Mang Lando, a man behind the mask

The Island paradise of Southern Luzon is blessed by Mother Nature with more than its fair share of natural wonders and artistic persons.

In the province of Marinduque, at the town of Mogpog, there is a man who is well known because of his art works and masterpieces. He is Rolando “Lando” Mangcoy, a 47 year old man living in Brgy. Villa Mendez. This man can create a wonderful mask which is so-called “Morion”. Over 32 years, Mang Lando gave importance to his Morions and eventually he makes four Morions every month.

When we interviewed mang Lando, on how he started to make a morion and what are those materials he is using, he said, “ napunta akong bundok, puno ng dapdap ang aking nakuha dahil magandang klase at mas maayos gamitin. Walang bayad yun pero depende kung magpapabayad yung may ari ng hihingan mo”. We asked him again, how much is the whole set of morion if it is ready made, and then he told to us that it can cost ₱60,000.00 depend on its design.

Mang lando is very famous, why? Because there’s a lot of people who admires his work even foreigner. Trishia Nicolson, a half Spanish half American who creates a book about the history of Mang Lando’s work. Nicolson is a friend of Mang Lando.

“ Sarili kong idea ang design “, he said. Mang Lando’s artistic mind and creativity is a very wonderful because he can create a Morion with beautiful designs and perfect face of a man.

To give life his work, Mang Lando used the hair of dog because it is perfect to be the eyelashes of his morion. It seems so beautiful.

Mang Lando is very excellent because his obramaestra won last 2008 and 2009 as the best Morion made. He said that if you make a Morion, give respect and do not make it ugly because Morion, he said that, it is the “human Jesus looks alike”.

A man of worth, Mang Lando is a true Marinduqueno. A man who is considered a hardworking person despite of any struggles he is encountering every time he make a morion.

He is a perfect replication of an artist, creating a marvelous masterpieces, his great creativity and his non scientific branches of knowledge which his town to be proud. Mang Lando is a true man of worth.

Feature Article by: Mark Cezar A. Ola