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Banton
Municipality
Bayan ng Banton
(From top, left to right) Banton Island, Fort San Jose, the 16th century St. Nicholas de Tolentino Parish Church, Macat-ang Beach in Brgy. Mainit, a pre-colonial artifacts found in Banton's Guyangan Cave System, Banton Civic Center, and Banton's poblacion viewed from Manamyaw Cliff.
Official seal of Banton
Seal
Map of Romblon with Banton highlighted
Map of Romblon with Banton highlighted
CountryPhilippines
RegionMIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
ProvinceRomblon
DistrictLone district
Founded1622[1]
Barangays17 (see § Barangays)
Government
[2]
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorJoseph Fadri (LP)
 • Vice MayorLoijorge Fegalan (NP)
 • Town Council
Members
Area
[3]
 • Total
32.48 km2 (12.54 sq mi)
Highest elevation
596 m (1,955 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[4]
 • Total
5,737
 • Density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
DemonymBantoanon[5]
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
Zip Code
5515
Dialing code+63 (0)42
Patron saintSan Nicolas de Tolentino
LanguagesAsi, English, Filipino
Income class5th class

Banton (formerly known as Jones) is a fifth-class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Its territory encompasses the entire island of Banton located on the northern portion of the province and lies on the northern portion of the Sibuyan Sea near the southern tip of Marinduque. It is a town of about 5,000 people majority of which speak the Bantoanon language, one of the five primary branches of the Visayan languages.

Banton is thought to be already inhabited by Filipinos since the pre-colonial period, based on analysis of discovered human remains, coffins, an ancient burial cloth and other archaeological finds by the National Museum in the 1930s. The present settlement was founded in 1622 by the Spanish and is the oldest settlement in the province. During the American colonial period, the municipality changed its name to Jones in honor of American congressman William Jones, who authored the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916. Today, Banton is one of Romblon's thriving municipalities, with an economy dependent on copra farming, fishing, raffia palm weaving, and tourism.

Etymology

The name "Banton" was derived from the Asi word batoon, meaning "rocky", referring to the mountainous and rocky topography of the island due to its volcanic origin.[5] Another possible origin is the word bantoy, which is the Asi word for the venomous stonefish.[1]

History

Ipot Cave, where the earliest known warp ikat textile in Southeast Asia was found in 1936
Fuerza de San Jose, Banton's Spanish colonial era fort

Early history

Banton was already inhabited during pre-colonial times as proven by ancient artefacts such as wooden coffins and skeletal remains found in the island's caves in 1936 by a team of researchers from the National Museum. Among the artefacts was the Banton Cloth, a piece of a traditional burial cloth found in one of the wooden coffins. It is estimated to be 400 years old, making it the earliest known warp ikat (tie-resist dyeing) textile in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.[6][7][8] These artifacts are now preserved at the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila.[6]

The municipality of Banton was established by Spanish colonial authorities in 1622, the first town established in the entire province of Romblon. It was initially founded in a site in Bacoco Hill (now part of Barangay Hambian), south-west of its present site. The administration of the other islands of Romblon were put under the jurisdiction of Banton until 1631, when Pueblo de Romblon was founded.[1] In 1640, due to frequent raids by Moros, who looted and pillaged the settlement, the limestone fort called Fuerza de San Jose and the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church was constructed under the leadership of Father Agustin de San Pedro, also known as El Padre Capitan, who was the parish priest of Banton at that time. The construction was completed in 1644, and in 1648, San Nicolas de Tolentino was installed as the town's patron saint. The fort effectively protected the town against further Moro raids.[1]

Modern history

When civilian government was introduced in Romblon by the Americans on 16 March 1901, Banton was one of the 11 new municipalities reinstated or created. In 1918, the municipality was renamed Jones in honor of American congressman William Jones, who authored the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 that provided for greater autonomy for the Philippines under American colonial rule.[9] In 1959, Republic Act No. 2158 restored the island to its former name.[10]

