The Mining Capital of

the Philippines (Before)

 Oriental Mindoro
Calapan City
Located in the eastern
portion of the island
Language (Tagalog)
Bisaya
Ethnic Group (Mangyan)

History
The island of Mindoro was mentioned in some Chinese
Chronicles as the land MaI where MaI residents were believed
to be trading with merchants from other parts of archipelago and
Southeast Asia.
The Spaniards visited the island in 1570 and established a
settlement in Puerto Galera. The port in Puerto Galera has
become an important median for galleons proceeding to and
from Mexico. Mindoro became part of Batangas until the early
17th century and became part of Marinduque in June 1902. It
was proclaimed a special province in November 1902 untiit
became a regular province through Republic Act No.2964 on
February 20,1921. On June 13, 1950, by virtue of RA 505, the
Mindoro province was separated into Oriental and Occidental
Mindoro.

Going around
Land
Tricycle and jeepneys are the main modes of transportation in Calapan City while
several buses, jeeps and shuttle vans are being offered on a regular trip. HabalHabal or motorcycle are being used as mode of transport in some places.
The establishment of Strong Republic Nautical Highway(SRNH), a road network of
919 kilometers of Manila-Iligan via Dapitan runs along mainland Luzon, Oriental
Mindoro, Panay, Negros and Mindanao provided opportunity for the province
to interconnect with the major islands of the country via Roll- on- Roll- off (RORO)
and fast crafts.
The 129 kilometer road stretch from Calapan City to Roxas, (the gateway to
Southern Philippines) and the extension of 50.4 kilometers of road from Roxas to
Bulalacao passing through the Municipality of Mansalay has been the gateway for
Visayas in the past few years.
The National road is connected with the provincial and municipal roads leading to
interior barangays which serve as passage of commuters and commodities. There is
also circumferential road of 29 kilometers from Bulalacao to San Jose Occidental
Mindoro which is the conduit in the mobility of passengers and transport of marine
and agricultural products for both provinces. As of 2010, 224.225 kms is concreted,
71.13kms are asphalt while the remaining 32.742 is paved with gravel.

How to get there

Sea

Calapan and Roxas Ports are the two major ports of Oriental Mindoro. Calapan Port
providesvenue for the transport of cargoes and passengers to Metro Manila and other
provinces in Luzon via Batangas port, with 32 daily round trips. Said port is equipped with
berthing areas for fast craft, conventional and Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessels, passenger
terminal shed and a Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) with complete amenities. For out
bounded cargoes, rice, banana, fruits, citrus and other agricultural products are handled by
the port, as well as inbound cargoes like cement, fertilizers and general commodities.
Four shipping companies, namely: Starlite Ferry Inc., Montenegro Shipping Lines, Besta
Shipping Lines, andSupercat Fast Ferry Corporation regularly ply theBatangas Calapan
route and vice-versa.The average travel time from Batangas to Calapan is 2 to 3 hours by
RoRo vessel and one hour through fast craft. The average travel time fromBatangas to
Puerto Galera takes one hour by motorized banca.
Puerto Galera has four jetty/service ports Balatero, Muelle, Sabang and Minolo, which
serve as docking areas for motorized boats ferrying tourists from Batangas Port. Mansalay
and Bulalacao, being the provinces two largest fish-producing municipalities have fish ports
linking the province to Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Taboron Island, and Semirara
Island. Pola Port has an existing operations building and is once utilized for the transport of
banana, copra, charcoal to the nearby municipalities and Manila in the past.

 Air
Three airports have been established in Oriental Mindoro but
are currently non-operational. The Calapan Airportwhich
usedmainly for general aviation and is being utilized as a
training ground for flying schools based in Manila and to
charter private individuals, government officials and
investors.
Pinamalayan Airport has been non-operational although
equippedwith watch tower, administrative building, concrete
runway,fire truck and service vehicle. This facility operates in
emergencycases on situations.WasigAirport in Mansalay is
non-operationalexceptduring emergency situations.

 How to get there?

- From Manila, go to the nearest bus
station going to Batangas port. From
there, ride a ferry going to Calapan City.
Best time to travel: Summer or Holy
Week
Tourist Arrivals
Foreign: 17,121
Local: 125,721

Festival(s)
The Pandang-Gitab Oriental Mindoro was launched
as a street dancing competition and became a much
applauded attraction as it was danced in Calapan
Citys main avenue.
Pandang-Gitab was coined from Pandanggo
(Fandango) and Dagitab which is synonymous to
light, adapting basic steps of Pandanggo sa Ilaw
(Dance of Lights) which was told to have originated
in Lubang, Mindoro Island.

