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Occidental Mindoro: World of Wonders

Are you sitting at your condominium, feeling congested because you see concrete in the city all day long? Buildings, cars, roads, and the list goes on. Does the nature you see everyday consist of pots and plant boxes? I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, now time to break the monotony of everyday city life by taking a vacation in the Philippines.

It’s amazing how the Philippines doesn’t run out of nature’s wonders. Even if the country adapts itself to technology (The Philippines is the texting capital of the world), you don’t erase the fact that the Philippines originated as a tropical island and has a lot of nature’s wonders to offer. Thus, having a fulfilled vacation in the Philippines will really relax you and recharge you.

Bring out the adventure-savvy person inside you and go for a trip in Occidental Mindoro. By the end of your journey, not only will you have been a fit person, you would have also been immersed in nature’s finest resources. Bring out your suntan lotion, bag your bags, and pay nature a visit in Oriental Mindoro.

A new world of color comes to your way in Apo reef (20-miles west of Mindoro proper at capital from Sablayan), a famous diving site. Here you can see colourful reefs at the bottom of 2 lagoons located at the north and south of the place. Imagine swimming alongside different kinds of sharks, stingrays, and manta rays. It’s truly another world! Now that would be an adventure! Who knows what other discoveries may come your way. It’s quite a long ride from the capital to Sablyan, 2-3 hours, but it’s worth the wait. Here in Apo Reef is also the Binangaan and Caios del Bajo you can see birds of all kinds.

Another wonder of Occidental Mindoro is the tamaraw, an animal slightly resembling a carabao or a bull. Instead of the usual curvy horns of the carabao, its horns are straight facing upward. It is also slightly smaller than the tamaraw.

Calling all treckers! There’s a nice surprise waiting for you in Mindoro specifically in Mt. Halcon. Mt. Halcon gives you a challenging 4-day trekking adventure. Another venue would be Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park. It’s also home to the tamaraw in case, you’d like to pay the tough animal a visit.

For a more relaxed take on nature appreciation, come visit the beaches that grace this beautiful island. You can visit these beaches at Ilin Island, Lubang Island, Pandan Grande Island, Tayamaan Beach, White Island, Mumbarao, Paluan, San Jose and Cabra Island. Ilin Island actually houses five beaches through some have a lot of reefs which makes it a little inconvenient during low tide. Mina de Oro is the famous beach resort in that area. In Lubang island, watch out for hotspots- Tilik Beach and Canu Beach. Hulugaan Falls, which leads to a stony beach will give you lots of dramatic looking photos to take with its scenic sites to behold. Quite the opposite scene fills White Island; white sandy shores gracefully welcome you here. Just a warning though, keep off the turtles eggs buried in the white sand, you wouldn’t want to squish the turtle mama’s babies! Tourist attractions are the beaches in Mubarao (with its relaxing resorts) and Paluan (Calawagan Resort).

Get a dose of culture

Let’s now put festivals into the picture. To get to know Occidental Mindoro a little bit better, go to San Jose at April 25-27. This is when Sangkunan Festival is celebrated. A series of activities happens during these days such a techno trade fair, a parade, a street dance competition among other activities. This is a celebration of the place’s cultural heritage, a nation rich in values like brotherhood, cooperation and unity in work.

An interesting manmade creation takes the form of Presing Park. See rare finds and remnants such as a 15th century cannons that is said to have been the property of Moro pirates. Also here in the Our Lady of Fatima Grotto positioned at the end of the park.

A lot to do and a lot to see. Here in Occidental Mindoro, you will never get bored. The place is truly rich in nature’s wonders, in activities do, and in scenic sites. Pretty soon after your visit you will be rich with adventure-filled memories.

Like one of its first names, Mina de Oro, Mindoro is certainly a home to a world of wonders. Literally, Mina de Oro means gold mine. For me, it couldn’t be truer.

Sources:

Occidental Mindoro Travel Guide sources include Wikipedia and World66