In 2013, Banton was one of the sites of a detailed resource assessment by the Department of Energy (DOE), along with Maricaban Island in Batangas and Balut Island in Saranggani. The study aimed to determine whether the island can be a site for low enthalpy geothermal power generation. However, no exploitable geothermal resource has been delineated on the island.[11][12][13] On 19 March 2013, the National Museum declared as Important Cultural Property the island's Guyangan Cave System, where precolonial wooden coffins, remains, and the Banton Cloth were found.[14][15][16]

On 15 December 2015, Typhoon Melor made its fourth landfall over the island as it crossed central Philippines, causing severe devastation.[17]

Geography

Banton Island
Bantoncillo Island
The Dos Hermanas Islands, composed of Carlota and Isabel Islands

Banton lies on the northern portion of the Sibuyan Sea, and is equidistant between Marinduque Island to the north and Tablas Island to the south. It is composed of the main island of Banton and the uninhabited islands of Bantoncillo, Carlota and Isabel, the last two of which are collectively known as the Dos Hermanas Islands. There is also an islet near Tabonan Beach on the north-west of the island.[1]

Banton has a total land area of 3,248 hectares (32.48 km2).[18] Based on rock petrology, the island is a dormant volcano which lies at the southernmost portion of the Pleistocene-Quaternary West Luzon volcanic arc and may have been active during the Pliocene period.[11] Because of its volcanic origin, the island has a mountainous, rocky topography, with very few patches of flat land suitable for farming. The island's highest elevation, Mount Ampongo, rises at 596 metres (1,955 ft).[5]

Barangays

Banton is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.[18] In 1954, the sitios of Mahaba, Angomon, Solocan, Kapanranan, and Yabawon were consolidated into the barangay known as Yabawon.[19]

3

Climate

As part of Romblon, Banton is classified under Type III of the Corona climatic classification system. This type of climate is described as having no prominent wet or dry seasons. The wet season, which usually occurs from June to November can extend up to December during the onset of the southwest monsoon. The dry season from January to May may sometimes have periods of rainfall or even inclement weather.[20][21]

Climate data for Banton, Romblon
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 28
(82) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		27
(81) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		25
(77)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 102
(4.0) 		27
(1.1) 		30
(1.2) 		129
(5.1) 		120
(4.7) 		237
(9.3) 		189
(7.4) 		186
(7.3) 		126
(5.0) 		231
(9.1) 		162
(6.4) 		90
(3.5) 		1,629
(64.1)
Average rainy days 14 12 9 11 20 20 21 22 19 21 17 17 203
Source: World Weather Online[22]

Demographics

Population census of Banton
YearPop.±% p.a.
1980 7,362—    
1990 7,077−0.39%
1995 6,069−2.84%
2000 6,769+2.37%
2007 6,799+0.06%
2010 5,963−4.66%
2015 5,536−1.41%
Source: National Statistics Office[23][24][25]
Bird's eye view of Barangay Poblacion
The retablo or altarpiece of Banton Church showing different Catholic saints.

According to the 2020 census, Banton has a population of 5,737 people.[4] The island municipality is sparsely populated with a population density of 170/km2 (441/sq mi). According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in 2013, there were 3,694 registered voters in Banton, spread over 31 electoral precincts. Of this figure, 1,794 are male registered voters, while 1,900 are female.[26]

Language

Main article: Asi language

The island's inhabitants speak the Asi language|Bantoanon language, one of three major languages spoken in Romblon and one of five primary branches of the Visayan language family. The island's inhabitants were the first speakers of the language throughout the province, having spoken it since precolonial times. From Banton, the language spread to other island like Maestro de Campo, Simara, and in the towns of Calatrava, and Odiongan in Tablas Island.[1]

David Paul Zorc, a linguist from the Australian National University whose expertise is on Philippine languages, notes that Asi speakers may have been the first Visayan speakers in the Romblon region. He also suggests that Asi may have a Cebuano substratum and that many of its words may have been influenced by the later influx of other languages such as Romblomanon.[27]

