabas (now Quezon).

On February 21, 1920, Act 2280 was passed by the Philippine Congress, reestablishing
Marinduque as a separate province.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Marinduque.

In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops attacked from the
Japanese Troops liberated to the Battle of Marinduque in the Second World War.

Demography_______________________________

Marinduqueños are said to be very hospitable in nature and are very welcoming. One such
custom reflecting this is putong or tubong, which is a custom of welcoming and honoring
friends and visitors. The honoree (or honorees) are seated and crowned with flowers while
local women dance and sing for them. Other well-wishers throw coins and flower petals for
long life. Marinduqueños are of Tagalog origin and speak Tagalog.

Culture___________________________________

The Moriones festival also plays a prominent role in Marinduque's culture. Marinduque is
famous for this annual Moriones Festival locally known as "Moryonan". During the month of
March or April, parades and celebrations can be seen on the streets. In Santa Cruz, Gasan,
Boac, and Mogpog, a parade of people dressed as "Moryons" can be seen on the main road
connecting the towns of the island. Boac and Sta. Cruz, the biggest town in the province,
shows a reenactment in the evening of the actual event when Longinus, a blind soldier,
punctures Jesus with his spear and blood droplets from the wound restores Longinus'
sight.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MOGPOG

          For hundreds of years, the early settlers of Mogpog

lived in small villages. Their means to survive were by hunting,
fishing and gathering whatever they could take for food in a
hostile environment. They lived a nomadic life searching for
livelihood until they found a place where they built a
permanent settlement. They learned the art of producing
crops. When more food was produced, they began to live in
communities. They chose a leader to govern them. They
looked for a deeper meaning of life and expressed their feeling
about the triumphs and challenges living in this world. The
Municipality of Mogpog, a small town in the island-province of
Marinduque was established in 1807 under a gobernadorcillio,
which was later called “Capitan Municipal”, or Municipal
Mayor. The word Mogpog was originated from the word
‘maapog’ meaning plenty of lime or “maapog”, the making or
manufacture of lime. A “calero” or lime kiln, a place where
lime was manufactured existed in its vicinity during the
coming of the Spaniards who adopted that name. In the late
17th and 18th centuries, the place where now stands the
poblacion of Mogpog, was rimmed with forested areas. Its
center was a cultivated hill now known as Mataas na Bayan
was the place then called Anapog planted with rice and root
crops.  People residing there were the lime makers. Their
houses were made of native materials– cogon roof, palm leaf
walls/nipa or “sasa” bamboo floors with round timber and
bamboo as framework. When they were not tending the
“calero” for lime manufacture, they fished at night. Others
hunted wild animals for food, while others tended their farm as
means of livelihood. “Apog” or lime played a big part in Spain’s
effort to leave her legacy in architecture in our country. This
was used in the construction of Boac Church and several
public buildings in Marinduque. It was much needed and
sought for in building construction as what cement is today.

MOGPOG BEFORE AND DURING THE SPANISH ERA

          There is no authentic account on the existence of

Mogpog before the coming of the Spaniards. Information
gathered from the old folks of the community stated that the
place now the town proper was once a wilderness and was
covered mostly of “lipa” and guava trees. Later, the vast plains
and fertile valleys attracted people. They cleared the
wilderness and established their permanent settlement. When
the Spaniards arrived, they found a small village existing under
a Filipino chief. The Spaniards occupied this place, which was
ruled by the “gobernadorcillio”, whose residence was at
Calapan, Mindoro. The Filipino chief became a mere tax
collector for the Spanish government. He was known as
“Cabeza de Barangay”. The people were taxed heavily and in
most cases, the lands of delinquent taxpayers were sold at
public auction. This was the reason why the rich people of
Boac owned most tracts of land in Mogpog, then and until now.
As early as the 19th century, Mogpog was just a barrio of
Boac. The people felt the need for an independent existence
as a municipality. Through the efforts of the “principalia”, a
petition was sent to the governor of Calapan, Mindoro asking
for the creation of this barrio into a separate municipality. Mr.
Nicolas del Rosario became the first “captain”. From 1807 to
1898, Mogpog had 68 “capitanes”.Inspite of the benefits that
the people of Mogpog enjoyed under the Spanish rule, they
were still dissatisfied and discontented. They felt oppressed
for even their local officials to whom they looked for
protections were in most cases became accomplices of the
Spaniards in abusing them. When the revolution spread
throughout the country, the patriotic sons of Mogpog joined
the rest of the Filipinos in the fight for freedom. The Mendez
brothers led the local “insurrectos” in defying the Spanish
authorities. During the short-lived Philippine Republic from the
1899 to 1900 under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the Municipal
Government of Mogpog was recognized with Don Fernando
Lagran as president. During the Spanish time, Mogpog made
notable improvements along economic, social, education and
religious life. Spanish missionaries taught Christian religion to
them. Filipino teachers were trained by the missionaries to
help in the propagation of Christian faith. Among these early
teachers were Maestra Leonides Muhi, Wenceslawa Larrosa,
Don Fernando Lagran, Ramon Maria Coll and the mother of
Mrs. Estefa Ringor. Strict discipline was imposed and different
kinds of punishments were inflicted. Hence, many students
evaded themselves from going to school. People were
industrious and engaged mostly in farming. Food was bountiful
and the land was cheap. It was said that a piece of land could
be exchanged for a bolo, tuba wine or any of the articles which
both parties agreed upon. Many forms of amusement and
recreations were introduced such as cockfighting and social
gatherings.

