Notes about MIMAROPA

MIMAROPA is an administrative region 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 an acronym combining the names of its provinces,
which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. The
region is also more formally known as Southern Tagalog Islands.

Languages:

Tagalog, Romblomanon, Bantoanon or Asi Onhan, Cuyonon, Hiligaynon

Food:

 In the Sablayan Coasts, seafoods are cheaper than chicken. One of the most popular is
the variety of Adobo, a "pugita" (or octopus) dish from Camalig Restaurant.
 In English, it is directly translated as Male Bibingka. Instead of yeast, the bibingkang
lalaki is made with tuba (coconut wine) which makes the insides of the bibingka moist
and pudding-like. After all, coconut and other by-products are Marinduque's source of
income as the provinces' agricultural produce.
 Arrowroot cookies are one of the most famous pasalubong from Marinduque. It is made
from root crops that grow around the island. The basic arrowroot cookie shape is
shaped like a rounded heart, but one of the famous shapes based from what tourists
buy would be the image above, meringue looking.
 First things first, let us define some things.

Orange Roughy: a type of fish

Kinilaw/ Kilawin: a raw seafood or meat dish popular and varied in the Philippines,
similar to ceviche (popular in the coastal regions of the Americas)

Putting two and two together, this dish is made of raw fish cooked in 'liquid fire' or most
commonly known as vinegar. For this dish, palm vinegar is used. Other ingredients to
achieve the signature tangy taste would be lemon or calamansi, sliced/diced onion,
cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, mayonnaise, and salt to taste. Chill before serving and
served ala sushi style. It's best as appetizer, pulutan, and sumsuman.
 Tamilok is woodworm that lives in mangroves. Yes, woodworm and mangroves. But
surprisingly, they are mollusks that taste like oysters, just longer and slimier. They are
cleaned, dipped in vinegar, and served raw. Best as appetizer and pulutan. According to
some local legends, the name tamilok originated from when two foreigners were with
two tribesmen who were about to eat worms or u-od in Filipino and to one of the
 westerner's astonishment shouted to his companion: "Look, Tommy, look!" Believing
that the white men were experts who knew the name of the dish, they named it tamilok.
Tamilok is a famous Filipino delicacy, often found in the provinces Palawan and Aklan.
It's also called woodworm, because it's, well, a worm-like thing that is extracted from
wood
 The Margarita Pizza found in Bistro Coron, along with other European dishes with a
touch of Filipino tastes, is made up of hand baked dough topped with tomato, onion,
garlic, bell pepper, ham, cheese, and freshly cracked eggs.

Tourist Destinations / Bodies of Water :

1. Apo Reef
Apo Reef is one of the best tourist spots in Occidental Mindoro. Recognized as the second-
largest contiguous reef system in the world next to Great Barrier Reef in Australia, it is being
considered as the number one dive site in the Philippines. It is a 34-kilometer reef system
divided into north and south lagoon systems by a narrow channel. Jellyfish, turtles, white-tip
and black-tip reef sharks, manta rays and vast variety of corals and marine lifeforms one can
witness when diving in Apo Reef. Apo Reef is located in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Contact
the Tourism Office of Sablayan to arrange your visit. Stay at Apo Reef Club Resort, it is the
recommend and the most popular resort near Apo Reef.

2. White Island
White Island is one of the tourist spots in Occidental Mindoro. It is also called by the locals as
Manadi Island which means “Sudden Appearance” for it is said to have suddenly appeared
decades ago. It is a small island and an ideal destination for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving
and fishing. Some part of the shore are breeding grounds for turtles where they bury their eggs.
One can walk around the island in just few minutes. Again, there are no store or electricity in
the island so you have to bring your own food.

3. Coron Bay
Coron Bay is where all the magic happens. This breathtaking maze of deep blue water winds
around tall limestone cliffs that remind you of the movie ‘Avatar’- it almost doesn’t seem real.
There are multiple shipwrecks in the bay that have encouraged the growth of natural reefs.
These reefs and the wrecked ships make ideal dive and snorkel spots. You can sign up for Island
Tours that take you through Coron Bay while stopping at secret inlets, guiding you to the best
swim spots, and visiting viewpoints that give you full perspective of the bay.

4. Bonbon Beach
Bonbon Beach features a glistening white sandbar that stretches from Romblon Island mainland
over to the inhabited island known as Bang-og. On either side of the Bonbon Sandbar is wais-
deep turquoise waters that are utterly inviting. On low tide, Bonbon Beach sandbar is
completely exposed making it possible to walk across to Bang-og Island and explore the beach
over there. On high tide, however, Bonbon beach is only partially exposed so be aware of the
ides if you plan on crossing over the sandbar.

5. Puerto Princesa Underground River

The Puerto Prinsesa Underground River (PPUR) is the most striking feature in the sprawling
22,200-hectare Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. This park is one of three
most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines, along with Vigan in Ilocos Sur and
Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao.

Mountains :

1.Mount Malindig
Malindig volcano (also known as Marlanga) is an andesitic stratovolcano at the southern tip of
Marinduque island, west of the Bondoc Peninsula on Luzon island, Philippines. The summit has
sharp peaks. No recent eruptions have occurred at the volcano. Hot springs are active at its
western base.

2.Mount Halcon
Mount Halcon is one of the toughest mountains to climb in the Philippines. It will take you two
excruciating days to reach the summit and two days to return to the jump-off points ; with its
rugged terrains and trails and unpredictable weather condition all year round. But what reclines
its toughness is the bountiful flora and fauna, as the extensive studies of Dr. Emelina Mandia
has shown : “ 155 species belonging to 78 families and 116 genra were recorded. 18 species
represent new records for Mt. Halcon. 8 species are endemic and on records are represented
only by one or two collections.”

Festivals:
1.Dugoy Festival
Dugoy Festival is a celebration of the Dugoy Spirit or camaraderie between and among various
cultures found in the town of Sablayan. It celebrates the harmonious ties of the lowland settlers
and the Mangyan tribes. The week-long festival is celebrated with cultural shows, street
dancing performances, and other exhibits beginning every January 18. Its celebration coincides
with the town fiesta. The highlight of the festivity is the street dancing where as many as 20
groups with 1,000 members participate. The street dancing showcases the different ethno-
cultural groups of the Mangyan, as well as those that came from different parts of the
Philippines and eventually settled in Sablayan.

2 Sulyog Festival
March 19 | Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro
A religious festival in honor of St. Joseph. It is celebrated by way of the Sulyog (Suli and Niyog)
Festival through dances, flats, and cultural shows.
3. Moriones Festival
The Moriones Festival is a folk-religious event held annually during Holy Week on the island of
Marinduque, considered the geographical heart of the Philippines. The word “Morion” refers to
the visor of the helmet that is associated with the armor of Roman soliders. The word
“Moriones” refers to the local inhabitants who dress up in costumes and masks of Roman
soldiers during Biblical times. These costumed locals are farmers and fishermen who engage in
the street theater as a form of penitence. For seven days, from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday,
the masked and costumed Moriones march around town scaring children and making a ruckus
in a reenactment of the search for Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of the
crucified Christ. In the Bible, Longinus was blind in one eye, but the blood that spurted out of
Christ’s side reached his eye and fully restored his sight. The miracle converted Longinus to
Christianity, but he was scorned by his fellow centurions who ended up murdering him.

MIMAROPA

Calo, Donna Marie

Casinto, Ma. Berthie Bernadette

Lato, Regina Grace