The first Spaniards who came to visit the province in 1582, named it "Lomlon", was abolished as a province in 1941, and regained its provincial status on January 1, 1947.
Think of a place where the crime rate is very low, the people are warm and accommodating, and the entire journey to the island is so amazing - it's in Romblon.
The Province of Romblon is a cluster of twenty (20) islands lying in the Sibuyan Sea with the three (3) main islands of Sibuyan, Romblon, and Tablas, comprising 31 barangays, and an estimated 50,000 people (called Romblomanon) of mostly Visayans whose language are very similar to "Hiligaynon".
In the north of Romblon is Marinduque, in the west is Oriental Mindoro, in the east is Masbate, and in the north is Boracay Island (Panay). No wonder, the white sands of Romblon's beaches are very similar to the surrounding province's alluring white sands.
The house of Don Pedro Sanz, Governor of a politico-military district that existed 1853-1917.
(CTTO: Dean C. Worcester, University of Michigan Library Special Collections, John Tewell)
Lockdowns and Disappointments.
After our visit to Marinduque Island (in April) and Mindoro Island (in May) during the extremely difficult lockdown period in 2021, we started to make efforts to visit Romblon, Romblon. Although it did not push through in 2021 due to several cancellations and outbreaks, the opportunity came during the Lenten Season of 2022.
We were limited to covering only the main island of Romblon, Romblon for this time, as a glimpse of what the province can offer. The vastness and beauty of the entire province take days (if not weeks) of scouring all the islands has to offer. Most of the amazing destinations were in fact situated on the other two (2) islands of Sibuyan and Tablas, like the Cresta de Gallo sandbar that's remotely located in the southeasternmost part of the province.
The Journey to Batangas Port.
The ferry to Romblon was scheduled to depart in Port of Batangas by 5pm and we're not supposedly in a hurry. However, considering the Lenten Season and summertime peak, it was expected that there were lots of local and foreign tourists considering Romblon as the safer place than in Boracay, Puerto Galera, Panglao, La Union, and other mainstream destinations during summertime.
We departed from Angeles City by around 9am, and just before lunchtime, we safely arrived in Batangas (after 234KM) amidst the heavy traffic - if we were not on a maxi scooter, we will not arrive in Batangas on time, due to heavy traffic in North and South expressways. We took the chance to take our early lunch (paksiw na bangus, chicharon bulaklak, and a couple scoops of rice) in Al Goto King, which is very near the port. The selection of food there was great, as well as the price which is not cheap.
As soon as we safely parked our maxi scooter inside Batangas Port (for 6 pesos per hour), we immediately secured our tickets to Romblon, Romblon via Odiangan, in Montenegro Shipping Lines. Take note that this is the same port going to Mindoro, Caticlan (in Aklan), Masbate, Marinduque, and other islands - so be very careful in choosing the right ferry to ride.
True to the saying, "When you are in Rome, do what the Romans do.", we rested on the floor of the still-under-construction seaport, same as what others did.
Securing both our ferry tickets (Php1,190 per pax for economy) and environmental fees (Php30 each), we decided to enter the waiting lounge of the newly built and fully airconditioned Port of Batangas, passing the X-Ray machines for security reasons.
The seaport was surprisingly huge and beautiful, resembling an airport, and secured by private guards, rescue personnel, tourism personnel, and Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
The Ferry to Romblon.
Boarding the ferry was just a few meters outside the passenger lounge. M/V Rein del Rosario is a medium-sized inter-island ferry by Montenegro Shipping Lines acquired 2ndhand from Japan, same as others being used here in the Philippines.
The ferry crew, port guards, and cost guards were keeping everyone in order.
There were trucks full of supplies bound for Odiongan and Romblon, as well as motorcycles, private cars, and SUV's full of tourists.
The weather was calm with the sheering heat of the sun, and there were no reports of any tropical depression coming within a few days.
Each ticket issued has an assigned bed (or Tejeras), and this brings orderliness as passengers need not to worry in having no place to rest.
The ferry has its canteen full of soda's, beers, junk foods, and the infamous instant noodles.
The dining area is pretty small for the capacity of the ferry - so passengers takes turn or eat on their beds.
Little did we know, the deluxe ticket that's Php375 more expensive than economy has way better accommodation; wooden bunker beds, pillows, blankets, and fully airconditioned area.
