Post away folks! :colgate:

I hope to see more postings here for the imminent construction of the longest runway of the Philippines in Carabao Island.

really? why they are constructing such?

I hope to see more postings here for the imminent construction of the longest runway of the Philippines in Carabao Island.

where is carabao island?

^^ Kapag minsan na papauwi ako sa probinsya namin sa Aklan sakay sa eroplano, kapag malapit na o approaching Panay Island, makikita mo ito.
Ang ganda ng isla, kita mo ang white sands niya.

Ano kaya ang kalakalan dito? skins or local dialects?

where is carabao island?

Carabaoi Island is an island at the tip of Romblom Island..its proximity to Boracay made the government decide to construct an international airport that will serve Boracay..It is reported to be having the longest runway when completed..

^^Wish somebody would post a pic here about that island.

i hope so..its aerials perhaps, in order for us to have an idea how far it is from Boracay Island..

Wala lang....

I just noticed that this is just like the MIMAROPA thread, sans Palawan. :lol:

Puerto Galera Bay, crown jewel of the Verde Island Passage (http://mb.com.ph/node/199208)
By ROBERT A. EVORA

PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro -- With the onset of summer, people from all walks of life, all over the country, will once again troop to this island resort to savor the God-given natural beauty of the tropics. Puerto Galera, which is likened to a "jewelry box" for containing precious and unique marine life, is gifted for being at the heart of the "center of the world's marine biodiversity," which is the Verde Island Passage.

The unique position of Puerto Galera in the mainstream of Verde Island Passage could be the reason why this island resort was made the 32nd member of the Paris-based World's Most Beautiful Bays Club (WMBB), a singular distinction still unsurpassed by any bay in the Philippines.

The WMBB Club is sponsored by UNESCO, which also declared Puerto Galera a biosphere reserve under its Man and the Biosphere Programme in the 1970s. The Verde Island Passage is at the apex of the so-called Coral Triangle - the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia - which has the distinction of being the "global center of marine biodiversity."

The Passage houses 2,983 individual species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, based on a study conducted by scientists Carpenter and Springer in 2005.

As part of the triangle or the "eco-region," Verde Island Passage is under the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape, and is one of the only four Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridors in the Philippines.
The four MBCCs are the Balabac Strait that links Sulu Sea with the South China Sea; the Tri-National Sea Turtle Corridor that links Sulu Sea with the Sulawesi Sea; the Cagayan Ridge (Tubbataha Reef National Park, Palawan); and the Verde Island Passage.

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15 hotels to open this year (http://http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news4_mar23_2009)
By Roderick T. dela Cruz

FIFTEEN new hotels and resorts offering 2,000 rooms will open this year despite the economic downturn, the Tourism Department says.

The new properties are worth P20 billion, and they will be employing 3,000 workers, the department says.

It says some of these new properties have already opened, and they include 28 cluster villas under the Amanpulo Resorts, which owns Sugihara Villa Resort, Vauban Villa Resort, Salamanca Villa Resort, Almonavides Villa Resort, La Galice Villa Resort, Kapangyarihan Villa Resort, and La Pucelle Villa Resort.

Rates at the Amanpulo properties start at $1,150 a night.

Shangri La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, with 219 rooms, opened to guests on March 2 with daily rates of P20,500.

Discovery Bay Misibis on Cagraray Island, Albay, with 38 villas, also opened early this year with room rates starting at $305 a night.

The 75-room Park Bed and Breakfast Hotel and Restaurant in Pasay City, which is managed by Legend Hotels International Corp., has also opened, and its rates start at P1,500 a night.

The 50-room Microtel Inn and Suites in Puerto Princesa opened early this year, and it offers a daily rate of P3,800.

The largest hotel in Cebu, the 556-room Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort, will open on May 20, although it has yet to announce its room rates, the department says.

It says more hotels and resorts are opening in the second half of the year, including the 232-room Oakwood Premier Manila in Ortigas Center, which opens its doors to guests in the third quarter. The room rates at its sister facility, the Oakwood Makati, start at P10,000 a night.

The 100-room Picasso Serviced Residences in Salcedo Village, Makati, is expected to be completed by Ardent Development Corp. by the second half.

Also opening in the second half are two luxury hotels near the airport in Manila and beside the Villamor Championship Golf Course.

The Newport Marriott Hotel will have 365 guest rooms, and Maxims Hotel 170 suites.

The P500-million Silang Wakeboard Park is rising up on a 12-hectare plot of land in Silang, Cavite, and it’s expected to open by August.

The Manila Ocean Park in Rizal Park is building extra facilities including a boutique hotel.

The Tourism Department is also processing an application from Bella Roca Island Resort and Spa in Marinduque.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano says these new investments in tourism-related facilities and establishments are expected to add more than 2,000 new accommodation rooms and generate 3,000 jobs.

“With this initial list of investments, the country is assured of a vibrant tourism industry with bigger revenue and more jobs,” Durano said.

The new hotels and resorts will pay no taxes for four to six years and may import capital equipment tax-free if they are registered with the Board of Investments, according to Victoria Jasmin, director of the Office of Tourism Standards.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Bill is expected to result in more investment and create more tourism zones once it is signed into law.

The Senate and the House’s bicameral conference committee has approved the bill, which will give the Tourism Department powers beyond its marketing functions.

Govt signs $3-b mining deal (http://http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_mar24_2009)
By Othel V. Campos

Intex Resources Philippines Inc., a unit of Intex Resources ASA of Norway, yesterday signed a $2.95-billion agreement with the Philippines to develop a nickel reserve on an area straddling Occidental and Oriental Mindoro provinces.

Erlend Grimstad, chief executive of the local Intex unit, said Environment Secretary Lito Atienza signed the production and sharing agreement, which will pave the way for start of commercial production as early as 2012.

Intex’s local partner in the Mindoro mining project is Aglubang Mining Corp., the holder of the minerals production and sharing agreement with the Philippine government.

“We hope to finish the definitive feasibility study by November this year and commence with the construction by late 2010 once we have the financing in place by early 2010,” Grimstad said in a phone interview.

An initial feasibility report predicted more deposits than initially estimated on the area.

An estimated annual output of 40,000 metric tons “appears to have been conservative” based on “extensive” testing, the Oslo-based metals explorer said on Jan. 21, citing a feasibility study. Intex had deferred completing the study to the fourth quarter of this year from the first because of the global credit crunch.

A high-pressure acid leach facility will be included in the mine and will be able to produce 80,000 tons of nickel and 3,700 tons of cobalt annually. Construction and development is scheduled until 2011, with commercial operations starting the next year.

Intex plans to spend $2.05 billion for the first stage of the project and $900 million for the second phase. The company, however, appeared to have reduced its estimate for capital expenditures due to low metal prices.

“From they submitted, Intex will now be spending $2.5 billion,” said Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief Horacio Ramos.

He said the investments would include expenses for the processing, fertilizer and power plants.

Intex plans to tap the capital market to partly fund the project.

“We’re hoping to have on board a strategic partner after we finish the definitive feasibility study and secure an environmental compliance certificate by the second quarter of next year,” Grimstad said.

He said the parent company was finalizing a mixed financing package that included the sale of shares, entry of a strategic partner and borrowings from international banks.

A pre-feasibility study completed by Aker Solutions Australia in December 2007 confirmed the viability of building a nickel processing plant that could produce 40,000 tons a year.

Carabaoi Island is an island at the tip of Romblom Island..its proximity to Boracay made the government decide to construct an international airport that will serve Boracay..It is reported to be having the longest runway when completed..

thanks for the info....so the it is now under construction...longest runway in the philippines?

http://images.icarusrising.multiply.com/image/0/photos/198/1200x1200/23/IMGP6970.JPG?et=GqAsN07wp2iXHz16IpoJIQ&nmid=222228551

wow...great, this building is elegant. when was it opened?

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Santa%20Cruz%20Marinduque/SantaCruzMarinduque_1.jpg

Hi guys,

Me and my friends are planning to go to PG this mid-May for a quick getaway. we're looking for a CHEAP but DESCENT accommodation near the beach. I've check hotels and resorts on-line but prices are way beyond our budget for a two-night trip.
Can you suggest any property?...someone told me about some cheap rooms in the area but I don't see them on the web or any of their contact info. Please help.

PM me pls. :)

Thanks!

25 April 2009

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Folk dancing is also about identity (https://abs-cbnnews.com/features/05/17/09/folk-dancing-also-about-identity)
by Maria Althea Teves, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak | 05/17/2009 4:35 PM

Pandanggo sa Ilaw, originating from Mindoro, remains one of the most popular and enduring folk dances of the Philippines. Audiences continue to be astonished by the dancers’ ability to move as fluid as the lighted oil in the lamps they have to balance on their heads and their hands.

When the lights are out, the performance continues—unlike in other dances. In the dark, dancers are no longer the stars. They are reduced to faceless bearers of light.

“It is so beautiful to observe how graceful the lights glide and move,” said Rhodora Barojabo a finalist of the Gawad Geny Lopez “Bayaning Guro” Awards, who is a bearer of light in her own city of Calapan , Oriental Mindoro.

Gawad Geny Lopez is the Lopez group of companies' annual search for Filipino leaders who help their communities and inspire love of country.

A dedicated music, arts and physical education teacher at Jose J. Leido Jr. National Memorial High School , Barojabo wishes to change one child at a time by teaching cultural dances.

“I want to teach children folk dances so they would have a strong sense of identity and pride in Mindoro and have discipline,” she said. “Children should be disciplined and learn to respect. Dance is nothing if you do not have these.”

A Calapan dance

Because she wanted Calapan’s identity to shine brightly like the Pandanggo oil lamps, she thought it would be good to make a dance that reflects Calapan culture. She called it Hayuma Calapeña.

“Naghahayuma is the local term for sewing a net,” she said. Calapan is a coastal city and fishing is Mindoro ’s main source of livelihood.

Many dances focus on the act of drying the fish or fishing itself, but none has paid attention to the tools needed for making a living, like sewing the fish nets, she said.

A difficult and tedious process, sewing a net could take a whole day or two, demonstrating how crucial the quality of the nets are to their lives, she said.

The Hayuma Calapeña needs both boy and girl dancers, “to show how families in Calapan help each other, also how positivity and romance blossoms in hard times,” she said.

The performance emphasizes the community’s cooperative nature where girls sew the nets and the men lay them out and then throw them back to the ladies to check the quality, she said.

The boys wear long pants with native salakot hat and the girls wear bandanas, skirts and pants. The movements are graceful yet lively.

The full body cover, which is a protection against the blazing sun near the sea, is complemented by the “fluid yet joyful” movement and music.

The light-hearted music of the dance was composed by her uncle, Oscar Nicasio, a former member of the Nicasio Brothers band that played string instruments.

Light in the dark

Residents of Calapan were not supportive of her endeavors in the beginning. When she asked that some of the children be excused from class so she could teach them the dance, she said parents would get annoyed and say their classes were more important. Some parents and teachers went to the extent of telling the children to their faces that they could not dance, she said.

Lacking support when she began teaching in 1991, she had to turn to well-off families because they could spare some money for the costumes.

Despite the obstacles, she continued to work hard to develop the Hayuma Calapeña until 1999 when it won in a Department of Education contest to promote local culture. “All the Calapañans became very supportive,” she said proudly.

With newfound popular support, it became easier for her to find children not only willing to learn the dance but also to change their perspectives about their future.

“I would not want to impart anything to these children that they won’t use in the future,” said Barojabo, “The discipline that comes with dancing would help them in their future endeavors.”

She said that one male student, who did not even know how to dance, told her that her dance lessons kept him away from gangs.

Dancing, she said, has helped her students who have graduated to gain college scholarships. “Not only dance troupe scholarships, but also varsity scholarships. Their discipline helped them,” she said.

She said her favorites are students who do not even know how to dance. “I think that their discipline is inspiring, although obviously they would not be great dancers but it shows that hard work would help you in any aspect of your life,” she said.

Barojabo’s dream

The very strict dance teacher said that she wishes that children would grow up to become disciplined leaders to sustain the flourishing community. A disciplined environment helps as well, she said. Mayor Salvador Leachon’s main project is making Calapan City the most disciplined city.

Aside from discipline, “I also want a city with a strong sense of identity, that is why I am an advocate of folk dances,” she said.

She also said that it would be nice to have a festival that is a Calapan staple: “Like Aklan’s Ati-atihan, I hope we would have a festival that would be popular so that more and more tourists could see how beautiful our city is.”

Barojabo said that, “Knowing your identity coupled with discipline, there is no way that you would fail.”

as of 05/18/2009 5:42 PM

any suggestion what to do in marinduque. Will go in June? Any reliable tour guide/operator for half day tour?

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/Santa%20Cruz%20Marinduque/SantaCruzMarinduque_1.jpg

Severe Weather Bulletin Number THREE
Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm "FERIA"
Issued at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Tropical Storm "FERIA" has made landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar.

Location of Center: (as of 4:00 p.m.) 40 kms South Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar
Coordinates: 12.2°N, 124.8°E
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and
Gustiness of up to 90 kph
Movement: West Northwest at 22 kph.
Forecast Positions/Outlook: Wednesday afternoon: 70 kms Southwest of Metro Manila
Thursday afternoon: 260 kms West Northwest of Laoag City
Friday afternoon: 500 kms North Northwest of Basco, Batanes

Areas Having Public Storm Warning Signal

Signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds)

Masbate
Ticao Island
Sorsogon
Albay
Camarines Provinces
Catanduanes
Marinduque
Romblon
Burias Island
Southern Quezon
Oriental Mindoro
Samar Provinces
Leyte Provinces
Biliran Island
Northern Iloilo
Northern Negros
Northern Cebu
Aklan
Capiz

Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds)

Occidental Mindoro
Lubang Island
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Rizal
Northern Quezon
Polilio Island
Calamian group
Cuyo Island
Bataan
Bulacan
Metro Manila
Bohol
Rest of Cebu
Rest of Negros
Guimaras
Southern Iloilo
Antique
Siquijor
Surigao del Norte
Siargao Island
Dinagat Island
Camiguin


Residents living in low lying and mountainous including coastal areas under signal #2 and 1 are alerted against possible flashloods and landslides.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 P.M. today.

PAG-ASA (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/tcupdate.shtml)

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DAR awards farmlands to 629 farmer-beneficiaries (http://businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/53-agri-commodities/14130-dar-awards-farmlands-to-629-farmer-beneficiaries.html)
Written by Jonathan L. Mayuga / Correspondent
Tuesday, 04 August 2009 19:10

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced on Monday the distribution of 314.5 hectares of privately owned agricultural land to 629 farmer-beneficiaries in Occidental Mindoro.

The awarding of the farmlands under compulsory acquisition was the first this year. Last December, Congress temporarily extended the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) up to June 30 pending the passage of the CARP extension law, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said.

The resolution was carried out 23 days before President Arroyo formally signs on August 7 the new CARP extension law, which was passed on third reading by the joint Congress bicameral committee last month.

“This is a moral victory for CARP and a strong message to all that we really mean business as we resume our job of distributing at least a million more hectares of agricultural lands within five years,” Pangandaman said.

He said the awarding of the property located in barangay Bubog, San Jose town, owned by Marken Corp., took six days to complete. It started on July 10, when his local officials and personnel went to the area, despite threats of bodily harm coming from both the former landowner and pseudo farmer-beneficiaries.

Farmer-beneficiaries finally received their certificate of land ownership award, ending more than a decade of struggle. Each of the beneficiaries was awarded at least one-and-a-half hectares of farm.

The presence of policemen dispatched by provincial director Senior Supt. Cesar Miranda ensured the peaceful and orderly installation of the rightful beneficiaries, which was witnessed by local barangay officials led by their chairman Jose Villarosa.

WOW Philippines highlights Marinduque (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/214876/wow-philippines-highlights-marinduque)

August 8, 2009, 1:23pm

Discover the unexplored wonders of Marinduque as the Department of Tourism highlights the sights and sounds of the magical island province in the WOW Philippines exhibit at the DoT Clamshell in Intramuros, Manila.
See up and close and personal the legendary “moryon” or masked centurion, the main character in the colorful Lenten “Moriones Festival,” Marinduque’s main tourist drawer.

Or be a king or queen for an evening as old women crown you in the traditional putongan welcome ceremony for guests, along with native dance and music from a kalutang ensemble.

Situated province off mainland Luzon, Marinduque is a heart-shaped island which can be reached by a fast craft or RoRo boat ride from Lucena City or a short flight from Manila via Zest Air.

It is an alluring hideaway with a plethora of natural wonders, among them, Bonliw-Cagpo-Poctoy Fish Sanctuary and Poctoy White Beach in Torrijos, Tres Reyes Marine Sanctuary Gasan, Bathala Caves in Sta. Cruz, and Malbog Hot Springs in Buenavista.

Transport yourself in the mystical Greek Santorini Island-themed Bellaroca Island Resort and Spa, a world-class resort hotel in Elefante Island in Gasan town. Meanwhile, outdoor lovers can scale the Balabag mountain range and Mt. Malindig, Marinduque’s highest peak and sanctuary to different species of wild orchids and endemic wildlife.

Construction of airport to Boracay starts soon
By Delon Porcalla (philstar.com) Updated August 22, 2009 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - The construction of the P3-billion modern international airport in a small island near Romblon province – dubbed as the best and nearest alternative to the overcrowded resort island of Boracay – would start soon, local officials said.

Romblon officials led by Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona and Gov. Natalio Beltran III said the groundbreaking of the Carabao Island International Airport (CIIA) would start next month.

Madrona said the construction of the modern international airport, expected to be fully operational by 2012, is a private-sector initiative.

Investors from Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have earlier expressed interest in the island as an alternate site for their investments. The site is located in San Jose town, an island in Romblon that can be reached by a 15-minute boat ride from Boracay.

San Jose, just a 30-minute flight away from Manila, is a carabao-shaped island. The proposed world-class airport project, when completed, can accommodate Airbuses planes and other similar huge aircraft.

Madrona said the CIIA could be an alternate to the existing airports in Tugdan, Alcantara in Tablas Island in Romblon, Kalibo and Caticlan in Aklan, which foreign and domestic tourists use in going to Boracay.

Caticlan airport has been closed recently for renovation.

San Jose town Mayor Fil Tandog said the island is like Boracay with white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters ideal for diving.

Tandog said the island, popularly known as Isla de Carabao, is four times bigger than Boracay.

Tandog revealed that several foreign investors from Taiwan, Korea, Japan and US have already visited his town and signified their intention to invest in the island to put up hotels, restaurants, golf courses, resorts and other modern amenities.

With the signified investments, prices of prime property in the municipality went up from P150 per square meter to as much as P500.

Beachfront rates, on the other hand, are much higher – ranging from P4,000 to P5,000 per square meter.

Real estate in San Jose is much cheaper compared to Boracay because properties in the virgin island are virtually unoccupied and owned by original settlers who have been residing in the area for years.

Members of the provincial board in Romblon led by Fred Dorado hailed President Arroyo for taking the initiative to put the region in the country’s tourism map.

Dorado assured foreign and local investors that they would enact a measure to lower the taxes in the province.

The construction of the airport is expected to generate entrepreneurial opportunities and new jobs, thereby increasing economic activities for the people of the municipality, including the remaining 14 towns of the province, officials said.

Beltran added the airport in Carabao Island will provide steady jobs and income for all the residents where fishing and farming remain the main sources of livelihood.

From www.mb.com.ph


Gold, silver deposits in Mindoro, Panay probable — scientists (http://www.mb.com.ph/node/218523/gold-)
By RIO ROSE RIBAYA
August 31, 2009, 7:26pm

Filipino scientists Monday said they believe that there are high probabilities of large deposits of gold and silver in the central parts of Mindoro and Panay after both islands were identified as the “collision zone” of two crashing tectonic plates holding Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) explained that mineral resource potential usually follow and is relative to a major crustal deformation, which scientists from credible universities in the Philippines and Taiwan recently discovered occurring in the Western Visayas region.

“We are convinced (that) there are mineral deposits like gold, silver, copper, zinc, and other precious metals in Mindoro and Panay (islands),” Dr. Graciano Yumul, DoST undersecretary for research and development, told the Manila Bulletin in an exclusive interview.

Yumul explained that mineralization normally occurs in the extension zones of a land mass like mountains particularly volcanoes, where “there is high possibility for mineralization because they have fluids with metals like gold, copper, and zinc (underneath).”

The DoST official added that the on going “head-on collision” of the plate holding Palawan islands with the plate underneath Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in Western Visayas will gradually create a whole new “zone of extensions” in the land mass of Mindoro and Panay islands.

“The collision zone creates fractures on faults in Mindoro or Panay that we call zone of extensions where there could have been deposits of fluid and other precious metals,” Yumul explained.

“They usually lie in the middle of the islands near and where there are high mountains mountains like the towns of San Jose, Halcon, and Sablayan in Mindoro island and in Antique in the island of Panay,” he noted

There ought to be gold in them dar hills. That's why the island is called Mina de Oro or Mindoro.

Never knew this exists...

Bellaroca Island Resort & Spa, Marinduque (www.bellaroccaresorts.com)

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/BellarocaIslandResortandSpa.jpg

I happen to know its existence upon browsing a 2009/10 travel catalogue/magazine of Asian resorts at a book shop earlier today.

It looks like a massive development they have there without so much exposure/promotion.

^^Looks nice! From this photo it can be mistaken for a Mediterranean luxury isle. :applause:

Where do they get their water for everyday use?

MIMAROPA observes 15th annual NCPW commemoration (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p090902.htm&no=47)

By Louie T. Cueto

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (2 September) -- To promote community involvement, participation, and build & maintain public commitment in activities that effectively deter commission of crimes, the regional kick-off activity in observance of this year's National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) was held at the municipal gymnasium of this town, Sept. 2.

This year's theme "Labanan ang Krimen, Pamilya Patatagin" is in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 461, dated August 31, 1994 declaring the first week of September of every year as National Crime Prevention Week, 15th year now.

A parade within the town proper of San Jose composed of employees from the national government agencies, local government units, regional line agencies, and students from DepEd signaled the kick-off ceremony of this year's celebration followed by a short program. It was spearheaded by Gov. Josephine R. Sato of Occidental Mindoro, chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council together with Police Chief Superintendent Paul Pueblos Mascarinas, PNP Regional Director of MIMAROPA and at the same time Vice Chairman of the Regional Peace & Order Council.

Before the formal opening of the program, judging of entry slogans of DepEd students, PNP, barangay level, and LGUs was held with Dir. Raquel Ramos of NAPOLCOM as chairperson and with two others from the religious sector as members.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Romulo Festin of San Jose welcomed all participants who joined with the celebration. He also emphasized and encouraged all concerned individuals to immediately report crimes or any untoward incidents to concerned government agency like the PNP through text or by any means so that crimes would be prevented.

PCSUPT Mascarinas said that the observance of the 15th Crime Prevention reminds everybody to keep our country safe from all forms of crimes. Also, he mentioned his full satisfaction on the PNP's performance in their plight against crimes in their respective area of jurisdiction.

Moreover, instead of giving her message, Gov. Sato sponsored a contest for elementary and high school students where the governor herself acted as host or interviewer. She called only 10 students from different schools and asked them one by one to explain what is crime. The question was translated into vernacular for them to express well their understanding. Four students were chosen winners based on their way of answering. The first placer, a Grade Six pupil was given a cash prize of P1,000 and the remaining three winners were given P500 each by the governor. In this activity, Gov. Sato was able to explain well the root causes of crime especially to large number of students present during the affair.

Part of the program at around 10:00 a.m. was the simultaneous whistle blowing made by heads of regional line agencies and local chief executives and noise barrage created by students and other participants who have no whistles during that time.

Dir. Ramos of NAPOLCOM IV-B gave her final remarks focusing on the significant event made that time as well as active participation of everyone towards the prevention of crime in the community. (PIA-MIMAROPA)

Mindoro executives hit ECC for mining project
By Katherine Adraneda (The Philippine Star) Updated November 07, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Provincial and local officials as well as Church-based and non-government organizations in Mindoro have declared “war” against the move of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza to issue an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for a nickel mining project in the province last Oct. 14.

In a press conference yesterday, the Mindoro officials and leaders led by Governors Josephine Ramirez-Sato and Arnan Panaligan of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, respectively, vowed to fight “all the way” the ECC for the 11,216.6-hectare Mindoro Nickel Mining Project, and called on the national government, particularly Atienza and especially President Arroyo, to heed their demand and respect their resolution for a moratorium on mining in their province.

They lamented that their repeated pleas and opposition to the project were “set aside and ignored” by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The mining project is said to cover four towns – Victoria, Pola and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro, and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.

Specifically, the project would affect some 9,000 hectares in Occidental Mindoro, and another 3,000 hectares in Oriental Mindoro.

Although the project appears to only cover a smaller land area in Oriental Mindoro compared to Occidental Mindoro, Vice Gov. Mario Gene Mendiola said the project site in Oriental Mindoro would be “more dangerous” because it will include mountain slopes.

“We oppose this project not because we are against the national government’s thrust on large-scale mining. We oppose this project because its ECC is irregular. It would seem that the process for this ECC was done summarily,” said Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan Panaligan.

Haay...I recently watched TV Patrol Southern Tagalog (one of the tapings three weeks ago) and it seems like Marinduque is suffering at the hands of MARELCO (the electric cooperative). :ohno:

Santorini, Greece? Nope, it's Bellarocca Resort in Marinduque

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Photos by legally bald (http://www.flickr.com/photos/legally_bald/)

^astig sir dx, napakaganda ng resort at pati na rin nung isla ng marinduque. para nga talagang nasa mediterrenean sea ang setting pero sa Pilipinas pala. sana ganyan na lang iyan for life.:banana::banana::banana:

Pimentel hits issuance of ECC to Mindoro mining project
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated November 14, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. raised objections yesterday to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ issuance of an environment clearance certificate (ECC) to a foreign mining venture in a watershed area in Mindoro in total disregard of the strong objection of the provincial folk against it due to its potentially harmful effects on agriculture and human health.

Pimentel said the issuance of the ECC, which was tantamount to a go-signal to start nickel mining, was the height of insensitivity and arrogance because the local government units and all sectors in Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental were united against the project due to the environmental havoc it could bring to the agriculture-rich island.

“Environment and natural resources authorities should have disallowed the mining project because watersheds are protected areas and are off-limits to mining,” he said.

“The authority of the DENR to issue mining permits should be exercised based on what is good for the people from whom all the powers of the government emanates,” he said.

Pimentel said it is the government’s duty to protect and uphold the general welfare of the citizens as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution and the Local Government Code.

He added that the Mining Code of 1995 specifically provides the consent of the indigenous people and other residents of communities around mining sites before the government could allow any mining operations.

Pimentel said the nickel project of the Intex Mining Corp. could by no means be justified because it would endanger the critical watershed areas in the mountain range between the two Mindoro provinces.

He said the degradation and destruction of the protected watershed areas would threaten the irrigation of vast agricultural lands and pollute the sources of drinking water of the local populace.

Pimentel reminded Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza that one of his predecessors, former Secretary Heherson Alvarez, in fact, cancelled the permit for the Mindoro nickel project in 2002 because it would cause “irreparable damage to the environment which will cost human lives, health and livelihood incapacity of our farmers and fisherfolk, endangering the food security of our people.”

“The DENR’s action in allowing the nickel mining operation defies logic because the law invoked by the mining proponents, the Mining Code, expressly provides that watershed reservations are closed to all kinds of mining, logging and quarrying activities,” he said.

Pimentel said mining invariably involves the cutting of trees in the forest and the use of toxic chemical substances.

Aside from this, he said mine tailings are dumped into rivers that not only poison and pollute the waters but also cause heavy siltation of waterways.

Bishop Warlito Cajandig, apostolic vicariate of Calapan, Occidental Mindoro, said they are preparing a series of protest actions against the mining project. – With Evelyn Macairan

Marinduque
14-15 November 2009

Bathala Cave
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Simbahan ng Boac
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Plaza
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Ulong Beach
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Korean power firm explores RP projects (http://mb.com.ph/articles/232232/korean-power-firm-explores-rp-projects)

SEOUL, South Korea -- After initially keeping its eye on potential wind power development, Korea East-West Power Co. Ltd. (EWP) is exploring to expand investment foray in the Philippines to prospective mini-hydro and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

In an exclusive interview, EWP president Gil Gu Lee disclosed that for the mini-hydro projects, the partnership may continue with Alternergy Philippines Holdings Corporation, a company chaired and founded by former Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez.

“In addition to wind energy, we are looking for investments in mini-hydro with Alternergy,” he said.

The other investment area it is willing to pursue will be for LNG
facilities, especially for a project utilized for power generation; and EWP cannot also be left out on some fossil fuel-based power projects, primarily coal plants.

“Aside from renewable energy, we are looking for opportunities to invest in fossil fuel, like coal plants; and we are also looking for LNG power plant – either as investment or participation in the operation and maintenance (O&M) together with local partners in the Philippines,” Mr. Lee stressed.

As far as the wind projects are concerned, EWP is cornering majority equity of 45% in the corporate vehicle that will eventually bring the prospect wind farms to development. Another partner, Japan’s Eurus Energy will corner the other 45%, while local partner Alternergy assumes the minority stake.

But Mr. Lee credited Alternergy for steadfastly preparing the groundwork for such investment opportunity -- that when proven for commercial development may yield 260 megawatts of renewable energy capacity for the country.

Alternergy was the one awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) with six service contracts to conduct exclusive wind assessment/studies in areas such as Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Mindoro, Rizal and Laguna.

DENR eyes development guidelines for Apo Reef complex (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/DENR_eyes_development_guidelines_for_Apo_Reef_complex.shtml)

MANILA, Jan. 5 (PNA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 4B office will conduct as soon as possible a study on carrying capacity of Apo Reef complex, the world-famous eco-tourism jewel off Mindoro Island.

DENR Region 4B Dir. Marcial Amaro Jr. said this study aims to establish limits on development there so authorities can be guided in controlling this and influx of tourists to better preserve and protect the area.

"What we want is for this area to remain pristine," he said.

The nearly 16,000-hectare complex is home to some of the Philippines' largest coral reefs and to various species, including marine turtles, sharks as well as commercially important barracudas and tuna.

Amaro believes that determining the carrying capacity and establishing limits will help promote sustainable eco-tourism there while protecting such area from environmental degradation and unabated development that gripped Boracay Island, another world-famous Philippine tourist attraction.

Amaro said DENR Region 4B will commence the study as soon as government releases the budget for it.

This office will partner with DENR's Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) and several universities in conducting the research.

ERDB is DENR's research and development arm tasked with providing technical and research assistance on environment-related matters.

Aside from determining the maximum level of development possible in Apo Reef, Amaro said, the study will also show which parts of this complex require rehabilitation.

"We will likewise know if there's need to declare a closed season there," he added.

Tourists generally flock to Apo Reef Complex during summer when water there is calm and the weather is fine for diving, snorkelling and swimming, authorities noted.

Authorities earlier cited destructive fishing and over-fishing as ravaging Apo Reef's environment.
They reported corals there are still generally in good condition despite occurrence of such practices. (PNA)

Carabao Island International Airport development project sa Romblon.

Any updates po? Eto pa lang.

CARABAO Island International Airport (CIIA) operational by 2012
(http://www.romblonprov.gov.ph/)

The long-awaited construction of the international airport in Carabao Island in Romblon will finally start soon, three years since President Arroyo announced the ambitious project in her 2006 State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona and Gov. Jojo Beltran revealed that the ground-breaking of the construction of the 3-billion Carabao Island International Airport (CIIA) will be started upon the instruction of the President herself. Cong. Madrona said the construction of the modern airport is a private-sector initiative, and is expected to be fully operational by year 2012. With this government project, Madrona and Beltran expressed hope that the virgin island of Isla De Carabao will be the next tourist destination alternative to the famous Boracay.

Madrona said that the CIIA could be an alternate to the existing airport in Tugdan, Alcantara located in Tablas Island, the largest island in Romblon to foreign and domestic tourists coming from Kalibo and Caticlan in Aklan going to Boracay

The construction of the airport is expected to generate entrepreneurial opportunities and new jobs, thereby increasing the economic activities for the people of Isla De Carabao including the remaining 14 towns of the province, Beltran said. The governor added that the airport will provide steady jobs and income to the residents of the island. Once fully developed, Beltran said that the provincial government will provide and maintain essential infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, waste disposal, bridges, clean public toilets and directional signages to all tourist spots. A province-wide computerized data banking system for tourism information is also in the plan.

============================================================================

Luma na ito. Sana matuloy ito.

Italians to invest in 5 provinces in 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Developer ItalPinas Inc. is pouring in hundred millions of investment in five provinces in the country this year by constructing eco-friendly buildings.

Romolo Nati, chief executive officer of ItalPinas, said his company already started the construction of a ten-story condominium in Cagayan De Oro City which is expected to be completed in 14 months or by early 2011.

The more than 1,000-square meter property in Cagayan has a total investment of P180 million and the first Green building to be constructed in Asia and in the entire province of Mindanao.

Nati said his company is also targeting to build the same facility in Palawan, Mindoro, General Santos, and Davao, which shows great potential for property development.

Asked why his company has chosen the provinces instead of Metro Manila, Nati said Metro Manila is already congested.

“We did a market survey [before we started the project] and we like Cagayan de Oro because it has higher middle class market, not to mention its fast-growing economy,” Nati said.

”We are not into Metro Manila because our idea is to focus in the provinces,” he added.

According to Nati, since their units are sold lower than P3 million, more Filipinos are expected to buy condo units whose designs are tailored in Europe. Another plus factor for ItalPinas buildings, he said, is that they can produce they own energy through the use of a special solar panel “to maximize and optimize energy use.”

“Our goal is to reduce energy consumption…. Our building will save around 33 percent of energy,” he said.

Nati said his company targets the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) market and the migrants abroad.

