Masbate City is a city of 95,000 (2015) and the capital of Masbate Province. The only city of the province, it is also a major transportation and commercial hub.

Understand

Masbate City downtown

Masbate city was established as the capital of the Masbate islands, then a part of Ibalon (present Albay), but that designation was repeatedly moved to other towns in the island to protect the Spanish colonial administrators from pirate raids. The city dates back to 1569, the same year that Masbate province was colonized by the Spanish.

Masbate City became a city in 2000, but it is practically more of a large town. The city sits beside an inlet, and the downtown is within a peninsula facing the Burias Pass.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Moises R. Espinosa Airport (MBT  ^IATA), Espinosa Rd, Ibingay. Cebgo flies to Masbate City from Manila daily every morning. (updated Aug 2019)

By ferry

2Go Travel has luxury ferries from Manila to Masbate, which takes 16-18 hours. RORO ferries operate between Pilar and Masbate. Masbate City is part of the Central Nautical Highway route.

From Visayas, ferries call at Cataingan or Cawayan.

By bus

• 2 Masbate City Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal, Diversion Rd, Magallanes. Open 24 hours. (updated Oct 2023)

Get around

Masbate's poblacion (downtown) is fairly small, and is walkable. Tricycles are available as well.

See

• 1 Mangrovetum, JM Robredo Blvd (Near the airport). Open 24 hours. Nice walkway. Good place to stretch your legs and do some walking. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Villa Bayot, Zurbito St. An old ancestral house made of iron and wood. Inside, there are antique religious articles, some believed to be miraculous. (updated Nov 2020)
• 3 Rodeo Masbateño Grand Arena, Medina Street. The Only Rodeo arena in asia with complete fixed structure including stockyard, bleachers, rodeo corral, clinic, VIP stage and rodeo office and activity center. (updated Oct 2023)
• 4 St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral (Masbate Cathedral), Danao Street. The place is clean and organized. The sound system they used for the mass is clear and loud enough for the gatherers. They have electric fans everywhere so you can be comfortable while attending the mass. (updated Oct 2023)

Do

• Buntod Sandbar and Marine Sanctuary (10-minute boat ride from Masbate port). (updated Nov 2020)
• Tattoo Island (Minalayo Island). Has multiple openings leading to an underwater lagoon home to sea snakes and bats (updated Nov 2020)

Festivals

• Lapay Bantigue Dance Festival 30 Sep. Also the celebration of Masbate's cityhood, its main highlight is the Lapay Bantigue folk dance, which derives from a precolonia folk tale of a "Lola Felise" who imitated the graceful movements of a seagull (lapay). The dance has been known to the Spaniards, and is recognized by the Philippine government.
• Pagdayao Festival 13 Jun. Honors the city's patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua.
• Rodeo Festival The festival is first held in 1993 to showcase Masbate's cattle industry and promote tourism, and features 10 events, the most notable being the challenging "figure of eight" where the cowboy crisscrosses around barrels. Unlike American rodeo, the events features ranch practice turned into games.

Buy

• 1 Gaisano Capital Masbate, Quezon Street, Crossing. 8:30PM-6PM. (updated Nov 2020)

• 2 Masbate City Public Market, Zurbito Street. Open 24 hours. (updated Oct 2023)

Eat

• 1 JM Seafoods Restaurant, CentralNautical Highway. 10AM–9:30PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Sutukil Restaurant - Masbate, Central Nautical Highway. 7AM–9PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Joe's Pizza, Central Nautical Highway. 9AM–7PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 4 Andangs Garden, Zurbito Street. 9AM–9PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 5 Patio Dada's International Cuisine, Central Nautical Highway. 10AM–9PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 6 D' Captain's Pizza, Central Nautical Highway. 9AM–7PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 7 Cafe Narra, Briz Street. 9AM–7PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 8 Tio Jose Bar and Grill, Quezon Street. Open 24 hours. (updated Oct 2023)
• 9 Diner Nine, Danao Street. 10AM–10PM. (updated Oct 2023)

Drink

• 1 Perspectiva, 42b Rosero Street. noon–9PM. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Ranchers Café, Tara Street. 9AM–8PM. (updated Oct 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Balay Valencia, Ibañez St, ☏ +63 56 333 6530. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Fan/AC rooms with TV, free WiFi. Breakfast included, and meals available upon request. Rooms facing street may be quite noisy. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 GV Hotel Masbate, Danao Street, ☏ +63 56 333 6844. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Fan/AC double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Novo Hotel, 44 Quezon St, ☏ +63 56 578 0687. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. AC rooms, free parking and WiFi. Pets allowed. Rooms have bathroom and cable TV. (updated Nov 2020)
• 4 Treasure Island Hotel, Quezon Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Oct 2023)
• 5 RedDoorz @ Greenview Hotel and Restobar Masbate, Road 2, Monte Carlo Subdivision. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. (updated Oct 2023)

Connect

There are internet cafés, with rates starting from ₱15/hour; most are open 8AM-9PM daily.

• PHLPost, Quezon St. M-F 8AM-5PM; Sa-Su closed. (updated Nov 2020)