Chapter 6:

Region 4B – MIMAROPA

 formally known as the Southwestern Tagalog Region is an administrative region in the Philippines.
 The name is an acronym combination of its constituent provinces: Mindoro (divided into Occidental Mindoro and
Oriental Mindoro), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.
 The province of Occidental Mindoro occupies the western part the island of Mindoro and bordered on the east by
the province of Oriental Mindoro.
 Oriental Mindoro province occupies the eastern section of Mindoro Island.
 The province of Marinduque is located in the west of the Bondoc Peninsula of Quezon province, east of Mindoro
Island and north of the island province of Romblon.
 Romblon is an archipelagic province bounded by Mindoro in the west, Masbate in the east, Marinduque in the north
and Panay in the south.
 Province of Palawan lies between Mindoro in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest; and between the South
China Sea and Sulu Sea.
 Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro is its regional center.

 The region’s economy relies mostly on agriculture, fishing and ecotourism.

 MIMAROPA is one of the Philippine’s top producers of rice, banana, coconut, mango, cashew, papaya and cassava.

PORTS OF ACCESS
 Since MIMAROPA region is mostly island provinces with the exception of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, the
primary access is by air and sea.
 By Air: Puerto Princesa International Aiport 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. Other
fastcraft ferries, from Batangas Port to Calapan and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
 Getting around: Regular bus trips, jeepneys and tricycles are the mode of transport when roaming around each
island.

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
 Is known as the The Marine Wonderland and "Home of the Indigenous Mangyans"
 Its capital is San Jose City.
 The province is an agricultural area devoted to the production of food, particularly rice as its economic base. Rice
cultivation is the leading activity and source of seasonal employment in the province.
 Rice is grown during wet season (July – October), and during dry season (November – May) tobacco, onions, garlic
and vegetables are cultivated.
 Some of their exported produce are rice, corn, onions, garlic, salt, and fishes(both wild water and cultured).
Mangoes, cashew nuts, and cooking bananas (saba) are grown in upland orchards and are also exported from
Occidental Mindoro.
 Forest resources include timber and minerals, among them gold, copper, silver, chrome, and non-metallic minerals
such as lime for making cement, and greenstones for ornaments. Timber groups include many species of
hardwoods, such as mahogany, and other types of trees in high demand for durability.

Attractions:
 Parola Park - is located in 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 who used to raid the area. Round the clock watchers and defenders stationed
there at signal or warn the people to hide while launching volleys of cannon fires to defend the town. Today, a
lighthouse and an old cannon could still be found there. The Park offers the best sunset view in town. It is a good
place to relax and see the scenic view of Mindoro.
 Apo Reef National Park - Apo Reef is a coral reef system in the Philippines situated in the western waters of
Occidental Mindoro province in the Mindoro Strait. it is considered the world's second-largest contiguous barrier
coral reef system and is the largest in the country. The reef and its surrounding waters are protected areas and is
one of the best known and most popular diving regions in the country. Three uninhabited islands mark the reef
system, Apo Island (largest)- lagoonal mangroves, Apo Menor Islet - rocky limestone island with relatively little
vegetation, and Cayos de Bajo (Keys of the Bank, locally called as Tinangkapan) - flat coralline rock formations with
no vegetation.
 White Island - White Island is one of the beautiful beaches of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. The beach contains
white and brown sands. The island is generally horseshoe shaped, although the tides constantly resize and reshape
its exact form. There are no trees or shelter of any kind, and it is composed solely of white sands. It is also called by
the locals as Manadi Island which means “Sudden Appearance” for it is said to have suddenly appeared decades ago.
It is a small island and an ideal destination for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. Some parts of the
shore are breeding grounds for turtles where they bury their eggs.
 Sablayan Zipline Adventure – It is the world’s longest island-to-island zipline. It’s also the first and only motorized
zipline of its kind in Asia. That means you can go all the way down it and then come back up again. The total distance
point-to-point is 1.4km, but the total length of the main cable is 1.7km, making the zipline in Sablayan the longest in
the world, island-to-island. The approximate time from top to bottom is less than four minutes.

Festivals
 Dugoy Festival – it is a week-long festival celebrated every January 19 to promote and celebrate the DUGOY
spirit of camaraderie among the people of Sablayan (lowland setters and Mangyan tribes). Cultural shows, street
parades and street dancing are the main activities during the celebration. The street dancing showcases the
different ethno-cultural groups of the Mangyan.
 Saknungan Festival – is celebrated every 4th week of April. Saknungan is a Mangyan word which means
bayanihan. It is a thanksgiving celebration for San Jose for the blessings of the province and also to showcase
the cultural heritage of Mindoro’s ethnic communities.

