GASAN: HERITAGE AND HISTORICAL TREASURE

  Noong 16th at 17th century, puno ng lungkot, pighati at paghihirap ang pamumuhay ng mga tao sa Marinduque, lalo na sa bayan ng Gasan. Hindi pa ganap na bayan ang Gasan at isang pulutong (settlement) ng kabahayan pa lamang ang nasa lugar. Ito ay dahil sa pag-atake ng mga Morong pirata na naghahanap ng alipin at sa pinsalang dulot ng bagyo. Ngunit ayon sa tala ng kasaysayan, ang simbahan sa Gasan ay itinayo ng mga Kastila noong 1609 at ang bayan ng Gasan ay 414 taong gulang ngayon. Ayon sa kasaysayan, ang mga Malay, Intsik, at taga-Borneo ay may kalakalan na sa mga Pilipino. Mayroon din mga pirata na Moro at Borneo na umaatake sa ilang lugar upang kumuha ng tao, gawing alipin at ipagbili sa ibang tao. Ang sukdulan ng paglusob ng mga piratang ito ay naganap noong dekada 1750s dahil sa demand o hiling ng negosyante ng Dutch East Indies. At ang pag-atakeng ito ay ginagawa nila maging sa lugar na pinamamahalaan ng Kastila. Noong Hunyo 1754, halos 900 na pirata na sakay ng 17 Moro 'emba...

Nieva Bridge, a pair of bridges linking Gasan Poblacion (town proper) to Boac in the north (Dili bridge) and Buenavista to the south (Matandang Gasan bridge), was constructed at the turn of the 20th century during the Commonwealth era. Here are old photos of the Nieva Bridge, taken from historical records through research. The old bridge is now preserved as the town's valuable historical relic. Nieva bridge was named after Juan Morente Nieva, Lieutenant-Governor of Marinduque during the Commonwealth, then a sub-province of Tayabas. (Read story here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=174458408663290&id=100082973965135 ) Nieva was responsible for the program of planting coconut trees all throughout the province and the installation of telegraph lines all over the island for communication. The historic bridge is part of the memories of Midwest school graduates who all passed through it. (story: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=174458801996584...

(Photo credit to the owner) People who grew up in Gasan in the late 70's and early 80's knew of igod hunting, a craze during summer nights when the youth would go out at night in niyugans or coconut groves looking for igod or native coconut crabs. The young people would hunt igod using burned kayakas in the dark (dry coconut palm leaves) and used the burned leaves to singe and catch igod as it would crawl and climb up the coconut trees. Igod or coconut crabs feed on coconut meat or coconut plant and any other organic material. Igod is now rare in Gasan with the decrease of coconut trees in the surroundings. Igods are now mostly found in the rocky Tres Reyes Islands. Cooking Igod, whether steamed or in coconut milk (ginataan), is a rare, delectable dish of Gasan culinary tradition. Photos: CTTO credit to the owner of photos/ photos not mine #GasanMarinduque #gasanheritage #gasanculture #gasanhistory #Gasan #igod

  (Photo credit to the owner) Aside from hot pandesal, Gasan children who grew up during the late 70's loved the taste of bonete, a locally made bread and breakfast staple in town during that time. Gasan's best bonete was sold by Aling Goria Tan's bakery in Plata street. Their bakery made the best bonete and monay in town. The bakery closed down after Aling Goria passed away in the late 80s. One of her children, Arnel, continued the business for some time. Tan's bakery is no longer present now. There were three major bakeries competing in town during the 80's: the Tam's bakery and panciteria, the Tan's bakery and Lao (Kuba)bakery. They have their specialty bread and they are all gone now. Tam had its hot pandesal,kabayan, and kalahi; Goria Tan its bonete and monay; and Kuba its red gorgoria and fita bread. We had all sorts of local bread in town during those times. One day, I was surprised to learn that bonete is still being sold in some towns in Laguna and ...

Gasan is home to the scenic Tres Reyes Islands, an ideal place for diving and snorkeling. The islands were named after the Three Kings - Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar - by Spanish colonizers. But old native Gasenos know the islands by their old names Laki (Gaspar), Man-nga (Melchor) and Pangikog (Baltazar). The island nearest the Marinduque mainland is Gaspar Island, the only island with inhabitants, and the farthest is Baltazar Island. During the early Commonwealth period, the Americans built a lighthouse with a dwelling house in Baltazar Island. But time and nature took a toll on the structures, and in 1954, a law (RA 1144) was passed appropriating funds for lighthouse stations in the country, which included the repair of the dwelling house of the Baltasar Lighthouse. The dwelling house may be considered as the oldest structure built by the Americans in the province. In 1991, the lighthouse was eventually rehabilitated through a deal with Japan's ODA Loan executed by Maritime Indu...

The Higantes of Gasan made another rare appearance in the streets of town, accompanied by a brass band and a coterie of Niños Inocentes devotees yesterday December 28. Unlike the visually striking image of the three enormous figures of a man, a woman and a child during the 80s, there were five impressive higantes this year. But all the same, the 10-foot figures stood tall using bamboo frame as skeleton and draped in large colorful linen that resembles an attire or costume. The group paraded around the town, with an image of Niño Jesus in a handy crib, asking for gifts or any giveaway token. The celebration of Niños Inocentes with the Higantes in Gasan is a folk religious tradition in town that has been practiced since the 70s (or probably earlier). The practice took its root from the Bible passage that tells of Herod, King of Judea, who ordered the execution of all child born in Bethlehem to thwart the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. #Gasantourism #gasanmarinduque #gasanhisto...

One of the things that make Gasan distinct from other towns of Marinduque is the tiangge or street markets. Gasan holds tiangges twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Tuesday tiangge is traditionally held beside the public market. During the 70s and 80s, the tiangge was held in Zamora Street, the street where the old market was located, parallel to the shore line. In the 90s, when a strong typhoon devastated the old market, the venue for the tiangge was temporarily transferred to Del Pilar street, the road going to Barangay Tiguion and Kawilihan Park. Later, after a new public market building was constructed, the tiangge was held beside the public market again, located in Barangay Dili, and until now is held there. The other tiangge is held in Barangay Libtangin every Saturday, in an open space near the Libtangin River. Barangay Libtangin is halfway to the capital town Boac and during the time when no bridge was built there yet and during inclement weather, the place served as th...