It even has its own coffee lounge for family and friends to get together while onboard.
We were able to have a nice glimpse of the port that we will surely miss for several days. It was really a nice place to spend some time at the back of any boat while leaving a port.
When everything was settled and the ferry is about to depart, it was also the time to rest my back that was already hurting after hours of rides, seating on the floor and on the bench, and the short walk here and there.
Although the condition outside having the economy class was far too different from the deluxe area, the gust of wind compensates; and the people outside seem to be easier to approach and chat with - blending with locals is the best way to get folktales and stories, instead of sleeping comfortably (yet unproductive) inside a bunk bed alone.
Port of Odiongan, Tablas Island.
Arriving in Port of Odiongan in west side of Tablas Island after more than 8 hours was already about past 1 am early morning. It was very dark and silent there, and the town hall was still 3km away from the port.
There were lots of passengers embarking in Odiongan, as well trucks full of supplies, which took about 2 hours before the ferry left for Port of Romblon.
Port of Romblon, Romblon.
The ferry arrived in Romblon past 5am already, after a 2-hour journey crossing the Tablas Strait, and the sun was about to shine.
The Port of Romblon was obviously more modern and progressive compared to Odiongan, as this island is the central hub of the province.
We were so thankful and grateful that finally, we were able to reach Romblon, and see for ourselves the beauty of this province (oh well, at least, in the Romblon island) by this time.
Ms. Anna-lie of Romblon's MDRRMO monitored our journey and warmly greeted us at the gate before exiting the port. She was the one helping us to accomplish this getaway since last year 2021. The local government sees to it that everyone entering the province has been fully vaccinated, and her office sees to it that during the pandemic, the province was in tight lockdown.
The Freedom Park.
Upon exiting the gate of the port, you will be greeted by this marble-lous marker that was made of solid high-grade marble, and perhaps one of the most precious "I Love.." landmarks in the Philippines.
We were so stoked by the park alone - everything from flooring, railings, markers, and statues were so impressively made of marble stones.
This is perhaps one of the most luxurious town markers.
Romblon with its 100-year supply capacity of Italian-grade marble will not be called Marble Country for nothing, and they stand proud of the huge resources that are lavishly displayed in their Freedom Park and the surrounding marble stores.
We know no one in Romblon other than Ms. Anna-Lie, and Ms. Tine Male, the owner of Talipasak Beach Resort. While we were resting and organizing ourselves with what to do next, we were warmly greeted and chatted by the elders of the town relaxing in the park that early morning. Dir. Adonis Silverio of Romblon Electric Cooperative, Sir Pedro Royo, a very humble retired PNP, Sir Ernesto Recto, a marble businessman, Sir Arturo Silverio, a civil contractor and the brother of Sir Adonis, Sir Ronnie Castañeda, a broker and businessman, and Sir Paulino Merenciano, the port's foreman. All of them surprisingly made us feel at home with their kindness and their natural hospitality humbled us.
What was notably impressive was their way of introducing one another as good friends do. They even helped us recharge our mobile phones, advised us where to eat, and offered a ride to reach Talipasak Beach Resort.
The Honda PCX-e.
Being chosen as the best site (due to its peacefulness) for the ambitious undertaking of coming up with a joint project of giant Japanese companies Komaihaltec and Honda Motor Company, in an attempt to reverse the negative perception of e-scooters made by the Chinese, the local communities enjoy an eco-friendly Honda PCX-e electric scooters for Php2,000 in a month for 4 years, under the Romblon Electric Cooperative (Romelco) in 2019. The concept is something like, "ride. exchange. ride again." which is a third of the cost of the traditional combustion engine at 150cc.
To sustain the continuous re-charging, the project installed in Romblon three horizontal-axis wind turbines with a total of 900kW of power that was then linked with Romblon’s three diesel power plants. This Honda PCX-e is very similar to the PCX 150 with 2x batteries, weighing around 10kg, was made by Panasonic and generates 18.3Nm with front ABS.
Exchangers (charging stations) were also set up around the circumferential road at Brgy. Romblon in Sitio Ipil, in Brgy. Sablayan, and in the office of Romelco very near the town proper. Sir Ronnie Castañeda and Sir Adonis Silverio confidently insisted to us to try and experience it. During the battery pack exchange, the locals were thought to remove the battery packs, insert in the fully automated exchanger machines, extract freshly charged packs, and install them back to the e-scooter - pay Php40 and leave in under a minute.