Currently, there are over eight million OFWs employed in 194 countries and majority of them are in the United States, Middle East, Canada, Hong Kong, and in Europe.

ItalPinas is a partnership between an Italian firm and the Constellation Energy Corp. headed by its chairman Jose P. Leviste Jr.

Nati said that for future projects, the company plans to enter into joint venture agreements with other companies in the country.

ItalPinas also plans to tap local banks for their funding requirements should its other survey yield positive results.

”At present we are talking with some private investors,” Nati said adding that with the “market seems to be very good, we may not need bank financing.” [inquirer.net (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100112-246857/Italians-to-invest-in-5-provinces-in-2010)]

Marinduque airport terminal (Boac, Marinduque)


^^Infairness maganda ang airport nyo...:cheers::cheers:


Main terminal building

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Offices

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Tarmac side

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Yup maganda naman naman talaga :c

Yup maganda naman naman talaga :c

:):blahblah: Ang mga isla ng Marinduque, Romblon, kasama na ang Batanes at Babuyan ang mga tinatarget ko ng mapuntahan the soonest basta kaya ng budget. Ang gaganda ng mga photos, nakakahikayat puntahan... Fear ko lang mga sea pirates tulad ng mga asg!! Sa mga lone travellers, hindi ba nakakatakot magbiyaheng mag-isa sa mga islang nabanggit ko? (Pero siyempre naman, it involves a lot of common sense din di ba?):goodbye:

Bellaroca
http://tinyurl.com/ydqfask

http://tinyurl.com/ykln9ng

http://tinyurl.com/yjq5coq

http://tinyurl.com/yzqsoy7

http://tinyurl.com/ygsyjua

by Marvin Uy (http://digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/member.php?u=18486)

Six RP cities review counter-corruption reforms (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=261260)
By Gloria Jane Baylon

MANILA, Feb. 26 (PNA) -- Top officials of six Philippine cities met recently in Manila to review the gains achieved after a two-year implementation of their counter-corruption reforms under a project funded by the British Embassy in Manila.

The cities are Calapan (Mindoro Oriental), Iriga (Camarines Sur), Roxas (Capiz), Santiago (Isabela), Sorsogon (Sorsogon), and Tacloban (Leyte) which were assisted in the implementation by the Asia Foundation.

At the review meeting, the mayors and other officials also identified good practices they can propose to incoming city officials that would attract more investors to their cities.

By applying the recommended reforms, the embassy said Calapan City claimed to have increased its tax collection, with income from real property taxes at a record high.

Santiago City’s constituents are now finding it easier and faster to transact business because of the improved process flow and renovated physical facilities in the city.

Sorsogon’s public market is now the template that many local government units in the Bicol region would imitate because of its efficiency and increasing profitability.

Tacloban’s rationalization of its hiring process led to significant savings for the city government that meant more resources for other services.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie congratulated the Asia Foundation for effectively implementing the project and the city mayors who took the necessary steps to improve their delivery of services.

Lillie encouraged them to continue finding ways to increase their system’s transparency. He stressed that addressing corruption should be a priority as the May elections draw nearer.

“It’s impossible to overstate the importance of tackling corruption, if the Philippines is to achieve its full potential in terms of economic growth and poverty reduction," he said.

”This is an issue that matters hugely to foreign investors, just as it does to ordinary citizens. So central government will need to continue to keep counter-corruption high on its policy agenda, before and after the elections,” the ambassador continued.

The cities participated in the eight-month Public Service Excellence, Ethics, and Accountability Program (PSEEAP), which promotes transparency in service delivery, strengthens the accountability of local bureaucrats, and encourages customer-oriented culture in the delivery of basic services.

Also at the conference, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the Asia Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide the LCP Secretariat with technical assistance in organizational development, financial management, program development, and policy advocacy to continue with the gains they achieved. (PNA)

:):blahblah: Ang mga isla ng Marinduque, Romblon, kasama na ang Batanes at Babuyan ang mga tinatarget ko ng mapuntahan the soonest basta kaya ng budget. Ang gaganda ng mga photos, nakakahikayat puntahan... Fear ko lang mga sea pirates tulad ng mga asg!! Sa mga lone travellers, hindi ba nakakatakot magbiyaheng mag-isa sa mga islang nabanggit ko? (Pero siyempre naman, it involves a lot of common sense din di ba?):goodbye:

good evening to all SSCers in this thread.Of course I am new here.napadaan lang.I am browsing around looking for nice places to go this summer...I found this one Bellaroca...very nice.what place is this in Marinduque?kung di ko pa nakita ito ay di ko rin alam na may mga lugar palang ganito na akala mo ay sa abroad lang makikita.hope I can go here soon.

Marinduque airport terminal (Boac, Marinduque)


^^Infairness maganda ang airport nyo...:cheers::cheers:


Main terminal building

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz189/dyollnarud/marinduqueairport2.jpg


Offices

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz189/dyollnarud/marinduqueairport3.jpg



Agree too!:cheers::cheers:

;51964067']Bellaroca
http://tinyurl.com/ydqfask

http://tinyurl.com/ykln9ng

http://tinyurl.com/yjq5coq

http://tinyurl.com/yzqsoy7

http://tinyurl.com/ygsyjua

by Marvin Uy (http://digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/member.php?u=18486)

Marinduque sir ito?

Is Marinduque Island the next travel hotspot? (http://www.news.com.au/travel/holiday-ideas/sibuyan-sea-is-the-philippines-hot-new-destination/story-e6frfqd9-1225842825337)

There are no sleek nightclubs, bars or tacky souvenir shops.

The few cars on the roads are vastly outnumbered by jeepneys (extended jeeps with two long seats behind the driver) and tricycles (three-wheeled motorcycles with passenger carriages).

All eyes are on our group of five as we walk through the streets of Boac, the capital. Western visitors in Marinduque are rare. Tricycle drivers stop by the side of the road to gawk, jeepney passengers crane their necks for a better look and shopkeepers run out to the street to stare. Shy children scuttle away when we try to take their photo.

Surrounded by Tayabas Bay, Mompoy Bay, Tayabas Strait and the Sibuyan Sea, Marinduque Island is only 170km south of Manila yet it's a world away from the traffic, skyscrapers and frenetic pace of the big city. The 959sq km volcanic island is a pristine natural treasure trove of sandy beaches, diving sites, caves, hot springs and waterfalls. The few local resorts on the island are simple and inexpensive. But this may not be the case for much longer because the local government has its sights on becoming the Philippines' next big vacation hot spot.

Change is coming

The ball is already rolling with new low-cost flights from Manila on Zest Air and SEAIR. A new luxury resort on a small private island nearby, Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, has given the province a boost by building roads and employing local workers.

Most islanders are farmers or fishermen. But many are excited about the opportunities that a tourism boom could offer. Some have borrowed from money lenders to buy a jeepney (about $5000) or a tricycle ($1500). In a year or two, the more enterprising will catch on to the potential of operating souvenir stalls and cafes. The towns have Spanish names like Santa Cruz and Torrijos. And, with family names like Fernandez, Reyes and Gonzales, you could almost be convinced you're in South America, not Asia.

Our guide, Marie Diaz, grew up in Mogpog which was occupied by Japanese troops during World War II. On our tour, we pass bullocks working in rice fields and barangays (villages) where herds of goats and scrawny dogs roam the streets. Marinduque may be one of the poorer provinces in the Philippines but the people look happy. The streets are clean, homes are neat and children play with carefree abandon.

The town of Buenavista, Spanish for good view, lives up to its name with stunning ocean views, sandy beaches and swaying palms. Nearby Gasan is more prosperous, with bigger homes and concrete buildings. The shops are eclectic. The sign outside the local supermarket says "Glory to God, Sioland Supermarket, Gasan Branch". Next to the supermarket, in a space beneath a stairwell, is a fruit stall and a display of Western-style bridal gowns.

Island highlights

The island's attractions include the WHS Butterfly Farm, near Gasan, where we chase a kaleidoscope of delicate butterflies fluttering among the flowers. The farm is a family enterprise that ships pupae as well as framed, dried and live butterflies around the world.

The Marinduque Museum in Boac is a good place to brush up on local culture and history. Exhibits include 16th-century porcelain recovered from the bottom of the ocean. Catholic culture on Marinduque has evolved in a unique way. Boac's main drawcard is the Gothic Boac Cathedral, which was built in 1666 to honour the Virgin Mary, introduced to the island by Jesuit missionaries. The Virgin Mary is known as Ang Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang-Awa or Blessed Virgin of Biglang-Awa Immediate Succor.

Back in 1807 the parish priest of Mogpog, Padre Dionisio Santiago, started a festival based on the story of Longinus, the one-eyed Roman centurion who pierced Jesus Christ while he was on the cross. Today people from all over the Philippines flock here at Easter time to watch the singing, chanting and street theatre. The main event is a parade that includes the Via Crucis, or way of the cross, in which "Jesus Christ" carrying a wooden cross is trailed by a group of barefoot devotees who whip themselves as penance for their sins. It ends with the beheading of Longinus.

Outside the Boac Cathedral we buy banana que (deep-fried bananas dipped in caramelised sugar), turon (banana jackfruit) and carioca (doughnuts) from a local woman. The snacks cost seven pesos each (18c).

It's a warm day so Diaz takes us on a short hike through the rainforest to Paadyao Cascades where we plunge into a cool pool beneath the waterfall. I spend the rest of the afternoon at my cliff-top villa at Bellarocca Resort sipping champagne in my private plunge pool while gazing at tranquil views of Sibuyan Sea.

Bellarocca's setting is stunningly Mediterranean. White-washed buildings are a stark contrast to green Mt Malindig and the turquoise ocean. Facilities include a nine-hole golf course, cigar room, gym and fitness centre, swimming pools and a spa. Rooms are luxurious and furnished with amenities such as L'Occitane and Aveda cosmetics, plasma television sets and iPod docks.

Tone-Toneladang Tuna Festival

(The Philippine Star)
Updated March 21, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2299/genphoto1hires.jpg

Fishermen in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro carry giant yellowfin tuna after the celebration of the Tone-Toneladang Tuna Festival. Boy Santos

Gibo vows more support for LGUs for countryside development
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro, March 21 (PNA) --Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. stressed over the weekend the need for the national government to extend greater support to local government units (LGUs) as a way to boost local economies and create more jobs in the countryside.

Speaking before a crowd of about 9,000 people at the Occidental Mindoro State College here, Gibo said the national leadership should be capable of understanding the needs of every community so it can effectively address the particular needs of these localities.

"Dapat ang leader natin should be capable of understanding the needs of communities to effectively address their respective problems and then give the best solutions," he said.

Among the local leaders present at the state college were House Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, her husband, former Gov. Jose Villarosa, Mamburao Mayor Voltaire Villarosa, Vice Mayor Nestor Perez of Rizal, and mayoralty bets Renato Paulino in Calintaan, and Eleonor Fajardo in Magsaysay municipality.

Former Gov. Villarosa said some 9,000 people listened to Gibo tackle the issue of greater support for local government units at the college, where Gibo, his running mate Eduardo "Edu" Manzano, and three of the ruling party’s six senatorial bets had motorcade Saturday afternoon here.

The senatorial bets who joined the motorcade were former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello, lawyer Raul Lambino, and veteran broadcaster Rey Langit.

The other Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial aspirants are reelectionist Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, and Binalonan, Pangasinan mayor Ramon Guico.

Earlier in the day, local political leaders here, led by Rep. Villarosa, vowed to help make Gibo the country’s next president as they see in him the qualities of a leader that Filipinos need for the country to sustain economic growth.

Villarosa, who is also the Lakas-Kampi-CMD regional chairperson for the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region, said political leaders in Occidental Mindoro -- from the barangay tanod to the highest local chief executive -- have agreed to work to deliver the votes for Gibo on May 10. (PNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=13&sid=&nid=13&rid=265576

Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa -- http://bellaroccaresorts.com/
Marinduque
by Vegetator (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dar75/)

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Mongpong Islet, Marinduque
by karl mrqz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuyatonz/)


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Romblon

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Source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_three_p_romblon/)

Sibale, Romblon
by babygirlvans (http://www.flickr.com/photos/babygirlvans/)

Mahaba Beach
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3470874614_6f82d9e79f_b.jpg

Guianon Beach, Sampong
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3483625712_cda6940500_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3483634778_1f8c6971b4_b.jpg

ahhh ung airport sa pinamalayan or.min is not a public airport right?so we can only reach mindoro island by ferries?:D

Bakit ba di pinapagawaan ng airport ang Calapan?sana pag may airport may flight din papuntang Puerto Galera.look at what Boracay is now,it is because of the airports in Kalibo and Caticlan and soon in Carabao Island nearby.considering that Puerto Galera is next to Boracay in terms of tourists' preference.sana naman magka airport na rin.

oo nga..mejo malapit na ang calapan sa puerto,about an hour of travel nalang cia kasi bago yung gawang kalsada na nagkokonekta sa dalawang bayan...dapat nga me airpot sa calapan para hindi na po-force yung iba mag roro or fastcraft which is okay lang din naman.. hehe

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nangangatog katawan ko sa mga pictures na nkikita ko sa marinduque, romblon, at mindoro... gusto kong bumalik ng mindoro!!! ahmmm ang ganda nman pala ng sibale is. no?tanaw samin sa gloria, oriental mindoro yung island na yan kapag hapon at umaga.hehe, ang ganda ganda!!!! npapa-WOW ako!!!!!!!!!! :D

ang tagal bago nagkaroon ng bagong post dito sa thread na ito...@william.taga Gloria ka ba?dati nakapanirahan ako dyan...sa mga Bathan family.Banus naman ang kanilang barangay.I had been able to see the mangyan community when I was there.also in Puerto Galera.sana mag communicate tayo dito always..and discuss about new developments in Oriental Mindoro.

ang tagal bago nagkaroon ng bagong post dito sa thread na ito...@william.taga Gloria ka ba?dati nakapanirahan ako dyan...sa mga Bathan family.Banus naman ang kanilang barangay.I had been able to see the mangyan community when I was there.also in Puerto Galera.sana mag communicate tayo dito always..and discuss about new developments in Oriental Mindoro.

hehe..i'll make this thead active hanggang sa abot ng mga nlalaman ko.ahaa, minsan lang ako nkakita ng mga mangyan sa mindoro,saka hindi po ako tga-gloria, dun lang kmi nagbabakasyon tga jan kasi lola ko.
nkarating din ako sa puerto galera not to swim pero para makarating sa gloria, oriental mindoro..me lumubog kasing barko nung pasko kaya walang roro o kaya fastcraft na bumabyahe, mga bangka lang patungong puerto galera, and from puerto nag-jip lang ako.ahaha, ANG GANDA NG TANAWIN SA DAAN! sobra!:D

Bakit ba di pinapagawaan ng airport ang Calapan?sana pag may airport may flight din papuntang Puerto Galera.look at what Boracay is now,it is because of the airports in Kalibo and Caticlan and soon in Carabao Island nearby.considering that Puerto Galera is next to Boracay in terms of tourists' preference.sana naman magka airport na rin.

saka dapat me airport sa calapan kasi di ba calapan ang center of government ng mimaropa?:D

had my first trip at Puerto Galera last 2008, just a day after typhoon Cosme hits the country! Grabe ang lakas ng loob namin. ALL-GIRL GETAWAY (http://saggi-space.blogspot.com/2008/05/puerto-galera-project.html) ang drama.It was truly one of the best beaches we have here in the Philippines and there's more to explore like the Tamaraw Falls. Check out our escapade here http://saggi-space.blogspot.com/2008/05/puerto-galera-project.html

had my first trip at Puerto Galera last 2008, just a day after typhoon Cosme hits the country! Grabe ang lakas ng loob namin. ALL-GIRL GETAWAY (http://saggi-space.blogspot.com/2008/05/puerto-galera-project.html) ang drama.It was truly one of the best beaches we have here in the Philippines and there's more to explore like the Tamaraw Falls. Check out our escapade here http://saggi-space.blogspot.com/2008/05/puerto-galera-project.html

yung pagpunta ko man exciting kasi bata pa ko saka ako lang mag-isa ang nagbakasyon..hehe, me lumubog pang barko at di pa ko nkakarating mag-isa sa mindoro especially sa puerto galera..hehe, yun nga lang andun na ko sa batangas ba't pa ko uuwe! ang ganda ganda ng puerto galera kahit di ko nkita mismo ang beach.. :D

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs424.ash1/23469_1109190666277_1722177814_218806_5732411_n.jpg

:banana::cheers:

^^nakita ko iyang anak ni Bongbong sa McDonald's San Nicolas, matter of fact, magkalapit lang ang tables namin:D just wanna share hehe

sa Mcdo Laoag naman noon, nasa likuran ko ang anak ni the late Maria Teresa Carlson na babae:)

^^ that's Simon. he's one good friend of my cousin. artistahin :lol:

^^ wow.. hehe,
anyway..i'm here to say..
VOTE WISELY!!! :D
may the best man win ! ! ! ! ! :D:

From CNN
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-42374 (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-423749)9

For better or for worse, Marinduque, Phu Quoc, Hainan and the Ho Tram Strip are being touted by developers and local governments as Asia's next major tourist destinations. Here's why

[Excerpts]

The lowdown: Pristine beaches, diving sites, a balmy climate. Marinduque has all the postcard charms of other Filipino hotspots such as Boracay and Tagaytay, but none of their tired tourist crowds.

http://www.cnngo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/default_image/article-images/large/Marinduque_lighthouse.JPG

The volcanic island of Marinduque is just a 45-minute flight from bustling Manila, but manages to elude the capital’s frenetic pace. There’s nary a nightclub or souvenir shack in sight. It has a generous sprinkling of hot springs and white sandy beaches, notably the sulphuric hot springs of Malbog, and Poctoy’s White Beach, which doubles as a community hangout. The uninhabited Tres Reyes Islands off the Gasan coast ranks among Marinduque’s best diving sites with azure waters, profuse corals and an underwater cave.

What are 25 of Asia's most overlooked destinations?

Come Holy Week, which is a week before Easter, Marinduqueños cover up with gaudy masks to make like Roman soldiers during the crucifixion of Christ for the famous Moriones Festival.

Why it’s next: For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights on Zest Air and SEAIR connecting it to Manila.

Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile.

Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier this month that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.” Marcos is also advocating the redevelopment of the abandoned Marcopper mining site into a 18-hole golf course and a hospital complex, to boost medical tourism.

http://www.cnngo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/400x267/Marinduque_Moriones_Festival.JPG

Read more: Asia's future tourist hotspots | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-423749#ixzz0nOx8HiK1

From CNN
http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-42374 (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-423749)9

For better or for worse, Marinduque, Phu Quoc, Hainan and the Ho Tram Strip are being touted by developers and local governments as Asia's next major tourist destinations. Here's why

[Excerpts]

The lowdown: Pristine beaches, diving sites, a balmy climate. Marinduque has all the postcard charms of other Filipino hotspots such as Boracay and Tagaytay, but none of their tired tourist crowds.

http://www.cnngo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/default_image/article-images/large/Marinduque_lighthouse.JPG

The volcanic island of Marinduque is just a 45-minute flight from bustling Manila, but manages to elude the capital’s frenetic pace. There’s nary a nightclub or souvenir shack in sight. It has a generous sprinkling of hot springs and white sandy beaches, notably the sulphuric hot springs of Malbog, and Poctoy’s White Beach, which doubles as a community hangout. The uninhabited Tres Reyes Islands off the Gasan coast ranks among Marinduque’s best diving sites with azure waters, profuse corals and an underwater cave.

What are 25 of Asia's most overlooked destinations?

Come Holy Week, which is a week before Easter, Marinduqueños cover up with gaudy masks to make like Roman soldiers during the crucifixion of Christ for the famous Moriones Festival.

Why it’s next: For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights on Zest Air and SEAIR connecting it to Manila.

Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile.

Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier this month that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.” Marcos is also advocating the redevelopment of the abandoned Marcopper mining site into a 18-hole golf course and a hospital complex, to boost medical tourism.

http://www.cnngo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/400x267/Marinduque_Moriones_Festival.JPG

Read more: Asia's future tourist hotspots | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/asias-next-tourist-hotspots-423749#ixzz0nOx8HiK1
ang ganda ng view dun sa me mama mary na nasa gitna.hehe :D

ORIENTAL MINDORO
-PARTIAL COUNT-
Governor
1 PANALIGAN, Arnan C. 133,323
2 UMALI, Alfonso Jr V. 132,850

Vice-Governor
1 BACAY, Marcos A. 12,256
2 DOLOR, Humerlito A. 143,446
3 INFANTADO, Rafael L. 93,539

MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of ORIENTAL MINDORO - FIRST LEGDIST
1 ACERON, Maria Estela Felipa M. 45,070
2 ARANAS, Alex M. 19,173
3 LEVISTE, Renato V. 22,875
4 TALAGTAG, Jaime M. 217
5 VALENCIA, Rodolfo G. 61,999

MEMBER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of ORIENTAL MINDORO - SECOND LEGDIST
1 ABAO, Benrome S. 1,893
2 CUSI, Alfonso G. 1,344
3 JANDA, Edmund Dante E. 4,281
4 SALCEDO, Ephraim C. 443
5 UMALI , Reynaldo V. 47,607
6 VENTURANZA, Thaddeus E. 36,757
7 YAP, Anthony L. 23,287
source:http://www.gmanews.tv/eleksyon2010/provincialcount/ORIENTAL_MINDORO

Calapan City Seaport
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4617432922_3ccedf7be2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwin_magayanes/4617432922/)

Calapan City Seaport
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4617432922_3ccedf7be2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwin_magayanes/4617432922/)

na'miss ko ang mindoro....huhu,,, ang ganda ng kuha mo wa...astig.... :D

meron po bang pwede mag'post ng income ng calapan city?? :D

yung roxas pier eh parang calapan pier lang din?:D roxas oriental mindoro. :D
---

ala ba kong makakausap diyan.hehe, ganda ganda ng pwedeng maging topic dito sa MIMAROPA we.. :D tara my fellow countrymen. :D

meron po bang pwede mag'post ng income ng calapan city?? :D

CALAPAN CITY 2006 INCOME - P294,911,000.00

source: COA

CALAPAN CITY 2006 INCOME - P294,911,000.00

source: COA

wow... pano mo pa nalaman na nagpopost ako dito???hahaha :D :D :D tnx anyway, :D :D :D

wow... pano mo pa nalaman na nagpopost ako dito???hahaha :D :D :D tnx anyway, :D :D :D

Siyempre ako pa. hehe :lol:

Siyempre ako pa. hehe :lol:

haha.tulungan mo kong gawing active tong thread na to.. i really really love mindoro province. :D :D :D

William D. and Sta. Maria Bulacan, nandito rin pala kayo? he he.

Ganda pala ng Mindoro. William D. Taga Mindoro ka rin ba? Di ba dito yung Puerto Galera?
May pics na ba dito ang Puerto Galera?

Wow!! ang gaganda ng lugar.. I enjoyed visiting this thread.

William D. and Sta. Maria Bulacan, nandito rin pala kayo? he he.

Ganda pala ng Mindoro. William D. Taga Mindoro ka rin ba? Di ba dito yung Puerto Galera?
May pics na ba dito ang Puerto Galera?

yung mother side ko mindoreno pero sa bulacan ako lumaki,hehe. nkarating ako once sa puerto kasi me lumubog na barko (pasko) kaya walang roro papuntang calapan, lahat ng papuntang puerto galera lang ang nag-ooperate kaya sumakay ako mag-isa.at grabe isa yon sa pinakankakakilabot na lugar na nakita ko sa buhay ko.ANG GANDA!!! as in WOW!! :D :D :D ikaw ba taga-mindoro karin?

Hi everyone... Pictures po ng Mindoro please. Calapan po ang capital og oriental ba?

Hi everyone... Pictures po ng Mindoro please. Calapan po ang capital og oriental ba?

anjan me pictures jan paki hanap nalang.hehe, ala akong litrato we. calapan ang sa oriental sa occidental naman mamburao. :D :D :D
-nice seeing you here.

yung mother side ko mindoreno pero sa bulacan ako lumaki,hehe. nkarating ako once sa puerto kasi me lumubog na barko (pasko) kaya walang roro papuntang calapan, lahat ng papuntang puerto galera lang ang nag-ooperate kaya sumakay ako mag-isa.at grabe isa yon sa pinakankakakilabot na lugar na nakita ko sa buhay ko.ANG GANDA!!! as in WOW!! :D :D :D ikaw ba taga-mindoro karin?

Hindi, taga Tarlac talaga ako. Pero dati kasi sa Puerto Galera ang company outing namin kaso di ako nakasama kasi nilagnat ako, sayang.. Sabi nila maganda daw.

So kelan ka ulit nakabalik ng Mindoro after that trip na mag-isa kang sumakay sa barko? Pa post naman ng pics dito pag nakapasyal ka.:):)

Visit Tarlac City Thread. Nasa page 1 po yung pictures ng pinakabagong SM City.:):)

Hindi, taga Tarlac talaga ako. Pero dati kasi sa Puerto Galera ang company outing namin kaso di ako nakasama kasi nilagnat ako, sayang.. Sabi nila maganda daw.

So kelan ka ulit nakabalik ng Mindoro after that trip na mag-isa kang sumakay sa barko? Pa post naman ng pics dito pag nakapasyal ka.:):)

Visit Tarlac City Thread. Nasa page 1 po yung pictures ng pinakabagong SM City.:):)

oo nabisita ko na yung thread nio page 1.haha,-
-mali pala pagkakasabe ko.hindi ako lang ang sumakay me kasama ako pero wala akong kasamang kakilala.first time ko yun at hindi din alam ng tatay ko na tumuloy akong puerto galera, ang alam nia hanggang ngayon nung nagpunta ako ay sa calapan ako nagdaan papuntang gloria, oriental mindoro.haha, ewan ko lang kung kelan ako mababalik baka end of this summer makabalik ako pero pag hindi sa pasko na siguro o next summer.haha
-at grabe talagang ang ganda ganda.do ako maka-move-on. :D :D :D
--ewanaaaaa

anjan me pictures jan paki hanap nalang.hehe, ala akong litrato we. calapan ang sa oriental sa occidental naman mamburao. :D :D :D
-nice seeing you here.

wahaha.. nakaktuwa ka william... Kung may award dito sa skyscraper na Most Active, sayo mapupunta yung award. hehe..:)

wahaha.. nakaktuwa ka william... Kung may award dito sa skyscraper na Most Active, sayo mapupunta yung award. hehe..:)

ai.me ganon???hehe, :D :D :D slamat naman pu. :))

ai.me ganon???hehe, :D :D :D slamat naman pu. :))

HIGOP STRAW award ang bagay dyan kay aling wilma. :D

HIGOP STRAW award ang bagay dyan kay aling wilma. :D
di ka mkamove on sa straw ko wa.haha, akina address mo papadala akong straw jan ng matuwa ka..hahaha :D :D :D

Good evening MIMAPORA Thread!

Nakakatuwa nga etong si William, he he. Hanga din ako sa sipag mo sir 26619. I visited Santiago Thread, ang ganda rin ng City nyo. he he.

Good evening MIMAPORA Thread!

Nakakatuwa nga etong si William, he he. Hanga din ako sa sipag mo sir 26619. I visited Santiago Thread, ang ganda rin ng City nyo. he he.

clown?ganon?hahaha :D :D :D
--gud eve din mimaropa..wala nag bagong litrato jan..panay kmi asa kapatagan eh.malayo diyan. :D :D :D

Good evening MIMAPORA Thread!

Nakakatuwa nga etong si William, he he. Hanga din ako sa sipag mo sir 26619. I visited Santiago Thread, ang ganda rin ng City nyo. he he.

Thanks sir Tarlaqueno.. ;)... Kumusta po ang umaaribang Tarlac?

regarding sir William, deserve nya talaga ang most active award... hehe..:)

Thanks sir Tarlaqueno.. ;)... Kumusta po ang umaaribang Tarlac?

regarding sir William, deserve nya talaga ang most active award... hehe..:)

wew...nag eenjoy lang ako sa pag-gala gala sa iba't ibang lupalop ng pilipinas. hehe,

wala na pu bang litrato???? :D :D :D :D meron pala ko kaya lang kasama ako nka-ngiti kaya ayoko ilagay.haahaa, post naman kayo ng picture ng mga lugar2 jan..hehe, :D :D :D

After eight days, the joint session on canvassing ends its committee session with Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III emerging as winner with 15,208,678 votes for the presidential race.

Former president Joseph Estrada lagged with 9, 487, 837.

Although unofficially proclaimed, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay also have sealed his win with 14, 645, 574 votes, with over 700,000 vote lead over his closest rival, Senator Mar Roxas.

Aquino and Binay are expected to be proclaimed before the joint Congress on Wednesday.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles allayed fears that a proclamation might not push should there be lack of quorum.

“We think everybody is excited for this historic event. I don’t foresee any quorum problem,” Nograles told reporters after the canvassing ended past 4 pm.

Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile also called on his colleagues to “rise above ourselves.”

“Let’s respect the will of the people and follow the rule of law,” said Enrile.

Nograles explained the process for the proclamation would start with the submission of a report and somebody has to sponsor it. The call for a vote, via Ayes and Nays, will follow.

“After the voting, we will allow anybody who would want to make any manifestation,” said Nograles.

Enrile said they have yet to make a formal invitation to Aquino and Binay but call for their presence have been coursed through their lawyers and party-mates.

“They know the time, they know the day, they know the hour. We expect to have them,” said Enrile.

Nograles said a holding room will be prepared for the two.

After sealing his win in the vice presidential race, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has thanked Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and his supporters.

“My warm thanks to my friend and kumpare Sen. Chiz Escudero for his guidance and help,” Binay said in a statement after the Joint Congress sitting as National Bard of Canvassers finished the canvassing of votes for the 2010 elections.

Escudero’s endorsement apparently gave Binay the big lead in surveys in the latter part of the campaign.

At the same time, Binay thanked his ‘mentors,’ former president Cory Aquino, Fernando Poe Jr., and former president Joseph Estrada whom he said have “inspired [me] to serve our people.”

“I would like to thank my fellow Filipinos who gave their wholehearted support. Rest assured that I will do my best to reciprocate your trust,” he added.

Binay also expressed gratitude to his family, APO fraternity mates, mayors and local

officials, and his volunteers who carried out his campaign.

“I look forward to working with our next President. I believe bother President-elect Nynyo Aquino andI share the same aspiration of improving the lives of our people,” said Binay.





http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/2010/06/08/canvassing-ends-aquino-binay-win/
06.o8.10
gudnyt MIMAROPA!! :D :D :D

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY PHILIPPINES !!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/stacruzchurch.jpg

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/24959_1414390326071_1421953004_1130.jpg
Sta.Cruz Church, Sta.Cruz,Marinduque

Courtesy of Maxell Caraan

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/20354_108772289133996_1000000367557.jpg
Maniwaya Island, Sta.Cruz,Marinduque

Courtesy of Monika Ravanera

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/stacruzchurch.jpg

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/24959_1414390326071_1421953004_1130.jpg
Sta.Cruz Church, Sta.Cruz,Marinduque

Courtesy of Maxell Caraan

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc325/bradwhey/20354_108772289133996_1000000367557.jpg
Maniwaya Island, Sta.Cruz,Marinduque

Courtesy of Monika Ravanera

yay!!! pictures!!haha,
-ayos yung mga lalagyanan ng santo sa simbahan wa...

Gloria
Oriental Mindoro

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/n274999523727_5806.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/22058_315615633727_274999523727_339.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/n274999523727_5806.jpghttp://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/n274999523727_5806.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/22058_315613803727_274999523727_339.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/17476_105302242828524_1000004624593.jpg

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http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/15696_107011799318816_1000002998915.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/15696_107011785985484_1000002998915.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/15696_107011765985486_1000002998915.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/15696_107011735985489_1000002998915.jpg


all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?v=photos#!/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?__a=10&ajaxpipe=1)

like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?v=photos#!/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?__a=10&ajaxpipe=1).

Beaches
of
Oriental Mindoro

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979535897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979550897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979555897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979565897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979570897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979580897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979585897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979590897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979600897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979605897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979610897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979620897_299931135897_466.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/mindoro/18878_299979625897_299931135897_466.jpg

all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).

Oriental Mindoro!

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).

Occidental Mindoro

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mamburao-Philippines/Mamburao-Occidental-Mindoro/181122686049).

Mindoro
Philippines

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all credits ot the owner (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=181122686049&aid=165195&s=20&hash=109ba9ae4d8701c5d0e02552d40d74ca#!/pages/Mamburao-Philippines/Mamburao-Occidental-Mindoro/181122686049?__a=6&ajaxpipe=1).

Hotel sector prospects in focus

LOCAL and foreign giants in the hotel industry will discuss issues and best practices in a conference next month, the meeting’s organizers said in a press briefing yesterday.

The First Philippine Hotel Investment Conference, scheduled on Aug. 20, will be "putting [local tourism-related businesses] in touch with the experts in the industry," Merill Yu, chief executive of organizer Y&S 1847 Hotel and Development, said in the briefing.

"The speakers that we brought in represent the big hotels in the world. Those who do not have access to international brand standards will be closer to people who has sustainable business know-how," Mr. Yu said.

The conference’s program showed that high-profile foreign speakers will include: Thomas Monahan, executive vice-president of Wyndham Hotel Group; Xerxes Meher Homji, executive vice-president of Carlson Hotels; Gy Phillips, vice-president for development of Hilton International Asia-Pacific; and Simon Pearson, vice-president for development of Marco Polo Hotels.

Philippine-based speakers include Jose Mari del Rosario, chief executive of Microtel Hotels and Resorts; Arthur Gindap, country general manager of Ascott International; and Reynaldo A. Villar, executive vice-president of Federal Land, Inc.

