I.

BRIEF PROFILE AND HISTORY

It is written that the word Cajidiocan refers to a place where there is

abundance of idioc trees. “Jidioc” is a palm tree called “irok” in dialect. As
shown in the Municipal Seal, “idioc” is a dominating item--- the town’s name,
Cajidiocan, being derived from it. The Municipality is composed of fourteen
(14) barangays, as represented by the 14 stars in the Seal, whose harmonious
relationship is symbolized by the yellow color inside the inner circle. The white
color in the outer circle depicts the tranquility that indicates a commendable
peace and order of the place. It is primarily agricultural in nature, being
blessed with lush forest, fertile soil and marine waters included within Sibuyan
Sea, which is considered one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.

The marine waters of Cajidiocan, has been a historical part of WWII

Battle Theater on October 24, 1944 where the famous Battle of Sibuyan Sea
happened and witnessed by the inhabitants in the ground and atop
coconut trees. Cajidiocanons witnessed the loss of the super Battleship
Musashi of the Imperial Japanese Navy at Sibuyan Sea on that fated day.
The Battleship Musashi was the symbol of the invincibility of the Imperial
Japanese Navy and the military greatness of the Empire of Japan. The loss of
Musashi became the turning point of WWII, for after this, the Imperial
Japanese Navy weakened and the American 7th Fleet reached the Philippine
shore, defeated the enemy and the US Navy controlled the Philippine Sea
and later the whole of the Pacific with the lives of thousands of Japanese
soldiers, Filipinos, Americans and allies tragically sacrificed in the said Battle.

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the early people of Cajidiocan were
found to be pagans. Their way of living was practically very primitive. They
communicated with their neighbours by means of building a fire, by which
smoke in the area can be seen as a sign that there is somebody within the
vicinity or through a sound from an empty shell called “Budiong” or an echo
from a sound produced by beating a huge hollow dried trunk of a tree.
 Christianity was introduced all over the town when the Spaniards came.
The people of Cajidiocan were forced to embrace Christianity with all its
teachings and religious practices. The people also gain learning experiences
such as better trading techniques with merchants, new farming systems,
improved living conditions and building better houses, among others.
Education was compulsory to all the people especially the “Cartilla” method
of teaching. During this time most of the surnames of the people were
changed to one majority names which started with letter “R”. The reason
behind the use of such letter was unknown to all, but by so doing, it identified
the people coming from Sibuyan Island, most especially those coming from
Cajidiocan, Province of Romblon.

Cajidiocan was founded by Kapitan Pablo Encarnacion (maguyang)

whose surname was later changed to Roa and Kapitan Pablo Rabino (bata).
There is no record of the exact date when Kapitan Pablo Encarnacion
founded Cajidiocan. However, as per record on file of Sta. Barbara Parish
Church in Barangay Poblacion, Cajidiocan, Romblon, the Parish of Sta.
Barbara in this town was established as early as April 17, 1774 with Rev. Fr.
Juan de San Jose, as the first Parish Priest. The Capitan Municipal who served
the municipality during the Spanish regime were: Don Pablo Encarnacion
Roa, Don Pablo Rabino, Don Rufino Ramirez, Don Apolinario Dianco (Kapitan
Puli), Don Vicente Rovira, Don Aquilino Rio, Don Tomas Rabida and Don
Silverio Roa.

Records revealed that the Pueblo Municipal of Cajidiocan was formally

established at the turn of the 20th Century or the advent of the American
regime in the 1900 and the first duly elected Municipal President, who served
the term 1900 to 1905, was Don Emeterio T. Riva, a person of humble
beginning and had impaired eyesight but considered to be the first
intellectual born in Sibuyan Island, ever to study Arts and Letters at the
Ateneo Normal School, Alma Mater of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, where he
obtained and conferred with the highest honors of Sobre-Excellente.

The following Municipal presidents during the American regime were;

Emeterio Riva (1900-1905), Leocadio Dianco (1906-1907), Sixto Rocero (1908-
1909), Paulino Dianco (1910-1912), Manuel Rabino (1913-1914), Petronio
Rovira (1915-1922), Pedro Roa (1922-1925), Domingo Reta (1925-1928),
Petronio Rovira (1928-1931), Amancio Roca (1931-1934), Tomas G. Ramilo
(1937-1940).

Then, Commonwealth Act 581 was passed on July 1, 1940 and Romblon
Province was reorganized into four (4) special municipalities, which include
Tablas Island, Sibuyan Island, Romblon Island, and Maghali Islands (Tres Islas
composed of: Banton, Concepcion and Corcuera/Simara). When Sibuyan
Island was inaugurated as one of the four (4) special municipalities in the
province, it made Cajidiocan the seat of Sibuyan government under the
leadership of Mayor Lucas Rovira. The leadership was then transferred to
Mayor Pantaleon Besas in 1941 (July 1941 to December 1941).
 In 1943, the Province of Romblon was under the resistance government
of Tomas Confessor, who was the governor of Panay and Romblon. Mayor
Pantaleon Besas was appointed by the governor as Deputy Governor for the
Province of Romblon with headquarters in Cajidiocan. Governor Confessor
then appointed Manuel Roa as Mayor of Cajidiocan from August 1, 1943 to
March 31, 1945. When PAGAU arrived in Romblon to restore the
Commonwealth Government on March 12, 1945----the officials under the
leadership of Mayor Pantaleon Besas were then reappointed.

