Tablas Island
Encyclopedia
Tablas is the largest of the islands that comprise the province
of Romblon
in the Philippines
.
Odiongan
, on the west central coast of the island, is a major port and the largest municipality of Romblon in terms of population. Tablas is administratively subdivided into the municipalities of Alcantara
, Calatrava
, Ferrol
, Looc
, Odiongan, San Agustin
, San Andres
, Santa Fe
, and Santa Maria
.
. Mount Payaopao (also known as Tablas Summit on old maps) at the northeastern extremity of the island, is the highest peak on the island at 2182 feet (665.1 m) high and the second highest in the province (after Mount Guiting-Guiting
).
A wooded central range of hills traverses the length of Tablas. The west coast is formed by the western slope of the central mountain ridge, which is narrow and well defined. The summits in the middle of the island are 1,600 to 2,000 feet high. In the center of the island is Bitaogan Peak, 2164 feet (659.6 m) high, which appears as a rounded knob from east and west and sharp from north and south. Mount Lunas, at the back of Looc Bay, is a black ridge 1556 feet (474.3 m) high, long and rounded from east and west and sharp from north and south; with it the range breaks off to the low pass from Looc Bay to the town of Alcantara
on the east coast. The southern part of Tablas is a group of many sharp conical hills, all bare and grassy except Malbug Hill, 904 feet (275.5 m) high, and Calaton Point, 835 feet (254.5 m) high, on the east coast, which are dark and wooded. The shore line is largely mangrove, with many beaches of coral sand and some limestone cliffs. The shore reef is continuous except off Guinauayan Point.
There is no good natural harbor except Looc Bay, a large indentation on the west side, but sheltered anchorage may be found on either side of the island, according to the season of the year.
Cabalian Point, the southern extremity of Tablas Island, is low and sandy and hard to distinguish at night, a lighthouse was built during the American Colonial period.
province.
is a Visayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon
and Onhan
languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Tagalog
is spoken by the locals as the second language. Foreigners are a welcome diversion for college students, who are the main part of the population who can speak English.
Tablas has been little impacted by tourism, accommodations and resorts, though, are available around the island.
in southern Luzon
and disembarking at the Port of Odiongan in Barangay
Poctoy.
Montenegro Lines
serves Odiongan from the Port of Batangas City
six days per week with Roll-on/roll-off vessels, then heading to Romblon Island
from Poctoy and returning the next day. Travel time from Batangas to Poctoy takes about 8–10 hours. Travel time from Poctoy Pier to Odiongan town is about 10 minutes by motorcycles. Tricycles are also readily available.
(IATA: TBH – ICAO: RPVU) located in the southeastern coast of Tablas in Barangay Tugdan, in the town of Alcantara
, .
From Manila, South East Asian Airlines
(SEAIR) serves Tugdan, three times a week and Zest Airways, also three times a week.
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
of Romblon
Romblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Odiongan
Odiongan, Romblon
Odiongan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 39,069 people in 8,624 households...
, on the west central coast of the island, is a major port and the largest municipality of Romblon in terms of population. Tablas is administratively subdivided into the municipalities of Alcantara
Alcantara, Romblon
Alcantara is a fifth class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,144 people in 2,905 households.-Barangays:Alcantara is politically subdivided into 12 barangays:* Bonlao* Calagonsao...
, Calatrava
Calatrava, Romblon
Calatrava is a 5th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,878 people in 1,674 households....
, Ferrol
Ferrol, Romblon
Ferrol located in the province of Romblon, the Philippines, is a municipality of the 5th class. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 6,395.The municipality was named after the city and naval station of Ferrol in Spain in 1978...
, Looc
Looc, Romblon
Looc is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 19,898 people in 4,262 households.- Local officials :-Population of Looc at various times:...
, Odiongan, San Agustin
San Agustin, Romblon
San Agustin is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,643 people in 4,275 households....
, San Andres
San Andres, Romblon
San Andres is a 5th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 13,460 people in 2,737 households. It is a coastal town on the northwest portion of Tablas Island. It is bounded on the north by the Calatrava, on the south by...
, Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Romblon
Santa Fe is a municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. It was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 38, passed October 1, 1946....
, and Santa Maria
Santa Maria, Romblon
Santa Maria is a 5th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 7,324 people in 1,476 households.-Barangays:Santa Maria is politically subdivided into 6 barangays.* Bonga...
.
Geography
The island lies about 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) east from the southern part of Mindoro Island. The northern tip of Tablas is about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Romblon IslandRomblon Island
Romblon is one of the three major islands of the Romblon Province in the Philippines; the other two are Sibuyan Island and Tablas Island. The island is part of the seat of government for the Romblon province, also named Romblon municipality....
. Mount Payaopao (also known as Tablas Summit on old maps) at the northeastern extremity of the island, is the highest peak on the island at 2182 feet (665.1 m) high and the second highest in the province (after Mount Guiting-Guiting
Mount Guiting-Guiting
Mount Guiting-Guiting is a mountain located in the heart of Sibuyan Island, one of the seven islands of Romblon Province in the Philippines. Guiting-Guiting, in the local dialect, means "jagged"...
).