Food/Delicacies:
 Ginataang Puso ng Saging - is a traditional Filipino dish originating from Occidental Mindoro. It's made with a
combination of banana blossoms (puso ng saging), diced pork, and chili peppers cooked in coconut sauce. Other
ingredients include onions, garlic, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
 Adobong Pugita - is a Filipino specialty originating from Occidental Mindoro. This adobo dish is made with
mature octopus that's cooked in a combination of vinegar and soy sauce. Other common ingredients include
garlic, onions, oil, and bay leaves for flavoring. The octopus is marinated, drained, then placed into a pan with
sautéed garlic and onions. The dish is seasoned with salt and pepper and it's then traditionally served warm with
steamed rice on the side. The key to success is to cook the octopus quickly, because it becomes rubbery and
chewy if overcooked. This can be eaten with rice or as accompaniment with beer.
 Native Tinola – This chicken ginger soup is made with native chicken(wild chicken) which delivers more flavorful
broth but it takes more time until tender. This simple Filipino recipe is usually served to patients and lactating
mothers specially during rainy season.

ORIENTAL MINDORO
 Branding campaign - BeautifulBountiful
 Calapan, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.
 The western portion of the province is mountainous or rugged, while the east has hills and flood plains.
 Mt. Halcon is the 18th highest mountain in the country and is the province's and island's highest peak.
 Lake Naujan, the fifth largest lake in the country is located at the northeastern part of the island and the
province.
 It produces large quantities of rice, corn, coconut, vegetables and fruits like calamansi, banana, rambutan,
marang or uloy, lanzones and durian. Oriental Mindoro is also known as the Rice Granary and Fruit Basket of
Southern Tagalog. It still is the Banana King and Calamansi King of the region.
Attractions
 Puerto Galera - is a major tourist destination. Its numerous white beaches are ideal for water skiing,
windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating and swimming.
 Simbahang Bato – also known as the Bancuro Church Ruins. It is a Roman Catholic church located in Barangay
Bancuro, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. It is known as "a church within a church" because a small chapel is currently
housed within the ruins' massive walls. This was built by Augustinian Friars as their first settlement in the area.
Its thick walls were made of coraline stones and bonded by lime mortar.
 The Cross at Muelle - is a landmark in memory of the crew of a Spanish warship “Canonero Mariveles” which
sank in 1879 at the Manila Channel due to a strong storm. The battleship was brought in to protect Puerto
Galera from Moro pirates who were constantly raiding the area. A wooden cross was built at Muelle Pier as a
memory of the crew and of the ship itself. Much later in 1938, the cross was renovated by Luis Gomez y Sotto
and the structure replaced by sturdier marble.
 Tamaraw Falls - Located at Barangay Villaflor, Puerto Galera is the largest waterfall in the province with a
natural swimming pool at its base. It is as tall as a 5-storey building. The waterfall has unique Y-shape dropping
waters because of the twin falls merging together. It is also covered with lush greens and facing the mountains.
Unlike other waterfall, it is very easy to get to Tamaraw Falls because you don’t need to hike or trek over the
mountains or forests to see its beauty. From the highway, you can already see its dramatic waters falling to its
pool. But if you want to see it up close, you will need to pay for the Tamaraw Falls entrance fee which is really
affordable.

Festivals
 MIMAROPA Festival – celebrated in Calapan City every 9-15 is a showcase to share the products and services of
the provinces of the MIMAROPA region. It coincided with the celebration of the founding anniversary of both
Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. The festival highlighted the region’s best products through agri-trade and
tourism fair, dance parade competition and search for MIMAROPA festival queen.
 Bahaghari Festival - is a beautiful recognition of the significance of the rainbow in the historical backdrop of the
town of Pinamalayan. It is celebrated every April 25 as a thanksgiving festival for the guidance of God Almighty
that He has given to their ancestors when they were travelling to Mindoro and encountered a terrible storm.
The people yelled ipinamalay meaning “it was made known”. The celebration is highlighted by street dancing,
and a parade of colorful floats.
 Malasimbo Festival – is he biggest Music Event celebrated in Puerto Galera. It is an international festival of
music and arts, and is the first of its kind in Asia. It is celebrated every March and divided into two weekends
with different genres. The first weekend showcases artist from all around the world both upcoming and
professional. World music, banging beats and jazz-fusion are the music genre showcased in the first weekend.
On the second weekend, the venue is the place for the best funk, hip-hop, house and electronic music acts.
Energetic dance crews and an amazing lights show combined together.