Attractions
Lake Naujan
Mount Halcon
Tamaraw Falls between San Teodoro
and Puerto Galera
White Beach in Puerto Galera
Sunday Trip Band

 The best time to go is always during the summer season from February to
May.
The tourism peak season in Puerto Galera is usually around the days
leading to Holy Week and after it.
Hire a van.
Filipiniana, the largest
hotel in Oriental Mindoro.
Price ranges from
Php1200-Php3500.

garden
outdoor pool
hot tub
pool (kids)
massage
sauna

Home of the indigenous Mangyans

 Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the

island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the
south by the Mindoro Strait.
LANGUAGES
Tagalog
Mangyan languages
Ilokano
Visaya
Kapampangan
Bikolano

The population of Occidental Mindoro is

452,971 in the 2010 census, making it the
country's 21st least populated province.

Indigenous People
The indigenous people in the province are
the Mangyans(Manguianes in Spanish, Maguianes in Old
Tagalog), consisting of 7 distinct tribes. They occupy the foothills
and interior.

 Among the Filipinos, the industrious traders are

the people of Sulu. They resented the
colonization of the Philippines by the Spaniards
for they could not trade freely with their
countrymen anymore. They got angry when the
Spanish soldiers attacked their settlements in
Mindanao. The former traders retaliated by
raiding the communities under the control of the
Spaniards.

 Before reaching Mamburao, Captain Salcedo and his

troops passed by Iling Island and Talabasi, believed to be
the town of Sta. Cruz at present. They drove the raiders
out of Mamburao and afterwards defeated the defenders
of Lubang. During the 18th until the early part of the
19th century, many communities disappeared in Mindoro
due to the frequent raids made by Muslim traders who
became pirates. To defend themselves, the inhabitants of
some settlements requested the government officials to
help them construct forts and provide them with cannons
which they could use against the pirates.

 When piracy stopped, merchants from other provinces

bartered goods with our ancestors. One of them was Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo who during that time was a young
businessman. In 1950, what could be considered as the
most important event in its political history, happened in
Mindoro. That year, the bill introduced in Congress by
Mindoro Congressman Raul Leuterio, seeking the division
of Mindoro into two provinces --- Oriental Mindoro and
Occidental Mindoro, was approved and became Republic
Act No. 505. The tourism industry in Occidental Mindoro,
particularly in the town of Sablayan, is also being
developed. Tourist guides are being trained in the said
municipality. Beach resorts are also being
constructed and marketed by local businessmen in
various coastal municipalities

Calawagan Mountain Resort

Mamburao Beach Resort
Inasakan, Ilin Island
Hulugaan Falls
Tayamaan Beach
Ambulong Island
Pandan Grande Island
Cabra Island
White Island

 Official hotel
rate from
US$93

Price
ranges
from
Php 2000Php 3000

Pandan Island is for people who like

to spend time in tropical
surroundings without cars
and television. A place where you are
woken up by the singing of colorful
birds, where there is only a palm tree
between you and the sea, where you
still know your neighbors and where
you may even meet a sea turtle
before having your breakfast .

 Dugoy Festival is an annual festival in the

municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro,
Philippines. It is celebrated during the town
fiesta and through street parades and street
dancing which feature the Mangyan culture. It
is becoming popular in recent years and is now
in its seventh year.

Marble Capital of the Philippines

 Area: 1,533.45 km2

Capital: Romblon
Municipalities: 17
Barangays: 219
Spoken Languages: Romblomanon, Asi,
Hiligaynon, Tagalog

 Romblon's early inhabitants were the Negritos from

Panay and Mangyan tribes from Mindoro. Ancient
wooden coffins discovered in caves of Banton Island
in 1936 signify a rich ancient civilization and culture
in the province before the arrival of the Spaniards.
These artifacts are currently in display at the National
Museum in Manila.

 Legend has it that when Goitis expedition landed on the southern

coast of Romblon Island, his men wandered along the beaches
searching for food and water. One of his men saw a low built hut,
and feeling thirsty, he sought the owner of the hut only to find a
hens nest settled somewhere on top of the post near a window.
Upon noticing the house occupant, a young woman, sitting nearby,
the man asked if he could get the chicken for free. The young
woman, not understanding a single word he was saying, answered
in the vernacular nagalumyom, which meant that the hen was
brooding some eggs. Perplexed, the man left the hut muttering in
disgust the word nagalumyom. Asked upon his return to the ship
where he came from, he mockingly answered nagalumyom.

 When the Spanish left, they named the island

Nagalumyom which was corrupted to Lomlom
and later, officially to Donblon. This is the name
mentioned and reported by Miguel de Loarca in
1582, until it finally morphed into its present
name Romblon to suit the Spaniards
pronunciation

Air
From Manila Domestic Airport, which is located
close to the International Airport, two airlines fly
six times a week to the airport in Tugdan, Tablas
Island, Romblon:
Sea Air
Zest Air

Sea
Batangas Port
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the Super RoRo2
Sails to Odiongan Tablas Island, Romblon Island,
leaving Batangas Port at 3pm.
On several days a week ferries (Montenegro Lines)
operate from the port of Batangas to Romblon
Manila Port: Pier 12
Once a week Mary the Queen (MBRS Lines) operates
between Manila, Romblon and Masbate
Mindoro to Romblon
Boracay to Romblon

 Biniray Festival: Fluvial parade at the sea,

merrymaking and street dancing contest
at the capital town. The feast honors the
Sto. Nio.

