ROMBLON, rOm-blOn', Philippines. (1) A province consisting of a group of islands in the Visayan Sea, lying east of Mindoro and south of Luzon; they are near the centre of the archipelago, and the most northern islands of the Visayan group; area, 515 square miles. The northern islands of the group form with the islands of Mindoro and Marindique clear, deep channels, much frequented by Philippine boats; the islands are also indented with well sheltered inlets and bays. The majority of the inhabitants of the province are Visayans; some Negritos are found on the island of Tablas, and Manguianes in Tablas and Romblon. Civil government was established in 1901. Pop. 55,339. The islands constituting the province are as follows: (a) Banton, the most northerly :island of the group; the surface is rugged ex cept in the southeast; the soil is sterile and few crops are raised; the chief industry is the min ing of gypsum, an excellent quality of which is found; area, 11 square miles; (b) Carabao, the most southern island of the province; its chief physical characteristic is a central cone-shaped summit, from which the land slopes regularly to the sea; it is heavily wooded, but not in habited; area, 19 square miles; (c) Dos Her manas, two islets of rock, separated by a chan nel two miles in width; area, one square mile; (d) Maestre de Campo, the most western island of the province; it is circular in shape and mountainous with steep shores; it contains one small village on the east shore; area, three square miles; (e) Romblon, the third island in size, giving its name to the group on account of central location and mineral wealth; (f) Sibuyan, the second largest and most eastern island of the group (see SIBUYAN), and (g) Tablas, the largest island (see TABLAS).
(2) An island of the province of Romblon, lying midway between Sibuyan and Tablas, on the route of steamers passing through San Ber nardino Strait and Verde Passage; area, 50 square miles. A central mountain range tra verses the island from north to south, with spurs extending toward east and west. The chief occupation of the people is cattle raising; valuable deposits of quartz, marble and slate are found and quarried; the marble is exported in large quantities. This island is the seat of gov ernment for the province.
(3) Pueblo, capital of the province of Rom. Wen, situated on the northwestern coast of the island of •omblon, the largest town of the province; it has an excellent harbor, one of the best of the Visayan group, and is the com mercial center of the island. It has some old fortificatioas origimilly • built• to defend ' fFom pirates. Pop. 6,764.