Topics will include Philippine hotel investment and market update, the boom in domestic air travel, branding, key components of the hotel businesss that are often overlooked and top hotel investment opportunities in the country.

"Independent owners are putting up their own hotels. They are going through the country. That is the wave of investment happening in the country," Mr. Yu noted.

"We want to see more development in non-popular areas like Dumaguete, Tacloban, Iloilo and Mindoro," he added.

Mr. Yu said benchmark investment is P300 million for a three-star hotel with less than 100 rooms and P3 billion for a five-star hotel with more than 100 rooms.

The next step for existing hotel owners, said Adolf A. Aran, Jr., president of fellow conference organizer F&H Events Specialists, Inc. in the same briefing, is for them to develop their own food business instead of outsourcing this requirement.
"Right now, hotels are slowly making a name in the area of food like Seven Corners [in Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila] and Spiral [in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila]," Mr. Aran noted. -- NJCM

Hotel sector prospects in focus

LOCAL and foreign giants in the hotel industry will discuss issues and best practices in a conference next month, the meeting’s organizers said in a press briefing yesterday.

The First Philippine Hotel Investment Conference, scheduled on Aug. 20, will be "putting [local tourism-related businesses] in touch with the experts in the industry," Merill Yu, chief executive of organizer Y&S 1847 Hotel and Development, said in the briefing.

"The speakers that we brought in represent the big hotels in the world. Those who do not have access to international brand standards will be closer to people who has sustainable business know-how," Mr. Yu said.

The conference’s program showed that high-profile foreign speakers will include: Thomas Monahan, executive vice-president of Wyndham Hotel Group; Xerxes Meher Homji, executive vice-president of Carlson Hotels; Gy Phillips, vice-president for development of Hilton International Asia-Pacific; and Simon Pearson, vice-president for development of Marco Polo Hotels.

Philippine-based speakers include Jose Mari del Rosario, chief executive of Microtel Hotels and Resorts; Arthur Gindap, country general manager of Ascott International; and Reynaldo A. Villar, executive vice-president of Federal Land, Inc.

Topics will include Philippine hotel investment and market update, the boom in domestic air travel, branding, key components of the hotel businesss that are often overlooked and top hotel investment opportunities in the country.

"Independent owners are putting up their own hotels. They are going through the country. That is the wave of investment happening in the country," Mr. Yu noted.

"We want to see more development in non-popular areas like Dumaguete, Tacloban, Iloilo and Mindoro," he added.

Mr. Yu said benchmark investment is P300 million for a three-star hotel with less than 100 rooms and P3 billion for a five-star hotel with more than 100 rooms.

The next step for existing hotel owners, said Adolf A. Aran, Jr., president of fellow conference organizer F&H Events Specialists, Inc. in the same briefing, is for them to develop their own food business instead of outsourcing this requirement.
"Right now, hotels are slowly making a name in the area of food like Seven Corners [in Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila] and Spiral [in Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila]," Mr. Aran noted. -- NJCM

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Puerto Galera
Philippines


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source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/dive-sites/)

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs631.snc3/31667_1129664138592_1736881330_234483_621646_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs601.snc3/31667_1129664178593_1736881330_234484_1405828_n.jpg

Photo Credit: Ivy Toquero

^^hugo wow.salamat sa pagpost ng pictures.hehe

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4823812884_ffdefd3c0d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45548668@N04/4823812884/)

more pictures here (http://byaherosnapshots.blogspot.com/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4823813848_1a8186bf38_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45548668@N04/4823813848/)

more pictures here (http://byaherosnapshots.blogspot.com/)

^^wow..thanks for the pictures sir! :D

nakakamiss ang mindoro. :D

ano yung mga budget hotels sa san jose mindoro?

ano yung mga budget hotels sa san jose mindoro?


Mindoro Plaza Hotel and Restaurant - San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
3D2N Twin Sharing, from P1,865.00/pax.

Sea Coast Hotel - San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
3D2N Twin Sharing, from P1,690.00/pax.

Sikatuna Beach Resort - San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
3D2N Twin Sharing, from P1,750.00/pax

White House Safari Lodge - San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
3D2N Twin Sharing, from P1,690.00/pax.

Package Inclusions
* 3days / 2nights aircon room accommodation at the resort / hotel
* Daily Breakfast
* Roundtrip airport / resort via San Jose Airport

*Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

***Pandan Island Resort - Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
3D2N Twin Sharing, from P13,170.00/pax.

Package Inclusions
* 3days / 2nights non-aircon room standard accommodation at the resort / hotel
* Fullboard meals ( 3breakfast, 3Lunch, 3Dinner ) drinks excluded
* Roundtrip airport / resort via San Jose Airport
* Valid until Sept. 30, 2007

*Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

source (http://www.hotelphilippines.biz/occidental-mindoro-hotels-travel/)

yan lang po nakita ko eh. :)

Mukhang mababa pa yung price ng package, baka ngayon di na ganyan ang price.

Ang ganda ng Mindoro. Grabe! Wow!

Ano ang tawag sa festival na iyan William?:D

di po ako sure eh.pero sa tingin ko para sa mga TAMARAW yang festival na yan. :)

maganda talaga ang isla ng Mindoro lalo na sa Calapan,maliit na siyudad pero malinis at sa Puerto Galera, magaganda ang dalampasigan.

maganda talaga ang isla ng Mindoro lalo na sa Calapan,maliit na siyudad pero malinis at sa Puerto Galera, magaganda ang dalampasigan.

opo tama!!! simpleng simple lang ang buhay di gaya sa maynila.. diyan pumunta ka lang sa gilid ng dagat at konting diskarte me kakainin na kayo! ;)

San Jose
Mindoro


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all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Jose-Occidental-Mindoro/126932490665688?v=photos&ref=search#!/pages/San-Jose-Occidental-Mindoro/126932490665688)

Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro

"Gateway to the Golden Isle"

City of Calapan is a 2nd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.

Since its cityhood in 1998, the city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing however, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years.

Calapan also plays a big role in the growth of the whole province of Mindoro as it serves as a gateway with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island through ships that travels to and from Batangas City International Seaport.

Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other one is Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.


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all credits to the owner. (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)

Port of Calapan

The port of Calapan is the main gateway to the Province of Oriental Mindoro. Located at Brgy. San Antonio, this port is developed and maintained by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). The Port of Calapan is best known as part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, as it is the Port linking the Visayas islands to the mainland of Luzon. The Port is actually 104.3 nautical miles from Manila, and about 22 nautical miles southward from the Batangas sea.

Although the port is located far away from the southern towns of Oriental Mindoro, the port itself is indeed accessible. Public Utility Vehicles are available for passengers whose destination are outside the town of Calapan…(no taxis available though)

As of the moment, the Port of Calapan is only serving routes in and out of the Port of Batangas (which is the main hub of shipping lines).

The port has just nearly completed its expansion process, bringing its total area to some 30,932.00 sq.m. [2] The newly built two-story passenger terminal has just been opened early this year. And a terminal fee of P20.00 is now being required upon entrance.

The newly constructed terminal is equipped with several LCD TVs in order to keep the passengers entertained. Wi-fi internet access is also available. The use of an electronic billboard is being utilized in order to show the boarding status, and some other few announcements. Four boarding gates are being used in this terminal. Two gates are dedicated for fastcraft passengers while the other two are for RORO passengers. The said terminal has also a dedicated VIP lounge for VIP personalities (i.e. politicians).

Additional Ramps has been constructed in order to accommodate more Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) vessels. Officially, there are 7 ramps being utilized in the Port. They are numbered accordingly (ramp 1, ramp 2…etc.). Aside from this, additional 4 ramps are used alternatively, in order to continuously accommodate ships whether the tides are low or high. These alternative ramps are labeled as 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a, and are located just beside their corresponding ramps.

These ramps are really capable of handling huge RORO vessels up-to-date. Here are its specs:

1. RoRo ramp nos. 1, 2 and 3 – 9.0m x 9.0m fixed ramp and constructed flush with the wharf’s faceline. Berthing depth is -5.0m from MLLW.2. RoRo ramp No. 4 – 9.0m x 11.0m fixed ramp but independent of the wharf’s faceline (protruding). Berthing dept is -5.0m from MLLW.3. RoRo ramp Nos. 5, 6 and 7 – 11.0m x 9.0m fixed ramp and constructed flush with wharf’s faceline. Berthing depth is -4.5m from MLLW.
1. RoRo ramp nos. 1, 2 and 3 – 9.0m x 9.0m fixed ramp and constructed flush with the wharf’s faceline. Berthing depth is -5.0m from MLLW.
2. RoRo ramp No. 4 – 9.0m x 11.0m fixed ramp but independent of the wharf’s faceline (protruding). Berthing dept is -5.0m from MLLW.
3. RoRo ramp Nos. 5, 6 and 7 – 11.0m x 9.0m fixed ramp and constructed flush with wharf’s faceline. Berthing depth is -4.5m from MLLW. [3]
A 75 meter finger port has also been constructed perpendicular to the passenger terminal, in order to accommodate fastcraft vessels. Now, not only passengers of Supercat will have an air-con terminal!

There are many notable changes in the Port this year. One of this is ofcourse the newly constucted terminal. The old exclusive terminal of Supercat has already been demolished. Ticketing booths are now more presentable. And parking spaces has already been relocated.

Rumors are expecting for a future plan of making the seaport more accessible though a contruction of dedicated coastal road…


source (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)


source (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)

mga ilang hours ba from san jose, mindoro to roxas, mindoro?

mga ilang hours ba from san jose, mindoro to roxas, mindoro?

have no idea.sorry. :ohno:

laki na ng ipinagbago ng pantalan ng calapan. maayos at hindi na siksikan.

laki na ng ipinagbago ng pantalan ng calapan. maayos at hindi na siksikan.

opo nung minsan napunta ako don ang sikip nga. tapos last na punta ko ang ganda ganda na.yung mga street lights kulay kulay tapos ang ganda nung city hall. ;):banana::banana:

tama ka. ginawa kasi ang calapan city na maging regional center ng MIMAROPA. ang pagkakaalam ko ay may itatayong robinson mall sa ginagawang business center sa may brgy sto nino.doon din daw itatayo ang regional center offices.kaya maganda ang hinaharap ng ng lungsod ng calapan.am hoping

tama ka. ginawa kasi ang calapan city na maging regional center ng MIMAROPA. ang pagkakaalam ko ay may itatayong robinson mall sa ginagawang business center sa may brgy sto nino.doon din daw itatayo ang regional center offices.kaya maganda ang hinaharap ng ng lungsod ng calapan.am hoping

WOW!!! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

robinsons mall!! ayos yon! tama lang yon sa nag-iisang lugsod sa region 4-B. (excluded palawan,not sure if its still part of R4B. ;))

oo ang probimsya ng palwan ay isa sa kasapi sa mimaropa region.

oo ang probimsya ng palwan ay isa sa kasapi sa mimaropa region.

ahhh.akala ko wala na siya sa region 4-b..di ba nilipat siya minsan sa isang region somewhere in visayas?;)

Cityhood laws unconstitutional: Supreme Court turns cities to towns again
By Liv G. Campo (The Freeman) Updated August 26, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (5)


CEBU, Philippines - The Supreme Court has ruled with finality about the fate of 16 local government units and it is against their favor.

The High Tribunal reversed its December 21, 2009 ruling last Monday and deemed unconstitutional the laws creating 16 new cities.

Cebu 1st District Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas, in a text message sent to The FREEMAN, confirmed the news.

“Yes, na reverse,” the veteran lawmaker said via a text message.

Gullas was authored the bills creating the cities of Naga and Carcar in his district back in 2007.

He did not, however, give further details about the latest SC ruling.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong of Naga said that it was a 7-6 vote “in favor of the LCP” (League of Cities of the Philippines).

Chiong said that they will wait for Rep. Gullas and their lawyer Estelito Mendoza to tell them what their next move would be.

“Ambot, murag kapoy na. Mura’g they (SC) just wanted the LCP to be home for the big boys,” said Chiong.

With this latest ruling, Naga and the 15 other LGUs will be municipalities again and would only qualify to have eight councilors. Last May, 10 people were elected into the city council of Naga.

The election of ten members of the council was made based on a ruling of the Commission on Elections last January 5. Such Comelec decision was also based on the December 21, 2009 decision of the SC.

Chiong said that they cannot also just drop the two councilors with the latest ruling as they were also elected by the people.

This latest development came just barely two weeks after the SC junked the motion for leave to intervene filed by former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras.

Paras, who authored the cityhood law of Guihulngan, asked the court to reverse its December 21 ruling, saying the conversion of the town into a city was “premature,” apart from the fact that it did not improve the living conditions of the people.

He said that instead, the cityhood status, made more officials there corrupt because of the increase in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). The High Court did not however give weight to Paras’ contention and junked his motion shortly after he filed it which was on June 29 this year.

But contrary to what officials of the 16 new cities believed, that the High Tribunal would stand by its last two decisions, the SC en banc had reversed it again and granted the motion for reconsideration filed by the LCP.

The other new cities are Bogo, also in Cebu; Catbalogan and Borongan in Samar; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Lamitan, Basilan; Tayabas, Quezon; Tabuk, Kalinga; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; and El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.

The League of Cities, chaired by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, has questioned the creation of the new cities, saying they did not meet the P100-million income requirement prescribed by a new law.

The Supreme Court first sustained the view of the league but later reversed itself and ruled that the conversion of the towns was legal, as they were not covered by the new income standard but by the previous P20-million income requirement. — With Philippine Star News Service/NLQ(FREEMAN)

tama ka. ginawa kasi ang calapan city na maging regional center ng MIMAROPA. ang pagkakaalam ko ay may itatayong robinson mall sa ginagawang business center sa may brgy sto nino.doon din daw itatayo ang regional center offices.kaya maganda ang hinaharap ng ng lungsod ng calapan.am hoping

merong itatayong robinsons dyan sa calapan?? eh under construction na po yung robinsons puerto princesa expected opening neto is 2011 :)
baka nabiling lupa palang din yan gaya sa tugue wala pa kasi sa plano ng robinsons yan sa 2011 at 2012.....

merong itatayong robinsons dyan sa calapan?? eh under construction na po yung robinsons puerto princesa expected opening neto is 2011 :)
baka nabiling lupa palang din yan gaya sa tugue wala pa kasi sa plano ng robinsons yan sa 2011 at 2012.....

malayo naman po ang calapan sa puerto princesa..hinding hindi ito makaka-apekto sa dami ng tao na pupunta sa puerto prinsesa kasi bukod sa malayo, magkaiba pa ng isla. ;)

^^baka nga lang hindi yan maitatayo sa ngayon kasi ang plano ng robinsons sa 2011 ay puerto princesa at calasiao lang and sa 2012 ay cebu(ata) at isa rin sa manila....
mahirap na ang 2 robinsons kasi mas maliit pa ang population density ng mimaropa sa cagayan valley eh kaya isang SM din lang ang hula kong papasok sa region 2 kung sakali....:)
pero congratz :okay: sa mimaropa pinasok na sila ng isang giant mall company(Robinsons Palawan/Puerto Princesa??) dito sa amin ala pa eh....

^^baka nga lang hindi yan maitatayo sa ngayon kasi ang plano ng robinsons sa 2011 ay puerto princesa at calasiao lang and sa 2012 ay cebu(ata) at isa rin sa manila....
mahirap na ang 2 robinsons kasi mas maliit pa ang population density ng mimaropa sa cagayan valley eh kaya isang SM din lang ang hula kong papasok sa region 2 kung sakali....:)
pero congratz :okay: sa mimaropa pinasok na sila ng isang giant mall company(Robinsons Palawan/Puerto Princesa??) dito sa amin ala pa eh....

sa puerto prinsesa kasi mukhang 'mas' marami ang turista na pumupunta kesa sa tuguegarao..palagay ko lang po yon ahh.kasi ang ganda ganda naman talaga ng puerto prinsesa para dayuhin.ahmm di ko po sinabeng hindi maganda ang tugue ahh..nililinaw ko lang baka po di tayo magkaintindihan.ahahaha,

baka yung sa calapan ay robinsons supermarket lang kung underconstruction na nga siya? :D

^^teka hindi ko pinagcompare ang kalagayan ng puerto princesa at tuguegarao ha pero yung region mismo ang may pagkakahawig dahil sa konting populasyon,,,:okay: deductive reasoning kasi yang comparison mo eh,,,,
yun lang naman opinion ko kaya hindi pa nagtatayo ang mga higanteng malls na yan dito sa 2 regions na to,,,
buti na lang at magkakaroon na rin ang puerto princesa dahil sa malakas nga ang turismo dito at tiyak lalakas pa lalo ito pag nagbukas na nga yung robinsons dyan :)

^^teka hindi ko pinagcompare ang kalagayan ng puerto princesa at tuguegarao ha pero yung region mismo ang may pagkakahawig dahil sa konting populasyon,,,:okay: deductive reasoning kasi yang ginamit mo eh,,,,
yun lang naman opinion ko kaya hindi pa nagtatayo ang mga higanteng malls na yan dito sa 2 regions na to,,,
buti na lang at magkakaroon na rin ang puerto princesa dahil sa malakas nga ang turismo dito at tiyak lalakas pa lalo ito pag nagbukas na nga yung robinsons dyan :)

haha.mejo nga tama ka. baka kasi hindi tayo magkaintindihan kaya mejo ginitna ko sagot ko.ayan nagkakaintindihan na tayo.hahaha,

tama malaki nga pagkakahawig ng r2 sa r4b...ang kaibahan lang isla isla ang r4b at wala silang isang major major na commercial centers kagaya jan na pati karatig lalawigan ay pumupunta sa tugue at iba pang cities sa r2. tapos parehong konti ang population nila, kagaya ng sa inyo, pero pinagkakatiwalaan pa rin ng mga investors na lagyan ng businesses kasi alam nilang kikita. sana nga mall ang ilagay ng robinsons sa mindoro, kaya lang hindi kagaya sa inyo, ang itatayong mall sa calapan ay para lang sa mga mindorenyo (excluded ang occidental) at mga turista.. di gaya jan sa tugue na pati mga taga ibang probinsya ay mapupuntahan ang mall sa tugue kasi iisa lang ang lupang nagduduktong jan..

ang kabisera at ang mismong occidental mindoro kasi ay hinihiwalay ng bundok sa oriental mindoro. :D

^^wala bang road na magkokonekta sa oriental at occidental mindoro??
hehe ala sierra madre ba yung barrier nila dyan,,,actually mas kapos pa ang population ng CAR region(exception is Baguio city and Benguet) kumpara sa 2 regions na yan,,,nagmumukhang din lang mataas ang economy ng CAR dahil sa Baguio,,,,but kung papansinin mo yung ibang probinsya eh nasa category na poorest province na yung karamihan so hindi talaga nirereflect ng Baguio ang buong CAR region :)

^^wala bang road na magkokonekta sa oriental at occidental mindoro??
hehe ala sierra madre ba yung barrier nila dyan,,,actually mas kapos pa ang population ng CAR region(exception is Baguio city and Benguet) kumpara sa 2 regions na yan,,,nagmumukhang din lang mataas ang economy ng CAR dahil sa Baguio,,,,but kung papansinin mo yung ibang probinsya eh nasa category na poorest province na yung karamihan so hindi talaga nirereflect ng Baguio ang buong CAR region :)

ay nako hindi ko alam kung ganong kahaba yong bundok na yon.sabe kasi sakin paglagpas nung bundok na nakikita namin occidental mindoro na siya, pero tyak may daan na nagduduktong sa dalawang probinsya..hindi ko lang alam kung saan.hahaha, pero mataas yung bundok..mt.halcon ata pangalan non. :D

oo kung wala ang baguio parang wala ang car sa ibang region.at ang benguet sa ibang province.masyado na kasi silang mahirap mapuntahan don, kaya mahirap talaga mapa-unlad liban nalang kung magagaya sila sa baguio na dinadayo dahil sa turismo...saka konti lang population din nila, nahihirapan ang local at national government mapa-abot ang serbisyo nila..nandiyan pa ang mga private armies, npa, saka armed group na nagpapalala ng sitwasyon ng region na yon.
btw ang region 4-b ay part pa rin ng region 4..hinati lang sila da dalawang sub-regions, isang isla isla at isang asa mainland luzon..kaya kung pagsasamahin mahahatak ng region 4a (calabarzon) ang economy ng region 4-b (mimaropa) sa mga papel... :D

SEPTEMBER 2010 PROJECT

INVENTORIES

Xevera Neo Calapan

http://www.rgvcenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=31

Where shopping, dining and
lifestyle amenities simply abound


Soon to rise... XEVERA REGIONAL MALL


Facts and Figures:

• Location and Accessibility

The town proper, 1.8 kilometers from the provincial capitol, and approximately 5 kilometers from the Calapan Pier, offering convenience and accessibility to residents, business owners, workers, tourists, shoppers and visitors.

• Project concept

Xevera Neo Calapan, a 60-hectare residential-commercial project, is housed within Neo Calapan, a 100-hectare property envisioned to be a one-stop-destination with commercial centers, residential, institutional, ICT-wired business and recreational facilities. Neo Calapan is located at the heart of Calapan City, along the Strong Republic Nautical Highway and within the commercial and techno hub of Oriental Mindoro. It is accessible from the Calapan City Port, City Hall, Provincial Capitol, national and local government offices, business and commercial establishments, banking and educational institutions, sports and leisure centers.

• One-Stop-Shop Destination

As a K-4 inspired project , Xevera Neo Calapan has it all in one sprawling property - residential, commercial, institutional, ICT-wired business and recreation facilities - all built within walking distance of each other for a complete and self-contained community. Set to rise within the commercial center is Xevera Regional Mall, Mindoro's largest and only first-class shopping establishment. Xevera Regional Mall will feature the major anchor stores of Robinsons Retail Group: Robinsons Supermarket, Department Store, Appliance Center and Handyman Do-It Best Home Center. As its flagship commercial establishment, Xevera Regional Mall will lend more touches of urban upscale excitement to a first-class complex that fosters interaction and camaraderie among family members, friends, and business associates.

• Site of Regional Government Center

A total of 39 government agencies bringing with them some 2500 employees are set to relocate from Manila to set up office in Xevera Neo Calapan, as mandated by Executive Order No. 682 naming Calapan City as Regional Government Center (RGC) of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) comprising the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. A hub of government offices within the complex will further stir business activity in the city whose journey to progress is fast gaining ground.

XEVERA FAQs
XEVERA FINANCING SCHEME



Proposed Development:


• Community with modern space planning for housing


Model Housing:



Single Detached

Townhouse


• Commercial Area





Phase I - Xevera Regional Mall

• Regional government center
• I.T. zone
• Amusement arcade
• Clubhouse



























--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



XEVERA NEO CALAPAN AVP XEVERA NEO CALAPAN TV AD


Running TIme: 10 minutes Running TIme: 1 minute



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:

Owner-Developer
Xevera Neo-Calapan Development Corporation (a subsidiary of Globe Asiatique )

Exclusive Marketing Manager:
RGV Real Estate Center, Inc.

Makati City:
(02) 887-1501-02
(02) 886-7833 / 0918-7415841
Email: sales@rgvcenter.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and comlinkphilstrat@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
5470 RGV Building I,
Pres. Osmeña Highway, Makati City, Philippines

Calapan City Office:

(043) 288-2173, 286-7527, 286-7567
RGV Building II,
Filipiniana Complex, Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

di ko alam kung gaano katotoo ang balita na magtatayo ng robinson sa calapan. pero talagang may project na.kung makikita nyo nasa previous post ko ang link.paki open na lang at makikita nyo ang malaking proyektong ito sa calapan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sgyEEoO56g

http://galifestyle.com/?page_id=1463

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sgyEEoO56g

-sgyEEoO56g

http://galifestyle.com/?page_id=1463

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sgyEEoO56g

wow!!!!!!! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

ayos!!! pinapasok na ng investors ang CALAPAN!! sana magkaroon na ng DOMESTIC AIRPORT diyan!! para lalo pang magboost ang economy ng buong mindoro!!! ang laking potensyal ng mindoro para sa turismo! yun nga lang walang airport dinadayo na,yun pa kayang may airport! haha!

SEPTEMBER 2010 PROJECT

INVENTORIES

Xevera Neo Calapan

http://www.rgvcenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=31

Where shopping, dining and
lifestyle amenities simply abound


Soon to rise... XEVERA REGIONAL MALL


Facts and Figures:

• Location and Accessibility

The town proper, 1.8 kilometers from the provincial capitol, and approximately 5 kilometers from the Calapan Pier, offering convenience and accessibility to residents, business owners, workers, tourists, shoppers and visitors.

• Project concept

Xevera Neo Calapan, a 60-hectare residential-commercial project, is housed within Neo Calapan, a 100-hectare property envisioned to be a one-stop-destination with commercial centers, residential, institutional, ICT-wired business and recreational facilities. Neo Calapan is located at the heart of Calapan City, along the Strong Republic Nautical Highway and within the commercial and techno hub of Oriental Mindoro. It is accessible from the Calapan City Port, City Hall, Provincial Capitol, national and local government offices, business and commercial establishments, banking and educational institutions, sports and leisure centers.

• One-Stop-Shop Destination

As a K-4 inspired project , Xevera Neo Calapan has it all in one sprawling property - residential, commercial, institutional, ICT-wired business and recreation facilities - all built within walking distance of each other for a complete and self-contained community. Set to rise within the commercial center is Xevera Regional Mall, Mindoro's largest and only first-class shopping establishment. Xevera Regional Mall will feature the major anchor stores of Robinsons Retail Group: Robinsons Supermarket, Department Store, Appliance Center and Handyman Do-It Best Home Center. As its flagship commercial establishment, Xevera Regional Mall will lend more touches of urban upscale excitement to a first-class complex that fosters interaction and camaraderie among family members, friends, and business associates.

• Site of Regional Government Center

A total of 39 government agencies bringing with them some 2500 employees are set to relocate from Manila to set up office in Xevera Neo Calapan, as mandated by Executive Order No. 682 naming Calapan City as Regional Government Center (RGC) of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) comprising the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. A hub of government offices within the complex will further stir business activity in the city whose journey to progress is fast gaining ground.

XEVERA FAQs
XEVERA FINANCING SCHEME



Proposed Development:


• Community with modern space planning for housing


Model Housing:



Single Detached

Townhouse


• Commercial Area





Phase I - Xevera Regional Mall

• Regional government center
• I.T. zone
• Amusement arcade
• Clubhouse



























--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



XEVERA NEO CALAPAN AVP XEVERA NEO CALAPAN TV AD


Running TIme: 10 minutes Running TIme: 1 minute



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information:

Owner-Developer
Xevera Neo-Calapan Development Corporation (a subsidiary of Globe Asiatique )

Exclusive Marketing Manager:
RGV Real Estate Center, Inc.

Makati City:
(02) 887-1501-02
(02) 886-7833 / 0918-7415841
Email: sales@rgvcenter.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and comlinkphilstrat@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
5470 RGV Building I,
Pres. Osmeña Highway, Makati City, Philippines

Calapan City Office:

(043) 288-2173, 286-7527, 286-7567
RGV Building II,
Filipiniana Complex, Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro, Philippines


nakakatuwa naman!! unti unti ng nadidiscover ang calapan! hahaha. sana pagpatuloy to!! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Marinduque: Beyond the Moriones
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
source (http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=61:marinduque-beyond-the-moriones&view=item&Itemid=71)

Holy Week was around the corner, and I was again browsing my list of must-see places to visit. Tired of mainland Luzon, I opted for some island-hopping and decided on Marinduque, a Holy Week destination due to its Moriones Festival. Joining me were my kids Jandy and Cheska, plus teacher-friends Mr. Joel Fatlaunag and Ms. Veneriza Trillo (with son Yor). We left Manila by 4:30 pm and arrived at Lucena City’s Dalahican Port by 9 pm. Instead of staying overnight in the city, we opted to take the 10 pm Blue Waters fast ferry to Balanacan Port (Mompog), arriving there, after a rough, wave-tossed crossing, by 12:30 am. Once on dry land, we took a jeepney to Boac, all the while hoping that there would be accommodations available at this unholy hour. Our jeepney driver suggested a beach resort and dropped us off at Villa Carlos, where its Good Samaritan owner, Ms. Emily Ignacio-Alaan, allowed us to pitch tents by the beach, as well as use a picnic shed. Fortune further smiled at us that early morning as Alaan allowed us to use, after a canceled booking, an air-conditioned suite with six beds, compartmentalized bathroom and, best of all, a private balcony overlooking the sea (perfect for sunset viewing). With our accommodation worries out of the way, we could now explore, using the resort as our base, this beautiful-island province in detail.


Exploring Boac

Boac, being the provincial capital, was the first place we explored, beholding its many large, high-ceilinged Spanish- and American-era ancestral houses. Its fortress-like Church of the Blessed Virgin of Perpetual Help, located on top of a hill, was built in 1656. The church houses the miraculous Ina ng Biglang-Awa (Mother of Instant Mercy), the province’s patron saint (since 1792) to which is attributed deliverance from a 19th-century Moro attack. The revolution’s flag was brought here by Canuto Vargas to be blessed in 1899. Its carved wooden portals are decorated with flora and fauna, cherubs and the images of the Four Evangelists: John, Luke, Mark and Matthew. The church’s well-maintained and faithfully restored interior has brick walls, wall-hung period lamps, a ceiling with designs of Muslim brass gongs, two sets of Stations of the Cross (in wood and stained-glass windows) and three richly decorated and intricate retablos (altar backdrops).

The Marinduque National Museum branch, located near Boac Park (execution site of Filipino revolutionaries and the surrender site of Filipino soldiers during the Philippine-American War), opened on February 22, 1995, is housed in an old, historic building built in 1887. It was formerly used as a boy’s school, jailhouse, a library and the Municipal Trial Court Building. The museum showcases the province’s cultural and social heritage, and displays artifacts found in caves, shells, vintage photos, antiques, Moriones masks, costumes and pieces retrieved from galleons still buried under the waters between Pingan and Melchor Island.


More than just a Holy Week destination

Although well-known for its Moriones Festival, much of the island’s beautiful sites (white-sand beaches, hot springs, lofty mountains, waterfalls, etc.) are relatively unknown or taken for granted. We would make no such mistake. On our second day (Good Friday), we hired (for PhP1,200) a Tamaraw FX (driven by Mr. Herman Matre) to take us around the island, bringing along packed lunches prepared for us by Ms. Laura Lahm (owner of Barbarosa Restaurant, the best in Marinduque). We can actually drive around the island in three hours, as the main highway connects all six towns, but we opted to do this at a leisurely pace. Along the way we espied, from afar, the 11-hectare, aptly named Elephant Island (it has sheer cliffs, a half-kilometer-long white-sand beach and a soon-to-open world-class resort) and Tres Reyes Islands (Baltazar, Gaspar and Melchor, all named after the biblical Three Kings). Uninhabited Baltazar and Melchor islands have steep cliffs and underwater caves, while Gaspar Island has a small village, clear blue-green waters and a short, lovely white-coral beach which offers fine snorkeling and diving. All three islands are ideal dive sites, having several good caves and walls and gorgeous sea fans.

Our first stop would be Malbog Sufur Spring, located at the foot of 1,157-m. (3,797-ft.) high, rarely climbed Mt. Marlanga (with three unique peaks), the highest mountain in the province. Located 3 kms. from Buenavista, the spring’s hot water, said to cure certain skin ailments, was a welcome relief for us. Here, we all partook of our packed lunches.

The pièce de résistance of our trip was our visit to the residence of Mr. Hans Peter Ulrich and his Filipina wife Marilou, who rents out a two-room cottage with bath and kitchen in barangay Poctoy (Torrijos). The cottage was then being rented by seven vacationing production staff members (six women and a man) of GMA’s Starstruck program. Fronting it is a small private cove of sparkling white sand which we soon frolicked in with gusto. A short walk from the cottage is the 1-km. long, fine white-sand Poctoy White Sand Beach, Marinduque’s best. Its reef drop-off 200 to 300 m. offshore is ideal for snorkeling. This postcard-pretty beach, with the dormant, 871-m. high Mt. Malindig as a backdrop, was equally deserted, it being a Good Friday.

On our way back, we stopped over at the Pulang Lupa Battle Shrine (site of a Filipino victory during the Philippine-American War) and the Church of the Holy Cross (Sta. Cruz). The latter, built in 1714, has 1.5 to 2-m. thick walls and was renovated except for its original tower. Inside are impressive old paintings and sculptures. Here, as well as in Boac, we encountered parades of carrozas of saints, another Good Friday staple.

Our trip to Marinduque wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to one of its 17 outlying islands (mostly in the north). The next day we took a jeepney to Balanacan Pier. Offshore from this fine natural harbor is an imposing statue of Ina ng Biglang Awa with its viewdeck. At the fisherman’s wharf, we rented a motorized outrigger boat for PhP1,000 for the 30-minute trip to the eight-hectare Nagtangco Island. This island, together with nearby San Andres Island, has spectacular white-sand beaches. Unlike our Poctoy White Beach visit, the beach here was packed with picnickers. Just the same, we thoroughly enjoyed its fine, white sand and climbed its craggy viewpoint. This island visit truly capped our stay in this lovely province.

Puerto Galera: The Sparkling Gem of Mindoro
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=54:puerto-galera-the-sparkling-gem-of-mindoro&view=item&Itemid=71

http://biyahero.net/media/K2/item_thumbs/2009/06/54.jpg

Long before Boracay became a byword on the tourism calendar and highway, Puerto Galera was already a traveler’s “must-see” destination. It certainly was to me and I have been there a couple to times before, all via jeepney from Calapan City (a 45-min.fast-ferry or 2.5-hour slow-ferry ride from Batangas City). Getting there from Calapan (a 49-km. drive), then and now, was always a thrill as our jeepney negotiated its dusty, Kennon-like zigzag roads (Puerta Galera is considered the “Little Baguio” of Mindoro) and steep ravines.

