Roxas, officially the Municipality of Roxas, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 57,699 people. The town was named after President Manuel A. Roxas, the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines.
The municipality of Roxas was created on June 21, 1950, through Republic Act No. 505, separating it from the municipality of Mansalay. The town was formally inaugurated on January 1, 1951. Roxas is known as the "Gateway to Southern Mindoro" due to its strategic location along the Pan-Philippine Highway.
Roxas played a significant role during World War II as a base for guerrilla forces. After the war, the town developed into an important agricultural and commercial center in southern Oriental Mindoro. The annual "Sulyog Festival" celebrates the town's cultural heritage and agricultural products, particularly rice and coconut.
Don Luis Cusi, a merchant from Bauan, Batangas, was caught in a storm and drifted to Dayhagan Point. Seeking shelter, he and his companions found a hut along the seashore owned by a salt maker named Isidro, nicknamed "Ticling."
Don Luis Cusi returned with companions and settled in the area, naming it "Ticling" in honor of Isidro's hospitality.
The settlement was cleared with large irrigated rice fields. Don Luis Cusi registered the settlement in Marinduque as a pueblo.
American troops occupied the pueblo of Ticling, causing settlers to hide in a forested area called Lumboy.
Ticling was registered as a sitio of Mansalay. Migrants from Panay Island, Romblon, and Batangas settled in the area, forming a community named "Palasan," after a species of palm abundant in the area. The name later evolved to "Paclasan."
Executive Order No. 181, series of 1948, created the municipality of Roxas, effective November 15. Due to a storm, the inauguration was celebrated on November 16. The town was named in honor of President Manuel A. Roxas.
The Everett Steamship Company inaugurated a route from Manila to Roxas, enhancing accessibility and establishing Paclasan as a business center.
The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SNRH) was inaugurated, leading to the opening of the Port of Roxas in Barangay Dangay. This development positioned the town as a transit point to destinations like Boracay, Romblon, and Palawan.
According to the 2020 census, Roxas had a population of 58,849.
Today, Roxas continues to thrive as an important municipality in Oriental Mindoro, serving as a major transportation hub connecting the northern and southern parts of the province. The town's natural attractions, including its beaches, rivers, and mountain views, combined with its rich cultural heritage, make it an emerging tourist destination in the region.