Food/Delicacy
 Suman sa Lihiya - also known as "Mindoro Tamales". It is typically square-shaped and individually hand-packed
and intricately wrapped in palm leaves. The suman sa lihiya with coco jam is made up of glutinous rice, lye, salt
and corn oil.
 Semi-dried fish – Daing na Biya from Calapan City. Biyâ is a long-finned goby fish which only can be found in
Naujan Lake, the only habitat of fresh water goby. Daing is the way of drying it. These fish were butterflied and
dried in the sun for about a day. They’re very crisp and taste delicious dipped in vinegar and paired with
steamed white rice. (Pinakas/Lamayo)
 Banana Chips - are slices of bananas that are deep fried, baked or dehydrated to become crispy, it is then
coated with sugar, honey, salt or spices. This is a healthier alternative for potato chips.

Marinduque
 The province is an agricultural area, primarily growing rice and coconuts.
 Fishing is also part of the economy.
 Handicrafts from Marinduque are exported to different part of the world.
 The Municipality of Boac is its capital.
 Marinduqueños are said to be very hospitable in nature and are very welcoming.
 Putong or tubong, which is a custom of welcoming and honoring friends and visitors. The honoree (or
honorees) are seated and crowned with flowers while local women dance and sing for them.
 Marinduqueños are of Tagalog origin and speak Tagalog.

Attractions
 Boac Cathedral – located in Barangay Mataas na Bayan, Boac, Marinduque. It was built in 1756 in honor of the
Blessed Virgin of Biglang Awa. (Immediate Succor). It was here where Filipinos and Spaniards took refuge from
pirate attacks. The architecture is Fil-Hispanic Gothic style with much of the original structure faithfully
preserved. The belfry, altar façade and the interiors of the cathedral were beautifully restored as a prime
heritage site of the province. The later addition of stained glass windows, adorn the walls and enhance the age-
old beauty of the church.
 Malbog Sulfur Spring - At the base of the inactive Mt. Malindig volcano is the therapeutic and natural healing
water of Molbog Springs. Two swimming pools with warm though slightly sulfuric waters are considered to be
healing with medicinal properties.
  Poctoy Beach – is located in Torrijos, Marinduque. The beach has fine, cream sand, and blue, cool waters, ideal
for swimming, playing beach volleyball in and picnicking. There are a number of resorts, inns, and homestays in
the vicinity. The entrance may depend on the resort or area you choose to stay in. The water is clear and
refreshing. If you prefer some water activities, they have kayaking and boating.
Festivals
 Moriones Festival – is celebrated every Holy Week and is the most popular and unique cultural event which
depicts the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Its highlight is the parade of morions or colorful masked Roman
soldiers around town. In Santa Cruz, Gasan, Boac, and Mogpog, a parade of people dressed as "Moryons" can be
seen on the main road connecting the towns of the island. shows a reenactment in the evening of the actual
event when Longinus, a blind soldier, punctures Jesus with his spear and blood droplets from the wound
restores Longinus' sight.

Food
 Kari-Kari - is a cross between bopis and dinuguan. It’s like bopis with pork blood and a dried version of
dinuguan. Marinduque’s Kari-Kari is made up of the pig’s innards like its heart, small intestines, kidneys, spleen,
and blood. It’s also cooked with garlic, onion, and chili peppers.
 Bibingkang Lalaki - is made with tuba (coconut wine) instead of yeast, which keeps the inside of the bibingka
moist and pudding-like. Other term for this is Bibingkang Boac. It is as big as a pizza and is cooked thoroughly
over burning coconut husk.

ROMBLON
 The Marble Capital of the Philippines
 The province’s capital is Romblon.
 Its major industries are agriculture and fishing.
 Marble is the most well-known product of the province. Marble quarrying and processing are also major
activities in the province.
 The province of Romblon has a mainly agricultural economy with copra farming, fishing, and rice farming as the
chief agricultural activities.

Attractions
 Looc Bay Marine Sanctuary – is located in the town proper of Looc, Romblon. The sanctuary of marine vessels
during typhoons and inclement weather. It has clear blue waters good for swimming, scuba diving and water
skiing. Surrounding the bay is a panoramic view of mountain ranges and rolling hills. In the middle of the bay is a
submerged coral island where the lighthouse stands. Sunset is a sight to behold at Looc Bay.
 Fort San Andres – is located in Poblacion, Romblon, Romblon, it is a twin Spanish forts constructed from coral
blocks and bricks between 1644 and 1573, the fort provided a vantage point view of the town at 156 feet above
sea level. These sentinels of a bygone era once served as the protection of the town against raiders and pirates.
 Given its location it also offers wide arrays of beaches. Cresta de Gallo Islet and Bonbon Beach.
 Marble Shopping Center – located in Romblon, Romblon is the best place to buy intricate marbles ranging from
small to big souvenir items. You can find keychains, lamp shades, vases, sculptures here at a low price.