The 254.47-sq. km. (spread out in 19 barangays) Puerto Galera is located on a Y-shaped peninsula on the northwestern tip of Mindoro Island. This popular tourist destination has numerous fine beaches with sheltered coves beneath a green mountainous backdrop of the 1,086-m. high Mt. Alinyaban, 1,185-m. high Mt. Talipanan and 1,228-m. high Mt. Malasimbo, all rich in mineral deposits of marble, gold, lime and silica.


Tourism as well as mining and fishing are the chief means of livelihood of its 21,925 (2000 figure) people. Spreading out about 10 kms. around the coast is the Poblacion (town proper), the ferry dock and its excellent natural yacht harbor (effectively protected by Medio Island) at the mouth of picture-perfect Muelle Bay.

The Galleon’s Port

The town’s name was derived from the Spanish words meaning “Galleon’s Port,” Puerto Galera being a refilling station, typhoon shelter and repair area for galleons, as well as being the former provincial capital. Even up to today, the town is still noted for shipbuilding and repair.

The town was first discovered as a tourist destination in the late 1970s by backpackers and retirees. In 1974 the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program International selected the town as a nature research center. Also, that same year the town’s reefs were declared a marine sanctuary. It was also around this time that the media discovered the attractions of this town’s numerous coves, white-sand beaches and colorful coral gardens, and the place entered the mainstream of the country’s tourist destinations.

Today Puerto Galera is now a popular tourist destination, especially for divers. It is a superb place to learn to dive. Diving here is diverse and year-round. The best time to dive is from March to October. There are over 25 dive sites, equal to any in the world, within a 30-min. banca ride, with visibility ranging from 18 to 30 meters. The main diving area is a short distance along the coast beneath the lighthouse on Escarceo Point (or Lighthouse Point). There are two recommended dive sites: the Canyons and Shark Caves. There are dive operators in seven beaches, all having a very high standard of professionalism.

Beaches Galore

There are at least 13 superb connected beaches that have been developed for tourism within 7 km or so of the town. The less well-developed beaches from White Beach to Talipanan in the west are favored by those seeking seclusion and peace and quiet. The more populous and better-developed beaches are on the east side. They offer accommodations of various standards, from simple nipa huts to medium-standard air-conditioned bungalows.

Sabang Beach, in Brgy. Sabang, has the most developed resorts. It offers a good choice of restaurants, discos and watersports facilities. Small La Laguna Beach, also in Brgy. Sabang, is fairly quiet and cozy and has good diving and snorkeling facilities. This beach also attracts a lot of backpackers and other budget travelers who like to stay a long time in Puerto Galera. Aniuan Beach and Talipanan Beach are two of the quietest beaches in the town.

The Popular Choice

White Beach, located 6 kms. from the poblacion, is my personal favorite. One time, I brought along my daughter Cheska, as well as my friends Ms. Elvira “Lala” Mañanita, Ms. Myrna Samson and Mr. Eleser “Ely” Borero, entering (and later exiting) Puerto Galera via a big outrigger boat which landed directly on White Beach. This beach’s broad, 1-km. long white-sand beach is immensely popular with local tourists, so much so that during our overnight stay here we had to camp outside Lenly Resort as all resorts were fully booked then, it being a weekend. It’s a good thing we brought along tents for this purpose.

Dining here was no problem as we had dozens of choices on where to eat; from native fast-food stalls and snack bars to excellent establishments serving international dishes.


Virtually all the large resorts run their own restaurants. In our case, it being a campout, we did some cooking of our own, buying the freshest catch of the day and then cooking it over a rented grill. Nights are never lonely at this time and the beach has a fiesta atmosphere, filled with people playing beach volleyball, bar-hopping or simply just sitting or lying on the sand, feeling the gentle breeze even up to the wee hours of the morning.

We also made an excursion to the 131-m. -high Tamaraw Waterfalls, the largest waterfall in the province. Visible along the road going to Calapan City (15 kms. away), Tamaraw Falls is in Brgy. Villaflor, beside the fittingly named Waterfall Bridge. The cool, clear waters of its three natural swimming pools, all set in different levels, provide a welcome relief for our tired, beat-up and dusty bodies. The area is developed and a number of picnic tables and bathing facilities have been provided, all set amid lush surroundings.

Starting around 02:30 GMT on Saturday, September 25 (10:30 AM [Philippine Time] on Saturday, September 25), SkyscraperCity will be down while we re-work our back-end network. The downtime may take as much as 7 hours as we have to move servers around a bit.

For Questions or Comments, please visit this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1221255).

Mindoro, Philippines
Lubang Island

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More than the usual.


all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13734&id=100001181823864)

Mindoro, Philippines
Lubang Island

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More than the usual.


all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13734&id=100001181823864)

Ang ganda. Go Mindoro!:cheers::banana:

Ang ganda. Go Mindoro!:cheers::banana:

salamat sir!!:)

Peb8GOHSGc8

jT1cy8Bgc3I&feature=related


Watch the unusual beauty of Mindoro Philippines!

Nakapasyal ka na ba diyan sir William, sarap sigurong panoorin iyan ng personal.

tama ka. ginawa kasi ang calapan city na maging regional center ng MIMAROPA. ang pagkakaalam ko ay may itatayong robinson mall sa ginagawang business center sa may brgy sto nino.doon din daw itatayo ang regional center offices.kaya maganda ang hinaharap ng ng lungsod ng calapan.am hoping

Wow! Good news iyan para sa mga taga Calapan.:):cheers::banana:

Nakapasyal ka na ba diyan sir William, sarap sigurong panoorin iyan ng personal.

puerto galera po?hehe.uu nakapunta na ko...at sobrang ganda niya! sana makapunta din kayo diyan someday sir! :)

puerto galera po?hehe.uu nakapunta na ko...at sobrang ganda niya! sana makapunta din kayo diyan someday sir! :)

Oo, sana makapunta kami ng friends ko dyan.
Grabe, ang dami palang big plans diyan sa Calapan. Ang 60 hectares commercial-residential development, itatayong government regional centers, Xevera regional mall, techno hub at iba pa.:):cheers::banana:

Oo, sana makapunta kami ng friends ko dyan.
Grabe, ang dami palang big plans diyan sa Calapan. Ang 60 hec:cheers:tares commercial-residential development, itatayong government regional centers, Xevera regional mall, techno hub at iba pa.:):cheers::banana:

panahon na ng CALAPAN para bumangon sa pagkakahimbing! haha. may potensyal iyan.kapag nagkaroon ng AIRPORT diyan na open for domestics flights/international flights, tyak hahabol iyan sa ibang cities! haha. mga 45min-1hr ang byahe diyan to puerto-galera. sana magpatuloy itong mga projects na yan! haha

at oo sana makapunta ka sa mindoro,wag mong kaligtaan sa listahan mo aaahh.hehe

Forget Phuket, these are the next-gen Asian tourist hotspots

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/inspirations-779631406-1273738035.jpg
The picturesque Filipino volcanic island of Marinduque.


The lowdown: Pristine beaches, diving sites, a balmy climate. Marinduque has all the postcard charms of other Filipino hotspots such as Boracay and Tagaytay, but none of their tired tourist crowds.

The volcanic island of Marinduque is just a 45-minute flight from bustling Manila, but manages to elude the capital’s frenetic pace. There’s nary a nightclub or souvenir shack in sight. It has a generous sprinkling of hot springs and white sandy beaches, notably the sulphuric hot springs of Malbog, and Poctoy’s White Beach, which doubles as a community hangout. The uninhabited Tres Reyes Islands off the Gasan coast ranks among Marinduque’s best diving sites with azure waters, profuse corals and an underwater cave.


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Come Holy Week, which is a week before Easter, Marinduqueños cover up with gaudy masks to make like Roman soldiers during the crucifixion of Christ for the famous Moriones Festival.

Why it’s next: For years, Marinduque has been under the foreign tripper's radar, but not for long, if politicos and developers have their way. The laid-back island-province is now being touted as the Philippines’ next holiday haven, with the Bellarocca luxury resort set up last year, and new domestic flights on Zest Air and SEAIR connecting it to Manila.

Luzon officials are also on a crusade to raise the area’s public profile. Ilocos Norte representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said earlier this month that “once the Marinduque air and sea ports are modernized, larger volume of local and foreign tourists can be lured to visit its little-known but awesome white sand beaches.”

Marcos is also advocating the redevelopment of the abandoned Marcopper mining site into a 18-hole golf course and a hospital complex, to boost medical tourism.

Source (http://ph.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/76-forget-phuket-these-are-the-next-gen-asian-tourist-hotspots?cid=today)

Mindoro Islands
P h i l i p p i n e s

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Romblon
P h i l i p p i n e s


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source (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ROMBLON/186215478575)

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We, the Remontados-Ateneo de Naga University College Level Debate Society, is starting to organize the Second Xavier Cup - South Luzon Debate Championships. We'll be inviting a huge chunk of colleges and universities, both HS and college level, from Regions IV and V. We're expecting a turn-out of about 250-300 people, much like the 12th National Debate Championship. Anyone interested to sponsor or to attend, please PM me. Thanks! :D

Nautical Highway

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credits to the owner.
more pictures here. (http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=166895864533&view=all)

Apo Reef National Park:
Jewel of Mindoro

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Apo’s reef fish can finally breathe easier now that a new resolution has been passed. Starting on the 2nd of October 2007, all extractive activities such as fishing, collection and harvesting of any life form will be completely banned from within the park. Ordinance No. 01 was the Apo Reef Protected Area Managemant Board's (PAMB) first law for 2007 and declares the whole of Apo Reef a ‘no-take zone’ – to allow the reef and its residents ample time to recover from years of fishing.


Dwarfed only by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) is situated 15 nautical miles west of the Philippine municipality of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. It is a major component of the earth’s coral triangle, spanning a total of 27,469ha – 15,792ha for the actual reef and 11,677ha as a protective buffer zone. Just over 30 years ago, the park was one of the world’s premier diving destinations. Godofreido Mintu, Mayor of Sablayan and key to the park’s newfound protection, recalls, “Granted, everyone wanted to see its reefs, but it was much more than that. The entire coast was also a vast fishing ground. Even during the height of its destruction in the 1980s, you could still catch a basket-load of fish in minutes. It truly was the "jewel of Mindoro.”

In biodiversity terms, the numbers are impressive. At least 385 species of fish, from the diminutive Bicolor Blenny to the spellbinding Emperor Angelfish, frolic amidst 190 coral, 26 algae and seven seagrass species. Larger residents and transients include the Manta Ray, Sperm Whale and various types of sea turtle. Sea birds too, are well represented, with at least 46 migratory and resident species, including the famed Nicobar Pigeon, roosting regularly on Apo’s three main islands.

In 2003, another assessment was made. Coral cover was back at 43%. In 2006 it rose to 52%. And if a 20% increase in 13 years isn’t good enough, bigger and bigger fish are returning. “A few months back, divers saw a school of over a hundred Scalloped Hammerhead sharks,” recalls Duquil. Groups of Manta and Eagle Rays have been sighted in ever-higher concentrations. Even giants like the Whaleshark and Sperm Whale are being seen regularly, an indicator that biodiversity levels are returning: and a reef’s biodiversity is a prime indicator of its resiliency – its ability to deal with future threats.In time, the increased fish-stocks generated by the recovering reefs should be more than enough to seed outlying areas sustainably. Adds Mintu, “Nature has its own process of recovering, but it should be aided by human intervention. In the end, everyone will win.”


For more information,
please contact:John Manul
Sablayan Project Manager,
WWF - Philippinesjmanul@wwf.org.ph
Gregg Yan
Information, Education & Communications Officer,
WWF-Philippines920-7923/26/31, 0917-833-4734
gyan@wwf.org.ph
source (http://ilovemindoro.blogspot.com/2008/08/apo-reef-national-park-jewel-of-mindoro.html)

Oriental Mindoro Province


Oriental Mindoro (Filipino: Silangang Mindoro, "Eastern Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island Passage and the rest of Batangas to the north, by Marinduque, Maestro del Ocampo Island, Tablas Strait and the rest of Romblon to the east, by Semirara and the rest of Caluya Islands, Antique to the south, and by Occidental Mindoro to the west. Calapan City, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.

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[1], by American biologists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springer. Most of the endemic species in the Philippines are found in the Verde Island Passage between Mindoro island and the main island of Luzon. The passage houses 2,983 individual species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, based on a study conducted by scientists Carpenter and Springer in 2005.
Our study indicates, however, that there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea... Special attention to marine conservation efforts in the Philippines is justified because of the identification of it as an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution.
UNESCO, declared Puerto Galera a biosphere reserve[2] under its Man and the Biosphere Programme in the 1970s. The Verde Island Passage is at the apex of the so-called Coral Triangle – the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia – which has the distinction of being the "global center of marine biodiversity".

Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census of Population, Oriental Mindoro has a population of 735,769 which makes it the most populous province in the region. This is higher by 53,951 from the year 2000, resulting in an annual population growth rate of 1.06% during the seven-year period.
The province is largely rural, with 70% of the population engaged in agriculture and fishing and with only 30% living in urban centers. Tagalog is widely spoken in the province. Other languages spoken are Ilocano and Cebuano. Dialects of the Mangyan language are Arayan, Alagnan, Buhid, Hanunoo, and Tadyawan. Most of the population are of Roman Catholic stock.


Indigenous People
The Mangyan
The indigenous people of Oriental Mindoro are the Mangyans (Manguianes in Spanish, Mañguianes in Old Tagalog), consisting of 7 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.

City

Calapan City

Municipalities
* Baco
* Bansud
* Bongabong
* Bulalacao
* Gloria
* Mansalay
* Naujan * Pinamalayan
* Pola
* Puerto Galera
* Roxas
* San Teodoro
* Socorro
* Victoria


Physical

Calapan City in the northeast tip of Mindoro Island is the capital and largest city of the province of Oriental Mindoro.
The province has a total land area of 4,238.4 km²; with the western portion of the province being mountainous or rugged, hills and flood plains are widely distributed in the eastern portion. Mount Halcon, standing 2582 m above sea level, 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 with an area of approximately 8,125 ha of open water, is located at the northeastern part of the island and the province.
Oriental Mindoro's rich and arable land is suitable for agriculture. It is producing large quantities of rice, corn, coconut, vegetables and fruits like calamansi, banana, rambutan, marang or uloy, lanzones and durian. For that, 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. Its total agricultural area is 169, 603.34 hectares. Based on agricultural statistics, 85, 244 hectares are devoted to palay production while 21, 671 hectares to coconut plantation. The province, for the past years, registered an average of 1 to 2 million cavans as surplus in rice production.

Climate

Oriental Mindoro has no distinct wet or dry seasons. Average temperature ranges from 26 to 32 degrees celsius. The province experiences maximum rainfall during the months of June to October. Relative humidity is registered at 81%.

History


Pre-History and Indigenous Civilization

Legend has it that long before the Spaniards discovered the Philippines, Mindoro was already among the islands that enchanted pilgrims from other countries. It was said that vast wealth was buried in the area, and mystic temples of gold and images of anitos bedecked the sacred grounds of this relatively unknown land. The Spaniards even named the island Mina de Oro, believing it had large deposits of gold.
The history of Mindoro dates back before the Spanish time. Records have it that Chinese traders were known to be trading with Mindoro merchants. Trade relations with China where Mindoro was known as Mai started when certain traders from "Mai" brought valuable merchandise to Canton in 892 A.D. The geographic proximity of the island to China Sea had made possible the establishment of such relations with Chinese merchantmen long before the first Europeans came to the Philippines. Historians claimed that China-Mindoro relations must have been earlier than 892 A.D., the year when the first ship from Mindoro was recorded to have sailed for China.
Historians believed that the first inhabitants of Mindoro were the Indonesians who came to the island 8,000 to 3,000 years ago. After the Indonesians, the Malays came from Southeast Asia around 200 B.C. The Malays were believed to have extensive cultural contact with India, China and Arabia long before they settled in Philippine Archipelago.

Spanish Era

Mindoro was first discovered by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. When Legaspi conquered Cebu in 1565, he heard of a flourishing settlement in Luzon. The search for abundant food evidently lacking in most Visayas Islands prompted the exploration leading to the discovery of this island. Captain Martin de Goiti, accompanied by Juan de Salcedo, sailed for Luzon.
On May 8, 1570, they anchored somewhere in Mindoro Coast, north of Panay. Salcedo and de Goiti had the chance to explore the western part of the island, particularly Ilin, Mamburao and Lubang. From Ilin, Salcedo sailed north of Mamburao where he found two Chinese vessels containing precious cargo of gold thread, cotton cloth, silk, gilded porcelain bowls and water jugs to be exchanged for gold with the natives of Mindoro. In 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi also visited the island and brought the natives under the Spanish rule.

Evangelization

The evangelization of Mindoro started in 1572 through the Augustinians. In 1578 the Franciscans took over and ten years later the secular priests. Also in the seventeenth century did a new phase in Christianization begin for the Mangyans were likewise visited by missionaries. The Jesuits erected seven “reducciones” in 1636. It was in these settlements that Mangyans from the inaccessible forests and hills were induced to settle down and be baptized as Christians.
The Province of Mindoro
Mindoro, which was formerly integrated into the province of Bonbon (Batangas) together with Marinduque, was made a separate province in the beginning of the seventeenth century. The island was divided into pueblos headed by gobernadorcillo and composed of several barangays headed by cabeza de barangay. A place now called Bayanan in present-day Minolo in Puerto Galera became the first provincial capital, then Baco and finally Calapan which was founded in 1679 as a result of conflict between the Recollect priests and the Provincial Governor.

The Spanish Government

In 1801, the Spanish authorities started a program of re-populating Mindoro but such attempts failed since the people were afraid to migrate to the province. Those who were eventually sent to Mindoro still returned to their homes after several years.
It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the island's population started to increase due to demographic pressure in the main settlement centers. This resulted in the founding of new administrative units. The number of pueblos increased and education expanded. However, the number of teachers available was limited such that very few were able to read and write and speak Spanish. These people formed the small native upper class in the province.
In terms of trade and agriculture, change came very slowly to Mindoro. In 1870, only minor quantities of crops were shipped out to Batangas due to neglected agricultural development.
The coal mines between Bulalacao and Semirara Island were discovered in 1879. In 1898, the Spanish colonial government granted titles for nine coal mines but exploitation in large quantities never took place.
When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1898, Mindoreños rallied to overthrow the Spanish Government in the province; although the uprising predominantly originated from outside the island as planned, organized and triggered off by the Caviteños and Batangueños. This was not for social changes but an anti-colonial war to gain independence. However, their victory was short lived because the events that followed marked the beginning of the American Regime in the Philippines.

The American Period

The victory of Admiral Dewey over the Spaniards in Manila on August 13, 1898 brought about general changes in Mindoro. A general primary school system with English as the language of instruction was established. Calapan port was opened to inter-island commerce. The U.S. Army Signal Corps connecting Calapan and Batangas installed a series of military cables. Land telegraph for public use was also installed in Calapan and Naujan. With the construction of provincial road along the east coast, the most important towns of the province were connected with one another. Free trade was established between the U.S.A. and the Philippines that brought about significant changes in the economy of Mindoro. Infrastructure and economic measures were adopted which induced massive wave of migration to the island.
Changes in the affairs of the local government also took effect in the island. Mindoro was made a sub-province of Marinduque on June 23, 1902 by virtue of Act No. 423 of the Philippine Commission. On November 10, 1902, Act No. 500 separated Mindoro from its mother province, thereby organizing its provincial government. The same Act provided further that "the province shall consist the main island and the smaller islands adjacent thereof, including the islands of Lubang, Caluya and Semirara. Puerto Galera was made the seat of government, with Captain R.C. Offley as the first civil governor. In 1907, the province was allowed to elect its first delegate in the person of Don Mariano Adriatico. Mindoro was finally declared a regular province in 1921.
In the years following the invasion of Mindoro by the United States Forces, there had been a considerable increase in population due to the pouring into the highly underpopulated island of a massive influx of new settlers. For the first time, the development and cultivation of the island's interior was made possible. The structure of society and the distribution of landholdings were likewise altered. The minority policy of the Americans was adopted, uplifting the Mangyans to the Filipino majority's level of civilization through special educational regulation and separate settlements.

Post-War Period

World War II wrought heavy damages, death and pain to the people of Mindoro. However, social conditions continued to exist without any definitive changes. After the war, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure and economy took place which ended with the division of the island into two provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro on June 13, 1950, by virtue of the Republic Act No. 505.
In the decades after the war, the island continued to become one of the preferred areas of new settlers coming from the overpopulated provinces in the Philippines in search of the new land. Apart from the hope to become landowners or to have better tenancy conditions, the guerrilla war (Huk rebellion) in Central Luzon was an important factor for migration. Under the settlement program of the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) which was founded on June 18, 1954, families from Central Luzon were settled in the Bongabong-Pinamalayan area. This project ended in 1956 after the settlement of 606 families (3,636 people) on 8,600 hectares of public land. Since then new settlers have incessantly migrated to Mindoro until today.

Armed conflict

There is currently a war going on between the Military and insurgents. On March 6, 2010, eleven soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with insurgents in Oriental Mindoro.

Tourist attractions

Oriental Mindoro evokes images of a genuine tropical paradise – white sand, crystal clear water, lush green forests covering majestic mountains and splendid waterfalls. With its largely unspoiled natural beauty, the province has much to offer in terms of tourism and other economic opportunities. Special interest tours such as mountain climbing, trekking, camping, caving, bird watching, island exploration, adventure trips, windsurfing, scuba diving, tek diving, scuba macro photography, snorkeling, keelboat and dinghy sailing are among the exciting recreational activities possible.
Access from Luzon thru the Batangas ports mostly goes thru the Verde Island Passage to reach the key entry point of Oriental Mindoro - Puerto Galera. In November 2004, Puerto Galera was voted a member of the UNESCO affiliated ‘The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World'. PG is blessed with one of the world's most beautiful natural harbors which also protects ships, yachts and bancas from strong typhoons sweeping in from the Pacific during the rainy season. The Puerto Galera Yacht Club is likewise based here, and runs the Sailing Scholarship Fund, financed by donations and the proceeds from regattas, for the training of more than 100 local children who have brought in medals and awards in the yearly yacht and small boat events. PGYC runs yearly yachting and national dinghy events open to the local and international sailing community to promote the sport of sailing and responsible sailing tourism in the islands.
Puerto Galera, known for lovely white sand beaches and the unfortunate accompanying honky tonk bar scene on some key beaches, is more famous for its exquisite dive sites with a biodiversity of marine life in and around the coral reefs. Interesting UW rock formations and coral gardens are home to colorful marine life, like the numerous species of nudibranch, mantis shrimp, sea anemone, moray and sea fan sea horses. The seas off the coast boast passing dolphin pods, the rarer whaleshark and is part of the migratory small whale route from the Visayas.
Towering 8,488 feet above sea level, Mt. Halcon in Baco, is the country's third highest peak. It is a favorite mountain climbing destination for ecologically aware groups. Oriental Mindoro is also perfect for birdwatching activities of local and migratory species, and is home to mammals like the Tamaraw, an endemic straight-horned water buffalo, reptiles and plant species found nowhere else. Oriental Mindoro is also called and known now as the LUPAIN NG MAHALTA. Tamaraw (TA), various flora and fauna found on slopes of Mount Halcon (HAL) and the native Mangyans (MA), all together add vibrancy to the colors and the richness of nature and culture of the province.

Maps of Oriental Mindoro

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Ports of Oriental Mindoro

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source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Mindoro)

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Calapan City

the Calapan City Hall
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Calapan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro and known as the "Gateway to the Golden Isle". According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.[1]
The city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing. However, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years. Calapan City also serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island with ships that travels to and from the Batangas City International Seaport. Calapan City is 45 minutes away from Batangas City and is accessible by ferry boat and RORO ships.
Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other being Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.

History

Calapan was formerly a small village before the establishment of the first Religious District in Baco. The District convent was transferred to Calapan in 1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro Ecclesiastical Area.
In the early 18th century, the town only occupied a strip of land stretching from Ibaba to Ilaya in a cross-shape facing the present church and cut-off by the river. Later on, succeeding barrios were founded
In 1837, the capital of the province was moved from Puerto Galera to Calapan. When Mindoro became a part of Marinduque on June 13, 1902, the provincial capital was once again moved to Puerto Galera. In November 10, 1902, Mindoro was detached from Marinduque. In 1903, Calapan once again became the provincial capital.
When Mindoro was detached from Marinduque on November 10, 1902, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro were annexed to Calapan in 1905 under Act. 1280, adding a total area of 843 km2. of land. In 1902, under Act 2824, the three (3) municipalities gained their independence.
In 1919, the boundary dispute between Calapan and Naujan was adjudicated by Presidentes Agustin Quijano of Calapan and Agustin Garong of Naujan over a portion of the territory of what is now known as the present boundary. The portion of agricultural area was awarded to Naujan, thus, making the area of Calapan much smaller as compared to that of Naujan which is now considered as the biggest municipality of the province.
At present, Calapan has an area of only 250.06 km2 (according to LMB). It has also jurisdiction over the three (3) Baco Islets on the Calapan Bay and the two (2) Silonay Islets.
The City of Calapan has been transformed as a component city on March 21, 1998. Its conversion was based on Republic Act 8475, enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Fidel Ramos on February 2, 1998. In a plebiscite held on March 21, 1998, majority of Calapeños ratified the conversion of Calapan into a city. It is the first and only city in the province of Oriental Mindoro.[2]
Since its creation as a city, Calapan has witnessed significant strides in commerce and industry, infrastructure and social services. New commercial establishments were opened providing employment and income opportunities for the residents. An expanded program on social services delivery, particularly in health care and education, were undertaken. The city’s physical infrastructure was upgraded which includes the construction of new roads and drainage facilities, as well as a new City Government Center. Tourism was boosted with the opening of inland resorts and new hotels.

Education

Institutions of Higher Learning
The city is host to numerous higher education institutions. The Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC), a Catholic college run by the Divine Word Missionaries is currently the largest institution of higher learning in the city and the province of Oriental Mindoro. Other private institutions of higher learning include the St. Anthony College - Calapan City (Information Technology, Nursing & Tourism), Luna Goco Medical Center and Colleges (Nursing and Medicine), Southwestern Luzon Maritime Institute Foundation and Filipino Academy of Scientific Trades(Maritime Studies), AMA Computer Learning Center (Information Technology), and CLCC Institute of Computer Arts and Technology (Information Technology).
There are currently two public higher educational institutions in the city. One is the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology. The other is the City College Of Calapan which was opened last June 2008 through the initiative of City Mayor Salvador Leachon.
Basic Education
Calapan City has seven national high schools (NHS), the largest of which is the LEMNAHIS. Other public high schools include the Ceriaco Abes Memorial National High School (MNHS), Parang NHS, Canubing NHS, Managpi NHS, Pedro V. Panaligan MNHS, the Community Vocational High School, and the LEMNAHIS Bucayao Annex.
The Catholic Church also runs the Holy Infant Academy,while DWCC also maintains a Basic Education Department
Public elementary schools are organized into three districts. They are the Calapan West, Calapan South and Calapan East Districts.

Health
The city is served primarily by the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital which is also the largest hospital in the province. There are also numerous private hospitals in the city such as the Maria Estrella General Hospital,Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative, Sta. Maria Village Clinic and the Luna-Goco Medical Center.
In addition, the city has well-equipped public health centers providing free health check-ups and basic medicine supplies to all residents. These public centers are being funded and supported by the City Health and Sanitation Department.

Arts and Culture

Calapan City has a diverse culture due to its mixed population. The city is known for its colorful local festivities and glamorous santacruzan celebration. Two of the city's recognized festivals are the Harvest Festival and the Sinkaw Festival.
The Harvest Festival, celebrated on March 21 along with the city's founding day was conceptualized by the city government council in recognition of Calapan City's achievement as one of the major exporter of rice in the Philippines. The city was once an importer of rice but now rice is the most important export of Calapan. According to city statistics, the increase in palay production is attributed to the improvement of the city’s agricultural programs.
The Sinkaw Festival derives its name from “sining kalabaw" or carabao arts, a creative artistic painting competition with no less than the carabaos as “canvasses.” This festival honors the city's native “beasts of the burden” as an eternally indispensable partner in farming and, essentially, a special tribute to the farmers’ industry.
The city and provincial governments also maintain separate libraries and museums. Moreover, the Calapan City Plaza which is located in front of the old city hall in San Vicente East is one of the city's famed attractions because of its unique features that includes a statue of a Mangyan man standing beside a tamaraw. The statue has now become the most famous landmark of the city.

Economy and Agriculture

Vast ricefields such as this one in Barangay Bayanan II is a common scenery in Calapan City.
Since 1998, the city has experienced rapid development. The establishment of a special development area, particularly an eco-zone for light industries located at the Urban Development Area (Lumangbayan and Guinobatan), has been promoted and now serves as growth area which generates employment and spurs economic opportunities. Such industries focus on agro-industrial based activities such as food processing, handicraft making, furniture making and other related activities.
Calapan City plays a major role in the Philippine economy as one of the major food suppliers in the country. The city is also a major exporter of rice supplying to Metro Manila and major parts of Luzon making it both an agriculturally-progressive and urbanized city. The five major crops are rice, citrus, banana, rambutan and lanzones. The top five industries in Calapan City are trading, tourism, services, marine and aquatic, and food processing.

San Vicente Central

J.P. Rizal Avenue which is named after the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, in San Vicente Central, is Calapan City's busiest street.
San Vicente Central is one of Calapan City's barangays and serves as the commercial and financial center of the city. Some of the big establishments in San Vicente Central are the Hotel Mayi, the tallest building in Oriental Mindoro; the Citimart Island Mall and Cinema; Robinsons Galleria,the Calapan City Public Market; GE Mart (Golden Eagle Mart); Globe Telecom; Smart Communications Wireless Center; Caballero Marketing; People's Arcade; Good Morning Enterprises and Juanita Mart.
Major Philippine banking institutions have established their local branches here including the Philippine National Bank, Metrobank, Chinabank, Bank of Commerce, Banco De Oro, Landbank of the Philippines, Allied Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank, The Country Bank, and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
San Vicente Central is divided by J.P. Rizal Avenue which is lined by several commercial establishments.
Chinese Calapenos make up the majority of the vendors. On the other hand, a growing number of Muslim merchants from the southern Philippines also constitutes a minority group.
City of Calapan is politically subdivided into 62 barangays.
Balingayan
Balite
Baruyan
Batino
Bayanan I
Bayanan II
Biga
Bondoc
Bucayao
Buhuan
Bulusan
Sta. Rita
Calero
Camansihan
Camilmil
Canubing I
Canubing II
Comunal
Guinobatan
Gulod
Gutad
Ibaba East
Ibaba West
Ilaya
Lalud
Lazareto
Libis
Lumangbayan
Mahal Na Pangalan
Maidlang
Malad
Malamig
Managpi
Masipit
Nag-Iba I
Navotas
Pachoca
Palhi
Panggalaan
Parang
Patas
Personas
Puting Tubig
San Raphael (formerly Salong)
San Antonio
San Vicente Central
San Vicente East
San Vicente North
San Vicente South
San Vicente West
Sta. Cruz
Sta. Isabel
Sto. Niño (formerly Nacoco)
Sapul
Silonay
Sta. Maria Village
Suqui
Tawagan
Tawiran
Tibag
Wawa
Nag-Iba II


Notable Calapeños

N. V. M. Gonzalez - Internationally acclaimed writer and educator
Charo Santos-Concio - President, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Jason Francisco - Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Housemate, 3rd Place PBB Double Up, Actor, Singer
Marielle Infantado - National Filipino Swimmer; 1st ASEAN Games; 2nd POF Championship; 27th, 29th and 31st SEA Games; Nestle MILO Product Endorser
Patrick dela Rosa - Filipino actor, politician
Jireh Ibañez - Basketball Player, UP Diliman
Joey Antonio - Chess Grandmaster
Antonio "Nikoy" Lining - International Billard Champion
Diana Arevalo - Top 10 Semi-Finalist - Bb. Pilipinas 2009, Miss Or. Mindoro 2008
Edzen Dinglasan - National Filipino Swimmer; 29th and 30th SEA Games
Edson Dinglasan - National Filipino Swimmer, 30th SEA Games; Philippine National Open

source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calapan_City)
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/i_love_oriental_mindoro_keychain-p146779620244928306qjfk_400.jpg

the Mangyans

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Mangyan is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found in Mindoro island, each with its own tribal name, language, and customs. The total population may be around 100,000, but no official statistics are available because of the difficulties of counting remote and reclusive tribal groups, many of which have no contact with the outside world.
The ethnic groups from north to south of the island are: Iraya, Alangan, Tadyawan, Tawbuid (called Batangan by lowlanders on the west of the island), Buhid, Hanunoo. An additional group on the south coast is labelled Ratagnon. They appear to be intermarried with lowlanders. The group known on the east of Mindoro as Bangon may be a subgroup of Tawbuid, as they speak the 'western' dialect of that language.
Mangyan are mainly subsistence agriculturalists, planting a variety of sweet potato, upland (dry cultivation) rice, and taro. They also trap small animals and wild pig. Many who live in close contact with lowland Filipinos sell cash crops such as bananas and ginger.
Their languages are mutually unintelligible, though they share some vocabulary. Tawbuid and Buhid are closely related, and are unusual among Philippine languages in having an /f/ phoneme. Tawbuid is divided into eastern and western dialects. Western Tawbuid may be the only Philippine language to have no glottal phonemes, having neither /h/ or /ʔ/.
Their traditional religious world view is animistic. Around 10% have embraced Christianity, both Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Protestantism. New Testaments have been published in six of the languages.

source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangyan)
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Puerto Galera joins rank of
most beautiful bays

Adventure-seekers who step on the shores of Puerto Galera are forever enchanted by the place. Some keep going back there, others decide to live the rest of their lives there. One couple who built their residence there 22 years ago were Hubert d’ Aboville, a Frenchman, and his Filipino wife, Ara Valenzuela. Hubert went on to promote the fabled island cove by talking about it with unbridled enthusiasm during every trip he took to Europe and his native France. His efforts have borne fruit. Puerto Galera has just garnered The World’s Most Beautiful Bays award for the year 2005. It is the 30th bay to get such a global award, and the third in the Asian region after Halong Bay and Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam.

