Romblon ready to show world-class tourist spots, says DOT

Romblon, the Marble Capital of the Philippines, is slowly emerging as one of the country’s top tourist destinations, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

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

Teo said that Romblon proves to be “one of the best-kept secrets” of Region 4-B due to its isolation, noting that the island-province is ready to unravel its world-class attractions when it hosts the annual MIMAROPA Festival in November.

Among the province’s jewels are its pristine seawaters, unspoiled beaches, wild rivers and waterfalls and its own historical wealth which is also home to centuries-old churches, Spanish forts and well-preserved ancestral homes.

Romblon also boasts its crystal-clear seawaters and white-sand beaches in Tablas, Bon-Bon, Nonok-Nonok, and Cobrador; the waterfalls in Trangkalan, Dagubdob, and Busay and the Cresta del Gallo Island’s stunning sandbar and the Cantingas River in Sibuyan.

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

For mountaineers, the 2,058-meter high Mount Guiting-Guiting poses an enjoyable challenge.

Romblon’s old plaza has retained its historical character, featuring the marble statues of Dr. Jose Rizal, a large roaring lion, and a grotto with the life-size image of Our Lady of Lourdes. Many ancestral edifices remain intact, like the Cathedral of San Jose with its antique tableau altar, stained-glass windows, and its vintage convent.

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