Rambling Through Romblon 3: Romblon Island and Town, Sights and Distant Sounds

Romblon Island might offer plenty of pristine, natural beauty but our two visits also revealed a cultural and historical depth. Along with its paradisical white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters and breathtaking viewpoints, Romblon also features several historical and cultural touchstones – a delightful mix that is not so easy to find anywhere else in the country.

Malabrigo Point: A Lighthouse’s Story

Ever since we visited distant Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Ilocos Norte years ago we have always been intrigued by lighthouses. Not so much by the picturesque landscapes they often find themselves in or in the panoramic coastal views they provide but by the history that accompanies them. The Malabrigo Point Lighthouse in the town of Lobo, Batangas province is no exception.

Emblems of a Storied Past: Balayan’s Ancestral Houses

Whenever talking about heritage or ancestral houses in the Philippines, our thoughts invariably turn towards the municipalities of Vigan (Ilocos Sur), Silay (Negros Occidental), Pila (Laguna) and Taal in Batangas. For a long time, however, we did not realize that a town hidden in the shadows of Taal and less than 30 kilometers away was for a time the more prominent town in Batangas and in that part of the country.