Events and Culture

One of the regional museums of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), the National Museum - Marinduque-Romblon Area Museum showcases the rich natural resources, heritage, and history of the Southern Tagalog islands. It is housed in a historical, Spanish colonial building which served different purposes throughout time, most notably as the Escuela de Niños, the oldest Catholic school in Marinduque. It was also used as a carcel (prison) in 1856, a tribunal of the Spanish government, Presidencia of the Philippine Revolution, former office of the Department of Education-Division of Marinduque, Municipal Trial Court of Boac, and Boac Municipal Library. In 1992, it was turned over to the National Museum of the Philippines by the Municipality of Boac, restored, and opened to the public on February 22, 1995. 

This curated walking tour takes participants through selected historical landmarks in Tacloban City. Destinations included in the tour are the San Juanico Bridge, which was was the country’s longest bridge crossing a body of water prior to the opening of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX); the Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, which is one of the 20 presidential rest houses built by late former President Ferdinand Marcos for his wife Imelda, who was originally from Tacloban; the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Nino de Tacloban, which was built in 1596 by the Jesuits as a small chapel called the Dulce Nombre de Jesus; the Yolanda Memorial, which commemorates the lives lost during the Yolanda (Haiyan) Super Typhoon of November 2013; the M/V Eva Jocelyn, which is a memorial made from the restored bow of the cargo vessel swept to the shores of Barangay Anibong due to strong storm surges; the Madonna of Japan, which is a symbol of peace between the Filipinos and Japanese 33 years after the World War II; and the Leyte Provincial Capitol, which is a historic building that served as the temporary national capitol in 1944 to 1945 during World War II era and as the seat of government of Leyte until 2019.

Commonly known as Boac Cathedral, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish is the seat of the Diocese of Boac. Nestled on a hilltop in Brgy. Mataas, this 1792 Baroque Roman Catholic Church was declared a Philippine Important Cultural Property (ICP) in 2018 by the National Museum. It also served as a spiritual refuge against pirate attacks in the 18th century. 

The combined shrine and heritage museum, which is one of the properties of the family of former Philippine president Ferdinan Marcos, houses a preserved replica of the Sto. Niño de Leyte as well as the family's art collection.

The Balangiga Bells are one of Eastern Samar's most important historical relics. They refer to the three church bells that were taken by the United States Army from the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir in Balangiga during the Philippine-American War. After 117 years and great efforts made by the Philippine government and Catholic Church, they were finally returned to the Philippines on Philippines on December 11, 2018.

Locally known as "uraro", arrowroot cookies are Marinduque's popular local delicacy. They are made from flour processed from the Arrowroot plant (Maranta Arundinacea), and are known for their dry, crumbly texture. In some places like Mongpong Island, arrowroot cookie production is one of the major income-generating activities. They are sold in several local bakeries and stores, such as Rejano's Bakery. Myra Store, Dakero Dry Goods Store, Miracle Store and FoodHub, Exegen Corp., Grainsmart Boac Marinduque, Marinduque News, Puregold Boac, CorBen, Mini Mart, Boac Public Market, Alicia Ong Store, Emmart Enterprise, Real Town Minimart Market Site Branch, Sweet Bites, Moriones Baker's Shoppe - Pasalubong Center, Susana Store, and Roby’s Bakeshoppe. 

Dumaguete's Rizal Boulevard is a scenic boulevard with breezy views of the sea. It was named after Filipino National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, who was said to have spent most of his time there when he as in Dumaguete.

Siliman University's Siliman Hall is the first building to be constructed in the university in the early 1900s. It was converted into a museum in the 1970s and now lets houses artifacts that let tourists learn about the indigenous Negritos and Islamic culture from as early as 200 BC.

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral Parish, more commonly known as Dumaguete Cathedral, is the island's oldest stone church - having been completed in 1776. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete.

This privately owned memorial museum displays significant World War II relics, especially those found in the Negros Island from when the United States forces and Filipino guerrillas made their last stand against the Japanese in 1945. It is managed by the Cata-al family.