Luzon Datum of 1911: At the Geodetic Center of the Philippines

The Luzon Datum of 1911 was the base for the first modern survey of
the Philippine Islands. The execution of the triangulation of the Philippine
Islands extended over almost as long a time as the history of the American
occupation in the Philippines. The plan of the government to survey the
islands began in March 1900 when a United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey (USCGS) officer was sent to Manila with instructions to prepare a
report on the existing cartographic conditions in the Philippines and to obtain
all information necessary for the execution of geodetic, hydrographic, and
topographic surveys in the country.
After the establishment of the sub-office known as the Manila Field Station,
which was housed in the old Intendencia Building in the Walled City
of Intramuros, the USCGS commenced fieldwork in the Philippine Islands in
January 1901. At that time, an insurrection was in progress and the Islands
were under military law. The field surveys were conducted under a joint
agreement between the USCGS and the Insular Government. From 1901 to
1911, the USCGS established several triangulation networks across the
country which had different origins. In 1911, these different networks on
different datums and with different origins were consolidated into one
nationwide network and the Luzon Datum was established with triangulation
station Balanacan as its datum origin. The Luzon Datum became the primary
geodetic reference of all surveys in the Philippines.[1][2][3]
The province of Marinduque, dubbed as the “Heart of the Philippines”, is a
heart-shaped island in the Southern Tagalog Region. Coincidentally, the
island is also the geographical center of the archipelago and a stone marker
marks its significance in Philippine geography.
The stone marker known as Luzon Datum

Known as Luzon Datum of 1911 or Station Balanacan, this piece of stone

marker is located on top of a hill that locals call Mataas na Bundok or Mt.
Mataas in Barangay Hinanggayon, town of Mogpog. It is the primary
geodetic reference or origin of all geological surveys in the Philippines which
means all maps and surveys made in the country use the Luzon Datum as
reference point.

Although there were arguments that the datum should be at Romblon Island
and not in Marinduque, Station Balanacan is still the official and recognized
datum by the National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority(NAMRIA), the central mapping agency of the Philippines.

The National Historical Marker of Station Balanacan

According to NAMRIA, the Triangulation Station Balanacan was established
by the US Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1906, as part of a nationwide
triangulation network and designated as the Origin of Luzon Datum 1911. Up
to the 1990s, the Luzon Datum served as the primary reference frame for all
survey and mapping activities in the country. Philippine Reference System
(PRS92) , the present geodetic reference system, is a modified and updated
Luzon Datum and still uses the Station Balanacan as datum origin. The
historical significance and importance of the Luzon Datum Origin is
recognized in the surveying and mapping community.

