About sixty tourism stakeholders composed of representatives from airline and shipping companies, tour operators and agencies, social media influencers, national government agencies, and other provincial tourism offices in the MIMAROPA Region led were treated to a glimpse of local Santa Cruz culture, heritage, and arts during the recently concluded Parine Na! Marinduque Cultural Development Caravan held from June 23 to 26, 2026. The cultural caravan, organized by DOT-MIMAROPA toured the delegation around Marinduque with the Santa Cruz leg happening on June 24.
LOOK: Santakruzins welcome the Parine Na! Marinduque Cultural Tourism Development Caravan Delegation (click the arrows to scroll the album).
On the second day of Parine Na! Marinduque Culture and Heritage Caravan, the ever-energetic Mayor Marisa Red-Martinez, along with the Sangguniang Bayan Members and municipal employees, welcomed delegates at the intersection of Mabini and Quezon streets. Right under the heat of the morning sun, guests were treated to a quick street performance by Santa Cruz Dancers and a photo opportunity with Municipal Moriones and the winners of the recently-held Binibing Santa Cruz pageant – a teaser for what would come later.
The delegation was then escorted inside the centuries-old Holy Cross Parish Church which counts among its key features the only existing pulpit in the entire province of Marinduque. Parochial Vicar Rev. Fr. James Handa welcomed the participants and gave a brief historical and cultural lecture about the Parish and the Church. Soon after, they left for lunch at Panuluyan Farmstay, an emerging gastronomy hub that highlights cacao delicacies made by local farmers.
By late afternoon when they arrived at the Morion Camp in Barangay Tagum, the budding tourist destination had transformed into a fully-fledged cultural hub for all things Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Dancers to the drumb bats of TRIBUNG LABAK once again greeted them with a performance, this time their Morion Military Drill which won the province-wide Saliw Sa Panata contest held last Holy Week.
The ladies of Binibining Santa Cruz 2026 whom they met earlier in the day became their personal tour guides into the offerings of the Camp. In their Lady Morion attire, they discussed the available accommodations, Claudia’s Chamber and Longinus Lounge, and the costume-wearing and photo-taking activity inside the Taverna Centvrion hall. A local rendering of the Roman god Dionysus inside the hall served as the backdrop for these pictures, creating an exciting and immersive step back into ancient Roman history.
LOOK: Parine Na! Marinduque Cultural Tourism Development Caravan Delegates take part in an immersive cultural experience at the Morion Camp at Dapdap Beach in the seaside village of Barangay Tagum, Santa Cruz, Marinduque (click the arrows to scroll the album).
Upon stepping out of Taverna Centvrion were culinary products on one side while local handcrafts flanked the other. Guests got to taste heritage delicacies like Catalina’s Panganan, Rejano’s Arrowroot Cookies, and Jasmin’s Peanut Butter alongside up-and-coming products such as Morion Cookies, Three Sisters Banana Chips, and locally-made salted duck eggs. And those who enjoyed getting their hands dirty got to experience weaving their own Buri, painting their own Morion Wearable Art, and making their own Morion Crochet Dolls. While these products were brought to the camp for this one-time event, future guests will still have the chance to enjoy these local culinary and handicraft experiences in a soon-to-be-launched tour package based at the Camp.
LOOK: Santakruzin youth mostly composed of the local government's summer job student employees stage the maiden production of HENERASYON MORYON set to become the signature theater production at the Morion Camp (click the arrows to scroll the album).
One of the highlights of the evening was the premiere of Henerasyon Moryon, a play by Santa Cruz’s own Lorence Joshua Soto. Inspired by the events seen in the annual Senakulo and the historical origins of Moryonan in Marinduque, this play was produced and performed by the local youth, many of whom were their first time ever under the spotlight. The play also featured a special performance by Mr. Efren Murillo Pastorfide, the original Longinus of the annual Senakulo. The stage play had members of national media crouching on the ground for the perfect shot and earned the novice actors a standing ovation from the delegates.
The evening culminated with a dinner curated by the Camp’s concessionaire, Kamayan sa Hardin led by Chef Julius dela Rosa. While visitors enjoyed a wide selection of dishes that included the nationally-known Crispy Pata of Santa Cruz and Manakla, a freshwater shellfish endemic to Marinduque, they were serenaded by a performance by the Bulilit Rondalla of Escuela de Gratia Plena Inc. and renditions of classic Filipino songs by Audrey Villaruel, the in-house songstress at the Morion Camp.
Before guests left, Mayor Marisa Red-Martinez handed out tokens: a Morion Crochet Doll for each delegate. Cute and cuddly, these souvenirs will serve as a reminder for the guests of the exciting immersive experience they had at the Morion Camp in the scenic seaside village of Tagum, Santa Cruz, Marinduque.