Chapter 3: Region 2

Chapter
REGION
Six 4B – MIMAROPA Region
Chapter Outline Learning Objectives

 Introduction After studying this chapter you should be able to:

 Fast Facts

three
a..Port of Access 2.1 Identify the different major attractions, activities,
b. Attraction and Activities accomodations and cultural highlights in the provinces
c. Range of Accomodation
within the MIMAROPA Region.
d.Food and Delicacies
e. Festivals and Special Events
2.2 Create different tour packages that carry different
f. Major Cultural Groups
g. Major Industries types of tourism activities within the region.
h. Languages/Dialect Spoken
2.3 Assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats of the region in terms of the 4As of tourism.

OVERVIEW: REGION 4B: MIMAROPA REGION

This chapter presents the major tourist destination areas in MIMAROPA Region. Major discussions will be on access, health and
safety issues, geographical characteristics, major attractions, gastronomy and distinctive cultural attributes of the region related to
the development and promotion of tourism in the Philippines.

STIMULATING LEARNING

ACTIVITY 1. (Click here to Appreciate the beauty of MIMAROPA Region)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGS7pSwC-c

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 Chapter 3: Region 2

INTRODUCTION

The region prides itself with exotic island provinces with rich flora and fauna. Quite unassuming, the region can actually
take a tourist’s breath away with its natural beauty. The MIMAROPA Region includes the provinces of:

 Marinduque;
 Occidental Mindoro;
 Oriental Mindoro;
 Palawan; and
 Romblon

Fast Facts

No. of Towns
Land Area (in No. of
Capital Major Industries and
hectares) Cities
Municipalities
Agriculture, Fishing, Handicraft,
Marinduque Boac 95, 258 - 6
Trade
Occidental Agriculture, Livestock, Trade,
San Jose 586, 571 - 11
Mindoro Tourism
Agriculture, Commerce, Trade,
Oriental Mindoro Calapan City 423, 838 1 14
Tourism
Puerto Princesa Agriculture,Fishing, Logging,
Palawan 1, 703, 075 1 23
City Trade, Tourism
Agriculture, Livestock and
Romblon Romblon 153, 345 - 17
Poultry, Fishing, Mining (Marble)

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 Chapter 3: Region 2
A. Ports of Access

The provinces in the MIMAROPA Region are mostly island provinces with the exception of Occidental and
Oriental Mindoro. Since they are islands, primary access is by air or sea. An international airport is available in Puerto
Princesa City as the gateway to the world-famous islands in Palawan.

via Pan-Philippine Highway

Batangas Port via Southern Tagalog Arterial Road
via SLEX or CAVITEX

By Air: Puerto Princesa International Airport is the main gateway to the region both from domestic and international destinations.
Alternatively, domestic flights from Manila to San Jose Airport in Occidental Mindoro and El Nido Airport in Palawan are serviced
by Cebu Pacific both approximately for an hour.

By Sea: From Lucena City in Quezon, fastcraft ferries are available going to Boac and Mogpog in Marinduque. On the other hand,
fastcraft ferries are available from Batangas port to Calapan and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, San Jose and Abra de Ilog in
Occidental Mindoro, and Romblon. Moreover, Negros Navigation offers terry trips from Manila to Puerto Princesa once a week.

Getting Around: Regular bus trips are available to roam around each island. Jeepneys and tricycles are also available to travel
between towns. There are also several fastcraft ferries available to move from one island to another.

B. Attractions and Activities

Historical, Cultural and Heritage

Natural Attractions Built Attractions
Attractions
Marinduque  Boac Cathedral  Poctoy Beach
 Mt. Malindig
 Balanacan Bay
 Tres Reyes Islands
 Malbog Sulfur Spring
Occidental Mindoro  Parola Park  Apo Reef National Park  Sablayan Zipline
 Ambulong Island Adventure
 Ambil Island  Mamburao Beach
 Pandan Grande Island Resort
 Siburan Forest
 Mt. Iglit
 White Island
Oriental Mindoro  Simbahang Bato  Puerto Galera Beaches
 Mangyan Hanunuo Tribe  Tamaraw Falls
Settlement  Mt. Halcon
 Kuta  Naujan Lake National Park
 The Cross at Muelle  Bulalacao Group of Islands
 Baluarte
Palawan  Puerto de Sta. Isabel  Puerto Princesa Subterranean  Palawan Crocodile
 Cuyo Port River National Park Farm
 Agutaya Fort  El Nido Marine Reserve Park  Iwahig Prison and
 Melville Lighthouse  Honda Bay Penal Farm
 Coron Island  Calauit Safari Park
 Tabon Cave
 Tubbataha Reef Marine Park
 Ugong Rock
 San Vicente
 Maquinit Hot Spring

