Oriental Mindoro

Population

34th largest Total (2007) 681,818 Founded 1621

languages

Tagalog, Mangyan

General Information

Its capital is Calapan City and occupies the eastern half of the island of Mindoro; Occidental Mindoro is the western half. The Spanish called it Mina de Oro, believing that the island was the site a fable mountain of Gold. Oriental Mindoro shares the esatern half of the large island of Mindoro Island. On the north the narrow Verde Island passage lies between it and the Batangacoast of the island of luzon. To the east, Tablas strait separates Mindoro from the islands of Romblon.

Geography

The province has a total land area of 4,364.72 km sq; with the western portion of the province being mountainous or rugged, hills and flood plains are widely distributed in the eastern portion. Mount Halcon, the 18th highest mountain in the country, standing 2582 m above sea level, is the province and the island's highest peak. Lake Naujan, the fifth largest lake in the country, with an area of approximately 81,250 km of open water is located at the northeastern part of the island and or of the province.

Economy /Resources

Oriental Mindoro relies on tourism and agriculture, especially fruits, for its income. 70% of the population is engaged in agriculture and fishing; the remaining 30% engages in commercial and other livelihood means.

Culture

The Tagalogs comprise the majority of the people living in Oriental Mindoro. Many are the descendants of migrants and most of the people can trace their lineage from the provinces of Batangas and Quezon. In the interior of the island live the cultural communities known collectively as Mangyans. There are about seven major groups into which the Mangyans are divided, and there are further sub-groups among them. The Mangyans are basically subsistence farmers living in small family-based communities at the head of rivers and streams. Them are shifting agriculturist who move out of an exhausted patch of forest to clear a new patch of land. The Manyans, in general, are docile and are predisposed to move on rather than come into conflict ewith lowlanders. Climate The province experiences dry weather from November to May and rainy weather the rest of the year.