Sir Ronnie even ride with me and introduced me to Sir Jun Esquerra, one of the Exchanger operators. Romelco give him Php10 for every exchange, plus a monthly rent on the place where machines were installed. Sir Jun and his family were very kind to us, even offering us to recharge our mobile phones, and battery packs, and allowing us to leave our bags while we were roaming around prior to our check-in in Talipasak Beach Resort.
The Honda PCX-e were able to cover 60km per exchange, and we were able to ride around the town with my pillion, went to Fort San Andres, visited Saint Joseph Cathedral, had a glimpse of Bonbon Beach, and even to the rough road hill climb towards the Windmills - and consumed only 47% of its reserve power.
Fuerza San Andres.
There are only 29 Spanish forts built in the entire Philippines from 1571 to the last decades of the 1700's, and one of the most notable is found in Romblon. Portuguese Recollect friar Agustin de San Pedro, known to the locals as "El Padre Capitan" trained the locals in defending themselves, provided military arms, fortified the walls, built fortresses, and commissioned the defensive forts.
"El Padre Capitan" commissioned the construction of this fortified canon base (called Fuerza San Andres) on top of a hill that overlooks the bay of the town.
The stairway to the top of the Fort is stiff and was purposely designed to better defend easily against those who will try to capture it from below.
Along the way is the amazing replica of the island of Romblon, Romblon made of stones and marbles curved by the locals.
This curving stairway amazingly hides well the huge protective wall of the Fort on the top.
According to a local guide, the stones were authentic and part of the original Fort, restored carefully to their previous form and glory.
A garden just before the huge wall was perhaps used by the defenders to pile up excess supplies, canons, and ammunition.
Interestingly, this part of the wall on the left side of the stairs hides the entrance of a tunnel leading towards the Saint Joseph Cathedral.
The said tunnel was used to connect Fort San Andres and Saint Joseph Cathedral below the cliff.
When they were young, added by the local guide, they used to play inside the tunnel until it was nested by snakes, wherein a decision was to close it for the safety of the visitors.
The huge wall facing the bay below acts as a heavily fortified canon firing location.
The access to the inside of the Fort was secured by a huge wooden door.
The weather was great during our visit and the shearing heat of the sun kept on pounding us. It was hard to stay there at that hour.
This heritage site was officially declared a National Treasure in 2013, after its full restoration.
We met these beautiful young and promising travelers, Aila Mae, Angelica, and Michelle, and to our surprise, they were days already scouring the beauty of the Province of Romblon.
From a lower vantage point, the view of the bay below is amazingly beautiful..!
Saint Joseph Cathedral.
Built on the very same spot where the Christian community in Romblon where organized, the Romblon Cathedral (Saint Joseph Cathedral) was built in 1726 by "El Padre Capitan", the same man who commissioned the construction of Fuerza San Andres and Fuerza Santiago.
The church's thick walls and huge posts resemble the churches in Ilocos, Bohol, the Bicolandia, and many churches built during the same time period.
The bell tower was built separately from the church itself, an indication that this church was built to guard and defend its faithful.
The St. Joseph Cathedral is the home of the miraculous image of the Child Jesus, the Señor Santo Niño de Romblon. The figure was carved based on the same image of Sto. Niño de Cebu in 1582 commissioned by an Augustinian Friar.
The galleon carrying the image stopped over at Romblon due to a typhoon, and the image was taken down from the vessel and brought to the local church where a Holy Mass was offered. After the rites, the image of Sto. Niño could not be moved from its place, as if the Child Jesus chose this quiet island to grant his protection and graces - thus, the galleon left the image behind on its way back to Madrid, Spain.
The miraculous image was sacrilegiously stolen in 1991 from His High altar and this left the whole province devastated. After 22 years, the image was identified by a priest and recovered in Kalibo, Aklan. On February 9, 2013, Señor Santo Niño de Romblon was re-enthroned at St. Joseph Cathedral in Romblon, Romblon.
