- The beautiful Apo Reef in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (source)
The beautiful Occidental Mindoro is blessed with much marine exquisiteness from its pristine white sand beaches, immaculate forests, isles and islands full of marine life, mysterious caves, graceful waterfalls, and a rich garden of corals. It is a sublime vista for divers and adventurers alike, with so much to offer from its unexplored shoals and atolls. Areas around Ambulong Island, Ilin Island, White Island, and Pandan Grande offer a fertile diving ground surrounded by exquisite coral reefs and colorful marine life, ranging from exotic fish to exquisite seashells.
The residents of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro celebrates the Saknungan festival every 25th to 27th of April. It is a 3-day thanksgiving festival highlighted by streetdances and parades. Saknungan is a Mangyan term that means "bayanihan" or the spirit of cooperation, brotherhood, and unity at work. It is the spirit portrayed by the Mindoreños day-to-day, especially during the planting and the harvesting seasons.
- Saknungan Festival in Occidental Mindoro (source)
FAST FACTS ABOUT OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
- CAPITAL: Mamburao
- Flag of Occidental Mindoro (source)
- 17th largest province of the Philippines
- The Halcon mountain range (4th highest peak in the Philippines) runs from north to south and serves as the province's natural boundary with Occidental Mindoro.
- FOUNDED ON: June 13, 1950 (from Republic Act No. 505, An Act to Create the Provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro)
- TOPOGRAPHY: generally rugged, with narrow strips of coastal lowlands; terrain is characterized by successive mountain ranges, valleys, and elongated plateaus, with rolling lands along the coastal region
- LAND AREA: 588,350 hectares
- POPULATION: 452,971 (2010 census)
- LANGUAGE: Tagalog is spoken by 69.78 percent of the people. Other dialects are Ilokano (10.63 percent), Hiligaynon (6.47 percent), and Kinaray-a (5.84 percent). The working population can read and speak Filipino and English.
- CLIMATE: Dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Average annual volume of rainfall is 2,000 mm. Temperature is from 30.7°C to 16.4°C.
LOCATION
The Mindoro island is separated by a mountain range in the middle that serves as a natural and political boundary between the two provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. Occidental Mindoro occupies the western part of the island.
To its west is the Apo East Pass, and on the south is the Mindoro Strait. Oriental Mindoro lies at the eastern half. The South China Sea is to the west of the province, while Palawan is located to the southwest, just across Mindoro Strait. Batangas is at the north, separated by the Verde Island Passage.
- A Map of Occidental Mindoro (source)
Occidental Mindoro's coordinates are 13°00′N 120°55′E.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
11 MUNICIPALITIES
- Abra de Ilog
- Calintaan
- Looc
- Lubang
- Magsaysay
- Mamburao
- Paluan
- Rizal
- Sablayan
- San Jose
- Sta.Cruz
HOW TO GET THERE
- BY AIR
Travel takes 45 minutes from Manila to San Jose via Philippine Air Lines, Cebu Pacific and Sea Air
- BY SEA
Travel takes 2 1/2 hours from Batangas City Pier to Abra de Ilog Pier, while from Batangas
- A Roro Ferry docked at the pier in Occidental Mindoro (source)
City Pier to San Jose it takes 12 hours via Roll-on, Roll-off (RO-RO) vessels of the Montenegro Shipping Lines and Besta Lines
- BY VEHICLE (Land-Sea-Land)
Travelers can also choose to hire a door-to-door van. It will pick you up from your home and drop you off to your destination. (via RO-RO vessels)
Another option is to take a the bus (via Dimple Bus) which has a terminal in Cubao. This bus is traveling from Manila to San Jose via Mamburao City.
SOURCES
- http://www.occidentalmindoro.ph/general-information.html
- http://www.tourism.gov.ph/sitepages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=21
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_Mindoro
- http://mamburao.gov.ph/cultureandtourism.do?id=5036
- http://www.wowmindoro.com/features/festivals/saknungan-festival-san-jose-occidental-mindoro/
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