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PEOPLE:

The predominant language is Tagalog but other dialects inlude Ilocano, Cebuano and Mangyan tongues of Arayan, alangan, Buhid, Hanunuo and Tadyawan.

The Mangyans were among the earliest inhabitants of Mindoro. there are now about 50,000 Mangayans living in Oriental Mindoro in 14 different tribes.

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 - Alangan live in a wide area around Mt. Halcon between the Iraya and the Batangan 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 loin-clothes. Married women cover their breast with bark scraps.

The Hununuo - who consider themselves the "true" Mangyans, are found in the southern towns from Bongabong to San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. They still use a 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 inclined, using instruments made of wood and human hair for strings on a bow.

INDUSTRIES:

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. Fishing is lucrative, with 13 coastal fishing towns with rich fishing grounds.

The province has abundant mineral resources such as gold in the Baco and Bongabon rivers, coal at the northwest area of Mt. Halcon and white marble and slate.

CLIMATE:

Oriental Mindoro has two distinct weather types: rainy season and dry season. Rains begin to fall in the province in late May, intensifying through June, July, August, September and October, then gradually subsides in November. The months of August and September are the wettest period, with storms directly passing through the area.

On the other hand, the dry season starts in November, with rainfall subsiding in intensity, and altogether ceasing in January, February, March and April. March and April are the driest period, with cloudless skies and parched earth characterizing the general area.

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 utnil June 13, 1950 When Mindoro was divided into two provinces. 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.

"Mindoro" is a contraction of the Spanish phrase "Mina de Oro," meaning gold mine. It was called "Mai" by early Chinese traders. The significance of Mindoro dates back to pre-Spanish times. Due to its favorable geographic location, it served as an important trading center of Chinese goods. As early as 872 A.D., Mindoro traded with Canton because of their proximity to each other. A Chinese chronicle of 1225 A.D. gave the first documented evidence concerning the island of Mindoro. Following the existing sea routes during the ancient time, the ships sailed to Mindoro's north and west coasts, which were then the densely populated urban centers. For local products like beeswax, pearl, sandalwood and tortoise shells, the Chinese traders bartered porcelain, silk and tea.
        In the 14th century, the Madjapahit Empire controlled a domain extending from Borneo to Mindoro. On May 8, 1570, Captain Martin de Goite accompanied Juan Salcedo to explore Western Mindoro. In 1591, when the Spanish "conquistadores"   divided the Philippines into eleven provinces, Mindoro was grouped together with Calilaya, Lubang, Batangas, the Calamianes Group and Marinduque. The third ecclesiastical district of the Philippine Archipelago was established in Calavite by the Recollecto Friars on June 18, 1677. Mindoro became part of Batangas Province when the latter was made a separate   province known as Bonbon. At the beginning of the 17th century, the island was separated from Batangas and organized into a "Corrigimento" with Puerto Galera as its capital and placed under the jurisdiction of Marinduque.
        When the Americans occupied Mindoro in 1889, they set up a military government in the island until the inauguration of a civil government on July   4, 1901. The province likewise played a historic part during the Second World War. Its history bristles with the gallantry of local heroes who fought the Japanese invaders along with American soldiers. From Leyte, Douglas McArthur's forces   staged its "Second Landing" in the southern part of the province on December   15, 1945 on their way to the full liberation of the country from Japanese   invasion.
        On November 15, 1950, Mindoro was divided into two provinces: Oriental Mindoro and OCCIDENTAL MINDORO. San Jose was made the provincial capital of the latter until January 1, 1961, when the seat of government was transferred   to Mamburao. From the original number of eight towns, Occidental Mindoro is now composed of eleven municipalities.