A folktale on the island suggests that the image of the baby Jesus (the Señor Santo Niño de Romblon) often went to the market disguised as a little boy, asking for meat and vegetables, and returning to the alter with his feet full of mud - then the meat and vegetables were found just below it.
Across the street and fronting the St. Joseph Cathedral is the Romblon Municipal Plaza, where locals can enjoy and relax with grass and trees around.
The bell in the park built in 1812 was also stolen - so the people decided to put the bell out in the open in the park facing the church.
(CTTO: Ferdz)
Not known to many, there are two (2) Santo Niño images in Romblon. The Señor Santo Niño de Romblon which is in the church, and the Señor Santo Niño de Biniray, which is housed privately near the church and is kept for generations by the "De Joya's". There were lots of accounts about the Santo Niño's miracles in Romblon, and I think, it merits a dedicated article to write in full details, including the Biniray Festival.
The Jd&G Italian Pizza House.
A few meters from the Cathedral, these pizza houses are located in the back alley of Romblon Shopping Center, at Highway 305 (or the Romblon-Sawang-Sablayan Road) which is part of the Romblon Circumferential Road.
It is here that you can find the Jd&G Italian Foods and Pizza - and the best tasting "Fully Loaded Pizza" with bell pepper, onion, black olives, and salsiccia (the most ancient and best known Italian sausage).
After the exhausting up and down stairs hike in Fuerza San Andres, and the sheering heat of the sun during the visit in Saint Joseph Cathedral, the "fully loaded" is our surprising reward.
You won't believe but based on Ms. Denia Mutia, the white cheese even was imported from Portugal, in order to get to that authentic taste and the cheesy texture in your every bite.
We were so amazed and excited in learning that in the peaceful town of Romblon, one will find one of the best pizzas in the Philippines.
It may be too much but the owner herself shared to us her time, and about their amazing pizza house.
Windmills in Romblon.
This is one of the three (3) horizontal-axis KWT300 wind turbines assembled by Komaihaltec, Inc. that were linked with Romblon’s three diesel power plants for the Honda PCX-e project.
It towers high above the mountaintop with a view deck that is overlooking the entire Port of Romblon.
Although the road leading there was still partially cemented and the shearing heat of the sun almost drained us, the view on top overwhelms the rough road rides going to the top. Thanks to the amazing Honda PCX-i with super dual-sports off-road capability.
The BonBon Beach.
Along the way down from the windmills under the sheering heat of the sun that day, a vantage point offers the aerial view of the infamous sandbar in BonBon Beach which links to the Bang-Od Island during low tides, very much like in Ave Maria sandbar in Guimaras.
You will certainly notice these motorcycles along the main road, then you will know that you are on the access road leading to the southeast side of the beach.
From there and away from the sandbar on the other side, the view is so different from the so many photos of BonBon Beach available in the internet.
A clean-up drive was ongoing, some locals were enjoying the beach, and rocks on this part of the beach steal the moment and the argues to go to the other side for the sandbar.
It's so unfortunate that we don't have a drone that will give the best justice to a beautiful sandbar, we opted to stay there near the rocks and relax. The scenery and feel were almost comparable to the Monkey Beach on Jomalig Island.
Stretching out to a mysterious and uninhabited Bang-Od island on the other side with crystal clear water on both sides, this sandbar with its fine and beaming sands was awesome.
(CTTO: Jackson Groves - please visit his awesome adventure blogs)
And before we leave, we had the chance to meet these dedicated members from the Romblon Tourism Information Office who happily granted us access to the beach.
The Talipasak Beach Resort.
No one would imagine but this tiny road in Brgy. Ginablan (I missed it on our first pass) leads to a hidden paradise - a place that would sell itself, not through any form of advertising, but through word of mouth.
A haven where people could stay and relax, and most of all appreciate the beauty that resides on the island of Romblon. This resort was meant to be comparable to a hidden gem, which could only be found by those who will dare to take a risk and find it.
As an environmental specialist, Miss Yolanda "Tita Yola" Mingoa had the vision which would eventually lay the foundation for what would become San Pedro Beach Resort in the 80's, now known as Talipasak when it was opened to the public sometime in 1996.
It feels like you are in a flora and fauna garden resort the moment you enter the gate. Trees and lots of flowers all around the place, birds chirping, the wind blowing from the seaside, and you will not see any cottage just yet - it's all hidden.
