Romblomanon

The Romblomanon people are the Visayan-speaking indigenous inhabitants of the Romblon island group, lying between Luzon and Panay. Their Romblomanon language, close to Hiligaynon, prevails on Romblon and Sibuyan islands, and most also speak Hiligaynon through trade with nearby Capiz and Aklan.

The islands were first settled by Negritos from Panay and Mangyans from Mindoro, and ancient wooden coffins kept in the caves of Banton attest to a developed pre-colonial culture. Spanish explorers reached Romblon in 1569, and the islands were governed from Arevalo in Panay until 1716, when they passed to the province of Capiz. Under Spanish friars the islanders became mostly Roman Catholic.