	History of Oriental Mindoro


	General information about Oriental Mindoro Province Capital: Calapan Area: 4364,7 sq km Population: 550,049 Cities: none Number of Towns: 15 THE LAND: The province´s varied topgraphy is dominated by rugged mountain ranges from the west and fertile valleys towards the eastern coast. The Halcon moutain range runs from north to south and serves as the province´s natural boundary with Occidental Mindoro. Mt. Halcon at 2586 meter is the fourth highest peak in the Philippines. Lake Naujan is in the northern paart 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.
	PEOPLE: The predominant language is Tagalog but other dialects inlude Ilocano, Cebuano and Mangyan tongues of Arayan, alangan, Buhid, Hanunuo and Tadyawan. The Mangyans were among the earliest inhabitants of Mindoro. there are now about 50,000 Mangayans living in Oriental Mindoro in 14 different tribes. 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 - Alangan live in a wide area around Mt. Halcon between the Iraya and the Batangan 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 loin-clothes. Married women cover their breast with bark scraps. The Hununuo - who consider themselves the "true" Mangyans, are found in the southern towns from Bongabong to San Jose in Occidental Mindoro. They still use a 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 inclined, using instruments made of wood and human hair for strings on a bow. INDUSTRIES: 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. Fishing is lucrative, with 13 coastal fishing towns with rich fishing grounds. The province has abundant mineral resources such as gold in the Baco and Bongabon rivers, coal at the northwest area of Mt. Halcon and white marble and slate. CLIMATE: Oriental Mindoro has two distinct weather types: rainy season and dry season. Rains begin to fall in the province in late May, intensifying through June, July, August, September and October, then gradually subsides in November. The months of August and September are the wettest period, with storms directly passing through the area. On the other hand, the dry season starts in November, with rainfall subsiding in intensity, and altogether ceasing in January, February, March and April. March and April are the driest period, with cloudless skies and parched earth characterizing the general area. 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 utnil June 13, 1950 When Mindoro was divided into two provinces. 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. "Mindoro" is a contraction of the Spanish phrase "Mina de Oro," meaning gold mine. It was called "Mai" by early Chinese traders. The significance of Mindoro dates back to pre-Spanish times. Due to its favorable geographic location, it served as an important trading center of Chinese goods. As early as 872 A.D., Mindoro traded with Canton because of their proximity to each other. A Chinese chronicle of 1225 A.D. gave the first documented evidence concerning the island of Mindoro. Following the existing sea routes during the ancient time, the ships sailed to Mindoro's north and west coasts, which were then the densely populated urban centers. For local products like beeswax, pearl, sandalwood and tortoise shells, the Chinese traders bartered porcelain, silk and tea. In the 14th century, the Madjapahit Empire controlled a domain extending from Borneo to Mindoro. On May 8, 1570, Captain Martin de Goite accompanied Juan Salcedo to explore Western Mindoro. In 1591, when the Spanish "conquistadores" divided the Philippines into eleven provinces, Mindoro was grouped together with Calilaya, Lubang, Batangas, the Calamianes Group and Marinduque. The third ecclesiastical district of the Philippine Archipelago was established in Calavite by the Recollecto Friars on June 18, 1677. Mindoro became part of Batangas Province when the latter was made a separate province known as Bonbon. At the beginning of the 17th century, the island was separated from Batangas and organized into a "Corrigimento" with Puerto Galera as its capital and placed under the jurisdiction of Marinduque. When the Americans occupied Mindoro in 1889, they set up a military government in the island until the inauguration of a civil government on July 4, 1901. The province likewise played a historic part during the Second World War. Its history bristles with the gallantry of local heroes who fought the Japanese invaders along with American soldiers. From Leyte, Douglas McArthur's forces staged its "Second Landing" in the southern part of the province on December 15, 1945 on their way to the full liberation of the country from Japanese invasion. On November 15, 1950, Mindoro was divided into two provinces: Oriental Mindoro and OCCIDENTAL MINDORO. San Jose was made the provincial capital of the latter until January 1, 1961, when the seat of government was transferred to Mamburao. From the original number of eight towns, Occidental Mindoro is now composed of eleven municipalities.