A quick glimpse at the beach and you would think that you are in the Caramoan by the pristine condition of the sands and the water that's crystal clear.
The thick vegetation beside the beach line gives out a unique feeling that this cove is conservatively well-preserved.
Some wild orchid clinging to the trunk of trees was all over the place as if you are in an area that was wild.
A few steps up on the rightmost part of the beach and you will see the entire span of the beach like you are in Palaui Island - nothing there - the marble table sets were hidden by the vegetation from that vantage point.
Overnight guests were also given a special place to wander away from public views leading to the unbelievable garden and cottages on top of a ridge.
Aligning with the original concept of a "hidden and simple paradise", the use of cottages was mainly to convey the message of the beauty in simplicity and that the entire resort allows its guests to be one with nature, and the environment of the island.
The simplicity that comes with the cottages is incomparable as it breaks the norms of the conventional area to rest and brings comfort that neither an apartment nor a hotel room could provide.
It feels like the entire resort and the cottages (too) were designed by prestigious landscape artists, and/or the owner herself spent so much effort in visualizing everything that only comes by investing so much time.
From the outside, the overall feel was very natural and harmonized well with the nature around you.
On the inside, the cottage's design and construction were made first-class topped with Romblon's smooth marbles on the floor and in the comfort room - unbelievable...!
Talipasak was originally a resort only meant for the family - however, Miss Yola changed it so that other individuals could go to the place to relax. At first, everything was small: there were limited cottages and amenities, and the restaurant could only fit so many people. Though, as time passed, Tita Yola improved Talipasak into a legitimate and thriving resort and allowed for it to be known as one of the hidden gems on the island of Romblon.
The equally surprising hospitable crew served dinner for us: steamed rice and creamy chicken curry in the open-air resto.
Imagine that at this time in the morning, it was at its highest peak during the Lenten Season. Boracay, Panglao, and Puerto Galera were all seen in social media posts as jam-packed and overloaded with tourists - and here we are on the beach that seemed private only for us..!
Being the only resort allowed and accredited by the local government during the pandemic, our expectations were too low before arriving - and after experiencing tranquillity with nature when everyone had the hype on the beach, indeed we found a gem in Romblon, exactly what Tita Yola had envisioned decades ahead.
Thanks to Ms. Tine Male for sharing to us so much about this hidden paradise wherein, she personally hopes to keep and maintain the original image of Talipasak to the public.
Farm Life with Sir Ronnie.
While packing our stuff and preparing for check-out to start the quick Romblon loop, a message was sent by Sir Ronnie inviting us to visit him on his self-sufficient farm with almost everything to survive the pandemic, including rice fields, poultries, animal herds, and a small pond with red tilapia acquired from Pampanga surprised us.
They were not heavily affected during the pandemic since vegetables, milled rice, fruits, fish, and meat were available for them to survive with his wife, Ma'm Del, their kids, and distant relatives.
After our sharing of ideas, laughter, and delights, we were offered fresh buko straight from a coconut tree near us.. wow!
We were stoked by the humble ways they see life in the farm on daily basis, and that only millionaires would ever wish to live that way in their free time.
The Marble Industries.
Romblon has a lucrative marble industry due to the abundance of Italian-quality marble and the reason why Romblon is the “Marble Capital of the Philippines.”
Large deposits of marble, in varying hues and types, abound in the northern part of Romblon, as well as on Alad and Cobrador Islands. Marble is worked and made into a variety of items.
Among the most common marble products are categorized into novelty items (gifts, ashtray, table bars), furniture (dining tables, baptismal fonts) and construction materials (tiles, balusters, marble chips).
Comparable to Italy's Cararra, Romblon's world-famous marble comes in a spectrum of shades ranging from white to black with in-between tints of mottled white, tiger, white, and onyx.
Marble quarrying and processing are major activities in Romblon which also provides livelihood to the Romblomanons.
We were also there to look for a very special piece - a small urn made of Argo marble, one of the rarest and most expensive.
The piece was meticulously carved by Sir John Mabunga of Mabunga Marble.
It was so emotional for us to travel this far, after the tragedy in the family a few months ago, and search for the best that we can afford.