Festivals
 Biniray Festival – held every January 9 to celebrate the Santo Nino which is the Holy image of the Holy Child
Jesus. This is to showcase the rich culture and Christian faith of Romblomanons. The highlight of this event is the
fluvial parade with the image of Sto. Nino on the lead boat donned in vibrant and colorful buntings. The boats
are decorated each year according to a theme proposed by the Fishermans’ association and then capping off the
parade by returning to the town pier filled with freshly caught seafood. Other activities include ethnic dances,
live music, and exhibits of local products. Also competitions can be witnessed like float competition, street
dancing, beauty pageant, and sports tournament.

Food/Delicacies
 Boknoy Siopao - Boknoy is a type of siopao that is currently only found in Romblon Island. The difference
between the boknoy from the usual asado and bolabola flavored siopao is the sauce. Boknoy siopao already has
a sauce inside so one could just eat it without the messy application of siopao sauce.
 Orange Roughly Kinilaw - is made of raw fish (orange roughy) cooked in 'liquid fire' or vinegar. For this dish,
palm vinegar is used with lemon or calamansi, sliced/diced onion, cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, mayonnaise,
and salt to taste.

PALAWAN
 The Philippines’ Last Ecological Frontier and the Philippines’ Best Island.
 Its capital is Puerto Princesa.
 It is the country’s largest province in terms of total area of jurisdiction.
 The province’s economy is also basically agricultural, with the production of the three major crops such as palay,
corn and coconut.
 In addition, it is also one of the best tourist destinations with the best beaches in Asia and home to some of the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Attractions
  Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park- This Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape
with an underground river. It contains an underground river that flows directly to the sea, and its lower portion
is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site
contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. However, only a
portion of the river, around 4.3km, is allowed for tourist explorations. The underground river tour last around 45
minutes where the tourists rides a small boat and guided by a tour guide or a boatman who uses a searchlight
to show you the cave's stunning stalagmites and stalactites, rock formations, and its inhabitants (i.e., bats, birds,
and reptiles).
 Coron Island - Coron is best known for (Japanese Shipwrecks) world-class World War II-era wreck diving, thus it
is considered the wreck diving capital of the Philippines. The surrounding bays hide a fleet of WWII wrecks sunk
by the US Navy in 1944. The island also offers limestone karst landscapes, beautiful beaches, crystal-clear
freshwater lakes, and shallow-water coral reefs.
 Tubbataha Reef National Park – is found in the middle of Sulu Sea, 50 kms south of Puerto Princesa, Palawan..
It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a
nesting site for birds and marine turtles. It is considered to be the best dive spot in the Philippines and is
reachable by scuba diving liveboard boats leaving from the province of Palawan. One has to reserve/ book in
advance to avail this experience.

Festival
 Kulambo Festival – held every March 15-18 in the town of El Nido that features parade and street dancing
of people wearing kulambo or mosquito nets. The town fiesta is marked by dancing, singing, and large
gatherings and presentation of various types of delicacies in the area. This is to showcase the town’s
campaign to eradicate malaria in Palawan.

Food/ Deliacies
 Tamilok - Tamilok, also known as woodworm, is actually not a worm. It is a mollusk living inside the
branches of mangrove trees. But because of their long, slender, slimy body, they really resemble worms.
Some tourists say it tastes like wood, but it actually tastes like an oyster. It is eaten fresh and raw, dipped in
coconut vinegar (sukang tuba) with salt and chili. It can also be breaded and fried.
 Crocodile Sisig - Another must-try exotic dish you can try in Palawan, it is a variation of the sizzling dish that
typically uses pork. The taste of crocodile meat is similar to chicken, mild flavoured and firm in texture. It's a
healthy meat due to its high protein and low-fat composition.

MAJOR CULTURAL GROUPS

 Mangyans refers to the indigenous peoples of Mindoro island. Different tribes have been listed like including the
Hanunuo, Buhid, Batangan, Ratagnon, Iraya, Tadyawan, and Alangan. Mangyan settlements are composed of 5-12
houses with single families located by the slopes of the mountain streams named after the oldest member of the
tribe.
 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 called pagdidiwata held to celebrate different occasions like
harvests and weddings.
 Tagalogs