Ticao Island, Island in Masbate province, Philippines.
Ticao Island covers approximately 336 square kilometers (130 square miles) and features diverse landscapes including coastal beaches, inland hills reaching 751 feet (229 meters), and marine environments that support local fishing communities and ecosystems.
The island holds archaeological importance with thousands of precolonial artifacts including the Baybayin-inscribed Rizal Stone, burial jars, jade beads, and human face rock statues that residents often display in their homes.
The inhabitants of Ticao Island primarily belong to the Masbateño and Waray ethnic groups, celebrating traditional Filipino festivals with dances, religious ceremonies, and communal gatherings that reflect their maritime heritage and close ties to the sea.
Visitors typically reach the island by taking a bus from Manila to Pilar in Sorsogon, followed by a boat ride to San Jacinto port, with travel best planned during the dry season from March to May when seas are calmer.
Ticao Island serves as a critical habitat for manta ray conservation efforts and once hosted the rare Ticao hornbill subspecies, now believed extinct due to deforestation, while a rare subspecies of Visayan warty pig still clings to survival.
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