On Earth and in Heaven.. we love you, Kuya Jef..!🤍
Upon returning the Honda PCX150 of Sir Ronnie, we met my fraternal brother, Brod. Kenneth Magpantay, who happens to be the son of Ma'm Del. We shared handclasps together as brothers in Alpha Phi Omega, and wave the scout sign.
Then we had our brunch in the nearby "Karenderia" (an affordable resto beside the streets), sharing food with the very hungry old woman.
The line in getting the tickets for Batangas and Dalahican ports was getting longer as the scheduled boarding time was fast approaching. There were no more available beds for us in the deluxe airconditioned area - so we braised ourselves again for the windy overnight journey back to Batangas.
Ideally, you shall consider bringing "Baon" (food with you) in long sea journey, as the food in the canteen is often junk food and instant noodles. Prior to entering the port's gate, we have peanuts, boiled quail/ chicken eggs, tiny bite-size siopao, and chicharon bulaklak. We forgot to bring some rice/dish for dinner from the Karenderia.
Bringing vehicles to Romblon is easy but a bit of a luxury because the entire circumferential road is only about 41km loop, and the ferry transport fee was surprisingly expensive. Renting a scooter instead will allow tourists to roam around more freely while helping the local community - which is the better choice.
Going to Romblon via Dalahican Port in Lucena City is way cheaper than via Batangas Port. However, if you are coming from the north, Dalahican Port is 92KM further south than Batangas Port.
As the ferry drifted away from the port to start the journey over night back to Batangas Port, the amazing experience from the very short Romblon getaways lingers.
The rides and getaways to Romblon, Romblon were worth all the money and effort you will spend. The boat rides, the awesome scenery, the white sands and sandbars, the historical sites, the amazing marble industry, and the surprisingly loving people are so priceless indeed..!
Safely Back with Awesome Experience.
We arrived at Batangas Port at about 3am early in the morning, after the smooth sailing from Romblon. We had some sleep on the ferry that's enough for us to drop by in our Quezon City house, and then ride straight back to Angeles City.
Arriving in Angeles City way too early than expected, we were very grateful to God for the amazing experience in Romblon, Romblon.
It took us a total of exactly 464.7KM from Angeles City to Batangas Port, and back. We ride on rented PCX-e and PCX150 covering +100km of back-and-forth rides on the island.
We have always offered all these successes and wonderful experiences to God, the Father in Heaven, with whom we are blessed with the power and strength to overcome anything in this world.
The amazing people is the real pride of Romblon.
#ByahengRomblon will not be possible without the valued assistance of Ms. Anne-Lie for the travel arrangements in Romblon; Ms. Tine Male was also very kind to accommodate us in the hidden treasure of Romblon, the Tinalipasak Beach, as well as provide valuable information about the beach and Tita Yola's vision.
We appreciate the great people whom we met and befriend in Romblon:
Sir Adonis Silverio of Romblon Electric Cooperative, for the warm welcome
Sir Pedro Royo, for staying with us and sharing wonderful facts about Romblon
Sir Ernesto Recto and his wife, for the warm welcome and free charging
Sir Ronnie and his wife Ma'am Del, salamat sa PCX-e, sa farm tour, and sa fresh buko
Sir Arturo Silverio and Sir Paulino Merencio, for the warm welcome in the park
Sir Jun Esguerra and his wife, for accommodating us while touring
Ms. Aila Mae, Angelica, and Michelle, the trio travelers we met in Fuerza San Andres
Ms. Denia Mutia, for the mouth-watering authentic Italian pizza (try it..!)
Romblon Tourism Information Office, for the warm welcome in BonBon Beach
The Crew of Tinalipasak Beach Resort, for the superb service
Brod Kenneth Magpantay - for the handclasp and scooter
The Crew of M/V Rein del Rosario, for the safe voyage back and forth
Ms. Virginia Malayo, for the amazing moments on the ferry back to Batangas
Romblon has great destinations that you will surely enjoy, but the best thing there was the people - the very accommodating, peaceful, and loving people in the province - they even uplift and appreciate each other during the small talks. Visit there and you won't regret it..!
We will be back in Romblon on the fluvial parade celebration with the Sr. Santo Niño de Biniray in January 2023 with The Crew, courtesy of Sir Albert de Joya.. yeeeeah..!
Byahe lang..!
2022 April 14~17, Romblon
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