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Hubert made his marketing pitch before 80 members of the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays in Agadir, Morocco in November last year. His video presentation of the bay, the serene cove, rock formations, fishes, coral reefs, sea grasses, mangroves, verdant forest – and the people (approximately 9,315 persons living in 1,863 households, and not counting the vacationers and backpackers), left the discriminating viewers no choice but accredit Puerto Galera as one of the world’s most beautiful bays.

The local government of Puerto Galera, together with d’ Aboville, will receive the award in Nha-Trang, Vietnam, at the end of this month.

The club was an initiative of the tourism office of the Vannes region on the Gulf of Morbihan in France. It was founded in Berlin in March 1997, with the objective of protecting the environment and the development and enhancement of marine and bay resources worldwide. It has the full support of UNESCO.

Puerto Galera is located in Oriental Mindoro, and can be reached by ferryboat from Batangas City. It was discovered in one of the explorations made by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo on their way to Manila in 1570. But since the 10th century, Puerto Galera was known to seafarers as a trading port and a strategic harbor along the important trade routes to and from the Near East, Indian Coast, Indo-Chinese coast, China, various points within the Philippine archipelago, and the kingdoms of Sumatra and Java. Its Muelle Bay area was recognized as one of the safest natural harbors in Asia and was used extensively for dock repairs and as a safe anchorage for all types of sailing vessels.

According to Hubert, in the 60s, European backpackers "discovered" Puerto Galera – its series of pristine bays and coves, snow-white sand, and fantastic coral gardens. When German backpackers wrote for a large-circulation magazine about the romance and beauty of Puerto Galera, enhanced by scenic photographs, it created a tourism storm. Instantly, Europeans knew more about Puerto Galera than the country’s capital, Manila. The ensuring tourism explosion has attracted tens of thousands of foreigners over the years and has made Puerto Galera what it is today."

Hubert spent his own money "selling" the place. He and Ara met in 1980 in Manila. Ara was actually assigned to promote the Philippines in France for Rajah Tours, and Hubert was in Manila as a timber exporter. Ara was telling him was the most beautiful place in the world, while Hubert was telling her the Philippines was his most beautiful in the world.

Both have something in common: having historically famous ancestors. Ara’s great grandfather was Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who was a part of the triumvirate (the others being Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto) that played an important role in the Katipunan. On Hubert’s side, seven generations of the d’ Abovilles were in French military service, an ancestor headed the French Art 17th century. Hubert’s brother, Gerard, rode sole by rowing a kayak from Cape Cod to the coast of France in 1980, and negotiated 10,000 kilometers, also by rowing, for 134 days from Japan to America.

Hubert and Ara wound up marrying, having four children, and running an estate ( a demo farm where they also manufacture virgin coconut oil) in Puerto Galera.

In 1992, Hubert founded the Philippine-based Together-Ensemble, a foundation for development and progress, which was active in relief operations in Real and Infanta, Quezon, during the recent disaster. The foundation was created after Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Since then it has been involved in many emergency relief missions in Luzon and the Visayas with the French NGO Doctors of the World, and in Mindanao in a long-term agricultural program. Later the foundation was incorporated in France to draw French funds to help Filipinos.

Hubert says the accreditation of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays award is based on four considerations – protection, enhancement, promotion and commitment to the project. He says that Puerto Galera has had its share of foreign and local tourists, but it has remained the country. Local tourism has to be promoted to earn revenue, without sacrificing the four considerations above, in as much as it does not receive any financial support from the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. I guess just being beautiful enough is a quality to be valued, but it can also be capitalized on to make it more beautiful.

Getting an award for his "adopted: town is not enough, certainly, Hubert is taking the initiative to exploit the international award to help develop Philippine tourism, always keeping in mind the protection of its fragile environment. He is sitting down with Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on tourism, and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, to map out an international media strategy.
source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/puerto-galera-joins-rank-of-most-beautiful-bays/)
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all credits to the owner. (http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/index.php?topic=60626.0)

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Puerto Galera
Philippines


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source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/dive-sites/)

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4s-XHOZXTj0
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s-XHOZXTj0)

C56PeiqVjLw&feature=related
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56PeiqVjLw&feature=related)

8urkRKN8gbw&feature=related
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8urkRKN8gbw&feature=related)

5xSUxK5JzWU&feature=related
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xSUxK5JzWU&feature=related)

-IPW08ouoTo&feature=related
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IPW08ouoTo&feature=related)

UFcUszhzFVk&feature=related
watch it on youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFcUszhzFVk&feature=related)


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Resorts

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White Beach is the most popular of Puerto Galera’s 32 beaches especially among Filipino tourists. Come summer, from March to May, Manila tourists flock to Puerto Galera by the hundreds, and during the Holy Week, by the thousands. During this period, the rates of accommodations can increase by more than 300 percent. Private homes are rented out to many who could no longer be accommodated in the more than 50 resorts and lodging inns in in the area.

White Beach, during this time, is the scene of many concerts and festivals organized by big corporations like San Miguel, Smart and Globe. The beach are filled with people, relaxing, walking to and fro, sunbathing, playing volleyball, riding jet skis and banana boats. At dawn, people sit at the beach to witness one of the best sunsets in the country. At night, more people come out to enjoy meals at beachfront restaurants. There are several open-air bars with "gay dancers" and serving Puerto Galera’s trademark concoction, "Mindoro Sling". There are also many tattoo shops and souvenir shops along White Beach.

Puerto Galera’s close proximity to Manila, a 4-hour bus and ferry travel worth less than 500 pesos (one-way), make it the cheap alternative to Boracay. One way to get to White Beach is by taking a bus marked "Batangas Pier via Calabarzon" at the bus terminal at the corner of Gil Puyat Ave and Taft Ave in Pasay City. The fare for an aircon bus is less than 200 pesos and it will stop at Batangas pier. At the pier, there are many Puerto-Galera-bound ferries, choose the one which goes directly to White Beach. The fare is 200 pesos. Pay the Environmental User Fee (Entrance Fee to PG) and the Terminal Fee worth 50 and 10 pesos respectively.

There are many resorts in White Beach which offer rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower. The room rates vary according to the season: when it’s low season (June to October), a room will range from 700 to 1200, when it’s high season (November to February), a room will range from 1200 to 1500, when it’s peak season (March to May), the same room will range from 1500 to 2000 pesos per night (good for 2 persons). During peak season, weekday rate is from 1000 to 1200 while weekend rate is from 1500 to 2000 pesos for rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower (good for 2 persons).

Many resorts offer group packages for a minimum of 10 persons worth 1800 pesos per person per day inclusive of meals and accommodation. Other resorts offer tour packages to Puerto Galera’s numerous tourist spots, like Bayanan Beach, Haligi Beach, Bulabod Beach, Tamaraw Falls and Tukuran Hidden Paradise.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/white-beach/)



Island At A Glimpse


Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island's tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area. Upon arrival, visitors board any of the waiting bancas (outrigger boat) that ferry passengers across the surrounding waters and into the various resorts dotting the coastline. Jeepneys to the inland hamlets of Sabang, Small and Big La Laguna, White Beach and Talipanan Point likewise traverse hilly, tree-lined routes that offer a sweeping view of the island's less aquatic, but equally tropical side.

There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro's other tourist spots or simply live it up. The local chapter of the Hash House Harriers - a club that started 50 years ago in Kuala Lumpur and which was introduced to the Philippines in the early 90's - regularly holds "runs": rowdy drinking sprees that have participants following two trails, one of which leads no where. When a runner follows the wrong track, he has to go back, downing bottles of beer in the process. What follows is a night of revelry no doubt spurred by the free flowing booze.

But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn't have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish - from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific-rest on the sandy floor.
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Gradually sloping beaches - with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble - comprise a large chunk of the island's 25,247 hectares. And while the department of tourism's last count pegs the number of resorts at 63, pockets of isolated and virtually resortless coves and beaches are tucked between massive rock formations. Then, as now water was what shaped the island. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Indonesians and Malay merchants were already doing business with locals in what is now known as Mindoro, the tiny strip of land which the Chinese called "Mai" and which lay directly in the Asia-Pacific trade route. In route to Manila in 1570, a Spanish expedition led by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo stumbled upon the resource-rich island and christened the entire province Mindoro after the harbor at Minolo. Mindoro was later divided into the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

At the height of the raids mounted by Moro pirates in the 17th century. Mindoro was a defensive bastion, with fortresses in the nearby towns of Calapan and Mamburao. Puerto Galera, the northernmost strip so named because it served as a port for Spanish galleys, became the capital. Here, the Spanish found safe anchorage and put up dock-repair facilities for the galleons that plied the Manila-Acapulco route. The island's generally calm waters, however, belied a tumultuous streak, and once in a while giant waves would crush galleons and marauding vessels. Coins, jars, lamps, swords and other artifacts salvaged from shipwrecks and sunken vessels are displayed at the Poblacion Museum and at Capt'n Gregg's in Sabang, lending credence to the island's colorful history.

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Today, foreigners continue to be part of the island. They have been flocking since the late 70's making it one of the country's foremost tourist destinations. Many, for whom the lure of the tropics proved too strong, have stayed on triggering a real-estate boom in the process and growing expatriate community.

Outside of minor glitches, Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue once again to the barest whisper of the elements.


source (http://www.puertogalera.org/)

Getting there.

Puerto Galera is easily reachable from Manila in several hours with many options including private transfer, tourist coach, public bus and even seaplane. The easiest way to get here is by private car or van and banca directly to Puerto Galera. Just contact us to arrange pickup from the airport or your hotel in Manila.

Another option is by tourist bus which is cheaper than private transfer but almost as hassle free. The SiKat service (tel +63 2 5213344) has a convenient booking office at the City State Tower Hotel in Malate and the bus departs daily at 8:00 am. The fare is 700 pesos one-way which includes bus and ferry tickets, and a guide.

More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6 am and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 180 to 220 depending on whether it is regular or an air-con bus.

If you are in hurry you can take the passenger vans (FX) which are also located on the other side of bus terminal along Pasay near Gil Puyat LRT station. These passenger FX/vans are using Star Tollgate an express way direct to Balagtas, Batangas, charging almost the same fare as air-con buses.

At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. There are four main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, White Beach and Sabang Beach.

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/getting-here/)

Activities at Puerto Galera


There are many fun-filled activities to spend your time while in Puerto Galera.

Aqua-Sports Activities

Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Fishing
Sailing
Jet Ski
Banana Boat
Parasailing
Windsurfing

Adventure and Leisure

Hiking
Motorcycling
Paintball
Golf at 2000 feet above sea level
Spa/ Massage
Bars/ Night Clubs
Fine Dining

Nature Trips

Jungle Treks
Orchids
Dolphins
Birds
Waterfalls
Rivers
Giant Clams
Coral Garden

Educational Trips

Puerto Galera Bay
Fr. Thiel Musem
La Laguna Beach Club ancient artifacts collections
Reptile Zoo
Mangyan Village

Beach and Island Hopping

White Beach
Talipanan Beach
Bayanan Beach
Haligi Beach
Long Beach
Panlilio Beach
Coco Beach
La Laguna Beach
Encenada Beach
Bulabod Beach
Boquete Island
San Antonio Island
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/activities/)


Entertainment


There are many forms of entertainment in Puerto Galera but mostly are concentrated in Sabang and White Beach areas.

During the day, there are plenty of open-air bars, boutiques and restaurant to choose from. Tourists crowd bars along the beach to sip chilled drinks as they take respite from the sun and listen to reggae, hip-hop and other beach music.

In Sabang, many bars and restaurants have large screen videos showing live sports telecast or movies. There are many pool halls, board games and beer pub games some free to guests while others charge a small fee.

There is a floating bar moored 50m out from Capt’n Gregg’s Divers Lodge, and it’s the place to go if you really want to drink like a fish. Take plenty of protection against the sun – you can almost smell the foreign flesh roasting. A free shuttle boat will take you there and back.

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There are also scores of ice-cream and pizza parlors, snack houses, fast-food joints and roadside eateries serving noodles and “lomi”.

Filipinos like to sing along coin-operated Videoke machines. Many resorts have machines inside restaurants.

Nightlife

Puerto Galera nightlife entertainment is much livelier than during daytime. In White Beach, the revelers crowd the open-air bars to watch “gay entertainers” dance as big loudspeakers blast the latest disco craze while drinking Puerto Galera’s famous concoction popularly known as “The Mindoro Sling”.

Sabang has more of the bikini-type bars and there is live music at some of the bars. As the bar area is concentrated in a small area and bars are linked by narrow walkways amongst the shops and cafes it’s easy to travel from one to another. Bars are open until late and play all different kinds of music.

In Sabang a lot of the restaurants and open-air bars are located right on the waters edge at high tide so these are favorite places to wile away the evening hours after a meal, away from the music of the bars which are located further back from the shore.

Dining poses no problems with many western style dishes on the menu in addition to the usual Filipino and other Asian dishes.

Puerto Galera is not really known for its cultural or ethnic shows and there is no cinema on the the island. Look out for the local fiestas that go on until the early hours if you want something different to do in the evening.

Capt’n Gregg’s in Sabang and The Point Bar in Small La Laguna are favorite watering holes with great music, cold drinks and friendly staff.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/entertainment/)


Why Puerto Galera?
Proximity
Puerto Galera is just 3 to 4 hours away from Manila. The bus travel time from the South Super Highway to the Calabarzon Highway all the way now to Batangas Port is 2 to 3 hours. The ferry ride to Puerto Galera normally takes 1 hour. A private transfer, with private car or van and connecting chartered ferry, is less travel time, more convenient but more expensive.

White Beach and Sabang are popular destinations worldwide bringing in thousands of tourists from different countries. The people of Puerto Galera have evolved as exceptional hosts to all types of tourists and showcase Filipino hospitality at its best.

Nature
Puerto Galera’s natural landscapes both above and under water are its foremost tourism asset. There are many beaches and coves, named and unnamed; mountains and forests with orchids, known and unknown; waterfalls and rivers ideal for picnics and sports; 33 spectacular dive sites very close to shore; and Puerto Galera Bay which is now regarded as one of the most beautiful in the entire planet.

Tourism Establishments
Like any other tourist towns, Puerto Galera has all types of establishments catering to all types of tourists. Puerto Galera caters to both the budget-conscious and the upscale tourists. There is also an amazing number of activities and services that will make your time in Puerto Galera truly memorable.

Diving
The channel between Puerto Galera and Verde Island, known internationally as the Verde Island Passage, is “the center of the center of the world’s marine biodiversity” according to American scientists – making Puerto Galera’s underwater world a favorite amongst dive enthusiasts. Puerto Galera also has the biggest number of dive schools in the entire Philippines offering both PADI and BSAC courses in different languages.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/why-puerto-galera/)

Puerto Galera
accomodation

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/accommodation/)
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Oriental Mindoro!

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
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Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro

"Gateway to the Golden Isle"

City of Calapan is a 2nd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.

Since its cityhood in 1998, the city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing however, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years.

Calapan also plays a big role in the growth of the whole province of Mindoro as it serves as a gateway with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island through ships that travels to and from Batangas City International Seaport.

Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other one is Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.


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all credits to the owner. (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)

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Gloria
Oriental Mindoro

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ORIENTAL MINDORO
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY

Often confusing to both travelers and the local population as they dubbed oriental and occidental as the same and only one Mindoro. Both provinces has towering mountain ranges covered with virgin forest, breathtakingly beautiful powdery white beaches, cascading waterfalls, snorkeling and scuba diving galore…all these can be found in both provinces of Mindoro. But in this article we’ll take a glance on The Province of Oriental Mindoro. In spite of being close to the country’s capital, Oriental Mindoro is considered to be one of the unspoiled places…a place that would give a nature lover her or his heart’s desire… that of a nature derived entertainment.

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The government together with the hospitable Mindoreños invites tourists, travelers as well as investors to experience the serene atmosphere and breathtaking beauty of this place that is dubbed as the “Golden Island”. Oriental Mindoro is bestowed with the country’s best naturescapes. The majestic mountains with its verdant green rain forests, the rivers and lakes, the calm and inviting clear blue water of the sea that incessantly pays homage to the powdery white sandy beaches would surely lure a person with the most discriminating taste an unforgettable and memorable holiday. The rare flora and fauna, the wild animals and the Mangyan Tribes are additional points of interests.
Mindoro was founded by a group of Spanish mission on February 2, 1921. During the early years, the Spanish administer Mindoro as a part of Batangas that was then called Bonbon. It was only in the 17th century that Mindoro was separated from Batangas with Puerto Galera as its capital. Mindoro is considered to be the 7th largest island of the Philippines. In, 1950, through Republic Act No. 505, Mindoro island was divided into two provinces, Oriental Mindoro on the eastern part with Calapan as the capital and Occidental Mindoro on the western part making Mamburao as the capital.

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Oriental Mindoro has a lot of natural attractions to offer local and foreign visitors one of which is Alibatan Island in Baco, famous for its expanse of white sandy beaches that functions as breeding places for different species of turtles. Puerto Galera is known as the Pearl of Mindoro as it is not only Mindoro’s prime tourist spot but the country’s pride as well. The beautiful natural harbor that is known worldwide was used during the Spanish time as a shelter port when the archipelago was ravaged by typhoons, and now used as scenery. Worldwide known and popular for snorkeling and scuba diving haven because of its interesting underwater rock formations, Puerto Galera boast of colorful coral gardens teeming with sea anemones, countless colorful fish species to view and sate ones eyes.

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Mt. Halcon is for one with adventurous spirit. Its towering 8,488 feet peak is considered to be the 3rd highest peak in the Philippines. So if you love nature tripping and mountain climbing, Mt. Halcon is definitely a most suitable destination for the adventurous. The 432 foot Tamaraw Falls is definitely a must-see. Be mesmerized by several falls that irregularly cascade from one fall to another until finally gushing in a frothing and swirling bed of water below. Oriental Mindoro is not dubbed as the Golden Island for nothing. Mountain climbing and trekking, indulging in water sports and even the passive butterfly watching can be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime…all these are offered by The Province of Oriental Mindoro. Enjoy !!!



link to source (http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/255/mayantocresortmz5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.paraisophilippines.com/2008/06/page/3/&usg=__9InG8NCIy-RwdqqtoiWtmrJkf_A=&h=494&w=657&sz=68&hl=tl&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=C97K_fjkqk2SiM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtarlac%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dtl%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1).

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ORIENTAL MINDORO,PHILIPPINES is also called as "Paradise Island". It is divided into two districts that consists of eight(8) towns in the first district and seven (7) towns in second district including my hometown where I was grown up and living. Within this 15 towns and their respective barangays your in paradise visiting our island. Here are the beauties of nature you can achieve in coming to this island paradise:

1. The PUERTO GALERA has white sands and beaches for scuba diving and snorkeling spots. This was listed to the "club of most beautiful bays of the world" . Added to this tourist spot was the Sabang Beach which is the most widely known of having a wide areas covered with white sands in the whole island of Oriental Mindoro.We have also in Mansalay which called "buktot" but it was just had a partial of white sands.
2. The MT. HALCON is called as "high above the clouds" (lagpas-ulap) of most Philippine mountaineers and other mountain visitors.Generally speaking of its one of a kind as the hardest and most difficult peak ever the mountaineers climb. It is on the fourth rank of highest mountains in the Philippine record. Measured of about 2,586 meters above sea levels.

3. The NAUJAN LAKE is the 5th Philippine largest lake, it has an estimated area of 8,125 hectares with the natural fresh water stored from rains and natural reservoirs.Maximum depth was 45 meters, maximum length is fourteen(14) kilometers and it has maximum width of seven(7) kilometers. Locating the map of its boundaries of this lake was so different from other lakes locations of the world. Four towns should ends its partitions but since the lake was on each ends they divided the lakes water areas to owned by four towns . On the north was owned by the town of Naujan's and its property, Victoria owned the western parts, Southern portions was for Socorro and the eastern portion was the property of Pola.

4. The MANGYANS are the indigenous citizen living in most mountains of Oriental Mindoro. In all towns you've seen on the map has this native people from different tribes and has different languages too.They have their own way of writings and each alphabets. They used to write on the leaves of the trees and even in the barks.They classifies as a.) Alangan b.)Bangon c.) Tau-Buid d.) Buhid - this is what we had in our hometown but I meet most kinds of this native people e.) Hanunoo f.)Iraya g.) Ratagnon and h.) Tadyawan .

5. In ROXAS you can find the "San Rafael Cave" in nearby boundaries between town of Bongabon. It is 20 minutes ride from town proper to the starting point where to walk up hills in reaching the caves entrance.You are welcome by the battalion of cave bats singing and flying inside the cave.We have also here the seaport (Dangay Port) to which ferry boats come and go for Visayan region trips day and night which is just less than a kilometer ride from the town proper. If you want visit BORACAY by land you can pass through the main highways of Oriental Mindoro (an exciting trips by land ever) then take a ferry boat rides from "Danggay Port" to Katiklan the main land of Boracay .

6. BULALACAO is the last town of Oriental Mindoro that has so many tiny and untouched islets . I heard there are thirteen (13) islets as some residents and fisherman said it. The most popular of these islets is "BUYAYAO" or San Roque as per municipality registration. I don't have camera yet that time I went in one islet, in other words I can not afford to have one even . Hope my next vacation I can go back there just take pictures that I have digi cam now , lol. Buyayao is humored as the richest islet I've heard when I was young girl because the golden boat during the world war 2 was sunk in that islet. Maybe it was true because it was developed during Marcos es and guarded with those stricken armed men that even fisherman has boundaries where to pass the sea water.It was said the boat was loaded of pure bar golds and other antiques of Spanish Authorities during the war.
source (http://vhings-3teenagers.blogspot.com/2009/09/oriental-mindorophilippines.html)
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BANANA FESTIVAL & THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH
March 15-19
Baco, Mindoro Oriental

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The harvest thanksgiving festival features a performance exhibition where schoolchildren dance in rhythmic beat at the main streets. Costumes are fashioned out of banana plant materials. There is also a banana cook fest. A religious procession highlights the celebration of the feast of St. Joseph, the town patron.

The festival is a celebration of the abundance of bananas. It features a banana cook fest and a "saba"-(type of banana)-inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. Festivities coincide with the town fiesta held in honor of the patron, St. Joseph.

Embrace the sanctity of Baco – the oldest town in Oriental Mindoro nestled at the foot of the great Mount Halcon and home to the island’s most peculiar flora and fauna. And more, one may take a luxurious dip in its cool mountain rivers. While in March, witness the indigenous Banana Festival, featuring the traditional harana, lupakan and pandangguhan. And for those new to the place, enjoy the warmth and convenience of a home-stay vacation.
source (http://www.lutongbahay.com/index.cfm?pagename=focusregion&opn=0&focusID=62)

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Hello Oriental Mindoro!

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Sunset at Puerto Galera
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all credits to the owner. (http://www.pinoyphotography.org/forum/index.php?topic=60626.0)

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Oriental Mindoro Province


Oriental Mindoro (Filipino: Silangang Mindoro, "Eastern Mindoro"; Spanish: Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island Passage and the rest of Batangas to the north, by Marinduque, Maestro del Ocampo Island, Tablas Strait and the rest of Romblon to the east, by Semirara and the rest of Caluya Islands, Antique to the south, and by Occidental Mindoro to the west. Calapan City, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.

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[1], by American biologists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springer. Most of the endemic species in the Philippines are found in the Verde Island Passage between Mindoro island and the main island of Luzon. The passage houses 2,983 individual species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, based on a study conducted by scientists Carpenter and Springer in 2005.
Our study indicates, however, that there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea... Special attention to marine conservation efforts in the Philippines is justified because of the identification of it as an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution.
UNESCO, declared Puerto Galera a biosphere reserve[2] under its Man and the Biosphere Programme in the 1970s. The Verde Island Passage is at the apex of the so-called Coral Triangle – the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia – which has the distinction of being the "global center of marine biodiversity".

Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census of Population, Oriental Mindoro has a population of 735,769 which makes it the most populous province in the region. This is higher by 53,951 from the year 2000, resulting in an annual population growth rate of 1.06% during the seven-year period.
The province is largely rural, with 70% of the population engaged in agriculture and fishing and with only 30% living in urban centers. Tagalog is widely spoken in the province. Other languages spoken are Ilocano and Cebuano. Dialects of the Mangyan language are Arayan, Alagnan, Buhid, Hanunoo, and Tadyawan. Most of the population are of Roman Catholic stock.


Indigenous People
The Mangyan
The indigenous people of Oriental Mindoro are the Mangyans (Manguianes in Spanish, Mañguianes in Old Tagalog), consisting of 7 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.

City

Calapan City

Municipalities
* Baco
* Bansud
* Bongabong
* Bulalacao
* Gloria
* Mansalay
* Naujan * Pinamalayan
* Pola
* Puerto Galera
* Roxas
* San Teodoro
* Socorro
* Victoria


Physical

Calapan City in the northeast tip of Mindoro Island is the capital and largest city of the province of Oriental Mindoro.
The province has a total land area of 4,238.4 km²; with the western portion of the province being mountainous or rugged, hills and flood plains are widely distributed in the eastern portion. Mount Halcon, standing 2582 m above sea level, 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 with an area of approximately 8,125 ha of open water, is located at the northeastern part of the island and the province.
Oriental Mindoro's rich and arable land is suitable for agriculture. It is producing large quantities of rice, corn, coconut, vegetables and fruits like calamansi, banana, rambutan, marang or uloy, lanzones and durian. For that, 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. Its total agricultural area is 169, 603.34 hectares. Based on agricultural statistics, 85, 244 hectares are devoted to palay production while 21, 671 hectares to coconut plantation. The province, for the past years, registered an average of 1 to 2 million cavans as surplus in rice production.

Climate

Oriental Mindoro has no distinct wet or dry seasons. Average temperature ranges from 26 to 32 degrees celsius. The province experiences maximum rainfall during the months of June to October. Relative humidity is registered at 81%.

History


Pre-History and Indigenous Civilization

Legend has it that long before the Spaniards discovered the Philippines, Mindoro was already among the islands that enchanted pilgrims from other countries. It was said that vast wealth was buried in the area, and mystic temples of gold and images of anitos bedecked the sacred grounds of this relatively unknown land. The Spaniards even named the island Mina de Oro, believing it had large deposits of gold.
The history of Mindoro dates back before the Spanish time. Records have it that Chinese traders were known to be trading with Mindoro merchants. Trade relations with China where Mindoro was known as Mai started when certain traders from "Mai" brought valuable merchandise to Canton in 892 A.D. The geographic proximity of the island to China Sea had made possible the establishment of such relations with Chinese merchantmen long before the first Europeans came to the Philippines. Historians claimed that China-Mindoro relations must have been earlier than 892 A.D., the year when the first ship from Mindoro was recorded to have sailed for China.
Historians believed that the first inhabitants of Mindoro were the Indonesians who came to the island 8,000 to 3,000 years ago. After the Indonesians, the Malays came from Southeast Asia around 200 B.C. The Malays were believed to have extensive cultural contact with India, China and Arabia long before they settled in Philippine Archipelago.

Spanish Era

Mindoro was first discovered by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines. When Legaspi conquered Cebu in 1565, he heard of a flourishing settlement in Luzon. The search for abundant food evidently lacking in most Visayas Islands prompted the exploration leading to the discovery of this island. Captain Martin de Goiti, accompanied by Juan de Salcedo, sailed for Luzon.
On May 8, 1570, they anchored somewhere in Mindoro Coast, north of Panay. Salcedo and de Goiti had the chance to explore the western part of the island, particularly Ilin, Mamburao and Lubang. From Ilin, Salcedo sailed north of Mamburao where he found two Chinese vessels containing precious cargo of gold thread, cotton cloth, silk, gilded porcelain bowls and water jugs to be exchanged for gold with the natives of Mindoro. In 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi also visited the island and brought the natives under the Spanish rule.

Evangelization

The evangelization of Mindoro started in 1572 through the Augustinians. In 1578 the Franciscans took over and ten years later the secular priests. Also in the seventeenth century did a new phase in Christianization begin for the Mangyans were likewise visited by missionaries. The Jesuits erected seven “reducciones” in 1636. It was in these settlements that Mangyans from the inaccessible forests and hills were induced to settle down and be baptized as Christians.
The Province of Mindoro
Mindoro, which was formerly integrated into the province of Bonbon (Batangas) together with Marinduque, was made a separate province in the beginning of the seventeenth century. The island was divided into pueblos headed by gobernadorcillo and composed of several barangays headed by cabeza de barangay. A place now called Bayanan in present-day Minolo in Puerto Galera became the first provincial capital, then Baco and finally Calapan which was founded in 1679 as a result of conflict between the Recollect priests and the Provincial Governor.

The Spanish Government

In 1801, the Spanish authorities started a program of re-populating Mindoro but such attempts failed since the people were afraid to migrate to the province. Those who were eventually sent to Mindoro still returned to their homes after several years.
It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the island's population started to increase due to demographic pressure in the main settlement centers. This resulted in the founding of new administrative units. The number of pueblos increased and education expanded. However, the number of teachers available was limited such that very few were able to read and write and speak Spanish. These people formed the small native upper class in the province.
In terms of trade and agriculture, change came very slowly to Mindoro. In 1870, only minor quantities of crops were shipped out to Batangas due to neglected agricultural development.
The coal mines between Bulalacao and Semirara Island were discovered in 1879. In 1898, the Spanish colonial government granted titles for nine coal mines but exploitation in large quantities never took place.
When the Philippine Revolution broke out in 1898, Mindoreños rallied to overthrow the Spanish Government in the province; although the uprising predominantly originated from outside the island as planned, organized and triggered off by the Caviteños and Batangueños. This was not for social changes but an anti-colonial war to gain independence. However, their victory was short lived because the events that followed marked the beginning of the American Regime in the Philippines.

The American Period

The victory of Admiral Dewey over the Spaniards in Manila on August 13, 1898 brought about general changes in Mindoro. A general primary school system with English as the language of instruction was established. Calapan port was opened to inter-island commerce. The U.S. Army Signal Corps connecting Calapan and Batangas installed a series of military cables. Land telegraph for public use was also installed in Calapan and Naujan. With the construction of provincial road along the east coast, the most important towns of the province were connected with one another. Free trade was established between the U.S.A. and the Philippines that brought about significant changes in the economy of Mindoro. Infrastructure and economic measures were adopted which induced massive wave of migration to the island.
Changes in the affairs of the local government also took effect in the island. Mindoro was made a sub-province of Marinduque on June 23, 1902 by virtue of Act No. 423 of the Philippine Commission. On November 10, 1902, Act No. 500 separated Mindoro from its mother province, thereby organizing its provincial government. The same Act provided further that "the province shall consist the main island and the smaller islands adjacent thereof, including the islands of Lubang, Caluya and Semirara. Puerto Galera was made the seat of government, with Captain R.C. Offley as the first civil governor. In 1907, the province was allowed to elect its first delegate in the person of Don Mariano Adriatico. Mindoro was finally declared a regular province in 1921.
In the years following the invasion of Mindoro by the United States Forces, there had been a considerable increase in population due to the pouring into the highly underpopulated island of a massive influx of new settlers. For the first time, the development and cultivation of the island's interior was made possible. The structure of society and the distribution of landholdings were likewise altered. The minority policy of the Americans was adopted, uplifting the Mangyans to the Filipino majority's level of civilization through special educational regulation and separate settlements.

Post-War Period

World War II wrought heavy damages, death and pain to the people of Mindoro. However, social conditions continued to exist without any definitive changes. After the war, reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure and economy took place which ended with the division of the island into two provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro on June 13, 1950, by virtue of the Republic Act No. 505.
In the decades after the war, the island continued to become one of the preferred areas of new settlers coming from the overpopulated provinces in the Philippines in search of the new land. Apart from the hope to become landowners or to have better tenancy conditions, the guerrilla war (Huk rebellion) in Central Luzon was an important factor for migration. Under the settlement program of the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) which was founded on June 18, 1954, families from Central Luzon were settled in the Bongabong-Pinamalayan area. This project ended in 1956 after the settlement of 606 families (3,636 people) on 8,600 hectares of public land. Since then new settlers have incessantly migrated to Mindoro until today.

Armed conflict

There is currently a war going on between the Military and insurgents. On March 6, 2010, eleven soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with insurgents in Oriental Mindoro.