Romblon  Fort San Andres and Santiago  Crest de Gallo Islet  Marble Shopping
 Romblon Cathedral  Looc Bay Marine Sanctuary Center
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 Chapter 3: Region 2
 Bonbon Beach
 Catingas River

Historical Sites and Landmarks of MIMAROPA (REGION 4B)

A. Marinduque

Marinduque is an island province in the Philippines located in Southwestern Tagalog Region or Mimaropa, formerly
designated as Region IV-B. Its capital is the municipality of Boac. Marinduque lies between Tayabas Bay to the north and
Sibuyan Sea to the south. It is west of the Bondoc Peninsula of Quezon province; east of Mindoro Island; and north of the
island province of Romblon. Marinduque is considered as the geographical center of the Philippine archipelago by the
Luzon Datum of 1911, the mother of all Philippine geodetic surveys

1. Pulang Lupa Battle Shrine- Torrijos

The Battle of Pulang Lupa Marker was built in memory of the Marinduque revolutionary forces that fought the Americans.
A marker stands at the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought in the island, the first known major battle won by the
Filipinos over the Americans.

2. Boac Cathedral- Boac

The church, it seemed, was once a fortress during the Spanish era. This was quite evident on the rough stone walls
surrounding the church yard, and its location, which was on the highest part of town, aptly named Barangay Mataas. It
became a haven for the locals during a Moro attack in the 1800’s and was the place where the Philippine Revolutionary
flag was blessed in 1899.

3. Boac Museum- Boac

The branch museum is housed in an old Spanish building built in 1887, that used to be as a boy's school, jailhouse, library
and Municipal Trial Court of Boac, Marinduque. On display are agricultural implements, pottery molds, bamboo tuba
(coconut wine) containers, modern wood carvings, precolonial tradeware ceramics from China, local geologic materials
like minerals, fossilized shells and rocks. Highlights of the collection are the wooden percussion intrument kalutang and
Moriones festival masks and costumes.

B. Occidental Mindoro

The province occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro. Its capital is Mamburao, but the largest municipality is
San Jose.

1. Parola Park- Sablayan

Also known as Presing Park named after the wife of former Mayor Loreto Urieta during his term. This Mountain Park was
served as the setting of a historic watchtower and cannon built in 1861 against Muslim pirates and intruders ho used to
raid the area.

C. Oriental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro is a province in the Philippines located on the island of Mindoro under Mimaropa region in Luzon, about
140 kilometres southwest of Manila. Oriental Mindoro is touted as the country's emerging eco-tourism destination. In
2005, the Philippines was found to be the center of marine fish biodiversity and the home of the most diverse marine
ecosystem in the world. The indigenous people of Oriental Mindoro are the Mangyans (Manguianes in Spanish,
Mañguianes in Old Tagalog), consisting of seven distinct tribes. They occupy the interior, specially the highlands
Mangyans have inhabited the island since pre-history. They are believed to have originally traveled from Indonesia and
settled down for good in the island.

1. Kuta- Bongabong

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 Chapter 3: Region 2
Kuta Shrine is a relic of the 400-year-old Kuta Church. The church was built from corals and limestone by Augustinian
Recollects in the early 17th century. At that time, the church served as a place of worship and a walled fortress against
Moro invaders. In 1737, the church was abandoned due to the Moro's constant attacks.

2. Muelle Cross- Puerto Galera

The Cross at Muelle is a marble cross established to commemorate the sinking of the battleship Canonero Mariveles at
the Manila Channel on November 18, 1879.

D. Palawan

Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines that is located in the region of Mimaropa. It is the largest province
in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. Its capital is the city of Puerto Princesa, but the city is governed
independently from the province as a highly urbanized city.

1. Plaza Cuartel- Puerto Princesa City

Plaza Cuartel looks like your ordinary city park with concrete pavements, towering trees and benches. The ruins of an old
garrison and tunnels are proof of its grim past. Plaza Cuartel is the site of Palawan Massacre. The tunnels were where
150 American prisoners of war were kept during World War II. It was constructed to protect the inhabitants from the
attacks of the Moro pirates from Sulu who hide from the mask of piracy to fight the spread of Spanish colonization and the
growth of Christianity

2. Puerto de Santa Isabel- Taytay

Fuerza de Santa Isabel was first built as a wood palisade in 1667 under the Augustinian Recollect Fathers

