Pictures Courtesy of Ish Fabicon

In 1936, a team of anthropologists from the University of the Philippines - Diliman in Manila discovered skulls and bones in centuries-old coffins made from hallowed logs (with handles shaped like animals) and ancient artwork. Also discovered were pieces of ikat or Banton burial cloth which dated as early as the Sung Dynasty in China (13th to 14th centuries) thereby making it the oldest burial cloth found in all of Southeast Asia. A sample of this cloth is now preserved at the National Museum in Manila.

Recovered in sites where Old skeletal remains of unidentified Bantoanons in Guyangan Burial Caves, Banton Romblon Philippines.

Banton Island Main Tourist Attractions

The caves and the museums give the tourists a healthy dose of nature and intellect.

Guyangan Caves - Trek the burial caves where some of national treasures were excavated. It is believed to be the site of ancient burial ceremonies and source of the “Ikat” or “Banton Burial Cloth” considered the oldest in Southeast Asia. Centuries old coffins, made of hallowed-out logs and ancient artworks, which have been discovered in 1936 in these caves.

The Romblon Triangle local version of the famous Bermuda Triangle (another urban legend), probably originated because the Romblon sea is an open sea which sometimes could get rough.

One major maritime disaster or rather battle occured in the waters inside the Romblon Triangle. During the time when the United States Navy under the command of Admiral William Halsey has launched a massive operation to land American forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur in Leyte, the Japanese sent as naval strike force from Formosa (Taiwan) under the command of Admiral Takeo Kurita. Part of this naval strike force was the super-battleship the Yamato and Musashi. On the morning of 24 October, American planes from Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet spotted Admiral Kurita's force entering Sibuyan Sea. The American admiral then sent a squadron of planes to engage the incoming Japanese force the prevent them from reaching San Bernardino Strait. Near the islands of the Dos Hermanas (Carlota and Isabela) the American planes heavily bombed the Japanese naval forces a severely damaging and sinking Musashi. It is near these islands where the remains of this grand battleship of the Japanese found its final resting place.

According to Wikipedia.org the Romblon Triangle is a region in the central seas of the Philippines which lies near the province of Romblon, where a number of surface vessels are alleged to be either mysteriously disappeared or theater of disaster under unexplainable circumstances. Philippine Coast Guard believes that such disasters are due to natural phenomenon like high tides, heavy typhoons among others; outcome of its navigational potentials and topographic features. On the other hand, popular culture assumes paranormal tales which may intervene with the passing vessels.

The boundaries of the triangle covers the entire area of northern Romblon province, and its endpoint lies on Concepcion municipality, in-between of the Dos Hermanas islands (Isabel and Carlota islands) and Sibuyan Island.