The National Historical Marker of Station Balanacan

Today, the Luzon Datum still plays a significant role in Philippine surveying
and mapping. A National Historical Marker is erected by National Historical
Commission to commemorate its role and the site is being maintained by
NAMRIA and the local government.
Luzon Datum
The Story of a Geodetic Datum Origin
By Xenia R. Andres
On the Highest hill at the northwest point of Marinduque Island.Salvaria
Island in the entrance to LoocBay bears N. 90 E., distant 3 kilometers,
and the highest point of the western one of the two San Andres Islands
bears 800 E., distant 3 kilometers. It is on the northwest end of the hill,
10 meters northwest of the highest point, and is in a commanding
situation, seeing a hundred miles of the coast of Luzon,much of the
north and west coast of Marinduque, the coast of Mindoro and other
islands. Station mark is the center of a hole 1.5 centimeters in diameter
and 6 centimeters deep, drilled at the center of a triangle 16
centimeters on a side, cut in a hard rock. Reference mark is on a hard,
white boulder of about one cubic meter in volume, standing 80
centimeters above the ground and 90 centimeters higher than the
station. The mark is a hole 1.5 centimeters in diameter and 8
centimeters deep, at the center of a cross cut on top of this stone.
From the station, the reference mark is in azimuth 326034' and is
distant 18.85 meters.
Description of Station BALANACAN in the report The Triangulation of
the Philippine Islands, Volume I
Historical Background
The Institutionalization of Station Balanacan as geodetic datum origin
is traced to the surveying and mapping activities in the Philippines of
the then United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS). With the
new territorial claim of the US Following the Spanish-American War, the
responsibilities of the USCGS grew which included the conduct of
various scientific and cartographic initiatives in the Philippine Islands
beginning 1901.
Coast and geodetic surveys involved the charting of insular waters and
harbors and the development of a geodetic network that "had to be
begun from scratch." The initial surveys would have been the expansion
of a general scheme of triangulation which utilizes a network of
interlocking triangles to determine positions at survey stations. Military
and commercial factors were however considered.
The military telegraph and cable line system aided the establishment of
astronomical stations such as those in Legaspi, Vigan, Ormoc,
Tacloban, Iloilo, Bancalan Island, Cagayan Sulu Island, Davao, Iligan,
Misamis Oriental, and Zamboanga. Each having its own datum, the 39
foundation stations were used to start surveys in various localities.
These stations made possible the publication of charts but the
projections from the positions did not match. The Vigan Datum of 1901
eventually connected them and was used for a period of time.
Efforts to establish a new and single geodetic datum were exerted due
to the inadequacy of the Vigan Datum to extend the triangulation to the
central and southern parts of the country. The components of a
geodetic datum are (1) the specifications of an ellipsoid with a
spherical coordinate system and an origin and (2) a set of surveyed
points and lines. E. R. Frisby, chief of the Computing Division of the
USCGS Manila Field Station from 1902 to 1921, was tasked to formulate
the substitute scheme with Clarke's Spheroid of 1866 as the model for
the interpolations. The work in 1911 converged on a geodetic network
based in the island of Luzon which was later expanded throughout the
archipelago. The new datum established became the primary geodetic
reference of all surveys in the Philippines.
The Station BALANACAN
(Latitude 13 degrees 33' 41".00 North, Longitude 121 degrees 52'
03".000 East) in the Province of Marinduque defined the datum origin of
the Luzon Datum of 1911 with Clarke Spheroid of 1866 as reference
ellipsoid. While a datum is a reference value to which other
measurements are referred, a geodetic datum is the adopted standard
position (latitude and longitude) of a given station, together with the
adopted standard azimuth of a line from the station. The Station
BALANACAN had for its azimuth mark the Station BALTASAR (azimuth:
90 12' 37".00) located in the western Tres Reyes Group of Islands also
in MarinduquePr;ovince. O.W. Ferguson established both stations with
H.D. King as Chief Of Party. The historical document on the
triangulation of the Philippines islands gives the establishment of
Station BALANACAN as 1906.
All surveys in the Philippines from 1901 to 1927 were corrected and
based on the position of this station. Thus, a geodetic station is said to
be in the Luzon Datum if it is connected by continuous triangulation
from the station BALANACAN. The formed triangulation network
spanned vast distances with station that were located on high
mountain peaks and far across straits and channels. The platforms for
the triangulation surveys were wooden tower structures until the
portable Bilby steel tower named after its designer was started to be
used in 1927 to minimize the costs of materials and labor. The towers
were necessary to provide clear lines-of-sight in the conduct or
surveys. Second- or lower-order grade geodetic operations were
conducted to control charts; to provide geographic positions,
elevations, distances and azimuth; and to determine the earth's figure.
The data gathered were essential in defining property boundaries,
extensive mapping such as topographic survey, delimiting political
boundary subdivisions, and surveying for an area improvement or a city
plan.
The USCGS developed the Philippine Geodetic Network (PGN) until
1946. The PGN consisted of narrow chains of triangulation stations
concentrated along the coastal areas for topographic and hydrographic
surveys. By 1950, the Philippine Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey
(BCGS) assumed the establishment of geodetic control points following
the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946. The BCGS was one of the four
agencies that were merged to form NAMRIA in 1987. From 1988 to
1991, the PGN was upgraded into the Philippine Reference System
(PRS92) under the Geodetic Component of the Natural Resources
Management and Development Project, an Australian-assisted project
of the DENR. The Standard reference system of all survey and mapping
activities in the country, PRS92 consists of a national network of
geodetic control points (GCPs) marked by survey monuments or mojons
established using the Global Positioning System. To date, the Station
BALANACAN is the datum origin.

MOGPOG, Marinduque—A piece of rock on top of a hill in the fishing

village of Hinanggayon in Mogpog, Marinduque marks the center of our
archipelagic country.
This center, the Luzon Datum of 1911 which is also known as Station
Balanacan, is the primary geodetic reference, or datum origin, of all
geological surveys in the Philippines, said Linda Papa, deputy administrator
of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria).

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She said all maps and surveys made in the country make use of the Luzon
Datum as their reference point.
On Aug. 9, representatives of various national agencies, local government
officials and employees, and residents in the province converged on top of
this hill to unveil the national historical marker of the Luzon Datum of 1911
as the center of the Philippines.

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The unveiling rites marked the centennial celebration of the establishment of

the marker.
Gov. Carmencita Reyes said “it is the rarest of opportunities to play host to
the marker of all markers, to the very benchmark of all geodetic reference
points in the Philippines, the point number one for all Philippine map
makers.”
She said the Luzon Datum is an authoritative reference guide that would be
synonymous to Marinduque each time geodetic engineers, surveyors, GPS
(global positioning system) users start their calculations and relocation
measurements.
Data gathered using the Luzon datum as reference point and the network of
other stations are essential to defining property boundaries and other works
on maps and cadastral surveys.

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Reyes, however, said the Luzon Datum “is important not only as a geodetic
reference but also as a historical heritage.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Namria,
National Historical Commission of the Philippines, provincial government
and municipal government of Mogpog have joined hands to preserve the
Luzon Datum for its role in Philippine surveying and mapping.
Danilo Querijero, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said
the preservation efforts seek to develop the Balanacan Station as a domestic
tourism site.

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