Tourist attractions

Oriental Mindoro evokes images of a genuine tropical paradise – white sand, crystal clear water, lush green forests covering majestic mountains and splendid waterfalls. With its largely unspoiled natural beauty, the province has much to offer in terms of tourism and other economic opportunities. Special interest tours such as mountain climbing, trekking, camping, caving, bird watching, island exploration, adventure trips, windsurfing, scuba diving, tek diving, scuba macro photography, snorkeling, keelboat and dinghy sailing are among the exciting recreational activities possible.
Access from Luzon thru the Batangas ports mostly goes thru the Verde Island Passage to reach the key entry point of Oriental Mindoro - Puerto Galera. In November 2004, Puerto Galera was voted a member of the UNESCO affiliated ‘The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World'. PG is blessed with one of the world's most beautiful natural harbors which also protects ships, yachts and bancas from strong typhoons sweeping in from the Pacific during the rainy season. The Puerto Galera Yacht Club is likewise based here, and runs the Sailing Scholarship Fund, financed by donations and the proceeds from regattas, for the training of more than 100 local children who have brought in medals and awards in the yearly yacht and small boat events. PGYC runs yearly yachting and national dinghy events open to the local and international sailing community to promote the sport of sailing and responsible sailing tourism in the islands.
Puerto Galera, known for lovely white sand beaches and the unfortunate accompanying honky tonk bar scene on some key beaches, is more famous for its exquisite dive sites with a biodiversity of marine life in and around the coral reefs. Interesting UW rock formations and coral gardens are home to colorful marine life, like the numerous species of nudibranch, mantis shrimp, sea anemone, moray and sea fan sea horses. The seas off the coast boast passing dolphin pods, the rarer whaleshark and is part of the migratory small whale route from the Visayas.
Towering 8,488 feet above sea level, Mt. Halcon in Baco, is the country's third highest peak. It is a favorite mountain climbing destination for ecologically aware groups. Oriental Mindoro is also perfect for birdwatching activities of local and migratory species, and is home to mammals like the Tamaraw, an endemic straight-horned water buffalo, reptiles and plant species found nowhere else. Oriental Mindoro is also called and known now as the LUPAIN NG MAHALTA. Tamaraw (TA), various flora and fauna found on slopes of Mount Halcon (HAL) and the native Mangyans (MA), all together add vibrancy to the colors and the richness of nature and culture of the province.

Maps of Oriental Mindoro

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Ports of Oriental Mindoro

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source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Mindoro)

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Calapan City

the Calapan City Hall
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Calapan City is a 3rd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro and known as the "Gateway to the Golden Isle". According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.[1]
The city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing. However, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years. Calapan City also serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island with ships that travels to and from the Batangas City International Seaport. Calapan City is 45 minutes away from Batangas City and is accessible by ferry boat and RORO ships.
Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other being Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.

History

Calapan was formerly a small village before the establishment of the first Religious District in Baco. The District convent was transferred to Calapan in 1733 and began its jurisdiction over the Northern Mindoro Ecclesiastical Area.
In the early 18th century, the town only occupied a strip of land stretching from Ibaba to Ilaya in a cross-shape facing the present church and cut-off by the river. Later on, succeeding barrios were founded
In 1837, the capital of the province was moved from Puerto Galera to Calapan. When Mindoro became a part of Marinduque on June 13, 1902, the provincial capital was once again moved to Puerto Galera. In November 10, 1902, Mindoro was detached from Marinduque. In 1903, Calapan once again became the provincial capital.
When Mindoro was detached from Marinduque on November 10, 1902, Baco, Puerto Galera and San Teodoro were annexed to Calapan in 1905 under Act. 1280, adding a total area of 843 km2. of land. In 1902, under Act 2824, the three (3) municipalities gained their independence.
In 1919, the boundary dispute between Calapan and Naujan was adjudicated by Presidentes Agustin Quijano of Calapan and Agustin Garong of Naujan over a portion of the territory of what is now known as the present boundary. The portion of agricultural area was awarded to Naujan, thus, making the area of Calapan much smaller as compared to that of Naujan which is now considered as the biggest municipality of the province.
At present, Calapan has an area of only 250.06 km2 (according to LMB). It has also jurisdiction over the three (3) Baco Islets on the Calapan Bay and the two (2) Silonay Islets.
The City of Calapan has been transformed as a component city on March 21, 1998. Its conversion was based on Republic Act 8475, enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Fidel Ramos on February 2, 1998. In a plebiscite held on March 21, 1998, majority of Calapeños ratified the conversion of Calapan into a city. It is the first and only city in the province of Oriental Mindoro.[2]
Since its creation as a city, Calapan has witnessed significant strides in commerce and industry, infrastructure and social services. New commercial establishments were opened providing employment and income opportunities for the residents. An expanded program on social services delivery, particularly in health care and education, were undertaken. The city’s physical infrastructure was upgraded which includes the construction of new roads and drainage facilities, as well as a new City Government Center. Tourism was boosted with the opening of inland resorts and new hotels.

Education

Institutions of Higher Learning
The city is host to numerous higher education institutions. The Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC), a Catholic college run by the Divine Word Missionaries is currently the largest institution of higher learning in the city and the province of Oriental Mindoro. Other private institutions of higher learning include the St. Anthony College - Calapan City (Information Technology, Nursing & Tourism), Luna Goco Medical Center and Colleges (Nursing and Medicine), Southwestern Luzon Maritime Institute Foundation and Filipino Academy of Scientific Trades(Maritime Studies), AMA Computer Learning Center (Information Technology), and CLCC Institute of Computer Arts and Technology (Information Technology).
There are currently two public higher educational institutions in the city. One is the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology. The other is the City College Of Calapan which was opened last June 2008 through the initiative of City Mayor Salvador Leachon.
Basic Education
Calapan City has seven national high schools (NHS), the largest of which is the LEMNAHIS. Other public high schools include the Ceriaco Abes Memorial National High School (MNHS), Parang NHS, Canubing NHS, Managpi NHS, Pedro V. Panaligan MNHS, the Community Vocational High School, and the LEMNAHIS Bucayao Annex.
The Catholic Church also runs the Holy Infant Academy,while DWCC also maintains a Basic Education Department
Public elementary schools are organized into three districts. They are the Calapan West, Calapan South and Calapan East Districts.

Health
The city is served primarily by the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital which is also the largest hospital in the province. There are also numerous private hospitals in the city such as the Maria Estrella General Hospital,Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative, Sta. Maria Village Clinic and the Luna-Goco Medical Center.
In addition, the city has well-equipped public health centers providing free health check-ups and basic medicine supplies to all residents. These public centers are being funded and supported by the City Health and Sanitation Department.

Arts and Culture

Calapan City has a diverse culture due to its mixed population. The city is known for its colorful local festivities and glamorous santacruzan celebration. Two of the city's recognized festivals are the Harvest Festival and the Sinkaw Festival.
The Harvest Festival, celebrated on March 21 along with the city's founding day was conceptualized by the city government council in recognition of Calapan City's achievement as one of the major exporter of rice in the Philippines. The city was once an importer of rice but now rice is the most important export of Calapan. According to city statistics, the increase in palay production is attributed to the improvement of the city’s agricultural programs.
The Sinkaw Festival derives its name from “sining kalabaw" or carabao arts, a creative artistic painting competition with no less than the carabaos as “canvasses.” This festival honors the city's native “beasts of the burden” as an eternally indispensable partner in farming and, essentially, a special tribute to the farmers’ industry.
The city and provincial governments also maintain separate libraries and museums. Moreover, the Calapan City Plaza which is located in front of the old city hall in San Vicente East is one of the city's famed attractions because of its unique features that includes a statue of a Mangyan man standing beside a tamaraw. The statue has now become the most famous landmark of the city.

Economy and Agriculture

Vast ricefields such as this one in Barangay Bayanan II is a common scenery in Calapan City.
Since 1998, the city has experienced rapid development. The establishment of a special development area, particularly an eco-zone for light industries located at the Urban Development Area (Lumangbayan and Guinobatan), has been promoted and now serves as growth area which generates employment and spurs economic opportunities. Such industries focus on agro-industrial based activities such as food processing, handicraft making, furniture making and other related activities.
Calapan City plays a major role in the Philippine economy as one of the major food suppliers in the country. The city is also a major exporter of rice supplying to Metro Manila and major parts of Luzon making it both an agriculturally-progressive and urbanized city. The five major crops are rice, citrus, banana, rambutan and lanzones. The top five industries in Calapan City are trading, tourism, services, marine and aquatic, and food processing.

San Vicente Central

J.P. Rizal Avenue which is named after the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, in San Vicente Central, is Calapan City's busiest street.
San Vicente Central is one of Calapan City's barangays and serves as the commercial and financial center of the city. Some of the big establishments in San Vicente Central are the Hotel Mayi, the tallest building in Oriental Mindoro; the Citimart Island Mall and Cinema; Robinsons Galleria,the Calapan City Public Market; GE Mart (Golden Eagle Mart); Globe Telecom; Smart Communications Wireless Center; Caballero Marketing; People's Arcade; Good Morning Enterprises and Juanita Mart.
Major Philippine banking institutions have established their local branches here including the Philippine National Bank, Metrobank, Chinabank, Bank of Commerce, Banco De Oro, Landbank of the Philippines, Allied Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank, The Country Bank, and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
San Vicente Central is divided by J.P. Rizal Avenue which is lined by several commercial establishments.
Chinese Calapenos make up the majority of the vendors. On the other hand, a growing number of Muslim merchants from the southern Philippines also constitutes a minority group.
City of Calapan is politically subdivided into 62 barangays.
Balingayan
Balite
Baruyan
Batino
Bayanan I
Bayanan II
Biga
Bondoc
Bucayao
Buhuan
Bulusan
Sta. Rita
Calero
Camansihan
Camilmil
Canubing I
Canubing II
Comunal
Guinobatan
Gulod
Gutad
Ibaba East
Ibaba West
Ilaya
Lalud
Lazareto
Libis
Lumangbayan
Mahal Na Pangalan
Maidlang
Malad
Malamig
Managpi
Masipit
Nag-Iba I
Navotas
Pachoca
Palhi
Panggalaan
Parang
Patas
Personas
Puting Tubig
San Raphael (formerly Salong)
San Antonio
San Vicente Central
San Vicente East
San Vicente North
San Vicente South
San Vicente West
Sta. Cruz
Sta. Isabel
Sto. Niño (formerly Nacoco)
Sapul
Silonay
Sta. Maria Village
Suqui
Tawagan
Tawiran
Tibag
Wawa
Nag-Iba II


Notable Calapeños

N. V. M. Gonzalez - Internationally acclaimed writer and educator
Charo Santos-Concio - President, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Jason Francisco - Pinoy Big Brother Double Up Housemate, 3rd Place PBB Double Up, Actor, Singer
Marielle Infantado - National Filipino Swimmer; 1st ASEAN Games; 2nd POF Championship; 27th, 29th and 31st SEA Games; Nestle MILO Product Endorser
Patrick dela Rosa - Filipino actor, politician
Jireh Ibañez - Basketball Player, UP Diliman
Joey Antonio - Chess Grandmaster
Antonio "Nikoy" Lining - International Billard Champion
Diana Arevalo - Top 10 Semi-Finalist - Bb. Pilipinas 2009, Miss Or. Mindoro 2008
Edzen Dinglasan - National Filipino Swimmer; 29th and 30th SEA Games
Edson Dinglasan - National Filipino Swimmer, 30th SEA Games; Philippine National Open

source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calapan_City)

Puerto Galera joins rank of
most beautiful bays

Adventure-seekers who step on the shores of Puerto Galera are forever enchanted by the place. Some keep going back there, others decide to live the rest of their lives there. One couple who built their residence there 22 years ago were Hubert d’ Aboville, a Frenchman, and his Filipino wife, Ara Valenzuela. Hubert went on to promote the fabled island cove by talking about it with unbridled enthusiasm during every trip he took to Europe and his native France. His efforts have borne fruit. Puerto Galera has just garnered The World’s Most Beautiful Bays award for the year 2005. It is the 30th bay to get such a global award, and the third in the Asian region after Halong Bay and Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam.

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Hubert made his marketing pitch before 80 members of the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays in Agadir, Morocco in November last year. His video presentation of the bay, the serene cove, rock formations, fishes, coral reefs, sea grasses, mangroves, verdant forest – and the people (approximately 9,315 persons living in 1,863 households, and not counting the vacationers and backpackers), left the discriminating viewers no choice but accredit Puerto Galera as one of the world’s most beautiful bays.

The local government of Puerto Galera, together with d’ Aboville, will receive the award in Nha-Trang, Vietnam, at the end of this month.

The club was an initiative of the tourism office of the Vannes region on the Gulf of Morbihan in France. It was founded in Berlin in March 1997, with the objective of protecting the environment and the development and enhancement of marine and bay resources worldwide. It has the full support of UNESCO.

Puerto Galera is located in Oriental Mindoro, and can be reached by ferryboat from Batangas City. It was discovered in one of the explorations made by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo on their way to Manila in 1570. But since the 10th century, Puerto Galera was known to seafarers as a trading port and a strategic harbor along the important trade routes to and from the Near East, Indian Coast, Indo-Chinese coast, China, various points within the Philippine archipelago, and the kingdoms of Sumatra and Java. Its Muelle Bay area was recognized as one of the safest natural harbors in Asia and was used extensively for dock repairs and as a safe anchorage for all types of sailing vessels.

According to Hubert, in the 60s, European backpackers "discovered" Puerto Galera – its series of pristine bays and coves, snow-white sand, and fantastic coral gardens. When German backpackers wrote for a large-circulation magazine about the romance and beauty of Puerto Galera, enhanced by scenic photographs, it created a tourism storm. Instantly, Europeans knew more about Puerto Galera than the country’s capital, Manila. The ensuring tourism explosion has attracted tens of thousands of foreigners over the years and has made Puerto Galera what it is today."

Hubert spent his own money "selling" the place. He and Ara met in 1980 in Manila. Ara was actually assigned to promote the Philippines in France for Rajah Tours, and Hubert was in Manila as a timber exporter. Ara was telling him was the most beautiful place in the world, while Hubert was telling her the Philippines was his most beautiful in the world.

Both have something in common: having historically famous ancestors. Ara’s great grandfather was Dr. Pio Valenzuela, who was a part of the triumvirate (the others being Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto) that played an important role in the Katipunan. On Hubert’s side, seven generations of the d’ Abovilles were in French military service, an ancestor headed the French Art 17th century. Hubert’s brother, Gerard, rode sole by rowing a kayak from Cape Cod to the coast of France in 1980, and negotiated 10,000 kilometers, also by rowing, for 134 days from Japan to America.

Hubert and Ara wound up marrying, having four children, and running an estate ( a demo farm where they also manufacture virgin coconut oil) in Puerto Galera.

In 1992, Hubert founded the Philippine-based Together-Ensemble, a foundation for development and progress, which was active in relief operations in Real and Infanta, Quezon, during the recent disaster. The foundation was created after Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Since then it has been involved in many emergency relief missions in Luzon and the Visayas with the French NGO Doctors of the World, and in Mindanao in a long-term agricultural program. Later the foundation was incorporated in France to draw French funds to help Filipinos.

Hubert says the accreditation of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays award is based on four considerations – protection, enhancement, promotion and commitment to the project. He says that Puerto Galera has had its share of foreign and local tourists, but it has remained the country. Local tourism has to be promoted to earn revenue, without sacrificing the four considerations above, in as much as it does not receive any financial support from the Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. I guess just being beautiful enough is a quality to be valued, but it can also be capitalized on to make it more beautiful.

Getting an award for his "adopted: town is not enough, certainly, Hubert is taking the initiative to exploit the international award to help develop Philippine tourism, always keeping in mind the protection of its fragile environment. He is sitting down with Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on tourism, and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, to map out an international media strategy.
source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/puerto-galera-joins-rank-of-most-beautiful-bays/)

the Mangyans

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Mangyan is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found in Mindoro island, each with its own tribal name, language, and customs. The total population may be around 100,000, but no official statistics are available because of the difficulties of counting remote and reclusive tribal groups, many of which have no contact with the outside world.
The ethnic groups from north to south of the island are: Iraya, Alangan, Tadyawan, Tawbuid (called Batangan by lowlanders on the west of the island), Buhid, Hanunoo. An additional group on the south coast is labelled Ratagnon. They appear to be intermarried with lowlanders. The group known on the east of Mindoro as Bangon may be a subgroup of Tawbuid, as they speak the 'western' dialect of that language.
Mangyan are mainly subsistence agriculturalists, planting a variety of sweet potato, upland (dry cultivation) rice, and taro. They also trap small animals and wild pig. Many who live in close contact with lowland Filipinos sell cash crops such as bananas and ginger.
Their languages are mutually unintelligible, though they share some vocabulary. Tawbuid and Buhid are closely related, and are unusual among Philippine languages in having an /f/ phoneme. Tawbuid is divided into eastern and western dialects. Western Tawbuid may be the only Philippine language to have no glottal phonemes, having neither /h/ or /ʔ/.
Their traditional religious world view is animistic. Around 10% have embraced Christianity, both Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Protestantism. New Testaments have been published in six of the languages.

source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangyan)
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Puerto Galera
Philippines


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source (http://www.divepuertogalera.com/dive-sites/)

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Resorts

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White Beach is the most popular of Puerto Galera’s 32 beaches especially among Filipino tourists. Come summer, from March to May, Manila tourists flock to Puerto Galera by the hundreds, and during the Holy Week, by the thousands. During this period, the rates of accommodations can increase by more than 300 percent. Private homes are rented out to many who could no longer be accommodated in the more than 50 resorts and lodging inns in in the area.

White Beach, during this time, is the scene of many concerts and festivals organized by big corporations like San Miguel, Smart and Globe. The beach are filled with people, relaxing, walking to and fro, sunbathing, playing volleyball, riding jet skis and banana boats. At dawn, people sit at the beach to witness one of the best sunsets in the country. At night, more people come out to enjoy meals at beachfront restaurants. There are several open-air bars with "gay dancers" and serving Puerto Galera’s trademark concoction, "Mindoro Sling". There are also many tattoo shops and souvenir shops along White Beach.

Puerto Galera’s close proximity to Manila, a 4-hour bus and ferry travel worth less than 500 pesos (one-way), make it the cheap alternative to Boracay. One way to get to White Beach is by taking a bus marked "Batangas Pier via Calabarzon" at the bus terminal at the corner of Gil Puyat Ave and Taft Ave in Pasay City. The fare for an aircon bus is less than 200 pesos and it will stop at Batangas pier. At the pier, there are many Puerto-Galera-bound ferries, choose the one which goes directly to White Beach. The fare is 200 pesos. Pay the Environmental User Fee (Entrance Fee to PG) and the Terminal Fee worth 50 and 10 pesos respectively.

There are many resorts in White Beach which offer rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower. The room rates vary according to the season: when it’s low season (June to October), a room will range from 700 to 1200, when it’s high season (November to February), a room will range from 1200 to 1500, when it’s peak season (March to May), the same room will range from 1500 to 2000 pesos per night (good for 2 persons). During peak season, weekday rate is from 1000 to 1200 while weekend rate is from 1500 to 2000 pesos for rooms with aircon, cable TV and hot/cold shower (good for 2 persons).

Many resorts offer group packages for a minimum of 10 persons worth 1800 pesos per person per day inclusive of meals and accommodation. Other resorts offer tour packages to Puerto Galera’s numerous tourist spots, like Bayanan Beach, Haligi Beach, Bulabod Beach, Tamaraw Falls and Tukuran Hidden Paradise.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/white-beach/)



Island At A Glimpse


Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country. Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island's tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area. Upon arrival, visitors board any of the waiting bancas (outrigger boat) that ferry passengers across the surrounding waters and into the various resorts dotting the coastline. Jeepneys to the inland hamlets of Sabang, Small and Big La Laguna, White Beach and Talipanan Point likewise traverse hilly, tree-lined routes that offer a sweeping view of the island's less aquatic, but equally tropical side.

There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro's other tourist spots or simply live it up. The local chapter of the Hash House Harriers - a club that started 50 years ago in Kuala Lumpur and which was introduced to the Philippines in the early 90's - regularly holds "runs": rowdy drinking sprees that have participants following two trails, one of which leads no where. When a runner follows the wrong track, he has to go back, downing bottles of beer in the process. What follows is a night of revelry no doubt spurred by the free flowing booze.

But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn't have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish - from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific-rest on the sandy floor.
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Gradually sloping beaches - with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble - comprise a large chunk of the island's 25,247 hectares. And while the department of tourism's last count pegs the number of resorts at 63, pockets of isolated and virtually resortless coves and beaches are tucked between massive rock formations. Then, as now water was what shaped the island. As early as the 10th century, Chinese, Indonesians and Malay merchants were already doing business with locals in what is now known as Mindoro, the tiny strip of land which the Chinese called "Mai" and which lay directly in the Asia-Pacific trade route. In route to Manila in 1570, a Spanish expedition led by Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo stumbled upon the resource-rich island and christened the entire province Mindoro after the harbor at Minolo. Mindoro was later divided into the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

At the height of the raids mounted by Moro pirates in the 17th century. Mindoro was a defensive bastion, with fortresses in the nearby towns of Calapan and Mamburao. Puerto Galera, the northernmost strip so named because it served as a port for Spanish galleys, became the capital. Here, the Spanish found safe anchorage and put up dock-repair facilities for the galleons that plied the Manila-Acapulco route. The island's generally calm waters, however, belied a tumultuous streak, and once in a while giant waves would crush galleons and marauding vessels. Coins, jars, lamps, swords and other artifacts salvaged from shipwrecks and sunken vessels are displayed at the Poblacion Museum and at Capt'n Gregg's in Sabang, lending credence to the island's colorful history.

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Today, foreigners continue to be part of the island. They have been flocking since the late 70's making it one of the country's foremost tourist destinations. Many, for whom the lure of the tropics proved too strong, have stayed on triggering a real-estate boom in the process and growing expatriate community.

Outside of minor glitches, Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue once again to the barest whisper of the elements.


source (http://www.puertogalera.org/)

Getting there.

Puerto Galera is easily reachable from Manila in several hours with many options including private transfer, tourist coach, public bus and even seaplane. The easiest way to get here is by private car or van and banca directly to Puerto Galera. Just contact us to arrange pickup from the airport or your hotel in Manila.

Another option is by tourist bus which is cheaper than private transfer but almost as hassle free. The SiKat service (tel +63 2 5213344) has a convenient booking office at the City State Tower Hotel in Malate and the bus departs daily at 8:00 am. The fare is 700 pesos one-way which includes bus and ferry tickets, and a guide.

More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. The former has a terminal in EDSA-Pasay City while the last two have theirs along Taft Avenue near corner Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), also in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6 am and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 180 to 220 depending on whether it is regular or an air-con bus.

If you are in hurry you can take the passenger vans (FX) which are also located on the other side of bus terminal along Pasay near Gil Puyat LRT station. These passenger FX/vans are using Star Tollgate an express way direct to Balagtas, Batangas, charging almost the same fare as air-con buses.

At the Batangas City Pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. There are four main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, White Beach and Sabang Beach.

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/getting-here/)

Activities at Puerto Galera


There are many fun-filled activities to spend your time while in Puerto Galera.

Aqua-Sports Activities

Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Fishing
Sailing
Jet Ski
Banana Boat
Parasailing
Windsurfing

Adventure and Leisure

Hiking
Motorcycling
Paintball
Golf at 2000 feet above sea level
Spa/ Massage
Bars/ Night Clubs
Fine Dining

Nature Trips

Jungle Treks
Orchids
Dolphins
Birds
Waterfalls
Rivers
Giant Clams
Coral Garden

Educational Trips

Puerto Galera Bay
Fr. Thiel Musem
La Laguna Beach Club ancient artifacts collections
Reptile Zoo
Mangyan Village

Beach and Island Hopping

White Beach
Talipanan Beach
Bayanan Beach
Haligi Beach
Long Beach
Panlilio Beach
Coco Beach
La Laguna Beach
Encenada Beach
Bulabod Beach
Boquete Island
San Antonio Island
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/activities/)


Entertainment


There are many forms of entertainment in Puerto Galera but mostly are concentrated in Sabang and White Beach areas.

During the day, there are plenty of open-air bars, boutiques and restaurant to choose from. Tourists crowd bars along the beach to sip chilled drinks as they take respite from the sun and listen to reggae, hip-hop and other beach music.

In Sabang, many bars and restaurants have large screen videos showing live sports telecast or movies. There are many pool halls, board games and beer pub games some free to guests while others charge a small fee.

There is a floating bar moored 50m out from Capt’n Gregg’s Divers Lodge, and it’s the place to go if you really want to drink like a fish. Take plenty of protection against the sun – you can almost smell the foreign flesh roasting. A free shuttle boat will take you there and back.

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There are also scores of ice-cream and pizza parlors, snack houses, fast-food joints and roadside eateries serving noodles and “lomi”.

Filipinos like to sing along coin-operated Videoke machines. Many resorts have machines inside restaurants.

Nightlife

Puerto Galera nightlife entertainment is much livelier than during daytime. In White Beach, the revelers crowd the open-air bars to watch “gay entertainers” dance as big loudspeakers blast the latest disco craze while drinking Puerto Galera’s famous concoction popularly known as “The Mindoro Sling”.

Sabang has more of the bikini-type bars and there is live music at some of the bars. As the bar area is concentrated in a small area and bars are linked by narrow walkways amongst the shops and cafes it’s easy to travel from one to another. Bars are open until late and play all different kinds of music.

In Sabang a lot of the restaurants and open-air bars are located right on the waters edge at high tide so these are favorite places to wile away the evening hours after a meal, away from the music of the bars which are located further back from the shore.

Dining poses no problems with many western style dishes on the menu in addition to the usual Filipino and other Asian dishes.

Puerto Galera is not really known for its cultural or ethnic shows and there is no cinema on the the island. Look out for the local fiestas that go on until the early hours if you want something different to do in the evening.

Capt’n Gregg’s in Sabang and The Point Bar in Small La Laguna are favorite watering holes with great music, cold drinks and friendly staff.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/entertainment/)


Why Puerto Galera?
Proximity
Puerto Galera is just 3 to 4 hours away from Manila. The bus travel time from the South Super Highway to the Calabarzon Highway all the way now to Batangas Port is 2 to 3 hours. The ferry ride to Puerto Galera normally takes 1 hour. A private transfer, with private car or van and connecting chartered ferry, is less travel time, more convenient but more expensive.

White Beach and Sabang are popular destinations worldwide bringing in thousands of tourists from different countries. The people of Puerto Galera have evolved as exceptional hosts to all types of tourists and showcase Filipino hospitality at its best.

Nature
Puerto Galera’s natural landscapes both above and under water are its foremost tourism asset. There are many beaches and coves, named and unnamed; mountains and forests with orchids, known and unknown; waterfalls and rivers ideal for picnics and sports; 33 spectacular dive sites very close to shore; and Puerto Galera Bay which is now regarded as one of the most beautiful in the entire planet.

Tourism Establishments
Like any other tourist towns, Puerto Galera has all types of establishments catering to all types of tourists. Puerto Galera caters to both the budget-conscious and the upscale tourists. There is also an amazing number of activities and services that will make your time in Puerto Galera truly memorable.

Diving
The channel between Puerto Galera and Verde Island, known internationally as the Verde Island Passage, is “the center of the center of the world’s marine biodiversity” according to American scientists – making Puerto Galera’s underwater world a favorite amongst dive enthusiasts. Puerto Galera also has the biggest number of dive schools in the entire Philippines offering both PADI and BSAC courses in different languages.
source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/why-puerto-galera/)

Puerto Galera
accomodation

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source (http://www.puertogalera.org/blog/accommodation/)

Oriental Mindoro!

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all credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).
like it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897?ref=search#!/pages/ORIENTAL-MINDORO/299931135897).

Calapan City
Oriental Mindoro

"Gateway to the Golden Isle"

City of Calapan is a 2nd class city in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,976 people in 20,929 households.

Since its cityhood in 1998, the city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing however, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years.

Calapan also plays a big role in the growth of the whole province of Mindoro as it serves as a gateway with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island through ships that travels to and from Batangas City International Seaport.

Calapan City is currently one of the only two cities (the other one is Puerto Princesa City) in the MIMAROPA region of the Philippines.


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all credits to the owner. (http://mcgutib.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/port-of-calapan-city/)

Gloria
Oriental Mindoro

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all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?v=photos#!/pages/Gloria-Philippines/GLORIA-ORIENTAL-MINDORO/274999523727?__a=10&ajaxpipe=1)

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ORIENTAL MINDORO
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY

Often confusing to both travelers and the local population as they dubbed oriental and occidental as the same and only one Mindoro. Both provinces has towering mountain ranges covered with virgin forest, breathtakingly beautiful powdery white beaches, cascading waterfalls, snorkeling and scuba diving galore…all these can be found in both provinces of Mindoro. But in this article we’ll take a glance on The Province of Oriental Mindoro. In spite of being close to the country’s capital, Oriental Mindoro is considered to be one of the unspoiled places…a place that would give a nature lover her or his heart’s desire… that of a nature derived entertainment.

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The government together with the hospitable Mindoreños invites tourists, travelers as well as investors to experience the serene atmosphere and breathtaking beauty of this place that is dubbed as the “Golden Island”. Oriental Mindoro is bestowed with the country’s best naturescapes. The majestic mountains with its verdant green rain forests, the rivers and lakes, the calm and inviting clear blue water of the sea that incessantly pays homage to the powdery white sandy beaches would surely lure a person with the most discriminating taste an unforgettable and memorable holiday. The rare flora and fauna, the wild animals and the Mangyan Tribes are additional points of interests.
Mindoro was founded by a group of Spanish mission on February 2, 1921. During the early years, the Spanish administer Mindoro as a part of Batangas that was then called Bonbon. It was only in the 17th century that Mindoro was separated from Batangas with Puerto Galera as its capital. Mindoro is considered to be the 7th largest island of the Philippines. In, 1950, through Republic Act No. 505, Mindoro island was divided into two provinces, Oriental Mindoro on the eastern part with Calapan as the capital and Occidental Mindoro on the western part making Mamburao as the capital.

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Oriental Mindoro has a lot of natural attractions to offer local and foreign visitors one of which is Alibatan Island in Baco, famous for its expanse of white sandy beaches that functions as breeding places for different species of turtles. Puerto Galera is known as the Pearl of Mindoro as it is not only Mindoro’s prime tourist spot but the country’s pride as well. The beautiful natural harbor that is known worldwide was used during the Spanish time as a shelter port when the archipelago was ravaged by typhoons, and now used as scenery. Worldwide known and popular for snorkeling and scuba diving haven because of its interesting underwater rock formations, Puerto Galera boast of colorful coral gardens teeming with sea anemones, countless colorful fish species to view and sate ones eyes.

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Mt. Halcon is for one with adventurous spirit. Its towering 8,488 feet peak is considered to be the 3rd highest peak in the Philippines. So if you love nature tripping and mountain climbing, Mt. Halcon is definitely a most suitable destination for the adventurous. The 432 foot Tamaraw Falls is definitely a must-see. Be mesmerized by several falls that irregularly cascade from one fall to another until finally gushing in a frothing and swirling bed of water below. Oriental Mindoro is not dubbed as the Golden Island for nothing. Mountain climbing and trekking, indulging in water sports and even the passive butterfly watching can be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime…all these are offered by The Province of Oriental Mindoro. Enjoy !!!



link to source (http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/255/mayantocresortmz5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.paraisophilippines.com/2008/06/page/3/&usg=__9InG8NCIy-RwdqqtoiWtmrJkf_A=&h=494&w=657&sz=68&hl=tl&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=C97K_fjkqk2SiM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=138&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtarlac%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dtl%26sa%3DX%26tbs%3Disch:1).

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ORIENTAL MINDORO,PHILIPPINES is also called as "Paradise Island". It is divided into two districts that consists of eight(8) towns in the first district and seven (7) towns in second district including my hometown where I was grown up and living. Within this 15 towns and their respective barangays your in paradise visiting our island. Here are the beauties of nature you can achieve in coming to this island paradise:

1. The PUERTO GALERA has white sands and beaches for scuba diving and snorkeling spots. This was listed to the "club of most beautiful bays of the world" . Added to this tourist spot was the Sabang Beach which is the most widely known of having a wide areas covered with white sands in the whole island of Oriental Mindoro.We have also in Mansalay which called "buktot" but it was just had a partial of white sands.
2. The MT. HALCON is called as "high above the clouds" (lagpas-ulap) of most Philippine mountaineers and other mountain visitors.Generally speaking of its one of a kind as the hardest and most difficult peak ever the mountaineers climb. It is on the fourth rank of highest mountains in the Philippine record. Measured of about 2,586 meters above sea levels.

3. The NAUJAN LAKE is the 5th Philippine largest lake, it has an estimated area of 8,125 hectares with the natural fresh water stored from rains and natural reservoirs.Maximum depth was 45 meters, maximum length is fourteen(14) kilometers and it has maximum width of seven(7) kilometers. Locating the map of its boundaries of this lake was so different from other lakes locations of the world. Four towns should ends its partitions but since the lake was on each ends they divided the lakes water areas to owned by four towns . On the north was owned by the town of Naujan's and its property, Victoria owned the western parts, Southern portions was for Socorro and the eastern portion was the property of Pola.

4. The MANGYANS are the indigenous citizen living in most mountains of Oriental Mindoro. In all towns you've seen on the map has this native people from different tribes and has different languages too.They have their own way of writings and each alphabets. They used to write on the leaves of the trees and even in the barks.They classifies as a.) Alangan b.)Bangon c.) Tau-Buid d.) Buhid - this is what we had in our hometown but I meet most kinds of this native people e.) Hanunoo f.)Iraya g.) Ratagnon and h.) Tadyawan .

5. In ROXAS you can find the "San Rafael Cave" in nearby boundaries between town of Bongabon. It is 20 minutes ride from town proper to the starting point where to walk up hills in reaching the caves entrance.You are welcome by the battalion of cave bats singing and flying inside the cave.We have also here the seaport (Dangay Port) to which ferry boats come and go for Visayan region trips day and night which is just less than a kilometer ride from the town proper. If you want visit BORACAY by land you can pass through the main highways of Oriental Mindoro (an exciting trips by land ever) then take a ferry boat rides from "Danggay Port" to Katiklan the main land of Boracay .

