Is a cluster of twenty islands lying in the Sibuyan Sea, that is practically at the center of the Philippine archipelago. It is south of Marinduque, west of Masbate, east of Mindoro, and north of Panay Island. Romblon is also known as the "Marble Country".
||1 355.9 sq km
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Romblon consists of three main islands: Romblon, Tablas and Sibuyan. The whole province is generally mountainous. Narrow strips of coastal lowland, low hills and plains characterize some of the islands.
The Province of Romblon has stable weather with peak season from November to April.
A Brief History
The first Spaniards who came to visit the province in 1582, named it "Lomlon".
In 1818, Romblon was made a sub-province of Capiz.
A civil government was established in the islands by the Americans in 1901.
Romblon was created as a province in 1901 but due to insufficient income, it became a sub-province of Capiz in 1907 until 1917, when it was re-established as a province.
Romblon was abolished as a province in 1941. On January 1, 1947 it regained its provincial status.
The earliest residents of the province were believed to be Negritos from Panay and Mangyans from Mindoro.
Today, Romblon´s population is made up of several ethnolinguistic groups. Majority are descendants of Malay settlers in Panay. Ilonggo and Tagalog are widely spoken, although some areas have their own distinct dialects.
Commerce and Industry
Romblon has become synonymous with its most important mineral resource - marble. In fact, all the islands comprising the province have marble. Quarries on these islands produce raw marble for sculpture and construction purposes.
There are around 20 small and larger resorts, several hundred foreigners either living there permanently or still coming and going - and many fish sanctuaries plus an amazingly beautiful nature. with spring, river, waterfalls, caves etc.
The occupations of the people include farming, livestock raising, and logging. The Sibuyan Sea provide year-round fishing opportunities.
During the off-season, farmhands engage themselves in cottage industries such as basket-weaving, rope and fishnet making, and marble curing.
The women of Romblon are mostly involved in crocheting.
Getting There and Away
Domestic flights are available from Manila.
Ferries from neighbouring island provinces depart for Romblon several times a week.
The capital town of Romblon has one of the safest natural harbors in the country. A few kilometers away from the town proper in barangay Suwa are the beaches of Bonbon and Tiamban. Off the coast are islets with white sand beaches.
St. Joseph Cathedral in Romblon town was built by the recollect fathers in the 15th century and features a Byzantine altar, stained-glass windows, and a collection of antique icons and religious paintings.
Fort San Andres is an old Spanish fort made of coral bricks atop a hill in the town proper. It is now used as a weather station.