Economy

Copra farming in Banton

Banton has a primarily agricultural economy, with copra farming and fishing as the main sources of livelihood. There is also an indigenous raffia palm handicraft industry. Other crops grown in the island are root crops (such as cassava, sweet potatoes), fruits and vegetables. The locals also engage in livestock raising for local consumption, and small-scale shipbuilding of wooden boats and launches.[5]

Due to the island's rocky topography and lack of a stable supply of freshwater, rice production is difficult in the island. Rice from Mindoro, Marinduque or Quezon is supplied to the island by local traders. In recent years, the island has also become a small tourist hub for Asi expatriates and foreign tourists from the United States and other countries.[5]

Tourism

Tambak Beach
Tabonan Beach

Banton is an eco-tourism and heritage destination due to its beaches, diving sites, caves, churches and Spanish-era fortifications.[5]

Heritage sites

Being the oldest settlement in Romblon, Banton has several Spanish-era fortifications and churches, as well as American-era houses. These include Fuerza de San Jose, Banton Church, the old campanile made of limestone at Everlast in Barangay Poblacion, and a limestone watchtower at Onte in Barangay Toctoc. There is an American-era house at Pinagkaisahan in Barangay Poblacion which used to be the Ugat Faigao Museum but now serves as a sari-sari store. The Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts (also in Everlast) serves as an information center for the Asi language and Banton history, as well as depository of Banton's archaeological and cultural artifacts. The Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino also has a small museum of pre-colonial and Spanish-era artifacts.[1][5]

Natural formations

Caves are Banton's well-known natural formations. The Guyangan Cave System, situated at the boundary of Barangay Toctoc and Togbongan, has seven caves, some of which were inhabited during pre-colonial times, and is now an Important Cultural Treasure as declared by the National Museum.[14] Guyangan Hill, where the caves are situated, also has a natural view deck called Manamyaw overlooking Barangay Poblacion and the Sibuyan Sea. On a clear day, the islands of Sibuyan, Romblon, and Tablas, as well as Burias Island, can be easily seen from Manamyaw. The island has several rock formations as well. Punta Matagar in Barangay Poblacion is a pointed rock formation in the shape of a spear or arrow head. In Barangay Banice, on the southern portion of the island, lies a rock arch said to be the anchorage of "Lolo Amang", a mythological figure in Romblon's nautical folklore similar to the Flying Dutchman.[1][5]

Beaches

Several beaches dot Banton's coast including Macat-ang, Tabonan, Mahaba, Recodo, Togbongan, Mainit, and Tambak beaches. Some like Macat-ang, Tabonan, and Tambak are white sand beaches, while others, like Togbongan, are pebbled and rocky.[1][5] The island's waters are also well-known dive sites, with corals that serve as breeding ground for groupers, snappers, sharks, and stingrays.[28]

Festivals

Banton has annual religious and cultural festivals. The Sanrokan festival showcases the local tradition of sharing food, especially viand, among neighbors and starts from Holy Saturday up to Easter Sunday. The festival has two phases: the Sanrokan sa Barangay (sharing of food in the villages) and the Sanrokan sa Poblacion (sharing of food at the town proper). Parlor games such as chasing the pig and palosebo (climbing a greased bamboo pole to claim a prize) are held during the celebration. This is followed by the Hanrumanan (meaning "souvenir/legacy") street dancing and parade.[5] Meanwhile, every year, on 10 September, the entire island pays tribute and homage to the town's patron saint, San Nicolas de Tolentino through the Biniray festival. Holy mass is held during feast day, followed by the parading of the saint's image around town. This leads to a fluvial parade around the island, with each village giving homage to the saint. Bantoanons also hold an annual Via Crucis during the Holy Week and Flores de Mayo in May.[1]

Local Government

Banton Civic Center in Barangay Poblacion is the seat of the municipal government of Banton, Romblon
Main article: Philippine municipality

Pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991,[29] the Banton municipal government is composed of a mayor (alkalde), a vice-mayor (bise alkalde) and eight members (kagawad) of the Sangguniang Bayan or town council, alongside a secretary to the said council, all of which are elected to a three-year term and are eligible to run for three consecutive terms. Banton's incumbent mayor is Joseph Fadri of the Liberal Party while the incumbent vice-mayor is Loijorge Fegalan of the Nacionalista Party.[2]

The barangays or villages, meanwhile, are headed by elected officials, the topmost being the Punong Barangay or the Barangay Chairperson (addressed as Kapitan; also known as the Barangay Captain). The Kapitan is aided by the Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council) whose members, called Barangay Kagawad (Councilors), are also elected.[30]

In 2011 and 2013, Banton was a recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). As recipient of the award, the local government was rewarded with one million pesos from the Performance Challenge Fund of the DILG for use in local projects.[31][32] The Seal of Good Housekeeping is a mechanism which tracks the performance of local government units, "specifically in the areas of local legislation, development planning, resource generation, and resource allocation".[33]

Infrastructure

Passenger motorcycles are the main mode of transportation in Banton.

Utilities

Electricity in the island is supplied by a 0.326 MW diesel power plant of the Romblon Electric Cooperative (ROMELCO). However, electricity service is only available in early morning, from 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. and at night, from 5:00 to 11:00 p.m., due to limited fuel supplies.[34] As for water supply, potable water for drinking and washing comes from water pumps, artesian wells, springs, and rainwater collection tanks in individual homes. The island has access to cellular phone and Internet service through Smart and Globe. Terrestrial and cable television service are also available.[5]

Transportation

As seas surrounding Banton can be rough during the wet season, the best time to visit the island is from March to May during the dry (summer) season. This is also the typical time for Asi families living in Metro Manila or abroad to visit the island since it coincides with the Lenten season and barangay fiestas.[5] Within the island, the main forms of transportation are passenger motorcycles (known elsewhere as habal-habal) and motorized boats. A circumferential road connects the 17 barangays of Banton to each other.[5]

By sea: Banton is accessible via wooden launches and motorized boats that regularly travel from Lucena City, Quezon. Tourists and visitors can also take RORO vessels that ply the Manila-Odiongan, Batangas City-Odiongan, or the Roxas-Odiongan route. From Odiongan, Banton can be reached by jeepney and motorized boat via Calatrava, Romblon.[5][35] Another RORO route is from Lucena City to Boac or Mogpog in Marinduque. From these towns, travelers can take jeepneys to Buenavista, which is only three hours away from Banton. Another alternative route is through Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro by motorized boats.[5][35]

By air: The closest airport with active airline service is Tugdan Airport in Alcantara, Romblon. Philippine Airlines operates three weekly flights to Romblon from Manila.[36][37] From Alcantara, Banton can be reached in five to six hours by jeepney and motorized outrigger boats from Calatrava.[5]

Education

Banton has a high literacy rate owing to the establishment of several public elementary and secondary schools. All schools in the island are administered by the Department of Education (DepEd). The main public elementary school, Banton Central School, and the main secondary school, Banton National High School, are both located in the main village of Poblacion. There are public elementary schools as well in the villages of Balogo, Banice, Libtong, Nasunogan, Tan-ag, Tungonan, and Tumalum (shared with the village of Lagang). Another secondary school, Tungonan National High School, is located in Tungonan.[38]

  • Banton Island in the Sibuyan Sea
    Banton Island in the Sibuyan Sea
  • Punta Matagar rock formation
    Punta Matagar rock formation
  • The 15th-century limestone walls of Fuerza de San Jose
    The 15th-century limestone walls of Fuerza de San Jose
  • Heritage houses along Banton's seawall
    Heritage houses along Banton's seawall
  • The interior of the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church
    The interior of the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church
  • A Spanish era cannon in front of the Banton Civic Center
    A Spanish era cannon in front of the Banton Civic Center
  • Ruins of an old Spanish era watchtower in barrio Onti
    Ruins of an old Spanish era watchtower in barrio Onti