6. BULALACAO is the last town of Oriental Mindoro that has so many tiny and untouched islets . I heard there are thirteen (13) islets as some residents and fisherman said it. The most popular of these islets is "BUYAYAO" or San Roque as per municipality registration. I don't have camera yet that time I went in one islet, in other words I can not afford to have one even . Hope my next vacation I can go back there just take pictures that I have digi cam now , lol. Buyayao is humored as the richest islet I've heard when I was young girl because the golden boat during the world war 2 was sunk in that islet. Maybe it was true because it was developed during Marcos es and guarded with those stricken armed men that even fisherman has boundaries where to pass the sea water.It was said the boat was loaded of pure bar golds and other antiques of Spanish Authorities during the war.
source (http://vhings-3teenagers.blogspot.com/2009/09/oriental-mindorophilippines.html)
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BANANA FESTIVAL & THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH
March 15-19
Baco, Mindoro Oriental

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/0f951a3a.jpg (http://aralingfilipino.info/banana-festival/)

The harvest thanksgiving festival features a performance exhibition where schoolchildren dance in rhythmic beat at the main streets. Costumes are fashioned out of banana plant materials. There is also a banana cook fest. A religious procession highlights the celebration of the feast of St. Joseph, the town patron.

The festival is a celebration of the abundance of bananas. It features a banana cook fest and a "saba"-(type of banana)-inspired street dancing competition and beauty pageant. Festivities coincide with the town fiesta held in honor of the patron, St. Joseph.

Embrace the sanctity of Baco – the oldest town in Oriental Mindoro nestled at the foot of the great Mount Halcon and home to the island’s most peculiar flora and fauna. And more, one may take a luxurious dip in its cool mountain rivers. While in March, witness the indigenous Banana Festival, featuring the traditional harana, lupakan and pandangguhan. And for those new to the place, enjoy the warmth and convenience of a home-stay vacation.
source (http://www.lutongbahay.com/index.cfm?pagename=focusregion&opn=0&focusID=62)

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iPhone Presents
"the Deserted Coves of
Pola, Oriental Mindoro"

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POLACAY

WITH more than 7,600 islands sprouting all over the Philippine archipelago, you can be sure that there are nameless, deserted patches of isles and stretches of beaches and coves that escape the attention of 90 million Pinoys. One such piece of paradise sits quietly in northeastern Mindoro – a little town of 6,500 households and a population of 35,000. Locals endearingly call it Polacay – an obvious reference and homage to the more popular and ultimately more populous Boracay in Aklan.

Pola is a 4th class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. It has 23 barangays (counties) and is part of the 1st district of Oriental Mindoro. Its Mayor - Alex Aranas – seems content in the craggy, end-of-the-world atmosphere of this laidback, albeit mosquito-infested corner of the world. Just 2 hours north from the capital of Calapan, Pola thrives on agricultural produce, livestock farming and survives with the bounty of the seas. Despite its affiliation with the country’s 2nd most powerful man – Vice President Noli de Castro, Pola is still mostly untouched by any hint of neither commercialism nor de Castro’s patronage. In fact, the roads from the pier to this municipality are uneven yet serviceable dirt roads.

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FINE, FINE

There are several features that truly stand out from a visit in Pola. One, you can swim all day long in its deserted beaches. Though dark, the fineness of the sand competes with Boracay and Palawan. This is a sand that other legendary beaches are made of. Your feet gradually sink as you stand on them – like standing on jello. Two, you have the whole stretch of the clearest waters all to yourself. There are no pesky gravel and pebbles; no knife-sharp rock formations rising from these waters. And finally, as you head towards town, the warm hospitality of the residents embraces you like the long awaited visitor they’ve long expected.

Forget the frivolities of a congested Puerto Galera. If you want a true escape from it all, head north and experience the natural beauty at a quiet corner of a beautiful world. Here is how an iPhone photographs Pola.

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Wikipedia says:

Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located southwest of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. In the old days, it has been called by the Spaniards as Mina de Oro (meaning "gold mine") from where the island got its current name. The island was divided into its two present-day provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, in 1950. Before then, since 1921, the entire island was one province.

Prehistoric China’s Sung Dynasty – year 972 – has chronicles of trade with Mindoro, previously called Ma-I (or Mait). These includes as follows: "beeswax, cotton, true pearls, tortoise shell, medicinal betel nuts and jute clothing material" for Chinese porcelain, gold, iron pots, lead, colored glass beads and iron needles.

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Economy: agricultural, livestock, fisheries, tourism (Puerto Galera and Sabang Beach)
City: Calapan (population: 110,000)
Highest point: Mount Halcon (2,582 meters)
Province population as of 2000 – 1,062,000
Popular personalities from Pola : Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro and PBB Teen Edition Big Winner, the Franco-Pinoy Ejay Falcon.

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How to get there:

- If you want to take a car with you, you can head straight to the Batangas Pier where you can safely leave your car at the parking lot for the whole duration of your holiday. Of course you have to pay for parking.

- If you want to take the bus from Manila, which seems more convenient, head to the nearest Jam Bus Stations (Kamuning, Cubao, Quezon City and another in Pasay City). Purchasing a ticket is very convenient. A one-way bus ticket AND your Supercat ride to Calapan City, Mindoro are available at a single counter for only PhP250. Travel from Manila to the Batangas Pier will take somewhere between 2 to 2 ½ hours. (Give Jam’s Pasay Branch a ring – 8310465. You’s be extremely lucky if you’re able to get though. LOL)

- Your Supercat crossing from the Batangas Pier to Mindoro will take 45 to 50 minutes. Return takes an hour – a little longer as per navigating conditions.

- Upon reaching Calapan, you have 2 options. If money is a concern, then hire a tricycle and haggle hard. Ask several before choosing your ride. If however, you are with a group, then it is best to hire a van – a more comfortable 2-hour ride going to Pola. The more people there are, the van operators won’t nudge on anything below PhP1,800.

- There are inns and small guesthouses in Pola. Just ask around and people will be glad to help you find them.

- Finally, don’t forget to bring your mosquito repellant. Mosquitoes in that part of town are ravenous.

- And yes, although telephone signal while on the road to Pola is intermittent, signal is good upon reaching Pola. And crime is relatively unheard of. Just be sensible.
Here is a separate feature on Calima, one of the 24 barangays (county) in the municipality of Pola. Photos are generously shared to us by Mr. Michael R. Karklin of Plymouth Massachusetts.

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source (http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/02/iphone-presents-deserted-coves-of-pola.html)

^^hugo thanks a lot for the picture!

Centurion Festival of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro
"colorful, fun and tourist-centric"

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Welcome to our Centurion Festival!

The Centurion Festival of Pinamalayan
is a traditional celebration that traces its roots from the Bible.
The Centurion Festival has evolved into a festivity
that’s uniquely Pinamalayan— colorful, fun and tourist-centric.
The young and old will surely not hesitate to have their pictures taken
with these friendly Praetorians garbed in rainbow hues. The Centurion
Festival lasts the entire Holy Week (April 06-12,2009).
Part of this festival is the Senakulo, a Lenten presentation that follows
the last days of Christ. It features municipal government employees
and officials in starring roles. Realistic backdrops, detailed costumes
and superb lighting give a biblical texture to this stage presentation,
transporting viewers to the scriptural era.





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source (http://www.philippinefiestas.com/mindoro-oriental-festivals/centurion-festival-of-pinamalayan-oriental-mindoro-colorful-fun-and-tourist-centric/)

Top 10 Tourist Spots in the Philippines Votes
1 ) Tagaytay 1,372
2 ) Underground River(puerto princesa palawan)... 1,357
3 ) Puerto Galera 1,320
4 ) Boracay 1,252
5 ) Chocolate Hills - Bohol 1,245
6 ) Cebu 1,201
7 ) Baguio City 1,151
8 ) unidentified 1,127
9 ) Coron, Palawan 1,113
10 ) El Nido (Palawan) 1,100

vote HERE (http://www.pinoytop10.com/Top-10-Pinoy-Votes/id/58/Top-10-Tourist-Spots-in-the-Philippines)

Puerto Galera

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Puerto Galera is on Mindoro island, it is a very popular tourist spot in the Philippines, and every year thousands of tourists flock to this beach area. It is also a very popular spot for weekend trips from the dusty and dirty Manila.

Puerto Galera has several different beaches and each appeal to a different crowd.

Puerto Galera is good all year round, but it is a lot rainer from August to October, and if you prefer the cooler season then you should definately go around December / January. Puero Galera has been my Christmas vacation spot for the last couple of years, being from denmark with snow and all, there is nothing better than sitting on a beach in nothing but your short pant on christmas day. Added to that is the fact that there is now a Danish resort in Sabang, so I can get danish christmas food. The Resort is called Mermaid Resort, they feature the newest and best designed rooms, and as the only hotel in Puerto Galera they got high speed Internet in every room.

Mindoro is also home of the tamaraws, a rare animal resembling the Philippine water buffalo (Carabao)
source (http://www.netguard.dk/puerto-galera.php)

Ocena Dive Resort
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

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photo credits to the owner. (http://islandboyinthecity.blogspot.com/2007/12/fisherman.html)

History of Oriental Mindoro

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General information about Oriental Mindoro Province:
Capital: Calapan
Area: 4364,7 sq km
Population: 550,049
Cities: none
Number of Towns: 15

THE LAND:
The province's varied topgraphy is dominated by rugged mountain ranges from the west and fertile valleys towards the eastern coast. The Halcon moutain range runs from north to south and serves as the province's natural boundary with Occidental Mindoro. Mt. Halcon at 2586 meter is the fourth highest peak in the Philippines. Lake Naujan is in the northern part of the province. The plains stretch from Baco, Calapan, Naujan and Victoria in the north, Pinamalayan and Bongabong in the middle, and Roxas to Mansalay in the south.


PEOPLE:
The predominant language is Tagalog but other dialects inlude Ilocano, Cebuano and Mangyan tongues of Arayan, alangan, Buhid, Hanunuo and Tadyawan.

The Mangyans were among the earliest inhabitants of Mindoro. there are now about 50,000 Mangayans living in Oriental Mindoro in 14 different tribes. The term Mangyan is a generic name for the diverse groups inhabiting the mountains and foothills. Individually, the groups identify themselves by other names.

The Iraya - Alangan live in a wide area around Mt. Halcon between the Iraya and the Batangan to the south. The paitan area has been declared a reservation for this group. The Batangan - or Taobuid belong to the ethnic stock called proto-Malay. Most of them do not have personal names. Both sexes wear loin-clothes. Married women cover their breast with bark scraps.

The Hununuo - who consider themselves the "true" Mangyans, are found in the southern towns from Bongabong to San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. They still use a ancient indigenous script consisting of 48 characters, which they carve onto bamboo tubes. They chant words of wisdom called inukoy and folkloric poems called ambahan. They are also musically inclined, using instruments made of wood and human hair for strings on a bow.


INDUSTRIES:
Agriculture is the major economic activity in the province. The principal products include rice, coconut, corn, citrus and other fruits, cattle and poultry raising, and rubber planting. Fishing is lucrative, with 13 coastal fishing towns with rich fishing grounds. The province has abundant mineral resources such as gold in the Baco and Bongabon rivers, coal at the northwest area of Mt. Halcon and white marble and slate.


CLIMATE:
Oriental Mindoro has two distinct weather types: rainy season and dry season. Rains begin to fall in the province in late May, intensifying through June, July, August, September and October, then gradually subsides in November. The months of August and September are the wettest period, with storms directly passing through the area.

On the other hand, the dry season starts in November, with rainfall subsiding in intensity, and altogether ceasing in January, February, March and April. March and April are the driest period, with cloudless skies and parched earth characterizing the general area.


HISTORY:
In the early 17th century, the island of Mindoro was separated from bonbon (now Batangas) and organized into a corregimiento. Puerto Galera in what is now Oriental Mindoro was made its capital.

In 1837, the capital was transferred to Calapan and it remained so utnil June 13, 1950, when Mindoro was divided into two provinces. Oriental Mindoro retained Calapan as its capital.

Mindoro originally included the island of Maestro de Campo, east of Pinamalayan, but this has since become a part of Romblon.

"Mindoro" is a contraction of the Spanish phrase "Mina de Oro," meaning gold mine. It was called "Mai" by early Chinese traders. The significance of Mindoro dates back to pre-Spanish times. Due to its favorable geographic location, it served as an important trading center of Chinese goods. As early as 872 A.D., Mindoro traded with Canton because of their proximity to each other. A Chinese chronicle of 1225 A.D. gave the first documented evidence concerning the island of Mindoro. Following the existing sea routes during the ancient time, the ships sailed to Mindoro's north and west coasts, which were then the densely populated urban centers. For local products like beeswax, pearl, sandalwood and tortoise shells, the Chinese traders bartered porcelain, silk and tea.

In the 14th century, the Madjapahit Empire controlled a domain extending from Borneo to Mindoro. On May 8, 1570, Captain Martin de Goite accompanied Juan Salcedo to explore Western Mindoro. In 1591, when the Spanish "conquistadores" divided the Philippines into eleven provinces, Mindoro was grouped together with Calilaya, Lubang, Batangas, the Calamianes Group and Marinduque. The third ecclesiastical district of the Philippine Archipelago was established in Calavite by the Recollecto Friars on June 18, 1677. Mindoro became part of Batangas Province when the latter was made a separate province known as Bonbon. At the beginning of the 17th century, the island was separated from Batangas and organized into a "Corrigimento" with Puerto Galera as its capital and placed under the jurisdiction of Marinduque.

When the Americans occupied Mindoro in 1889, they set up a military government in the island until the inauguration of a civil government on July 4, 1901. The province likewise played a historic part during the Second World War. Its history bristles with the gallantry of local heroes who fought the Japanese invaders along with American soldiers. From Leyte, Douglas McArthur's forces staged its "Second Landing" in the southern part of the province on December 15, 1945 on their way to the full liberation of the country from Japanese invasion.

On November 15, 1950, Mindoro was divided into two provinces: Oriental Mindoro and OCCIDENTAL MINDORO. San Jose was made the provincial capital of the latter until January 1, 1961, when the seat of government was transferred to Mamburao. From the original number of eight towns, Occidental Mindoro is now composed of eleven municipalities.
source (http://www.imindoro.net/about/history.htm)

Mt.Halcon
Highest peak in Mindoro Islands.


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photo credits to the owner.

Calapan Cathedral

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source (http://dolores.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436273&page=73)

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Filipiniana Naujan


Lagarean, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro


2001 to 2003

Location : Lagarean, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

source (http://arkispecs.com/profile/project_info.php?proj_id=1305)

Mangyan
Native From Oriental Mindoro Philippines

"Mangyan" is the collective name of seven ethnolinguistic group inhabiting most of the highland region of Mindoro, the seventh largest island in the northern end of the vast basin of the Sulu Sea, south of Batangas and the mainland southern Luzon, and west of the Bicol region. Most parts of the island are mountainous. There are still small stretches of flatlands, and the rest are coastal areas. These plains are home to non-Mangyan groups such as Tagalog, Visayan, and Ilocano.

The exact etymology of the word Mangyan has not been identified or traced. It had been in use for a long time before the realization, in the present century, that there were actually several diverse groups making up the Mangyan population on the island. Based on existing studies, there are at least six different groups scattered throughout the island, all speaking related languages. The northern groups are the Iraya, Alangan, and theTadyawan. The southern groups are the Hanunoo, Buhid, and the Taubuhid who are also known as "Batangan" or "Bangon". The Buhid and Batangan are closely related groups. A seventh group, the Ratagnon (sometimes called "Latagnon" or "Datagnon"), is said to be non-indigenous to Mindoro because they speak Cuyunon, a Visayan language. Some of the Mangyan groups are composed of smaller units or subgroups.

The Iraya occupy the northwestern part of Mindoro, where one of the country's highest peaks, Mount Halcon, is located. The word "Iraya" is derived from the prefix "i" - denoting people, and "raya", a variation of "laya" which means "upstream," "upriver" or "upland". Thus the meaning of the word is "people from upstream" or "uplanders". Historically, however, the Iraya occupied the coastal region in some distant past, until they were pushed further inland by settlers from other places. The word also means "man", "person", and adult".

The Alangan occupy northwest central Mindoro. One theory about this term is that it could mean "a group of people whose culture is awkward", from the Tagalog word alangan, which means among other things "uncertainty", "doubt" or "precariousness".

There is scant information available regarding the Tadyawan, who live in sparse settlements in the northeast part of the island.

The Batangan or Taubuhid (also Tawbuhid), the most numerous of the Mangyan groups, occupy the central highlands of the island in the Occidental Mindoro. They live in a region where mountains tower 1950 m high. The word "batangan" derives from "batang", meaning "trunk of a felled tree", and "an", meaning "place", and refers to a place where felled tree trunks may be found, probably a swidden field. The main economic activity of the Batangan is slash-and-burn farming. The Batangan are also known as Bangon or Taubuhid. Other names used to refer to them are Bukid, Bu'id, Buhid, and Buhil, despite the fact that there is a separate identifiable group to the south, the Buhid. Local subgroups
include the Bayanan and Saragan.

The Buhid occupy the south central part of Mindoro. Their territory just about equally straddles the eastern and western provinces comprising the island.

The Ratragon occupy the southernmost tip of the island province, quite close to the coast facing the Sulu Sea. They lie nearest the aquatic route going to Busuanga Island in the northernmost Palawan and the Cuyo islands, two places
where the language spoken is Cayunon, which is also used by the Ratagnon.

Of these groups, the Hanunoo have been the most studied in terms of ethnography. "Hanunoo", according to the group's language called Minagyan, meaning "genuine", "real" or "true". However, the members of this group call
themselves Mangyan, and use the term Hanunoo Mangyan or Mangyan Hanunoo only to distinguish themselves from the other Mindoro groups.

The Hanunoo Mangyan live in a mountainous area about 800 sqkm in the southeastern part of the island, mainly in Oriental Mindoro. Their territory is under the municipal jurisdiction of Mansalay, Bulalacao, and a certain part of San Jose, which is the capital of Occidental Mindoro. Christian lowlanders surround them on the east. To the north lie the Buhid, and to the southwest the Ratagnon. They are often referred to by their Buhid neighbors as the Mangyan patag - "Mangyan of the flatlands" -- to distinguish them from the former who live in the higher hinterland of the island.

Despite their proximity to the lowland settlements of the Christians, the Hnunoo Mangyan have succeeded in insulating themselves from lowland influences, and this has helped them preserve their basic culture. As far as the Hanunoo are concerned, human beings can be classified into two categories: Mangyan and non- Mangyan. Thus, the Hanunoo, Buhid, Ratagnon, and all those who wear the traditional loincloth (Miyamoto 1975:14). It is for this reason that the Hanunoo Mangyan can speak of the Cordillera Ifugao as being Mangyan too, because their traditional wear is the loincloth (Miyamoto 1975:14). The term damu-ong is refer to all non-Mangyan peoples, and to all outsiders. As used by Hanunoo mothers to hush up their crying babies, the term is defined early on some kind of bogeyman of threat-object among the Hanunoo. The word kristiyano is often used as a synonym for "damu-ong" and suggests the negative image the Mangyan have of their Christian neighbors. This was observed by Miyamoto who asked several old Mangyan if they remembered anthropologist Conklin who conducted fieldwork between 1947 and 1957. They all remembered him fondly. One Hanunoo said that Conklin "was not a Christian" because "he was a very kind person"

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source (http://www.genv.net/en-us/node/7062)

click here (http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/orientalmindoro/interesting/) to view hundreds of stunning pictures of Oriental Mindoro.

Bulalacao:
The hidden gem of Oriental Mindoro

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About three to four hours of land travel from Calapan City to the south of Oriental Mindoro is the town of Bulalacao. Considered a fourth class municipality of 30,188 people (2007 census), its rustic beauty remains unspoiled.



Bulalacao is a sanctuary for stressed city dwellers looking for a respite in an idyllic environment.

The town, whose name according to myth was derived from a bird of death known to locals as “bulalacao”, offers a variety of attractions for both adventurous and alternative tourists.

It has numerous beaches, waterfalls, a lake, caves, and rain forests that are home to a wide array of flora and fauna.

With 13 outlying islands, island hopping is one activity visitors enjoy most in Bulalacao. From Bulalacao Bay, motor boats can be rented from P600 to P 1,000 per day.

Alibatan, an about five-hectare island southeast of Poblacion, is noted for its white sand beach. Big rocks abound and its southern part is mountainous. A lake, almost half a hectare in size, can be found in the middle of the island.

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The place serves as hatching ground for seagulls and turtles. Corals and oyster are abundant in the waters around Alibatan, which is also called “Target Island” because of bombing exercises made by the American soldiers in 1946.

Northwest of Alibatan is Sibalat Island and to its east is the Bating peninsula. Like Alibatan, Sibalat boasts of white sand, big rocks, corals, shells, and oyster. It is an ideal hatching place for sea turtles. This island measures 2.5 hectares and the surrounding water is suited for fishing and scuba diving.

About 1.5 kilometers south of Barangay Milagrosa lies the 12-hectare Aslom Island, which is more or less similar to Alibatan and Sibalat in its features. Half of the island is planted to coconut and it is a safe haven for ships during storms. A big cave can be found in the southeastern part of the island.

Maasin Island is situated in the southeastern part of Bulalacao. It is about seven kilometers from Poblacion. The middle of the cave shaped island is planted to coconuts. A 30-meter fathom deep channel lies between this island and Tambaron Island.

Tambaron is a 160-hectare rocky, mountainous island separated by a channel from Barangay Balatasan. About 40 kilometers away from the town proper, this largely cogonal island is a natural habitat of forest animals like wild pigs and monkeys.

In the northern part of Bulalacao lies Suguicay. A part of Barangay San Juan, this oblong-shaped island is separated by a channel. Suguicay is planted to coconuts and mangroves at both ends. The more or less 10 hectare-island abound with corals and different kinds of shells.

North of Buyayao Peninsula is the island of Buyayao. Big snakes called “Sobre Kama” are found in “Malaking Yungib” (Big Cave) and in the mountain. The water around is suited for fishing.

Buyayao Island is a 206-hectare forest reserve which is home to more than 500 forests species. It has caves serving as sanctuary for different species of wild animals like squirrels, deer, wild chicken and bear cat. It has three sources of potable water.

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Pocanil is located in the mainland of Buyayao Peninsula, north of Barangay San Roque. The place is rocky. It is a reserve area.

Liwagao, an island under territorial dispute with the Municipality of Caluya Antique, lies in the southeast portion of Bulalacao. It is approximately 100 hectares in size with a long stretch of white sand. It has different types of quality pebbles, superb coral formations and diverse marine ecosystem. Its northeastern portion is thickly covered with coconut and commercial trees. Coconut crabs once abound on the island. It is an ideal hatching ground for sea turtles.

Up-trekking to about 1.5 kilometers from Poblacion is 64-hectare Tree Park operated by the municipal government. The area is ideal for camping, hiking and trekking. From there you can have a breathtaking view of Bulalacao Bay and the surrounding islands.

Bulalacao is only a couple of hours by boat from Boracay and also about two hours from Manila by plane and road travel via San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

But like Boracay 25 years ago, the amenities normally found in famous tourist spots in the Philippines are absent.

Some resorts have cottages. But there are no hotels, only inns and houses where spare rooms have been converted to cater to a steadily growing number of visitors, eager to explore this gem of Mindoro before the world discovers its unblemished beauty.

In the end, however, this low impact tourism model could prove to be more self-sustaining.

Bulalacao is still virtually untouched and a must-visit for the adventurous and eco-minded tourists.



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source (http://mindoropost.com/2010/02/22/bulalacao-the-hidden-gem-of-oriental-mindoro/)

Dive:Puerto Galera,Philippines

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WHERE: Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
BEST TIME TO GO: anytime as long as there are no typhoons/ strong rains

WHY YOU SHOULD GO:

1. Puerto Galera is one of the best diving spots in the Philippines! It has diverse marine (read: soft and hard corals are all over!) and plant life, wrecks to explore and a lot of challenging dive sites (read: deep, drift, washing machine!)
2. According to puertogalera.org, Puerto Galera has an estimated 3,000 species of fish and marine life, about 50% more than the Red Sea!
3. While Verde Island (center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world!) is part of Batangas province in Luzon, it is nearer the island of Puerto Galera. Verde Passage separates Luzon from Mindoro hence the strong currents that create a vast marine and underwater plant life. Day dives to Verde Island from Puerto Galera are very possible and considered usual.

FEES: Depends on the resort you're staying at or your dive operator.

NOTE: Most dive operators are located in Sabang beach. If you're after a beautiful beach (with shorelines and white sand) or fancy resorts, Sabang is not the place for you. It is basically a jump-off point for scuba divers. You can try the other islands such as White Beach if you want to combine diving with other activities. For a list of the different islands and resorts, click this.

DESCRIPTION:
Puerto Galera is an island off the coast of Batangas and is officially part of Oriental Mindoro. Beach lovers as well as scuba divers spend weekends here because of the proximity and the beauty of the place. Home to several islands, one can choose a resort that would best accommodate one's needs since a lot of activities may be done here. Swimming, snorkeling, beach volleyball, scuba diving, mountain trekking -- name it, it's probably offered here.

Scuba divers stay at Sabang beach since it is the nearest beach to most of the dive sites. There is nothing much to do here but it's a great jump-off point if the only thing in your itinerary is diving. White beach on the other hand, is famous for its wide and long white sand and the nightlife. If you're looking forward to mingling with the crowd and strolling on the seashore, White beach is for you. Marco Vincent Dive Resort is located on White beach and has recently launched a grandiose dive boat that is perfect for a large number of scuba divers. Other resorts such as Oceana, Buri and Coco Beach prefer to stay in the quieter islands but they also offer Puerto Galera's best feature: Scuba Diving.

HOW TO GET THERE:
There are several ways to reach Puerto Galera. Some hotels in Puerto Galera arrange pick-ups all the way from Manila so make sure to check with your preferred resort.

BY PUBLIC BUS: Take a bus to Batangas City and find your way to Batangas City Pier. Jam Bus Line plies this route. From the pier, there are several ferries that will take you to Puerto Galera. Make sure you know which beach you're going because ferries dock in the different piers like Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, White Beach and Sabang Beach. Bus fare is P175/ head (w/ aircon) and it leaves almost anytime of the day. Ferry prices range depending on your chosen "class". It should be around P200 or less. Once you get to the pier, you can ride a jeepney (P25) or tricycle (P50). Click here for the ferry schedule.

BY TOURIST BUS: Sikat Service has a bus that departs daily at 8:00 am from City State Tower, Mabini corner Padre Faura Streets, Malate, Manila. The fare is P700 one way and it includes bus and ferry tickets plus a guide. No minimum number of persons required and it can take you to either Sabang, White Beach or Muelle Pier.

BY CAR: From Manila, find you way to Batangas City Pier and take the RORO (roll on, roll off ferry) if you wish to take your vehicle with you all the way to Puerto Galera. You can also park it in Batangas if you don't want to bring your vehicle along. Click here for the ferry schedule.

BY BOAT: Some dive resorts in Anilao, Batangas (check our Anilao link) offer daytrips to Puerto Galera for scuba divers. During a calm, sunny weather, the Verde Passage may be crossed without difficulty. Some also offer overnight packages. Check with your preferred resorts (or dive groups) if they have arranged trips or they can arrange one for you. You can even pass by Bonito Island on the way back.

DIVE SPOTS WE'VE TRIED & TOTALLY ENJOYED: Hole in the Wall, Sabang Wreck, Canyons, Sinandigan Wall (aka Nudibranch City) and of course, Verde Island :)

CONTACTS:
Sikat Tourist Bus - +632 5213344/ +63917 6946918
Jam Bus Line (location: Taft Avenue or Timog corner EDSA, QC) - +632 9251758, +632 5208679

HELPFUL LINKS: http://www.divepuertogalera.com/
source (http://www.ourrestlessfeet.com/2010/08/dive-puerto-galera.html)

Chewing betel-nut with the
Mangyans of Mindoro

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In the upland village of Panaytayan, we met traditional Mangyans like Angheng, who felt comfortable in his bahag while chewing on betel nut.

My team and I gave our lungs a break from city air and went up a mountain in Mindoro to spend time in a unique Mangyan village. We were in search of the Mangyan tisoys of legend, descendants of Dutch sailors shipwrecked off the coast of Mindoro centuries ago. Angheng was not one of them.

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Enroute to the village, we took top shots of Mansalay Cove in southern Oriental Mindoro.

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This young Mangyan mom named Lalen, with son Tamtam, was a welcome sight after our uphill hike. But she was not one of the tisays of lore. She was pure Mangyan with no Dutch ancestors, or she believes. She could have fooled us.

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In preparing betel nut for chewing, upland people mix it with apog, or lime powder, before wrapping in a litlit leaf. While chewing, heat spreads throughout the body, keeping it momentarily warm in the upland chill. The apog gives the betel juice its red coloring when chewed.

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In a riverside market in Mansalay, I tried chewing the betel-nut cocktail myself, which explains the dazed look and reddish teeth. It made my head light, gave my body a blast of heat, and a little later, precipitated the nausea of a first-timer. One betel-chewing veteran told us, "Kaya kahit wala kaming pantalon, hindi kami giniginaw." He was proudly wearing a bahag.

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That's Angheng's dark-red betel spittle in the foreground, his bamboo container for betel-nut paraphernalia behind it. Note the Mangyan script on the bamboo. It is an ancient writing used most famously to immortalize the Mangyans' epic poetry, the ambahan.

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Our new friends may know ancient poetry carved into bamboo, but are still getting acquainted with more recent media. Those are my colleagues Egay Navarro and director JJ Villamarin behind the cameras. Field producer Rommel Bernardo is partly visible in the upper left-hand corner. JJ took the above pics of moi.

source (http://blogs.gmanews.tv/sidetrip/blog/?/archives/317-Chewing-betel-nut-with-the-Mangyans-of-Mindoro.html)

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Calapan is the capital city of Oriental Mindoro and known as the "Gateway to the Golden Isle". It serves as the gateway to the Oriental Mindoro province with the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, an integrated Roll On-Roll Off that extends further to the southern part of the Philippines. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island with ships that travels to and from the Batangas City International Seaport. Calapan City is 45 minutes away from Batangas City and is accessible by ferry boat and RORO ships.

The city is also known for its colorful local festivities and glamorous santacruzan celebration. Two of the city's recognized festivals are the Harvest Festival and the Sinkaw Festival.

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source (http://www.supercat.com.ph/destinations.asp?code=orim)

going to the
'Gateway of the Golden Isle'

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Puerto Galera
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Port of Calapan
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Tamarraw Falls
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photo credits to the owner. (http://islandboyinthecity.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html)

El Ciudad de San Teodoro
Provincia de Oriental Mindoro
Las Islas Filipinas


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source (http://islandboyinthecity.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html)

Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
Island Paradise

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credits to the owner. (http://islandboyinthecity.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html)

Exploring Oriental Mindoro

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Five hours away from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila lies the beautiful island of Oriental Mindoro, where rugged mountain ranges and fertile valleys dominate.

Known to many as the land of Mangyans, tamaraws, and Mt. Halcon, Oriental Mindoro is separated from Batangas City by the Tablas Strait. It occupies the Eastern part of Mindoro, the second largest island in Southern Luzon. The mountain range of Halcon divides Oriental from Occidental Mindoro, which occupies the Western part of the island.

We arrived in this island by accident. The weather was bad and we did not know anyone but ourselves. We only knew two things: that we’re not going to make it to Romblon and Boracay (our original destinations) and that we’ll have difficulty enjoying this travel. The former was correct but we’re glad to know that the latter was definitely wrong.

How To Get There

Jam Liner in Buendia takes travelers to Batangas City pier for P111. The air-conditioned bus has cozy seats and a TV set installed so you won’t notice the three-hour drive.

From the pier, you can take a Roll-on Roll-off (“Roro”) vessel for P91. Until you reach Mindoro, expect two hours of seeing nothing but water. Amenities include comfort rooms, TV sets, and a cafeteria. But if you want a faster trip, you can take Supercat. This sea craft is way smaller than the Roro but is quicker at 45 minutes for P220. For those who easily get seasick, you might as well take some Bonamine tablets before you sail.

Unlike other popular vacation spots, Oriental Mindoro is not swarmed by thousands of tourists. Some Mindoreños were actually surprised when we told them that we’re doing a travel story on Oriental Mindoro. It was easy to understand their reaction. You see, the province is yet to be developed into a prime tourism site. Given a little time and help from the government, we are sure that Oriental Mindoro would be the next big thing when it comes to the country’s tourism.

If you love to travel but hate to go with the flow of tourist masses, Oriental Mindoro is just the place for you. Just be sure not to go there during the rainy season because some roads become impossible.

Hospitality At Its Best

Contrary to popular belief, the inhabitants of Mindoro are not purely Mangyans. The Mangyan tribes are only a small part of the population and are mostly found in the remote parts of the province (usually upland). Oriental Mindoro is populated by Batanguenos who speak Tagalog. In time, the people of Mindoro called themselves Mindoreños.

Mindoreños adhere to the Filipino value of hospitality. They just have an answer to any of the needs of travelers like us. From the local government officials to the ordinary citizens, they’re all ready to give you a hand. Not only are they friendly and hospitable, all of them are proud to be Mindoreños. They keep on telling us good things about their hometown.

Calapan: Gateway City

Exactly 45 kilometers South of Batangas, Calapan is the only city in Oriental Mindoro. It is home to Calapan Pier—Mindoro’s gateway to Batangas and to the Southern part of the country.

Roaming the city gives you an impression that it is indeed Oriental Mindoro’s capital. Establishments like Jollibee and Chowking can be found at the heart of the city, same with shopping malls, rural banks, and schools. There are also hospitals and health services in cases of emergency and accident.

Communication is not a problem in Calapan. There are Internet cafés for those who can’t live without checking their e-mails. For those who need to make an important call, phone booths are accessible. For text enthusiasts, signal is generally good for Smart and Globe users.

Calapan is also a good entry point to almost all the municipalities of Oriental Mindoro. Inside the pier, there are FX and shuttle busses that transport passengers to the Southern part of Oriental Mindoro—Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas (gateway to Boracay), Mansalay, and Bulalacao—for P200 or less.

