Romblon Island Archives - Lakas ng Trip

Tiamban Beach, ITT Tower and Agbaliga Waterfalls in Romblon Island, Romblon

February 9, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

It was the 22nd of May 2012, I was happy that this day was a rest day as I was tired from continuously traveling the Province of Romblon for 17 days. The plan was simple that day, for Dazl to spend time with her family at Tiamban Beach in Romblon Island. But seeing that I was only going to be here for a few more days before going back to Manila, I quickly hid my tiredness and decided to do more than just lie on the beach. I asked Jessica on what other places we could visit on Romblon Island, she answered some waterfalls and ITT Tower where I could see a great view of the island of Romblon from a higher vantage point than Fort San Andres.

View from the ITT Tower

A friend of Jessica fetched me from where we were staying. He was riding a motorcycle so we could go move around and stop as we pleased. We first stopped at a gas station little under a kilometer from town. We loaded the motorcycle with a hundred pesos of gasoline and continued through the circumferential road around Romblon Island.

We passed by Tiamban beach as we were decided to visit ITT Tower first. After a few minutes we turned left and was now battling our way on the rough-uphill road passing by fewer houses and sometimes quails running across the road. As we quickly ascended I saw glimpse in between trees on how high we were as the town was significantly smaller. I wanted to stop the motorcycle but stopped myself from requesting as I find it important our momentum to not be stopped. I just hoped that we were going back the same route.

Rough road to the ITT Tower

Less than 30 minutes passed since we left the town we were now at one of the highest points of Romblon. The weather was cooler than the usual from above and the dark clouds floating above may have added a chill factor to the air. I looked at the transceiver in front of us and turned around to one of the best views I have seen in Romblon Island. Lush green trees on mountains, some where covered in coconut trees. The town was below us showing different colors from paints of houses and roofs. Different coves and islands that explains why the Romblon Island port was a refuge from rough seas of the boats.

Journey to Cajidiocan, Sibuyan Island, Romblon

January 6, 2013 by Josiah Leave a Comment

It was the day after our adventure on Cobrador Island. The plan was to move from Romblon Island to Sibuyan Island to visit a waterfalls in the municipality of Cajidiocan.

The ferry, Maria Querubin, was arriving around 6:30AM from San Agustin, Tablas Island and will be leaving for Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island at around 7:30AM. According to the locals of Romblon Island once the ferry docks, it will not take long for it to leave, that is why we should be ready to board when the boat arrives.

We heard a loud honk signalling the ferry’s arrival. Goods were unloaded and loaded. We went inside through the slippery stomach of Maria Querubin. The smell was of industrial oil. Then up through the stairs to the passengers area. (10 Pesos/person terminal fee)

I don’t know if its a general thing for ferries, but I noticed on all the ferries that I rode, not only in Romblon, people would place their stuff on seats and even if there are other passengers that are standing, they would not remove their stuff from the seats. I wish people would be more considerate to others. There’s really nothing you can do but to be an example or ask them kindly for you to be seated.

The locals were right when they told us that the boat will be leaving immediately as it left before 7:30AM, earlier than its scheduled departure.

It was a calm trip in the month of May 2013. Got to see a different perspective of Romblon Island. Story’s of dolphin sighting emerged but they were not seen. It was a 2 hours and 30 minutes journey. Time well spent for getting to know more of Dazl, Pam and Marky. (228 Pesos/person from Romblon Island to Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island)

The boat arrived on Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. A port made of concrete with the nearby land full of mangroves. The mangroves gave a good impression on me. If a port where many people pass by still has a lot of mangroves then it shows a glimpse on how well preserved the inside is.

Ambulong Port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island, Romblon

We went down and asked the jeepneys lined up in the port on where they were going. Some to San Fernando. Some to Cajidiocan. We thought of not riding it yet but there were no longer any jeepneys left. So we boarded and paid 120 Pesos/person for an hour trip to Cajidiocan. 😐

Fort San Andres in Romblon Island, Romblon

October 20, 2012 by Josiah Leave a Comment

It was the 9th day of our backpacking trip around the province of Romblon and we decided to spend the day to rest as we’ve been travelling for 8 days straight! But at the afternoon of that day I still had itchy feet and since I wasn’t able to join Dazl, Marky and Pam when they went up Fort San Andres on the first day of our trip. I was asleep because I didn’t get much sleep from the boat ride to Romblon Island!

So I decided to visit the Fort of San Andres, I told Jessica (a friend of Dazl) about my plan to go up the fort and she was kind enough to have someone accompany me to get to there by motorcycle. (Sorry! I forgot his name.) I first thought that the fort is only reachable by foot as Dazl told me that that’s what they did when they went up but apparently there’s a road going there.

Boat Ride to Romblon Island from Batangas Port

October 11, 2012 by Josiah 2 Comments

I left home last May 5, 2012 (Saturday) about 11AM to ride a bus to Batangas Port and ride a boat going to Romblon Island. The first day that I set foot on the province of Romblon is the day after but May 5 is what I consider the first day of our trip.

Montenegro Lines Maria Xenia at Batangas Port going to Romblon Island

The boat we were riding at Batangas Port

From the house I took a taxi going to Cubao and from there I rode a Jac Liner Bus (175 Pesos/person, 2 hours) which left around 12 noon going to Batangas Port. I needed to be in Batangas Port by 3PM as I was still meeting Dazl and her family along with Marky and Pam. Turns out I was way too early at Batangas Port (2PM) so I decided to buy a drinking water and some snacks. I saw a 711 convenience store in the vicinity but I decided to buy from a sari-sari store within the port because I like to support small businesses. When I asked for a 350mL of drinking water the lady at the sari-sari store said that it cost 30 Pesos a bottle! I was shocked but decided to buy the water since I thought that at the airport prices also goes that high. I was then craving for a hotdog sandwich that only 711 had, so I went there and decided to also check their 350mL drinking water and it was just 15 Pesos!

I like supporting small businesses but if their quality of service is crap and their prices are a total ripoff, I would happily go to big companies to get what a hard earning citizen, like me, really deserves.

Going back to the topic, Dazl and company arrived. I went through the terminal and met them to get my Montenegro Lines ticket to Romblon Island (954 Pesos/person, economy accommodation).

Where to stay in Romblon Island, Romblon

July 13, 2012 by Josiah Leave a Comment

The truth is there are a lot of lodgings you can find across the big island of Romblon but on this post I will only focus on the town center of the island because this is where you can

Eat street foods during night time
Eat the freshly baked Boknoy Siopao
See what the locals are doing in their freedom park, especially during the night time
St. Joseph Church is located there
Climb to Fort San Andres
Visit the Public Market
Go around town and see the old houses there
The port is located there too so you can ride boats going to Sibuyan Island, Tablas Island, Banton Island and Cobrador Island

View from the roof top of Parc Bay Mansion

I’m one of those people who would like to go to an isolated place and just feel the quiet nature in an area but for Romblon Island. I prefer staying in town as there is something in the people of Romblon Island that is unique and worth observing.

Anyways, below are four lodgings that I have visited when I was there.

1. Parc Bay Mansion

Not the cheapest of all the lodgings that are located in town but I highly recommend this as it is located in front of the pier. You can also go to the roof top to see a better vantage point of the surroundings.

Fan Room	P500.00/room/night
De Luxe Room Without TV	P700.00/room/night
Super Suite with Cable TV	P900.00/room/night

* All private CR

Contact Number: 0921-575-7760

More photos of Parc Bay Mansion

2. Marble House