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PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF ORIENTAL MINDORO
FAST FACTS
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LOCATION
Oriental Mindoro occupies the eastern part of the island of Mindoro. It is bounded on the north by the Verde Island Passage, on the east by Tablas Strait, on the west by Occidental Mindoro, and on the south by Semirara Island.
THE LAND
The province's varied topography is dominated by rugged mountain ranges on the west and fertile valleys towards the eastern coast. The Halcon mountain range runs from north to south and serves as the province's natural boundary with Occidental Mindoro. Mt. Halcon at 2,586 m is the fourth-highest peak in the Philippines. Lake Naujan is in the northern part of the province. The plains stretch from Baco, Calapan, Naujan, and Victoria in the north, Pinamalayan and Bongabong in the middle, and Roxas to Mansalay in the south. The province does not have either a pronounced dry or rainy period but is open to southwest monsoons and typhoons.
A BRIEF HISTORY
In the early 17th century, the island of Mindoro was separated from Bonbon (now Batangas) and organized into a corregimiento. Puerto Galera in what is now Oriental Mindoro was made its capital.
In 1837, the capital was transferred to Calapan and it remained so until June 13,1950 when Mindoro was divided into two provinces by Republic Act No. 5005. Oriental Mindoro retained Calapan as its capital. Mindoro originally included the island of Maestro de Campo, east of Pinamalayan, but this has since become a part of Romblon.
THE PEOPLE
The predominant language is Tagalog but other dialects include Ilocano, Cebuano, and the Mangyan tongues of Arayan, Alangan, Buhid, Hanunuo, and Tadyawan. The Mangyans were among the earliest inhabitants of Mindoro. There are now about 50,000 Mangyans living in Oriental Mindoro. The term Mangyan is a generic name for the diverse groups inhabiting the mountains and foothills. Individually, the groups identify themselves by other names.
The Iraya live in the northern towns from Baco to Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro. While they have come to live in settlements, they nevertheless maintain a second hut in the kaingin sites during agricultural production. They are noted for fine baskets.
The Alangan live in a wide area around Mt. Halcon between the Iraya and the Batagan to the south. The Paitan area has been declared a reservation for this group.
The Batangan or Taobuid belong to the ethnic stock called proto-Malay. Most of them do not have personal names. Both sexes wear loincloths. Married women cover their breast with bark scraps. The Hanunuo, who consider themselves the "true" Mangyans, are found in the southern towns from Bongabong to San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. They still use an ancient indigenous script consisting of 48 characters, which they carve onto bamboo tubes. They chant words of wisdom called inukoy and folkloric poems called ambahan. They are also musically inclines, using instruments made of wood and human hair for string on a bow.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Agriculture is the major economic activity in the province. The principal products are rice, coconut, corn, citrus, and other fruits. Cattle and poultry raising and rubber planting are large-scale. Fishing is lucrative, with 13 coastal towns as rich fishing grounds. The province has abundant mineral resources such as gold in the Baco and Bongabon rivers, and coal at the northwest area of Mt. Halcon. There are also white marble and slate deposits.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised:August 04, 1999.