Outside the pier, there are jeepneys and tricycles that bring passengers to the Northern part of the province—Baco, San Teodoro, and Puerto Galera—for P50 or less. Since the road going north is rough, trips are until 3 p.m. only.
Lodging is also not a problem in Calapan. The city has over 20 lodging houses waiting to accommodate travelers. The passengers’ tourist assistance center recommen- ded to us the Morning Breeze Lodge. The P200 we paid for the lodging was not exorbitant for our 24-hour stay.

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Virgin Treasures of Naujan

From Calapan, we went to Naujan through a 30-minute jeepney ride. Boundless greeneries and fresh air greeted us as we went into Naujan. We are not exaggerating, but the air reminded us of lavender. We breathed in all the air we could knowing that there was nothing like it in Manila.

After the short trip we went straight to the town’s city hall. It is located in front of the town plaza adjacent to the Catholic Church. The place was unbelievably quiet, but its stillness was not eerie like that of a ghost town. Rather, it was serene and peaceful—genuine probinsiya.

Upon the instruction of the municipality tourism officer, we went to talk to Mayor Norberto M. Mendoza. With him, we experienced our first taste of Mindoreño hospitality as he offered us dinuguan, puto, and a bottle of mineral water. We talked and joked about a lot of things—politics, education, and even today’s youth.

After that, the mayor asked one of his employees to bring us to Emerald Isle Beach Resort where we would spend the night.

Emerald Isle is located at Estrella (where three other beaches can be found). We arrived there at around 3 p.m.; we rested for a while before going to the Simbahang Bato. Simbahang Bato is located at Bancuro. We reached the supposed-to-be 30-minute-ride destination after an hour’s romance with rough travel.

The oldest church in the province of Naujan, Simbahang Bato is known for its architectural structure. It is made of adobe and sea corals and houses another church, thus earning the title “a church within a church.”

Legend has it that gold is buried inside the Simbahang Bato. Excavation had been done before, but the officials of Naujan stopped it.Going home, Kuya Amor (the tricycle driver) invited us to have dinner in his cousins’ house. We learned that they were celebrating the feast day of their patron, St. Augustine. Shy and bewildered, we accepted the offer and met his cousins, who turned out to be the owners of the beach resort where we were staying. We wolfed on leche flan, relienong bangus, inihaw na tilapia, and something that tasted like tocino. We were deeply moved by the generosity of their family. We talked about many things, one of which is the endangerment of tamaraws in Mindoro. After an hour, we left with heavy tummies. We immediately rested in complete darkness as the bad weather had cut power.

Motorbike to Socorro

The following day we went to Naujan public market—where vehicles going to Calapan and other places in Naujan can be found. The drivers told us that the most comfortable way to go to Lakeview Park in Socorro was to rent a motorbike (for P400) as the road to Socorro, which is 45 kilometers away from Naujan, is rough.

True enough, we experienced bumps at the back of Manong Fred’s motorbike. Many people stared at us as like we were celebrities. (We tried to wave but failed. We were to embarassed to do so.)

The majestic sight of Mt. Halcon was a bonus for our trip. The air on our faces made us fall in love with Oriental Mindoro even more. For a moment there, we fantasized being stars in Forever. After 30 minutes we reached Lakeview Park. There we saw the top of Naujan Lake, the biggest body of water in Naujan.

Going home, Manong Fred gave us another bonus: he took us to Papangkil Cove. He told us that it used to be a watchtower of Mindo-reños from the Moros. If the road going to the Simbahang Bato was difficult, this one was the worst. It was like touring the moon (for its bumps and unbelievably deep craters) on a motorbike, but we survived it anyhow.

Manong Fred kept on telling us about Oriental Mindoro, such as who they (Mindoreños) are going to vote for in the 2004 election (they favor Raul Roco and Noli de Castro over GMA), who owns which beautiful house, what is the name of this mountain, and things like that.

At times, we asked Manong Fred for a stopover when we saw beautiful sceneries, like the mangrove plantation owned by an Australian immigrant and the beautiful rock bridge over a serene lake. The bridge can only accommodate motorbikes and tricycles one at a time.

Reaching Lumangbayan (now called Melgar B) we couldn’t help but express our amazement—small houses surround the beautiful lake. Manong Fred told us that Marinduque could be reached within two hours on a boat. People greeted us with their smiles as we went closer to Papangkil Cove, making it more obvious that only a few travelers have visited the place.

Finally, we reached Papangkil Cove. Huge rock formations invite climbers. We removed our slippers and let the water touch our tired little feet. The water was cool and the sand was soft. Teenagers were swimming, making us envious. But then, we reminded ourselves that we would have one whole day at Puerto Galera.

Puerto Galera: Mindoro’s Little Baguio

From Naujan we went back to Calapan and rode a jeepney going to Puerto Galera. We later realized why it is called the Baguio of Oriental Mindoro—it has zigzag and narrow roads at Malimbo Mountain. Twenty minutes before we arrived, we could see the white sand of the beaches in Puerto Galera. Our excitement grew stronger as we saw the blue waters surrounding the island.

It is said that in 1574, Juan de Salcedo landed at the bay of Puerto Galera. From then on, the bay was used as a refilling station for Spanish Galleons. So, it was named Puerto de Galera or the Port of Galleons.

Now, the white sand beaches of Puerto Galera have been turned into a prime tourist destination. Hundreds of resorts and restaurants crowd at the beachfront. Lodging houses go as low as P500 for a single fan room and P700 for air-con rooms (with a television set) on an off-peak season. We learned that the prices of rooms double or sometimes triple during peak seasons (Chirtmas, Holy Week, summer vacation).

Dining was never a problem in Puerto. Everything was moderately priced—from hamburgers to banana shakes. For fine dining, check out Buena Lynnes Restaurant located at White Beach. It offers great tasting Hungarian cuisine. We highly recommend Goulash (Hungarian meat stew) which is soft beef cuts sautéed in butter and topped with melted cheese.

For P600, you can rent a motorboat and tour the shorelines of Puerto Galera. The package also includes snorkeling at Long Beach, where you can explore the coral reefs and feed tropical fishes.

Going Home

When it was time for us to leave, we felt sad. We wanted to stay for another day, but our empty pockets screamed it was impossible. Going home was not a problem. There were boats that ferry passengers back to Batangas City pier for only P120. Trips are until 4 p.m.

This coming March, before our practicum, we promise ourselves to go to Boracay. But if fate intervenes again and brought us back to Oriental Mindoro, we are more than ready to accept Oriental Mindoro’s invitation. After all, who can resist the lavender-ish air of Naujan?

Fate Brought Us Here

It was perfectly planned out: on October 27 we’re living Manila for a one week stay in Romblon, to do some traveling, and then go to Boracay, get a tan, enjoy the sun and the sand, and have some fun. But changes were made. We left three days earlier. Before we knew it, we found ourselves at the ticketing booth of Pier 8 at the Manila North Harbor.

So is it really goodbye Manila and hello Romblon? We didn’t think so. At the ticketing office we learned that the boat would bring us to Romblon was not leaving until 5 p.m. the following day. The officer told us that we should have called their office first, a lesson that we learend the hard way.

Our mindset was ready, so instead of going home we went to Buendia and took a bus. We were going to Batangas.
After three and a half hours, at exactly 11 p.m., we reached the Batangas City pier. We were greeted by a group of tinderos. One woman asked wher we were giong. We told her that we’re going to Romblon. What she told us made our knees weak—the boat that would have taken us to Romblon left six hours ago. The only available trip for that night was the one going to Calapan. We asked her if from Calapan we could go to Romblon. She answered, yes.

After thinking hard (and admitting that we were two lousy travelers), we decided to take the boat to Calapan without even bothering to know where and what kind of place it is. After all, we only needed to know one thing: that from Calapan we could sail to Romblon and Boracay.

After two hours in the boat, we reached Calapan. There it was—the billboard. It read: Welcome to Oriental Mindoro, the land of Mangyans, Tamaraw, and Mt. Halcon. What on earth are we doing in Oriental Mindoro?
source (http://www.naujenos.com/the-people/exploring-oriental-mindoro/)

Saranggolahan Sa Naujan
Oriental,Mindoro

Muling nagpakita ng talento sa pagkamalikhain ang mga Naujeños nang ipamalas nila sa mga tagapanood at hurado ang iba’t ibang hugis ng saranggola sa ginanap na Saranggolahan 2007 noong ika-8 ng Abril sa Liwasang Bonifacio ng nasabing bayan, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng linngo ng pagkabuhay.

Tampok sa figure type category ang mga saranggolang may disenyo at hugis bahay-pamahalaan ng bayan, makasaysayang simbahang bato, at iba pang pook pasyalan ng bayan.

Bagama’t simple ang pagkaka-disenyo ay tinanghal na kampiyon ng figure type category ang saranggolang four wings ni Gaylord Hernandez ng Brgy. Santiago at nagkamit ng halagang P9,000.00 papremyo.

“Lagi akong sumasali sa saranggolahan at ito ang unang beses na ako ay nag-champion,” wika ni Hernandez. Ayon pa rin sa kanya, nabuo nya ang “four wings” sa halagang isaang daang piso lamang.

Sumunod sa kanya ang “Simbahang Bato” ni Leomar Atienza na nakakuha ng P7,000.00 papremyo, “Sailing Boat” ni Nomer Mirasol sa ikatlo (P5,000.00) at ang bahay pamahalaan ni Luisito Mirasol sa ikaapat (P3,000.00).

Samantala, nagtunggali rin ang ilang mag-aaral ng paaralang elementarya at sekundarya sa flat type category ng kumpetisyon.

Sa walong kalahok sa elementarya ay nagwagi sa unang pwesto (P2,000.00) ang ang saranggolang may disenyo pa rin ng “Simbahang Bato” ni Christine Mendoza mula sa Jose L. Basa Memorial School. Mula pa rin sa nasabing paaralan ay pumangalawa (P1,500.00) and “T-shirt na may logo ng bayan” ni Kent John Perez. Nakamit naman nina Marlou Arguelles at Jerome Mangubat ang ikatlo at ikaapat na pwesto, na kapwa mag-aaral ng Aurora Elementary School at nakapag-uwi ng P1,000.00 at P500.00, ayon sa pagkakasunod.

Ang iba namang kalahok ay binigyan na konsolasyong papremyo.

Nakamit naman ng Agustin Gutierrez Memorial Academy ang una hanggang ikatlong pwesto sa flat type category sa pang-sekundaryang lebel. Nakuha ni Mark Joey Atienza ang unang pwesto (P2,500.00), Ruben Abes, ikalawa (P2,000.00), at Renroue Belano, ikatlo (P1,500.00).

Ang Saranggolahan 2007 ay pinangasiwaan ng Municipal Planning and Development Office sa ilalim ng programang panturismo at nasa ika-19 na taong pagdiriwang.


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http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/kite.jpg
source (http://www.naujenos.com/things-to-do/saranggolahan-sa-naujan-annual-kite-flying-contest/)

ano yung mga pwedeng sakyan from caticlan to romblon? and ano po yung mga dates? thanks in advance...

^^

In Caticlan,the M/V Virgin Mary departs Caticlan at 13:00 every sunday to Odiongan (about two hours cruising) then headed to Manila on the same day. Odiongan is the main commercial port of Romblon province... :)
Travel Guide (http://romblon.homestead.com/transportations.html)

PROGRAMANG K-ITO INILUNSAD SA LUNGSOD NG CALAPAN

Sa modernong panahon ngayon, hindi maikakaila na ang mga may kaalaman sa paggamit ng computer ay higit na may bentahe upang makapasok sa kahit anong trabaho o industriya.

Malaking pagkakataon para sa mga kabataang Calapeño ang paglulunsad ng proyektong Kabataan-Information Technology Opportunities (K-ITO) na ginanap sa Calapan City Cooperative Development Office (CCCDO) noong ika-4 ng Nobyembre, taong kasalukuyan. Ito ay naisakatuparan sa pangunguna ng City Public Employment Services Office (PESO) na pinamumunuan ni City PESO Manager Marvin L. Panahon at sa pakikipagtulungan ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Rotary Club of Calapan at Rotaract Club of Calapan.

Ang layunin ng nasabing programa ay maturuan ang mga hindi nakapagtapos sa pag-aaral gayundin ang mga walang kaalaman sa computer. Ang K-ITO ay dinaluhan ng 39 na katao mula sa iba’t ibang sektor. Sila ay mula sa Samahan ng Kababaihang Calapeño, Out of School Youth tulad ng mga mag-aaral ng Alternative Learning System, mga kawani ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan, at Aksyon Agad Youth Movement (AAYM). Mahalagang benepisyaryo din ng naturang programa ang 20 mag-aaral ng Divine Word College of Calapan at AMA Computer Learning Center na magsisilbing mga mentors. Dumalo din sina Mr. Rhyme Torres at Engr. Julie Ortega na mga Field Offices ng DOLE. Ayon kay Torres, ang lungsod ang kauna-unahang LGU na magpapatupad ng K-ITO sa buong rehiyon ng MIMAROPA.

Sa mensahe ni Mayor Doy Leachon na dumalo sa nasabing paglulunsad, binigyang diin niya ang kahalagahan ng kaalaman sa paggamit ng computer lalo na sa modernong panahon ngayon. Sinusuportahan umano ng kanyang administrasyon ang ganitong programa sapagkat ito ay napapanahon at siguradong magagamit ng mga benepisyaro ng programa.

Ang mga nagsipaglahok ay sasailalim sa dalawampu’t dalawang (22) oras na pagsasanay kung saan tatalakayin ang iba’t ibang paksa tulad ng pagpapamilyar sa mga parte ng computer, basic computer applications tulad ng Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, gayundin ang paggamit ng internet.

Ang mga magsisipagtapos ay makakatanggap ng Certificate of Completion at ang mga mentors naman ay bibigyan ng stipend para sa kaalaman at oras na ibinahagi nila sa mga partisipante.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/KITO1.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/k-ito2.jpg

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/k-ito1.jpg

source (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/11/09/programang-k-ito-inilunsad-sa-lungsod-ng-calapan/)

Calapan

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/cal.jpg (http://cityofcalapan.gov.ph/)


http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/untitled-25.jpg (http://cityofcalapan.gov.ph/multimedia/)

The Potter's Hand

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/2906985142_a62f2b25f3_z.jpg

Pottery Makers Association of Gloria (PMAG)
Brgy. M. Adriatico, Tubag
Gloria, Oriental Mindoro
Philippines

ZAIJIAN LARA JARANILLA

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/2906985142_a62f2b25f3_z-1.jpg

birthplace: Gloria,Oriental Mindoro
source (http://santino-eli.blogspot.com/p/about.html)

kaya pala pareho tayo ng CHARM Santino,magkababayan tayo! taga-Gloria! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Be the first ones here: Agsalin Fish Sanctuary

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Up for underwater adventure? Be ready with your underwater cam and goggles.

"Ang baybaying dagat ng barangay Agsalin ay isa sa maipagmamalaking lugar ng Gloria. Dito matatagpuan ang Marine Protected Areas na may lawak na 36.5 ektarya at nagtataglay ng masaganang biyaya ng yamang dagat..

..Higit nilang ipinagmamalaki ang pagkilalang nakamit ng Fish Sanctuary mula sa Marine Protected Areas Support Network (MSN), Nov. 26, 2007 dahil dito nila nakikitang malaki ang maiiambag nitong pag-unlad sa kanilang pamayanan..

..Nagkakaisa ang mga opisyales at mamamayan ng Agsalin sa mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas sa pagbabawal na mangisda sa Marine Protected Area (MPA) upang mapangalagaan ang kayamanang taglay nito. Plano din ng pamahalaang barangay na idebelop ito bilang tourist spot na maipagmamalaki sa buong mundo. Ayon kay AT/CRM-Coordinator MAgO Lydia M. Cantos, na naging presentor sa MPA Congress, Villa Resort, Ilo-ilo City hindi imposible na makilala ang Agsalin Sanctuary dahil sa kayamanan at kagandahang taglay nito. Magiging patok ito sa mga turistang mahilig sa diving, snorkeling, pagrerelaks sa floating house at iba pang mga aktibidad sa dagat.."

Walang Langit Waterfalls

Who's up for hiking? By just a tricycle ride from Bali Beach, relish the beauty of nature walking through a cave and a stream leading to the Walang Langit Waterfalls. Not a fan of saltwater? This is for you - Cold freshwater offered by the Walang Langit Waterfalls.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/cave1.jpg

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http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/walanglangit.jpg

Images from The Official Website of the Municipality of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro
source (http://www.balibeachresortmindoro.com/barkadadestinations.htm)

Gloria,Oriental Mindoro

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http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/1-4.jpg (http://www.gloria.gov.ph/)

Best Summer Destination in Oriental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro is a big island that lies in the heart of the Philippines. This also serves as the gateway in reaching the islands of Visayas and other nearby provinces. It has several municipalities, each of which bears their own hidden treasures. Puerto Galera, has the popular beaches in Oriental Mindoro and also coined as one of the beautiful bays in the world.


Along with this, Oriental Mindoro is not only known for its dazzling beaches but also for its natural rivers hidden in different mountainous areas. Paitan, Calapan City happened to be the residential area of Mangyans, (the native of Oriental Mindoro) where the scenic river I am mentioning can be found.

March! The summer month in the Philippines and also happened to be the vacation month of elementary, secondary and tertiary students. Many Filipinos and even tourists from outside the Philippines are hunting for places where they can celebrate their summer getaways. And I recommend, this is one of the best summer destinations here in Mindoro, I happened to went here for quite several times and nothing has changed in its attractive nature.

If you happened to have your vacation in Puerto Galera, try to reach this place, you will truly experience the feeling that I am talking about. Unlike other beaches or resorts in nearby provinces, this is a free summer destination where your family could really enjoy.

Below are the sample photos of the summer destination I am talking about.


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source (http://wallyibong.blogspot.com/2010/03/best-summer-destination-in-oriental.html)

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/_r_o_i_2_3_/OrientalMindoro-1.jpg (http://www.tourism.gov.ph/SitePages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=22)

The inverted-J-shaped Oriental Mindoro is endowed with some of the Philippine Islands’ best naturescapes. Choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. Then match the experience with interesting mountain lairs, lakes, rivers, rain forests, wild animals, rare flora and fauna, and pocket communities of the existing ethnic groups. It has maintained its unspoiled environment, all within a rustic agricultural setting.

The province's foremost asset is Puerto Galera, blessed with one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbors. Known as the Pearl of Mindoro, it is world-famous for splendid beaches, coral reefs, and exquisite dive sites for new and experienced divers alike. There are shallow coral gardens, interesting rock formations, and colorful species to watch, like crabs, shrimps, sea anemones, moray, and trumpet fishes.

Alibatan Island in Baco, noted for its white sand, serves as a breeding place for seagulls and turtles. Corals and oysters can be found all around the area. Also in Baco is Mt. Halcon, the country's third highest peak and a favorite destination for nature tripping and mountain climbing. In Puerto Galera, 423-foot Tamaraw Falls is a series of asymmetrical falls, leading to a grand fall, dropping to the frothy waterbed below. Another attraction within the area is Sabang Beach, a portion of which is tourist-flocked for water sports and a cluster of nightspots popular for evening socials. Beside Sabang Beach is Small La Laguna, with amazingly beautiful coral reefs, and water ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Indulge in a number of special interest tours while in the province, from mountain climbing to trekking, hiking, camping, butterfly watching, game fishing, and adventure trips to the wilderness. Enjoy active water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. Visit the Mangyan settlement areas, and find it rewarding to engage in natural cave and waterfall exploration and island hopping."

Equipping The Guardians of Biodiversity

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Guardians of one of the country’s priority marine biodiversity corridors in Oriental Mindoro have been awarded patrol boats and other equipment by an international conservation group to help them catch illegal fishers.

The Conservation International (CI) donated the equipment to the local governments of Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Pola, Pinamalayan, Naujan and Gloria and the City of Calapan, all located along the Verde Island Passage (VIP).

The VIP Corridor contains more than half of the Philippines’ documented fish species, as well as many globally threatened species. It occupies more than 1.14 million hectares of marine area bounded by the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.

It is among the four priority biodiversity corridors of the Sulu Sulawesi Seascape, one of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems.

Two patrol boats, 11 searchlights, 12 global positioning system (GPS) units and other equipment were given on Monday to the seven coastal towns by the CI, according to Vivencio Marasigan Valdez Jr., agricultural technologist at the Provincial Agriculture Office-Fisheries and Coastal Resource Management Division (Pago-FCRM).

The patrol boats were turned over to the provincial government.

The equipment would beef up efforts of sea patrols (Bantay Dagat) of the local governments to protect the areas along the VIP and the whole province. Patrol members were trained on the enforcement of fishery laws with borrowed logistics in May.

“Now we can board safely, read the map through the GPS, arrest illegal fishers, file a case and many other things,” said Reynaldo Ladrera, one of the Bantay Dagat leaders and member of the Marine Protected Area and Law Enforcement Network (MPALEN).

Ely Vargas, municipal agriculturist of Naujan, said the network would facilitate projects in marine-protected areas and enforce fishery laws.
source (http://www.naujenos.com/naujan-in-the-news/equipping-the-guardians-of-biodiversity/#more-329)

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/4309067444_06b51e5da8_z.jpg

Sunset over Traditional Boat on The White Beach of
Oriental Mindoro Island

ALL CREDITS TO THE OWNER. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/-lucie-/4309067444/)

Puerto Galera,Mindoro

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The island of Mindoro has several points of interest: The Apo Reef is considered the Diving Mecca of the Philippines; the Ambulong Island, which has attractive white sand beaches or visit Mount Iglit, a reservation area and game sanctuary for Tamaraws or wild water buffaloes and the Busuanga River where rare Philippine Tamaraws are hunted. Oriental Mindoro is popularly known as the site of the Puerto Galera beaches and the home of the Mangyan tribes.

Dive areas around Mindoro & Luzon are:

Pandan Island is a small private island with its own little beach resort, a perfect Robinson place for nature lovers, bon vivants and scuba divers. Located two kilometers off the west coast of Mindoro Island, central Philippines, Pandan Island offers scuba diving at it's finest, a back to nature atmosphere, lots of privacy and the peaceful culture of a small international community. All divesites around Pandan Island are within short distance from the beach or accessible by our custom built dive-catamaran. The very sound of the name conjures up images of Spanish galleons and ancient Chinese junks laden with silk and spices.

More so does the sight of the island with its beautiful harbor. Countless coves and beaches outdo each other for the city-weary traveller. No wonder then that so many local and foreign visitors tend to overstay in Puerto Galera. Puerto Galera is accessible by daily ferry from Batangas City or via fast banca out-rigger or its big brother version called basnig from Anilao, Matabungkay and the Batangas coastal towns. The nearest diving haven from Manila, Batangas is only two and a half hours from Manila by car. It is also considered the jump-off point for new and experienced divers to other exciting dive destinations. The area offers superb first-hand introduction to the exciting world of diving. Batangas diving season: although diving here is possible all year round, it is best to dive here between November and June. Typhoon season intensifies between July and September resulting in choppy waves and poor visibility.
source (http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/philippines/diving/region/mindoro-luzan/dive-spots/)

Aras Cave, Oriental Mindoro

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This cave is so unique because inside it, there is a big falls! This cave can be found in Brgy. Bigaan, San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines.

source (http://www.philippinetraveltour.com/2009/06/aras-cave-oriental-mindoro.html)

Pink Sunset over Paradise Beach on Oriental Mindoro

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/4342617575_841a0bee89.jpg

ALL CREDITS TO THE OWNER. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32936167@N02/galleries/72157623401014101)

Santo Nino Cathedral
Calapan Oriental Mindoro

This is another organ 1 of 2 known to be installed in Mindoro in the early 1960s. The other was installed in the SVD Monastery but removed and is in another church but disassembled. The city wishes to have the organ restored and we will offer a proposal to restore both organs and find a location for it.
The original to this instrument was partially destroyed in the late 1960s by a fire but rebuilt in the early 1970s and the facade changed to the present. it is a 21 stop instrument with 2 reeds, a trumpet and oboe. it would have been cheaper for the church to have had regular maintenance instead of letting it deteriorate and then to have a complete restoration as part of the expense is the replacement of all the leatherwork and transit to and from shop.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/3464394051_b48a49ba51.jpg
source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hssph_diegocera/3464394051/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/5115729197_a5da130ef5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raralph/5115729197/)
Kawa - kawa falls , Sta. Cruz , Marinduque (http://www.flickr.com/photos/raralph/5115729197/) by Ralph Yabut (http://www.flickr.com/people/raralph/), on Flickr

^^wow nice picture sherwin!^^ thanks for posting that here!:)

Official website of Province of Oriental Mindoro (http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/)
Official website of City of Calapan (http://www.cityofcalapan.gov.ph/).
Official website of Municipality of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.gloria.gov.ph/)
Official website of Municipality of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.pinamalayan.gov.ph/)
Official website of Municipality of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.bulalacaomindoro.com/)
Blog of Municipality of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro (http://www-naujan-gov.blogspot.com/)
Facebook of Municipality of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bongabong-Oriental-Mindoro/104137389622216)
Facebook of Municipality of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bansud-Philippines/Bayan-ng-Bansud-Oriental-Mindoro-Philippines/259904283859)
Facebook of Municipality of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.facebook.com/roxasormindoro)
Facebook of Municipality of San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Teodoro-Oriental-Mindoro/105582972807722)
Facebook of Municipality of Socorro, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Socorro-Oriental-Mindoro/115945875119144)
Website of Municipality of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro (http://www.puertogalera.org/)
Wikipedia of Municipality of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansalay,_Oriental_Mindoro)
Wikipedia of Municipality of Baco, Oriental Mindoro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baco,_Oriental_Mindoro)
Wikipedia of Municipality of Pola, Oriental Mindoro (http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola,_Oriental_Mindoro)
Wikipedia of Municipality of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_Oriental_Mindoro)

MiMaRoPa

MIMAROPA is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is one of two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another region, Eastern Visayas being the other, and is designated as Region IV-B. The name is a portmanteau combining the names of its provinces, which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.
On May 23, 2005, Palawan and Puerto Princesa City were moved to Western Visayas by Executive Order No. 429[1]. However, on August 19, 2005, President Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 129 to hold the earlier EO 429 in abeyance pending a review.[2] As of 2010, Palawan and the highly urbanized city of Puerto Princesa still remain a part of this region.

History

Executive Order No. 103, dated May 17, 2002, divided Region IV (Southern Tagalog) into Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA).[3]
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order 103 on May 17, 2002 which subdivided the Southern Tagalog provinces which comprised Region IV into two regions – Regions IV- A and IV-B, to promote efficiency in the government, accelerate social and economic development and improve public services. Region IV-A is now known as CALABARZON- which stands for the provinces of CAvite, LAguna,BAtangas, Rizal and QueZON). Region IV-B on the other hand, is now known as MIMAROPA which stands for the island provinces comprising the region - MIndoro (Oriental and Occidental), MArinduque, Romblon and Palawan. EO103 also transferred the province of Aurora to Region III in Central Luzon.
Executive Order 429 moved Palawan to Region VI on May 23, 2005.[1] After this move, Region IV-B began to be called MIMARO instead of MIMAROPA.
However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and nearly all municipalities preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. [2] This order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from MIMAROPA to Region VI. Thus, it is not yet clear if the transfer of Palawan to region VI is already done and final creating confusion on whether to address the region as MIMARO or MIMAROPA.

Economy

In 2007, MIMAROPA's economy surged by 9.4%, making it the fastest growing region in the country in that year.[4] It was aided by robust growth in the industrial sector which grew by 19.1% from -6.1% in 2006.[4]
MIMAROPA experienced a big slowdown in 2006, posting a decelerated growth of 2.3% from a 6.4% increase in 2005. This resulted mainly from the slump in the industry sector, which shrunk by 5.4% in 2006 from its 10.8% increase in 2005.
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector, which contributed 42.1% to the total regional economy, grew by 9.1% in 2006, accelerating from 3.2% the previous year. The higher production of palay, corn, other crops, livestock and fishery resulted in the accelerated growth in the total agriculture and fishery sector.
The industry sector, which contributed 38.3% to the region’s total economy, was the second largest contributor next to agriculture. Its decline of 5.4% was largely attributed to the decrease in the mining and quarrying subsector, which went down by 15.4% due to the reduced production of natural gas in Palawan. Mining and quarrying contributed 16.6% to the total regional economy. The positive growth in the electricity and water, construction and manufacturing subsectors were not able to compensate to the drop in the mining and quarrying subsector.
The service sector, on the other hand, posted an accelerated growth of 5.1%, which was attributed to the increase in the TCS, finance, private services, government services and trade subsectors, which managed to post accelerated growths of 6.0%, 5.5%, 5.1%, 5.1% and 4.7%, respectively. The other subsector, however, had a decelerated growth due to the slowdown in the ownership of dwelling.source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMAROPA)

Puerto Galera
P h i l i p p i n e s

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All credits to Donnie (Up-Mc) Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! :)
visit his photography thread. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=55385231&highlight=#post55385231)

Puerto Galera
O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o

Puerto Galera Photos (April 17-18, 2010)

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All credits to Donnie (Up-Mc) Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! :)
visit his photography thread. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=55385231&highlight=#post55385231)

Puerto Galera Sunset
O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o



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All credits to Donnie (Up-Mc) Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! :)
visit his photography thread. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=55385231&highlight=#post55385231)

Puerto Galera
O r i e n t a l M i n d o r o

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All credits to Donnie (Up-Mc) Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! :)
visit his photography thread. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=55385231&highlight=#post55385231)

Oriental Mindoro
P h i l i p p i n e s

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http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/38855_146790295333901_146778058668458_443293_7371888_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/39018_146789688667295_146778058668458_443288_1239418_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/39021_146783505334580_146778058668458_443237_935958_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/39159_146791198667144_146778058668458_443299_3639604_n.jpg

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/39706_146792545333676_146778058668458_443312_4891791_n1.jpg


all credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28177&id=146778058668458)

Mindoro Oriental ZIP Code
Location ZIP Code Phone Area Code
Baco 5201 43
Bansud 5210 43
Bongabon 5211 43
Bulalacao 5214 43
Calapan 5200 43
Gloria 5209 43
Mansalay 5208 43
Pola 5206 43
Puerto Galera 5203 43
Roxas 5212 43
San Teodoro 5202 43
Socorro 5207 43
Victoria 5205 43

source (http://zip-codes.philsite.net/mindoro.htm)

CALAPAN CITY, AKTIBONG NAKILAHOK SA PAGDIRIWANG NG ORIENTAL MINDORO 60TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY

Naging aktibo ang partisipasyon ng mga Calapeño sa pagdiriwang ng 60th Founding Anniversary ng Oriental Mindoro nitong buwan ng Nobyembre.

Matapos ang naganap na kick-off parade noong ika-8 ng Nobyembre ay binuksan ang Agriculture Fair kung saan ibinandera ang mga natatanging produkto ng lahat ng bayan sa Oriental Mindoro. Sa exhibit ng Calapan ay makikita ang mga produktong pang-agrikultura mula sa iba’t ibang barangay ng lungsod gayundin ang mga produkto ng Rural Improvement Crop (RIC).

Ayon kay City Agriculturist Carlos A. Domingo, noong ika–11 ng Nobyembre ay ginanap ang Gawad Sapat Ani Award kung saan limang (5) mapalad na Calapeño ang makakatanggap ng parangal. Sa Embryd Seed Division ay nakuha ni Leonardo Cantos ng Managpi ang unang pwesto, Rodrgio Sagaral ng Pinamalyan ang ikalawa, at Zuelo Perez ng Sta. Isabel ang ikatlong parangal. Sa Hybrid Seed Division naman, mga Calapeño ang nakasungkit ng una hanggang ikatlong parangal. Sila ay sina Julio Jocson ng Masipit – 1st place, Sergio Enriquez ng Personas -2nd place at si Efren de Quiros ng Canubing I ang 3rd place. Ang mga nagsipagwagi ng unang parangal ay tumanggap ng Php50,000. Samantala, ang ikalawa at ikatlo naman ay tumanggap ng Php30,000 at Php20,000.

At sa parehong araw din ay ginanap ang Outstanding Policemen ng Oriental Mindoro. Tatlong pulis ang pinarangalan mula sa Calapan. Sila ay sina PO3 Rodel U. Alcano, PO2 Francis Noel M. Abutar at PO2 Alma F. dela Peña.

Lumahok din ang Calapan sa Senior and Adult Singing Idol na ginanap sa Bansud, at Bulilit and Teen Singing Idol na ginanap naman sa Baco noong ika- 9 at ika-10 ng buwang kasalukuyan. Sa Adult Edition, nakuha ng Calapeñong si Romulo Arellano, Jr. ang 1st runner up. Sa Senior Edition naman, si Carlo Rucio ng Calapan City ang nagkamit ng 1st runner up. Bagaman hindi nakakuha ng parangal ni Maria Kryselle Don Jumig ng Bulilit Edition, nakapasok naman siya sa Top 6. Naging Hurado sa Singing Idol si Marie “Mau” Marcelo, Grand Champion ng Philippines Idol 2006 na ipinalabas sa TV 5.

Representante naman ng Calapan City sa Miss Oriental Mindoro si Haziel Tizon ng Barangay Suqui. At ng mismong araw ng anibersaryo noong ika-15 ng Nobyembre ay nakilahok ang Calapan sa Mahalta Festival na ginanap sa LEMNAHIS op
source (http://islandsentinel.com/2010/11/15/calapan-city-aktibng-nakilahok-sa-pagdiriwang-ng-oriental-mindoro-60th-founding-anniversary/)

the paradise of
Occidental Mindoro

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/williamroi/62758_112002968860968_111253825602549_93512_3514042_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=93512&id=111253825602549)
photo credits to the owner.

the MiMaRoPa MARCH
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the Mangyan of Mindoro
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