A wooded central range of hills traverses the length of Tablas. The west coast is formed by the western slope of the central mountain ridge, which is narrow and well defined. The summits in the middle of the island are 1,600 to 2,000 feet high. In the center of the island is Bitaogan Peak, 2164 feet (659.6 m) high, which appears as a rounded knob from east and west and sharp from north and south. Mount Lunas, at the back of Looc Bay, is a black ridge 1556 feet (474.3 m) high, long and rounded from east and west and sharp from north and south; with it the range breaks off to the low pass from Looc Bay to the town of Alcantara
Alcantara, Romblon
Alcantara is a fifth class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,144 people in 2,905 households.-Barangays:Alcantara is politically subdivided into 12 barangays:* Bonlao* Calagonsao...
on the east coast. The southern part of Tablas is a group of many sharp conical hills, all bare and grassy except Malbug Hill, 904 feet (275.5 m) high, and Calaton Point, 835 feet (254.5 m) high, on the east coast, which are dark and wooded. The shore line is largely mangrove, with many beaches of coral sand and some limestone cliffs. The shore reef is continuous except off Guinauayan Point.
There is no good natural harbor except Looc Bay, a large indentation on the west side, but sheltered anchorage may be found on either side of the island, according to the season of the year.
Cabalian Point, the southern extremity of Tablas Island, is low and sandy and hard to distinguish at night, a lighthouse was built during the American Colonial period.
Education
Romblon State University is a premier institution for higher education in the MIMAROPA Region. The University has a large campus in Odiongan town and a few more around RomblonRomblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
province.
Economy
Tablas is relatively undeveloped with only light industry. Main occupations are rice farming and fishing. Most college graduates leave Tablas to work in Batangas or further afield.Language
The Asi languageAsi language
The Asi language is a Visayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and Onhan languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. The language is also known as Bantoanon, Calatravanhon, Odionganon, Sibalenhon, Simaranhon, and Bisaya.Specifically, it is spoken on the following islands within...
is a Visayan language spoken, along with the Romblomanon
Romblomanon language
Romblomanon is a Visayan language spoken, along with the Asi and Onhan languages, in the province of Romblon in the Philippines. The language is also called Ini, Tiyad Ini, Basi, Niromblon, Sibuyanon, and Bisaya....
and Onhan
Onhan language
The Onhan language is a Kinaray-a language spoken, along with the Romblomanon and Asi languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. The language is also known as Inunhan and Loocnon....
languages, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
is spoken by the locals as the second language. Foreigners are a welcome diversion for college students, who are the main part of the population who can speak English.
Tourism
Waterfalls
- Mainit Falls, located about an hour hike north of Poctoy Port, is on a private property and not signposted, but is open to the public.
- Dubduban-Bita Falls in in Brgy. Dubduban, 3 km. from the town proper of San AgustinSan Agustin, RomblonSan Agustin is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,643 people in 4,275 households....
is a 7-tier cascade amidst dense vegetations and cool surroundings.
Lakes
- Tinagong Dagat in Brgy.BarangayA barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
Kabibitan in CalatravaCalatrava, RomblonCalatrava is a 5th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,878 people in 1,674 households....
are two small, semi-circular saltwater lakes located only about 10 metres (32.8 ft) from the sea. The largest has a maximum diameter of 108 metres (354.3 ft), the smaller about 35 metres (114.8 ft). Both are deep and have cave-like formations under.
Beaches
- Aglicay and Binay-we beaches in Alcantara
- Atabay and Guin-awayan beaches in Ferrol
- Puro Island, just off the coast of Santa FeSanta Fe, RomblonSanta Fe is a municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. It was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 38, passed October 1, 1946....
By water
Access to Tablas is usually by ferry from the Port of Batangas CityBatangas City
- Foreign Rule :The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City since 1572. Finally on 1581 Spanish authorities governing the Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the formal end of the Coumintang...
in southern Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and disembarking at the Port of Odiongan in Barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
Poctoy.
Montenegro Lines
Montenegro Lines
Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc. is a domestic shipping line established in the Philippines on September 16, 1978 by Vicente Leyco Montenegro, Sr. a pioneer in commercial and public transportation by sea. The first route was from Batangas City to Abra de Ilog. Initially served by the boat, Malaya...
serves Odiongan from the Port of Batangas City
Batangas City
- Foreign Rule :The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City since 1572. Finally on 1581 Spanish authorities governing the Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the formal end of the Coumintang...
six days per week with Roll-on/roll-off vessels, then heading to Romblon Island
Romblon Island
Romblon is one of the three major islands of the Romblon Province in the Philippines; the other two are Sibuyan Island and Tablas Island. The island is part of the seat of government for the Romblon province, also named Romblon municipality....
from Poctoy and returning the next day. Travel time from Batangas to Poctoy takes about 8–10 hours. Travel time from Poctoy Pier to Odiongan town is about 10 minutes by motorcycles. Tricycles are also readily available.
By air
The main commercial airport of the province of Romblon is Tugdan AirportTugdan Airport
Tugdan Airport is an airport located in the province of Romblon in the Philippines...
(IATA: TBH – ICAO: RPVU) located in the southeastern coast of Tablas in Barangay Tugdan, in the town of Alcantara
Alcantara, Romblon
Alcantara is a fifth class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,144 people in 2,905 households.-Barangays:Alcantara is politically subdivided into 12 barangays:* Bonlao* Calagonsao...
, .
From Manila, South East Asian Airlines
South East Asian Airlines
Southeast Asian Airlines , Inc. operating as SEAir is an airline based in Pampanga, the Philippines. It operates domestic services and its main base is Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, with hubs at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Malay, Aklan.- History :The airline was established in 1995...
(SEAIR) serves Tugdan, three times a week and Zest Airways, also three times a week.