E. Romblon

Romblon is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main islands include Tablas,
the largest, which covers nine municipalities, Sibuyan with its three towns, as well as the smaller island municipalities of
Corcuera, Banton, Concepcion, San Jose, and Romblon, the provincial capital. The province lies south of Marinduque and
Quezon, east of Oriental Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Romblon has been inhabited by
aboriginal Filipinos prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1569. Archaeological artifacts recovered by the National Museum
in 1936 indicate that the aborigines of Romblon already have a rich and advanced culture. The inhabitants of Romblon are
divided into three ethnolinguistic groups: Romblomanon, Onhan and Asi. These groups occupy specific islands in the
province and have their own language and customs. It also has a lucrative marble industry due to an abundance of Italian-
quality marble, hence, its moniker as the "Marble Capital of the Philippines."

1. Fort San Andres- Romblon

Fort San Andres is an imposing lookout over the Poblacion (Main town) of Romblon Island in Romblon Province. Fort San
Andres is the last surviving fortification from the period of the Spanish Occupation of Trinidad, which came to an end in
1797 with the capture of the island by the British. As early as 1733, a fortification called Fort San Andres was planned to
replace a redoubt of fascines and earth, which was the only defense to Port of Spain. The 17th century Spanish Fortress
is now a crumbling reminder of the rich history of Romblon.

2. ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL, ROMBLON, ROMBLON

St. Joseph Cathedral was one of the 26 colonial churches that was declared as National Cultural Treasures in 2001.
Aside from natural wonders, Romblon has other landmarks that tourist can also explore. This church was considered as
the oldest Roman Catholic church in the capital town of Romblon. Every year, on the month of January, Romblon
celebrates the traditional fiesta to honor their patron saint; St. Nino. St Joseph Cathedral may be small compared with
regular cathedral sizes but the ambiance is really perfect for anybody to commune with God.

3. Apunan Point Lighthouse, Agpanabat, Romblon, Romblon

Established in 1973, the 62-feet steel framework tower stands proudly with its old counterpart (established in 1930s) just a
few meters away in Barangay Palje in the southernmost section of Romblon Island. The new lighthouse has an octagonal
white metal tower with a gallery at the top. From the top, one can have a breathtaking view of the Sibuyan Sea, Romblon
Strait, Tablas Island, Sibuyan Island, and, of course, the surrounding landscape of Romblon Island itself.

4. Banton Church- Banton Romblon

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 Chapter 3: Region 2
The Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Parish Church, commonly known as Banton Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the
Municipality of Banton in Romblon province in the Philippines. It is allegedly one of the oldest churches in the country,
constructed between 1644-1650 during the Spanish colonial period. Banton was first mentioned in history when it was
written in the chronicle of Maestre de Campo Martin de Goiti in his voyage to Manila on May 12, 1570 by the instruction of
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi that was then resided in the island of Panay. The façade and tower of the present church is
Modern.

C. Range of Accommodation

Budget Mid – Range High – End

(less than P1,500 per night)
Marinduque  Beach Club Cagpo
 Tahanan sa Isok
 Abby's Place
 A & A Beach Resort
 Lucky Seven Pension
House
 Three Brothers
Occidental Mindoro  Villa Ocampo
 La Sofia Apartelle
 Adventure Camp
 Sikatuna Beach Hotel
 Mindoro Plaza Hotel
 Mindoro Grand Hotel
 
(P1,500 to P3,000 per night) (at least P3,000 per night)
 Boac Hotel  Bellarocca Island
 Residencia de Palo Maria Resort and Spa
 Apo Reef Club Resort
 Villa Paulina Beach
Resort and Spa
 El Mora Boutique Hotel
 Sikatuna Beach Hotel
 Pandan Island Resort
Paradise Beach Resort
 La Gensol Plaza Hotel

Oriental Mindoro  Sabang Oasis Resort
 Palangan Bayview
Beach Resort
 Montani Beach Resort
 Mountain Beach Resort
 Bellevue Cottages
 Casa Mia Resort
 La Laguna Villas
 The Manor at Puerto
Galera
 Tropicana Castle Dive
Resort
 La Laguna Beach Club
and Dive Center
 Bali Beach Resort
 Infinity Resort
 Sunny Beach Resort
 Tribal Hills Mountain
Resort
 Buri Resort & Spa
 Coco Beach Island
Resort
 Verde View Villas
 Sunset at Aninuan
Beach Resort
 Utopia Resort & Spa


