THE ISLAND PROVINCE OF MASBATE

The islands of Masbate exactly lies at the center of the Philippine Archipelago.It is bounded north by burias and Ticao Pass, east by the San Bernardino Strait, South by Visayan Sea and West by Sibuyan Sea. The province faces the southwestern coasts of Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

According to brief accounts of the province's history, Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman anchored on the shores of Masbate in 1569 and found tiny settlements along the coasts engaged in flourishing trade in China.Historical accounts also showed that the Christianization of the Bicol Region actually began in Masbate in 1569.

In 1864, Masbate was declared a separate province from Albay. Guiom was made the capital while Ticao became the commandancia-politico militar. Shortly before the declaration of Philippine Independence, the town of Masbate was established as the Provincial capital.