Romblon to host Mimaropa festival

MANILA, Philippines - The island-province of Romblon is set to make its way as an emerging tourist destination as it will host this year’s MIMAROPA festival.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo identified Romblon as one of the best-kept secrets of Region IV-B or MIMAROPA region, comprised of Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

Teo said Romblon is ready to unravel its world-class attractions when it hosts the annual MIMAROPA Festival in November.

Among the province’s jewels are its pristine seawaters, unspoiled beaches, wild rivers and waterfalls, according to the tourism department.

“While Romblon has been known as the largest marble producer in the Philippines and exporter of best-quality marble products, the province possesses also the qualities of its neighboring Palawan province,” Teo said.

Some of these attractive water destinations are the crystal-clear seawaters and white-sand beaches in Tablas, Bon-Bon, Nonok-Nonok and Cobrador; the waterfalls in Trangkalan, Dagubdob and Busay and the Cresta del Gallo Island’s stunning sandbar and the Cantingas River in Sibuyan.

“These sites are ideal for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and other water activities like scuba diving and macro diving-photography, as the province’s more than 30 dive sites boast of diverse marine life including sharks, rays, tunas, snappers surrounded by immense coral walls and gardens,” the DOT said.

Romblon also has offerings for mountaineers, particularly the 2,058-meter high Mount Guiting-Guiting.

“Romblon’s old plaza has retained its historical character, featuring the marble statues of Dr. Jose Rizal, a large roaring lion, and a grotto with the life-size image of Our Lady of Lourdes,” the tourism department said.

DOT added that many ancestral edifices remain intact, such as the Cathedral of San Jose with its antique tableau altar, stained-glass windows  and its vintage convent.  

“Romblon’s old municipal hall, built during the Spanish colonial period, remains perched on a hill overlooking the ruins of Fuerza de San Andres and Fuerza de Santiago, both declared as National Cultural Treasures,” the DOT said.

 The province also features locally-grown fruits like banana, pineapple and avocado.

The MIMAROPA Festival was launched last year, in line with the region’s vision of being “The Destination of Choice.”