Palawan  Fanta Lodge
 Leonides Budget Hotel
 Villa Travelista Travel
Lodge
 Dormitels PH El Nido
 Tapik Beach Park Guest
House
 Jims Castle Inn
 Coron Reed Pension
 Eden Travelers Lodge
 Gracia's Budget Inn
 Hanbees Garden Pension
House
Romblon  Lanas Beach Resort
 Aglicay Beach Resort
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 Coron Gateway Hotel and
Suites
 Ala Amid B&B
 Coral Bay Beach and Dive
 Fersal Hotel
 Aziza Paradise Hotel
 Microtel by Wyndham
Puerto Princesa
 Coron Underwater Garden
Resort
 Cooper's Beach Resort
 La Natura Resort
 Binucot Beach Resort
 Marlin Bar Restaurant and
 Princesa Garden Island
Resort
 Busuanga Bay Lodge
 Huma Island Resort
 Astoria Palawan Resort
 Cauayan Island Resort
 Matinloc Resort
 Sheridan Beach Resort
 Dos Palmas Island
Resort
 Corto del Mar Hotel
 Club Paradise Resort
 By The Sea Resort
 Tabias Point Resort
 Chapter 3: Region 2
 Caesar's Lodging Inns Accommodation  Turtle Cove Island
 White Beach Dive and Kite Resort
Resort- Carabao
 Morel's Private Island
Resort

D. Food and Delicacies

Marinduque Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Palawan Romblon

Dinuguan Adobong Pugita Suman sa Tilapia Ice Cream Sisig
Uraro cookies Crispy Hipon Lihiya Batotay Chicharong Bulaklak
Bibingkang Native Tinola Adobo Chicken Binakol Crispy Bagnetta
Lalaki Fresh lumpia Semi – dried Tortang Apag MArangle
Ginataang Puso sa fish Cabantueyo Buro
Saging Banana Chips Tibuk – Tibuk
Moche
Batirol
Turrones de Casoy
Plantanilla

E. Recommending Pasalubong

Pasalubong – MIMAROPA Region

 Uraro Cookies
 Lanzones
 Rambutan
 Banana Chips
 Dried Fish
 Cashew Nuts
 Fresh Water Pearls
 Shirts
 Handicrafts (keychains, baskets, bags, wallets, etc.)
 Wood carving products

F. Festivals and Special Events

MARINDUQUE
 Moriones Festival - (Holy Week) the most popular and unique cultural event depicting Jesus Christ's passion and death.
Its highlight is the promenade of grotesque “morions” or colorful masked Roman soldiers around the town.

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

 Dugoy Festival (January 18)- to promote and celebrate the Dugoy spirit of camaraderie among the people of
Sablayan by showcasing street parades and street dancıng.

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 Chapter 3: Region 2
 Saknungan Festival (4th week of April) literally means bayaniban, it is a thanksgiving festival of San Jose for the
blessings of the province and also to showcase the cultural heritage of Mindoro's ethnic communities.

ORIENTAL MINDORO

 MIMAROPA Festival - (November 9-15) a showcase to share the products and services of the provinces of the
MIMAROPA Region.

 Bahaghari Festival-(April 25) a thanksgiving festival for the guidance that He has given to their ancestors when
they were travelling to Mindoro and encountered a terrible storm.

 Malasimbo Festival - (March 10-12) an international festival of music and arts.

 Banana Festival - (January 25) showcases the abundance of bananas in Mindoro by featuring a variety of
banana cuisines and products.

PALAWAN

 Baragatan sa Palawan (3rd week of June)- celebration of the foundation of the civil government of Palawan.

 Kulambo Festival -(March 15-18) celebrated by the town of El Nido that features parade and street dancing of
townspeople wearing kulambo or mosquito nets.

 Anihan Festival - (last week of October) a thanksgiving festival for a bountiful harvest of crops.

ROMBLON

 Biniray Festival- (January 9) a fluvial parade in the sea to celebrate the Santo Niño, the image of the Holy Child
Jesus.

 Kanidugan Festival-(April 5) in honor of the town's patron, Saint Vincent Ferrer, and to also showcase the abundance of
coconut trees and products of Odiongan.

G. Major Cultural Groups

Major cultural groups are Mangyans, Tagbanwas (sometimes spelled Tagbanua), and Tagalogs.

The Mangyans is a generic term that refers to the indigenous peoples of Mindoro island. Different tribes have
been listed including the Hanunoo, Buhid, Batangan, Ratagnon, Iraya, Tadyawan, and Alangan. Mangyan settlements
are composed of five to twelve houses with single families located by the slopes near mountain streams named after the
oldest member of the tribe. Basic subsistence is shifting cultivation of corn and rice, inter-cropped with beans and sugar
cane, sweet potato, yam, and taro. They continue to use a native Indic-based script for writing poetry using knives on
slivers of bamboo.

