Botongan Cave.

A kilometer and a half away from the national road. An enchanted cave with three openings. One is at the base which is very wide. This church-like formation gives the cave a neerie but religious atmosphere. Another opening is at the center and the last is found at the top of the cave. A large tunnel is found inside the cave which is weirdly connected to another cave in Zapatos island of Balud . A large quantity of bats cling on the stone ceiling of the dark cave. These bats supply the people with guano, commonly used as fertilizers.

Matang Tubig Spring.

A unique spring with three sources. The spring comes out of a rock. Wild giant trees and lust vegetation give shades in the area around the spring. It is also very ideal place for artists and poets. For picnickers, it is a nice subtitute site for refreshing activities. The spring water is invitingly cool. Its a kilometer away from Masbate, the capital town.

Catandayagan Falls.

One of the most beautiful falls in the province. Its feature is its high single-tiered shape. Around thefalls, lush vegetation abundantly grows. Wild animals also roam around the place. Exotic flowers bloom in the area of Monreal.

Batongan Underground River.

This cool and fresh underground river was discovered by a group of students from Masbate Agricultural College who were on a field trip in the place. It is 120 meters away from the Batongan cave. People like to come often to this site because of the cool and pleasurable dips they experienced when bathing in this underneath naturally cold water.

Talisay Beach.

A booming resort on the island of Ticao. Famous for its rocks which serve as dividing board for swimmers. Located 13 kilometers south of San Fernando town or about 30-minute ride from the town of Masbate.

Dacu Beach.

A favorite site for picnicking during weekends. Located in Mobo town, it is a 15-minute ride from capital town of Masbate.

Lies in the center of the Philippines Archipelago, bounded on the north by the Bicol Peninsula, on the south by the Visayan Sea, on the west by Sibuyan Sea, and on the east by Samar Sea.

Masbate (the name of a province, an island, and a town) occupies a transitional position between Bicol and the Visayas. Since it lies between the main routes south i.e., Manila-Tacloban Highway and the sea lanes to Cebu and the western Visayas, it's outside the tourist mainstream. But those who do come here can enjoy fine beaches, a scenic, hilly landscape , and friendly locals.

Masbate was born out of miscommunication. In spite of this, its name carried on through generations as early as the Spanish regime.

It began when the Spaniards set foot on the island during the early 16th and17th century. They found the natives basically cordial and friendly. In their friendly venture with the local inhabitants, a squad of Spanish soldiers strolled along in the village. And then, they saw a couple preparing beverages out of cocoa. One of the foriegners got curious of knowing the name of the locality. He asked the woman who was vigorously cooking, mixing and beating the hard chocolate beverage inside a cooking pot.

At this instance, miscommunication between the local villager and the Spaniards happened. Believing that the soldier was asking what she was doing, she loudly answered with a fast and high-toned accent, "Masa bati, masa bati", which literally meant to mix and beat more and more. The soldiers interpreted it as the name of the village and their lacation. As such, the Spanish chroniclers recorded it as the name of the province.

Shortly, more and more groups of Spaniards explored the island up to the islands of Ticao and Burias. One of them was headed by Luis Enriquez de Guzman. Later it was followed by Captain Andres de Ibarra. The increasing colonization had brought about the development of commerce, christianization of the natives and other influences related to socio-economic intensification of the province.

Masbate was formerly a part of the province of Albay. Later, it became a subprovincre of Sorsogon when Sorsogon got separated from Albay.

The separation move from Albay had established certain political changes. In 1846, Guiom became Masbate´s capital and Ticao, its commandacia. This set-up continued in 1898.

Somewhere in Cavite, on June1898, during the Filipino-Spanish revolution headed by General Emilio Aguinaldo, the Philippine Republic was inaugurated. A military decree was issued by General Aguinaldo to overthrow the Spanish government. He ordered to send military forces to Visayas whose missions were to take control of the islands. The order included the island of Masbate. General Justo Lucban and Regino de Dios were the commanders of these Filippino regiments.

