Story & photos by Joshua Berida
Romblon is a province that you visit to watch time flitter by. Its rustic charm and idyllic vibe are much like the slow lapping of the waves on its powdery sand beaches and the slow, controlled movements of the clouds as they turn from white to orange at sunset.
When I visited Romblon, I was looking for exactly that kind of getaway, even just for a few days.
Slow days
I arrived on Tablas Island late in the afternoon, which in my experience was a bad time to arrive in the province. Since most of the public transportation has either taken or just about to take their last trip for the day. Instead of waiting for the slight chance that I can board a jeepney bound for a bigger town, I decided to rent a tricycle to take me to Aglicay Resort.
During my stay, there were only a handful of guests, there was no Wi-fi, no TV and no other nearby establishments. The only noise I could associate with the city was the droning of the tricycle’s engine. The lapping of the waves on the fine, white sand and the swaying of the trees were the common sounds from afternoon until sunrise. It was a different experience for me, one who is used to staying online. I had to disconnect, slow down, enjoy the view; the simple things.
I left the resort early to catch the jeep bound for San Agustin to board the last boat bound for Romblon, Romblon. Time passes slowly on the island; the easy and patient demeanor of the locals says it all: there’s no rush, they have all the time they need.
Idyllic sunsets and beaches
I arrived at the small port town of San Agustin, where fishermen dry their catch by their houses, while children climb a boat and use it as a diving board. I felt time stand still here; there was no hurry for construction and commercialization, no fast food and no high-speed Internet connection.
Romblon, Romblon, was different from the island I just left; it moved a pace faster, more eager to build, more accepting of what was foreign, more willing to reach out. An Italian restaurant, a bar that served European liquors and German dishes stood side-by-side with the local carinderia serving inihaw and sisig. The droning of the tricycles’ engines and the jeeps moving in and out, signs of movement, bustle, a sense of time, of place. And then there was Internet connection, slow but enough to send messages on Facebook, post a few photos, connect to the world outside this enclave. The provincial capital was on time warp between the big city and the island I just left; caught somewhere in between.
Unlike its provincial capital, Romblon’s beaches lack the hustle and commercialization of its more famous counterparts in Aklan and Palawan. These are easily accessible by riding a tricycle and alighting at their entrances by the highway.
Two of the popular white-sand beaches on the island are Tiamban and Bonbon. The former is small, but has fine, powdery white sand and mirror-like waters, ideal for swimming. Bonbon shares the same characteristics, but with higher trees and a longer and bigger beach. There are no resorts, fancy restaurants and rowdy crowds to block the views, it was back to basics, just swimming and enjoying nature; the music the lapping of the waves make as it hits the sand, the hum of the wind and the rustling of leaves.
Romblon’s skies and landscape are just as beautiful in the day as they are when the sun sets. With no man-made structures to obstruct the view, the sky turns from white to orange to red with a hint of violet, with the glass-like waters of its beaches reflecting the last rays of the sun.
The provincial life
Romblon is known as the marble capital of the Philippine, having large deposits of this rock, the locals are able to carve a living. Their skilled hands sculpt small and big decorative items, coffee cups, plates and trinkets that visitors can take home, to large masterpieces, such as lions, Indians and dragons. Their works travel far and wide to China, America and some parts of Europe, selling for thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands, of pesos.
Life in the province would not be the same without a church; Saint Joseph’s Cathedral is where the locals go to to find peace, God and seek answers for their prayers. The church dates back to the 15th century; its Byzantine altar, beautiful and colorful stained-glass windows and religious paintings elicit admiration from visitors.
Romblon’s rustic atmosphere, slow days, beautiful, bone white-sand beaches and sunsets make you stop and stare, and elicit child-like wonder. The province’s attractions and lost-in- time ambiance make it a worthy destination to go to, where you can disappear and disconnect for a few days and simply enjoy nature.
Image credits: Joshua Berida