On January 1, 1947, Cajidiocan was inaugurated as an organized

municipality and on the same date also the province of Romblon was
inaugurated as an organized province. The officials of Cajidiocan were led
by Mayor Fruto Rabino (1947-1951). The succeeding mayors were; Paulino
Rovira (1952-1955), Li R. Umali (1956-1959), Panfilo R. Umali (1960-1971),
Juanito Besas (1972-1980), Maria Calsado (1980-1986), Noe M. Tarrosa (OIC-
1986-1988), Juan M. Rovira (1988-1992), Constancio M. Gotanco (1992-1995),
Nicasio M. Ramos (1995-2004), Athena B. Malapitan (2004-2007), Nicasio M.
Ramos (2007-2010), Festo R. Galang, Jr.(2010-2013), Nicasio M. Ramos (2013-
2022), Atty. Marvin R. Ramos (2022 – present).

II. GEOGRAPHY
The Municipality of Cajidiocan is the central town among the three (3)
municipalities of Sibuyan Island. It is joined by the neighboring municipalities
of Magdiwang in the North and San Fernando in the South. On the East it is
bounded by Sibuyan Sea and on the West by Mt. Guiting-Guiting Mountain
Range. It is approximately 12 nautical miles from Romblon, the capital town
of the province and more or less 208 nautical miles from Metro Manila and
lies between 122 20’ and 122 35’ north longitude, and 12 20’ and 12 30’ east
latitude.

The Municipality of Cajidiocan has a total land area of 19,758.60

hectares as per cadastral record of the Municipal Assessor’s Office. It is the
largest town in the Province of Romblon in terms of land area and is around
13.16 percent of the province’s total land area.

III. POPULATION AND RELIGION

The total population of the Municipality of Cajidiocan as of 2020 NSO
Census is 23,259.

Roman Catholics rank first among the religious sectors in the

Municipality. Majority of the total population is purely Christians, followed by
the Protestants, Iglesia Ni Cristo and Seventh day Adventist.
IV. ECONOMY

Cajidiocan is pre-dominantly agricultural, with agricultural lands

covering more than 30% of the total municipal land area and economic
activities mostly relying on farming, livestock and poultry-raising, fishing, agro-
forestry and agri-based commodities in an estimated 6,653.66 hectares.
Coconuts dominate most of the areas devoted to agricultural production
occupying about 5,563 hectares of land and involving 3,025 farmers and
1,108 tenants. There are also families engaged in livestock and poultry-raising,
including swine breeding. The municipality is also known for its wide fishing
grounds with different fish species including tuna, dorado, maya-maya, silay,
kumay, lapu-lapu, giant pusit, mollusks, etc. Cajidiocan marine ecosystem
includes coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses serves as habitats of marine lives.
Its eleven (11) coastal barangays are engaged in fishing and other fishing-
related activities as another major source of household income. As of 2021,
there are 1,265 registered fisherfolks in the municipality and 485 registered
fishing vessels. Based on the inventory of the Municipal Agriculture Office, the
average fish catch is 46 metric ton per year.

There is a growing business environment in the municipality. In 2022, a

total of 479 business establishments renewed and registered their permits and
licenses. Most of the businesses are engaged in retailing operation of sari-sari
store type, 45 are in agriculture and manufacturing sector, and 46 are in the
various service sectors and mostly found in Barangay Poblacion.

VI. TOURISM

The Municipality of Cajidiocan is located along the narrow coastal strip

and at the eastern portion of Sibuyan Island. History recalls that Sibuyan Sea
was known for being the venue of one of the greatest battles (Battle of
Sibuyan Sea) fought during World War II between the Japanese Fleet and the
American Allies, which is celebrated annually every 24th day of October. The
celebration gradually became a potential tourists’ attraction.

The municipality also partly houses the majestic Mt. Guiting-guiting

Mountain Range which was proclaimed by President Fidel V. Ramos as
Natural Park under Proclamation No. 746 dated February 20, 1996. Being a
Natural Park, it is classified as a Protected Area and shall be conserved and
strictly protected under RA No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected
Areas System NIPAS Act of 1992. Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park with its
jagged peaks embraced the three municipalities of Sibuyan Island,
Cajidiocan, San Fernando and Magdiwang, hence the responsibilities to
conserve, preserve and protect this natural park is shared by the three
municipalities of Sibuyan.
 The tourism program of the Municipality of Cajidiocan is being set out
to prevent an unplanned tourism development that may threaten the fragile
environment of the municipality and the island.

Tourism as an integral part of the economic strategy of the Municipality

of Cajidiocan hopes to draw-in investors that will engage in the development
of the upland or coastal resorts, and other tourism-related activities like the
establishment of souvenir shops, operators of lodging houses and/or pension
houses.