 Mt. Guiting-guiting
Cantingas River
Carabao Island
Tiamban Beach

Stone Creek House

Romblon Pineapple Hill Guesthouse and Restaurant

 Sarsa is made from coconut with chilis

and very tiny shrimps caught in the
river/streams. It is wrap in a coconut leaf
and then boiled.

The Last Frontier

Area: 14,649.73 km2

Capital: Puerto Princesa City
Municipalities: 23
Barangays: 433
Spoken Languages: Tagalog, Cuyonon,
Hiligaynon

 The history of Palawan (means Kapalawan in

Meranau) may be traced back 22,000 years ago, as
confirmed by the discovery of bone fragments of the
Tabon Lady in the municipality of Quezon. Although
the origin of the cave dwellers is not yet established,
anthropologists believe they came from Borneo.
Known as the Cradle of Philippine Civilization, the
Tabon Caves consist of a series of chambers where
scholars and anthropologists discovered the remains
of the Tabon Man along with his tools and a number
of artifacts.

 Unlike most of the Philippines, Palawan is

biogeographically part of Sundaland, with a fauna and
flora related to that found in Borneo.
Among the many endemic species are the Palawan
Peacock-pheasant, Philippine Mouse-deer, Philippine
Pangolin and Palawan Bearded Pig. In the forests and
grasslands, the air resonates with the songs of more than
200 kinds of birds. Over 600 species of butterflies flutter
around the mountains and fields of Palawan, attracted to
some 1500 hosts plants found here. Endangered sea
turtles nest on white sand beaches. Dugong numbers
have fallen seriously, although Palawan still has a larger
population than any other part of the country.

Sea
Palawan has boat connections to and from Manila, Iloilo
(on Panay), and San Jos (on Mindoro).

Manila-Coron-Puerto Iloilo (Panay)

Princesa
Milagrosa Shipping
SuperFerry
San jos (Mindoro)
Negros Navigation
San Nicolas
Manila-Coron-El Nido
San Nicolas Shipping
Atienza Shipping Lines

Air-Puerto Princesa is accessible by direct flights from

the major Philippine cities Manila, Cebu, Davao and
Iloilo as well as Busuanga and El Nido and the Malaysian
city of Kota Kinabalu
Puerto Princesa International Airport
El Nido Airport
Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga)

Air Asia (Zest Air)

Cebu Pacific
PAL
SEAIR
Asian Spirit
ITI
MASwings (Malaysia)

 Balayong Festival-a festival commemorating

the founding anniversary of Puerto Princesa
highlighted by street dancing, marching bands,
parade and colorful floats made of recyclable
materials.
Baragatan Festival-to celebrate the founding
anniversary of the Civil Government of
Palawan

Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary

El Nido Marine Reserve Park
Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Ursula Island
Mt. Mantalingahan
Onuk Island
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park
Coron

The Legend Palawan

 Hotel Centro

Sheridan Beach Resort

Amanpulo Resort

El Nido Resorts

Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa

 Chaolong (with French Bread)

Cashew Nuts
Tamilok
Seafood

The Heart of the Philippines

Area: 952.58 km2

Capital: Boac
Municipalities: 6
Barangays: 218
Spoken Languages: Tagalog* and English

 The version of Tagalog spoken in Marinduque

has been described as "the root from which
modern national forms of speech have
sprung," where remnants of archaic Tagalog
could be found, spoken in a lilting manner by
its inhabitants. If this linguistic theory is
accurate, Marinduque's Tagalog has
contributed significantly to the development
of the official Philippine national language.

 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.

About the Island

heart shaped

Highest peak: Mount Malindig

Air
Land
Sea

Daily flight from Manila to Gasan,

Marinduque

From Pasay or Cubao, ride a bus bound

for Lucena or drive there through the
South Luzon Expressway

Can also ride a fast craft or ferry from

Lucena City to Marinduque

Mt. Malindig
Marinduque Sulfuric Hot Spring
Kawa-kawa Falls
Boac: Wood and stone houses
Bathala Cave (Sta. Cruz)
Talamban Caves (Boac)

Boac Hotel

Bellaroca Hotel

 Bibingkang Lalaki
Arurut (Arrowroot Cookies)

Natural beauty
Rich flora and fauna
Lots of access points
Fertile land(agriculture)

Island provinces
Power Supply
Inter-regional travel is hard
Surrounded by water
Poor health facilities
Poorly maintained roads

 Lots of untapped beauty

Lots of potential
More room for development like beaches, nature parks, dive
sites

Pathway of storms
NPA infested mountains
Lots of access points from unwanted visitors
Security