The dormant guerillas were soon mobilized to join the takeover operations when they heard the news. Juan Kipte was the new leader of the local forces against the Spanish military detachment. After a bloody confrontation with the foreign colonizers, the mission to take control was finally implemented by instituting immediately a military government under the leadership of Vicente Tricino who became the first military governor of the province. However, Trivino was not a native of Masbate, He hailed from Boac, Marinduque.

Then, came the American occupation. Masbate continued to be a subprovince of Sorsogon. It did not stop here. The struggle for political autonomy continued to flow in the veins of nationalist Masbatenos and its able political leaders.

The island of Masbate lies exactly at the center of the Philippine archipelago. Looking like an arrowhead with its tip pointing towards the north, it encloses the Asian Gulf which extends up to the Visayan Sea. The Jintolo Channel separates it from Panay Island. On the northwestern coast of the island is the Sibuyan Sea. On the northwestern tip, limestone cliffs rise almost perpendicularly along the water line. On the interior surface, low rolling hills are cascading with verdant plants and greenery.

Masbate is composed of three main islands, namely; Masbate, Ticao and Burias. Several small islets could be found on its surrounding territory especially on the north of the Visayas and southwest of the Bicol Peninsula.

Masbate is the capital town of the province. The province is composed of 21 municipalities which are politically subdivided into three district (San Pascual, Claveria, Montreal, San Jacinto, San Fernando and Butuan), second district (Masbate, Mobo, Milagros, Aroroy, Baleno, Balud and Mandaon) and third district (Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Isperanza, Placer and Cawayan).  It has a land area of 4,048 sq. km.

Masbate has two types of climate: the third and the fourth type. The former is characterized by having no pronounced maximim rain, with short dry season which last for only one to three months. This dry spell extends from February to April or even until May. This type covers the whole mainland of Masbate. The latter, however, is characterized by having no pronounced maximum rain, with no dry season the whole year round. It covers the whole island of Ticao and Burias.

The frequency of typhoons and/or strong winds occur only during November and December.

Masbate´s dialect is predominantly Visayan with a unique mixture of Tagalog and some shades of Ilonggo. This is true as far as the island of Ticao. Surprisingly, however, Burias island adopts the Bicol tongue just like the dialect in Camarines Sur. The reason for this peculiar distinction is its close proximity to the mainland of the Bicol Peninsula.

For languages, the people could speak fluent English and Pilipino.

Masbate is endowed with rich natural resources. In line with agriculture, the major industries are: large farming, livestock and poultry raising. Along coastal areas, it is predominantly fishing. Agricultural lands are planted with rice, corn, rootcrops and also coconuts.

In livestock industry, Masbate ranks second to Bukidnon in cattle supply throughout the country. Aside from cattle raising, it also consists of carabao, horse, goats and swine.

As a whole, the province is surrounded with rich fishing areas where all kinds of commercial species of fish teemed in great abundance. Underneath the land surface, rich minerals are available. In fact, Masbate is called bygeologist as a province sitting on a "pot of gold". Other than gold, the mineral reserves also found in hte province are: cooper, silver, iron, chomite, limestone, guano, carbon and many athers.

Cottage industry is likewise another source of livelihood. They are: furniture and cabinet making, ceramics garments handicrafts and metalcrafts.

Points of Interest

Aroroy Beach. A fast-becoming attraction among excursionists in the region. Its unspoiled natural beauty is the dominant feature. Cool and fresh shades from coconut palms growing along the beaches provide visitors a romantic interlude. One can bask under the sun over small pebbles which largely cover the whole beach. It is a 20-minute ride away from Masbate being located along the national highway.

Ubo Falls. Locally, it is known as the "Littke Pagsanjan Falls".Situated in Mobo, it is accessible in a 30-minute drive from Masbate proper.

Tagoron Water Falls. Located along the sea. Found in the barrio of Tagoron, Monreal. A good place for picnics and excursions. Usually, it is visited by students and teachers from the different colleges of the province.

One is safe to go near the falls. Cascading at a height of 60 feet, it offers a breathtaking view. Different species of varied-colored fishes swim at or close to the base of the waterfalls, adding more excitement to the view. It could be reached in an hour by motorboat.