There are places in the Philippines that feel like postcards come to life—and then there’s the Calamianes, one of the many gems of the MIMAROPA Region in the Philippines. MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) is an administrative region in the Philippines composed of five island provinces: Mindoro (Occidental/Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. Tucked in the northernmost reaches of Palawan, the Calamianes group of islands is where history, legend, and raw natural beauty collide in ways that feel almost unreal. Composed primarily of Busuanga, Coron, Culion, and a scattering of smaller islands, the Calamianes is more than just a destination—it’s a layered story waiting to be explored above and beneath the water.

Jimenez, A. (2026, April 11). Diving Calamianes: Exploring history highlighted by dugong encounters. BusinessMirror, p. A9.