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Banton: Brief History". Banton Official Website. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b "List of Winners: Municipality of Banton". Odiongan, Romblon: Romblon News. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Province: Romblon". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Mimaropa". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Fabonan III, Epi (29 May 2009). "Banton Island". Tourism Philippines. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Banton Cloth". National Museum of the Philippines. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  7. ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (19 October 2011). "Looking Back: History and design in Death Blankets". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 24 April 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Batongbakal, Jr., Luisito. "15 Most Intense Archaeological Discoveries in Philippine History". Filipiknow.net. Retrieved 14 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Buencamino, Felipe & Villamor, Ignacio. (1920)
  10. ^ "R. A. No. 2158". An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Jones, province of Romblon, to municipality of Banton. PhilippineLaw.info. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  11. ^ a b Halcon, Rainier, Fronda, Ariel et al. (2015)
  12. ^ Loyola, James (21 June 2014). "DOE to bid out 3 new geothermal sites". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Feliciano, Claire-Ann (19 June 2014). "Geothermal area up for auction in Q3". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 14 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b Cultural Properties Division. "2013 Heritage Pride: NM declarations of National Cultural Treasures (NCTs) and Important Cultural Properties (ICPs)". National Museum of the Philippines. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  15. ^ Lao, Levine Andro (26 May 2013). "Romblon cathedral, ancient Hispanic forts declared National Cultural Treasures". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  16. ^ Henares, Ivan (26 January 2014). "Updated Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP)". Ivan About Town. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  17. ^ "'Nona' makes fifth landfall in Oriental Mindoro". The Philippine STAR. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Municipality: Banton". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  19. ^ "R.A. No. 1014". An Act Creating the Barrio of Yabawon in the Municipality of Jones, Province of Romblon. PhilippineLaw.info. Retrieved 24 April 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "History". Romblon Province. Romblon Provincial Government. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  21. ^ "History" (PDF). Profile of Romblon Province. Romblon: Philippine Statistical Authority. 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Banton, Romblon: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  23. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region IV-B (Mimaropa)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Province of Romblon". Municipality Population Data. LWUA Research Division. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Political Information: Banton, Romblon". Department of Interior and Local Government. 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  27. ^ Zorc, R. David Paul. (1977)
  28. ^ David Espinosa, Fiona Nichols, et al. (1997)
  29. ^ "An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991". 8th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  30. ^ "The Barangay". Local Government Code of the Philippines. Chan Robles Law Library.
  31. ^ "2011 PCF Beneficiaries Per Seal of Good Housekeeping". Department of Interior and Local Government. 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  32. ^ "2013 PCF Beneficiaries Per Seal of Good Housekeeping". Department of Interior and Local Government. 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  33. ^ Serafica, Raisa (16 January 2014). "DILG introduces 'seal of good local governance'". Rappler. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  34. ^ "Missionary Electrification Plan (2012–2021)" (PDF). Small Power Utilities Group, National Power Corporation. 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  35. ^ a b "How to get to Romblon". Romblon Lifestyles. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "PAL opens Manila-Tablas service". Philippine Airlines. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Vergara, Benjie (5 March 2015). "PAL bares new domestic routes". The Manila Times. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  38. ^ "Master List of Schools for SY 2013–2014". Manila, Philippines: Bureau of Public Schools, Department of Education. 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2015.

References

  • Buencamino, Felipe & Villamor, Ignacio (1920). Census of the Philippine Islands Taken Under the Direction of the Philippine Legislature in the Year 1918, Volume 1. Manila, Philippines: Bureau of Printing.
  • Halcon, Rainier; Fronda, Ariel; et al. "Detailed Resource Assessment of Selected Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Areas in the Philippines" (PDF). Geothermal Energy Management Division, Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Department of Energy.
  • Zorc, R. David Paul (1977). The Visayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction. Canberra, Australia: Department of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University.
  • David Espinosa, Fiona Nichols, et al. (1997) Diving Southeast Asia. University of California: Periplus Action Guides. ISBN 978-962-593-141-8
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