Masbate City Map Poster

About Masbate

Masbate is the largest island in the Bicol Region and one of the largest islands in Luzon. It is located between Ticao Island, Burias Island and Sibuyan Sea. Masbate has a total land area of . The province also covers some smaller surrounding islands like Cajidiocan, Balicasag, Manicani and Mandaon. The first inhabitants were Negritos from Panay who settled on what are now known as Masbate Islands around 30 AD to 40 AD according to carbon dating done by anthropologists at Oxford University (Dr Mark Stoneking). They called it "Himaslay" which means 'to be brave' or 'bravery'. Later migrants came from various parts of Visayas because they were driven away by Moro raiders during their raids on coastal settlements for slaves & booty; these settlers eventually mixed with Himarslanons/Negritos over time thus forming a distinct ethnic group that was later named after its homeland: "Masbatenos".