Other potential tourism sites in the Municipality of Cajidiocan;

1. Cawa-Cawa Falls, Barangay Lumbang Weste

The municipality houses the famous Cawa-Cawa Falls, which is noted

for its thick vegetation, cool and crystal-clear water. Water from first
waterfall is pooled together in a cauldron-shaped rock formation.
Same, too, in the second and third levels water falls--- hence, the name
“Cawa-Cawa”. Living in the area are mostly IPs, being included in the
ancestral domain and located adjacent to IP’s Haguimit Cluster.
Tourists visiting “Cawa-Cawa” may be able to interact with the IPs and
experience a bit of their traditional practices. Access road has been
constructed from the barangay proper of Lumbang Weste to the site
for the easy access of the local and foreign tourists.

2. Hanging Bridges, St. Therese Tunnel, Shrimp Sanctuary and Bula-bula

River at Sitio Panaguintingan, Barangay Lumbang Weste

Another favorite tourists’ destination in this Municipality is the 80-meter

Hanging Bridge which is considered the longest hanging bridge in
Sibuyan Island. From this hanging bridge, you will pass the amazing St.
Therese Tunnel, a 20-meter tunnel constructed below Taludtud-
Karabao Hill. The tunnel ends at the Shrimp Sanctuary. This Sanctuary is
the center of the fresh water shrimp or “ulang” culture of the IPs. From
the Sanctuary, tourists will pass another two (2) hanging bridges before
reaching the Bula-bula River. Bula-bula is the meeting point of water
from Gomot Waterfalls in Sinapawan and water from Panaguintingan
River forming a letter Y-shaped body of water. As the water meets and
fused together, water bubbles are produced called in dialect as
“bula”. Hence, the name “Bula-bula”.

The construction of the Hanging Bridges and the St. Therese Tunnel
were spearheaded by Rev. Fr. Alois Ortner, SVD, the first Parish Priest of
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Family Parish, Barangay Lumbang Este.

Upon reaching Panaguintingan upland, you will enjoy the beauty of

the natural scenery that is made famous by hectares of rootcrops
 (bundo, gabi, etc.), bago/lumbay, abaca, banana, pineapple
plantation of IPs called Sibuyan Mangyan Taga-bukid.

3. Kabit-Tubi Falls, Barangay Lumbang Weste

Kabit-Tubi Falls is located in Haguimit Cluster of the IPs’ ancestral

domain. It has 350 ft. waterfalls and serves as a campsite of Cajidiocan
Trail to the summit of Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park via its saw-
toothed peak ---a risky and difficult to climb portion of Mt. Guiting-
guiting that challenges the courage and determination of mountain
climbers.

4. Gomot Falls, Sitio Sinapawan, Barangay Sugod

A natural 20-meter tall waterfall located at IPs’ Sinapawan Cluster and

is part of IP’s Ancestral domain. The tourists trekked into this emerging
tourist spot via an access road from Sugod Barangay Hall towards Sitio
Nalus-ocan. This tourism site is made famous by the presence of old big
red and white Lauaan trees and other tree species along the trail. The
area can also be reached through motorcycles.

5. Kapitan Berio Cave, Barangay Cambajao

This is another tourism site located at barangay Cambajao by taking

an 8-hour trek to the cave that includes crossing rivers and climbing
steep hills. A legend recalls that a certain Kapitan Berio hid there during
the Spanish time and was captive by a mysterious creature in the cave.

6. Agbalit River Resort, Sitio Camanglad, Barangay Danao

Barangay Danao is a host to a cool, crystal-clear body of fresh water

cascading down the sea. A serene place to relax and feel the coolness
of the water and thick vegetation with unique rock formation of
different sizes that adds color to the site. This area is well known to local
residents and adjacent barangays including bakasyunistas that usually
spend their vacation with friends on the cascading water of Agbalit
River. The Barangay Government allotted fund for the improvement of
this area and now used as one of the municipality’s tourist destination.

7. Beaches in Barangay Taguilos, Marigondon and Sugod

A long strip of sandy shoreline noted for recreational activities during

weekends to a group of individuals who loves swimming. Bakasyunistas
from other barangays together with their friends and families enjoy the
clear marine water.
8. Fish Sanctuary in Barangays Taguilos and Marigondon

A 288-hectare body of marine water established as Fish Sanctuary in

Barangays Taguilos and Marigondon. The existence of hard and soft
corals provided habitat for different species of fish and other marine
lives. Its unique coral formation, mangrove cover and sea grasses
made the Municipal Government conserve, preserve and protect it for
the benefit of the future generations. The Local Government Unit in
collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
conducted necessary assessment prior to its declaration as Fish
Sanctuary. Active community participation contributed much to the
success of this project.

9. Baywalk Boulevard in Barangay Poblacion

A fast-becoming tourist attraction, being conducive for swimming and

other recreational activities. The adjacent Causeway/Seawall became
the popular site for morning and afternoon exercises of senior citizens
and other residents, who frequented the area for walking, jogging and
other workout activities.