The Tagbanwa is the most dominant ethnic group in Palawan. They are mostly found in Coron, Aborlan, and
Puerto Princesa. They are known for their highly involved ritual- pagdidiwata, held to celebrate different occasions such
as a bountiful harvest and weddings. They also still utilize their own syllabic writing. Cassava is the preferred staple
while rice is considered ritual food. Fishing and hunting complement crop cultivation. Even if kinship is recognized, there
is a bias toward the matrilineal side in terms of residence after marriage such that in law avoidance is practiced.

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 Chapter 3: Region 2
The Tagalog has been described in Chapter 4. Its presence in different regions show its dispersal in the
different regions as well as its big population.

H. Major Industries

Agriculture is the major industry in the region. Occidental Mindoro's major products include rice, corn, coconut,
tobacco, garlic, onions, mangoes, banana, melon, and peanuts. Fisheries and aquamarine products include salt,
milkfish, prawn, tuna, octopus, and seaweeds. Mindoro Oriental's bulk of outward merchandise consists of rice, banana,
calamansi, livestock, poultry, and fish products. Inward merchandise, on the other hand, consists mainly of petroleum
products, basic and prime commodities, consumer electronics, motor vehicles and parts, and construction materials.

The main economic activities of Marınduque are agriculture and fishing. Root crop-based products such as
sweet potato and arrowroot grow abundantly in the province. In recent years, the province has identified several key
priority industries for promotion and development. Buntal handloom woven products have been aggressively promoted
here and abroad because these products have been commanding better prices in any market because of their intricate
weaves and the obvious good amount of labor that went with them. In food processing industry, root crop-based
products such as arrowroot and processed fish such as bagoong and patis have also been promoted.

Romblon is famous around the world for its marble being one of the finest. Coconut is the number one crop
grown in the province with a total planted area of 68,545.50 hectares having 7,783,027 trees. Other crops grown in the
province include bananas, mango, star apple, root crops, vegetable, and other fruit trees. The fishing ground of
Romblon is a migratory path of fishes from Sulu and the Visayan Seas passing Tablas Strait, Sibuyan Sea, and
Romblon Pass. The mountains are also teeming with non-metallic minerals like kaolin clay, nickel, magnesite, quartz,
silica, mercury, zınc, copper, silver, laterite soil, limestone, and sulfide ores. Several of these non-metallic minerals have
been explored, such as nickel and magnesium with total mineral reserve of around 13 million metric tons.

Palawan has 176 fishing grounds which supply 65% of Metro Manila's fish consumption. Existing products
where Palawan is known for are fresh and dried fish, lamayo, fish fillet, smoked fish, tuna cuts, spicy dilis, tuna sausage,
tuna spring rolls, and delectable fish cuisine which are served in hotels/restaurants. Other marine products produced
and exported are live grouper and seaweeds with an approxımate production of 260,606 MT 9 fresh. Cashew is one of
the important crops locally processed into delicacies such as roasted, fried/salted, brittle, bandi, pulvoron, barqueron,
cashew wine, cashew prunes, and other delicacies with roasted whole nuts as the major product. Raw cashew nuts are
also shipped out to India, Pampanga, Manila, and Antipolo cashew processors. Other crops produced are rice, corn,
coconut, and mango. It also has existing plantations of rubber and palm oil trees. It also produces ethnic handicrafts
being supplied to Manila-based exporters and as souvenir items for tourists in support to the tourism industry.

Mining is another major industry in Palawan. There are large reserves of nickel. Palawan's natural gas and oil
deposits are the largest in the country. Other mineral deposits include chromite, copper, silica, marble, quicksilver,
manganese, cement, uranium, limestone, barite, feldspar, sand, gravel, pebbles, and guano.

I. Languages/Dialects Spoken

Filipino and English are the major languages. Dialects spoken in the region include Kamangyan in Occidental
and Oriental Mindoro while Ilonggo, Tausug, Batak, Tagbanua, Palawanun, and Cuyunon are the dialects in Palawan.

Travel Trivia:
Six Subspecies of birds are endemic to Marinduque, namely, Amethyst Brown – dove
9 | P a(Phapitreron
ge Amethystina imeldae), Blackish Cuckoo – shrike, White – browed Shama (Copsychus
luzoniensis shemleyi) Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra marinduquensis), Purple –
Throathed Sunbird(Nectarinia sperata marinduquensis), and Mountain white – eye (Zosterops
montanus gilli) (Ladares 2018)