There is no shortage of spectacular beaches in Romblon. While “good beaches” vary in taste on a personal level, for me the qualifications come down to the sand quality, the surrounding environment, the waters, and the awe factor.
Strip off any establishments or fancy gimmicks, it always comes down to the bare nature of it all. That’s why I’m loving Bonbon Beach (sometimes spelled as Bon Bon) in Romblon. About 5km from Romblon Island, Poblacion. Privately owned, but open to the public. Stretches of gorgeous coastal white sand beaches lead up to a panoramic sandbar. Oh boy, I envy Romblon for having this.
Bonnie Bonbon Beach
Even from the roadside ride heading south to Mapula, this strip of sandbar already caught my attention. Unknowingly, I’m already looking at Bon Bon Beach. It’s that close to town. Walkable if you have time and I bet it would be fun to run or jog to and back. We parked by the roadside and got off in a clearing towards a beach where we still had to walk for at least 5 minutes to see the sandbar. Even from this roadside beach, already considered part of Bonbon, the quality of the sand was already powdery and white. However, during our visit, there was some trash drifting from the sea. Depending on the winds, amihan, or habagat, the beach changes character.
I heard Bonbon Beach is privately owned. But the owner was still kind enough to keep it open for locals to enjoy. Sometimes the owner would clean up the beach by himself too. It would have been interesting to have met the person and thanked him for sharing this natural wonder for all.
Spectacular Sandbar
We visited Bonbon Beach late in the afternoon, just enough time before the sunset. I would have liked to see the place with the sun still high though as it would make for better drone photos but I’m grateful for the time given for this one. There were already people when we arrived but it never felt icky crowded like some other beaches. There are no facilities in the area like cottages, restos or eateries. So we just have to find a good spot by the beach. No wonder they want to come a little late because there’s no shade for the sun.
Bangug Island
On the other side is Margie’s and Tiamban beaches which also look stunning. There’s a lone guesthouse, Bonbon Beach Guesthouse in the vicinity. Where the beaches meet is where the sandbar stretches and snakes toward the island of Bangug (Bang-og island). I would estimate the sandbar stretches at least 600 meters toward the island. The island is around 400 meters long. It is possible to walk towards the island during low tide but make sure not to be stuck there when the tide gets high. Check the tide conditions first.
We spent time enjoying the calm, clear, and shallow waters. The slope was gradual and the sand wasn’t rocky. There were starfishes in some places. Sunset was also picture-perfect. Painted in various warm to purple hues. I noticed more people arrive as darkness nears. More locals came just to enjoy the sunset as well. Bus still, it didn’t feel as crowded. Time was too short. I hope to return here again with more time to chill at the beach. Oh, Romblon. I envy you for having Bonbon.
On the other hand, chilling at the beach isn’t the only activity you can do on Romblon Island. Generally, this archipelagic province is known for being an abundant source of different species. Yes, you heard it right. There are habitats of tuna and other fish varieties on some beaches, such as sardines, anchovy, slipmouth, and rounscad. Not only that but Romblon beaches, particularly Bonbon, may be home to saltwater catfish. Although most catfish species can be found in lakes, irrigation canals, rivers, swamps, streams, and any body of freshwater, you can also find these species in the ocean. These can include Gafftopsail catfish and Hardhead catfish.
Hence, if you want to explore the beaches in Romblon, specifically Bonbon Beach, you may look forward to various sea-related activities, such as sunsetting, island hopping, and fishing. But if you’re going on a fishing expedition on the beautiful beaches of Romblon, it may be best to familiarize yourself with the different fish species found there, including catfish.
Learn about where they live in the ocean, their reproduction process, and some tips for catching catfish from resource websites like Fishing Outcast. You can visit these sites online to obtain more information.
Takeaway
Remember, by educating yourself about these things, you can get the most out of your ocean experience on one of the best beaches in Romblon, Philippines, in your current and future visits.
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
