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Introduction
Puerto Galera was discovered by the Spaniards
in the early 16th century as a safe haven for
their trade ships during storms and typhoons.
A visit to the local Museum with it's impressive
collection of artifacts located near the church
in Puerto Galera will verify the rich culture
and history of this island.
Puerto Galera is Y-shaped peninsula located on
the northern shores of Mindoro Island, some 130
km south of Manila and 14 nautical miles from
Batangas City. It is bounded on the north by Verde
Island Passage, on the south by the Municipality
of San Teodoro (Oriental Mindoro), and on the
west by the Municipality of Abra de Ilog (Occidental
Mindoro).
Destinations
Alibatan Island : Located at
northeast of Bacunagan Points. It is a five-hectare
island noted for its white sand. A half-hectare
lake is found in the island. The place serves
as the breeding place for seagulls and turtles.
Oral and oysters can be found all around the area.
The island is also called the "Target Island"
because bombing practices in 1946 were made in
this place by the Americans staying in San Jose,
Occidental Mindoro.
Buyayao Island : Located off
the coast of Mansalay. This island is rocky except
for the area facing Buyayao Peninsula. Big snakes
called "sobre kama" are found in the
mountains. The waters around are suited for deep
sea fishing.
Tamaraw Falls (Brgy. Villaflor,
Puerto Galera) : It is a 423-ft. waterfalls located
alongside the road. The cascading waterfalls attract
the attention of passers-by.
Talipanan Beach (Puerto Galera)
: The area is not as busy as the other beaches
located in Puerto Galera. Good site for swimming
with privacy.
White Beach (Brgy. San Isidro,
Puerto Galera) : It has nice beaches good for
swimming with some entertainment facilities.
Festivals
Moriones Festival : Celebrated
during the week before Easter (Holy Week). It
is a religious festival held annually by the local
folks to re-enact the "Pugutan" as part
of the ritual.
Sanduguan : Celebrated every
November 15. It is a re-enactment of the first
historical trade and cultural contacts between
the natives of the island of Ma-I (Mindoro) and
traders from China. Sanduguan was derived from
the native word "Sandugo" which literally
means "brother". It is also done in
consonance with the founding anniversary of Mindoro
Oriental.
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