Palawan is an
island provinceIsland province is a province with jurisdictional extent encompassing the whole land area of an island.A province cannot be called an "island province" if a certain part of the island is governed or administered by a separate province...
of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
located in the MIMAROPA
regionIn the Philippines, regions are administrative divisions that serve primarily to organize the provinces of the country for administrative convenience. Currently, the archipelagic republic of the Philippines is divided into 17 regions...
or Region 4. Its capital is
Puerto Princesa CityThe City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from
MindoroMindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
in the northeast to
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in the southwest. It lies between the
South China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
and the
Sulu SeaThe Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
. The province is named after its largest island,
Palawan IslandPalawan Island is the largest island of the Palawan Province, Philippines. The northern coast of the island is along the South China Sea, while the southern coast forms part of the northern limit of the Sulu Sea. This island is very undeveloped and traditional...
(09°30′N 118°30′E), measuring 450 kilometres (279.6 mi) long, and 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) wide.
Palawan is composed of the long and narrow
Palawan IslandPalawan Island is the largest island of the Palawan Province, Philippines. The northern coast of the island is along the South China Sea, while the southern coast forms part of the northern limit of the Sulu Sea. This island is very undeveloped and traditional...
, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The
Calamianes Group of IslandsThe Calamian is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Palawan. It includes:* Busuanga Island* Coron Island* Culion Island* Calauit Island* several minor islands....
, to the northeast consists of
Busuanga IslandBusuanga Island is the largest island in the Calamian Group in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Busuanga Island is, in fact, the second largest island in the province after Palawan island itself. The island is located halfway between the islands of Mindoro and Palawan with the South...
, Culion Island, and
Coron IslandCoron Island is the third largest island in the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about southwest of Manila, is known for several Japanese shipwrecks World War II vintage. The island is part of...
. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while
Balabac IslandBalabac Island is the southern-most island of the Palawan province in the Philippines, only about north from Sabah, Malaysia, across the Balabac Strait.Administratively, the island forms the main part of Balabac Municipality and is divided into 14 barangays:...
is located off the southern tip, separated from
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
by the
Balabac StraitBalabac Strait is a strait in the South China Sea, at . It separates the Balabac island , Philippines from the Banggi Island north of Borneo that are a part of Malaysia's Sabah state....
. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the
Sulu SeaThe Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
. The disputed
Spratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Palawan's almost 2000 kilometres (1,242.7 mi) of irregular coastline are dotted with roughly 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges. The mountain heights average 3500 feet (1,066.8 m) in altitude, with the highest peak rising to 6843 feet (2,085.7 m) at
Mount MantalingahanMount Mantalingajan is a mountain in southern Palawan, Philippines, that forms the highest part of the Mount Beaufort Ultramafics geological region, a series of ultramafic outcrops of Eocene origin, of which Mount Victoria forms the largest contiguous land area...
. The vast mountain areas are the source of valuable timber. The terrain is a mix of coastal plain, craggy foothills, valley deltas, and heavy forest interspersed with riverine arteries that serve as irrigation.
History
The history of Palawan may be traced back 22,000 years ago, as confirmed by the discovery of bone fragments of the
Tabon ManTabon Man refers to fossilized anatomically modern human remains discovered on the island of Palawan in the Philippines on May 28, 1962 by Dr. Robert B. Fox, an American anthropologist of the National Museum of the Philippines...
in the municipality of Quezon. Although the origin of the cave dwellers is not yet established, anthropologists believe they came from Borneo. Known as the Cradle of Philippine Civilization, the Tabon Caves consist of a series of chambers where scholars and anthropologists discovered the remains of the Tabon Man along with his tools and a number of artifacts.
Ancient times
Waves of migrants arrived in the Philippines by way of land bridges between Borneo and Palawan. From 220 up to 263 AD, during the period of the Three Kingdoms, "Little, dark people" living in Anwei province in South China were driven South by Han People. Some settled in Thailand, others went farther south to Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo. They were known as Aetas and Negritos from whom Palawan's
BatakThe Batak are one of about 70 indigenous peoples of the Philippines. They are located in the northeastern portions of Palawan, a relatively large island in the southwest of the archipelago. There are only about 500 Batak remaining. Also called Tinitianes, the Batak are considered by anthropologists...
tribe descended. Other tribes known to inhabit the islands such as the Palawano and
TagbanwaTagbanwa, also known as Apurahuano, is one of the indigenous writing systems of the Philippines. The Tagbanwa language, an Austronesian language, with about 8, 000 speakers in the central and northern regions of Palawan, is dying out as the younger generations of Tagbanua are learning Cuyonon...
, are also descendants of the early settlers, who came via ice-age land bridges. They had a form of indigenous political structure developed in the island, wherein the natives had their non-formal form of government, an alphabet, and a system of trading with sea-borne merchants.
In AD 982, ancient Chinese traders regularly visit the islands. A Chinese author referred to these islands as Kla-ma-yan (Calamian), Palau-ye (Palawan), and Paki-nung (Busuanga). Pottery, china and other artifacts recovered from caves and waters of Palawan attest to trade relations that existed between Chinese and Malay merchants.
Pre-colonial era
In the 12th century, Malay settlers, who came on boats, began to populate the island. Most of the settlements were ruled by Malay chieftains. These people grew rice, ginger, coconuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and bananas. They also raised pigs, goats and chickens. Most of their economic activities were fishing, farming, and hunting by the use of bamboo traps and blowguns. The local people had a dialect consisting of 18 syllables. They were followed by the
IndonesiansIndonesians may be:*any nation or ethnic group of Indonesia**see Demographics of Indonesia**see Overseas Indonesians**see Ethnic groups in Indonesia**see Native Indonesians...
of the
Majapahit EmpireMajapahit was a vast archipelagic empire based on the island of Java from 1293 to around 1500. Majapahit reached its peak of glory during the era of Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389 marked by conquest which extended through Southeast Asia. His achievement is also credited to his prime...
in the 13th century, and they brought with them
BuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and
HinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
.
Because of Palawan's proximity to
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, southern portions of the island was under the control of the
Sultanate of BruneiThe Sultanate of Brunei ruled during the fourteenth to the sixteenth century CE. Its territory covered the northern part of Borneo and the southern Philippines. European influence gradually brought an end to this regional power. Later, there was a brief war with Spain, in which Brunei was victorious...
for more than two centuries, and
IslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
was introduced. During the same period, trade relations flourished, and intermarriages among the natives and the
ChineseThe term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
,
JapaneseThe are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
,
ArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
,
HinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
. The inter-mixing of blood resulted to a distinct breed of Palaweños, both in physical stature and features.
Spanish period
After
Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
's death, remnants of his fleet landed in Palawan where the bounty of the land saved them from starvation.
Antonio PigafettaAntonio Pigafetta was an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice. He travelled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew on their voyage to the Indies. During the expedition, he served as Magellan's assistant and kept an accurate journal which later assisted him...
, Magellan's chronicler named the place "Land of Promise."
The northern
Calamianes IslandsThe Calamian is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Palawan. It includes:* Busuanga Island* Coron Island* Culion Island* Calauit Island* several minor islands....
were the first to come under Spanish authority, and were later declared a province separate from the Palawan mainland. In the early 17th century, Spanish friars sent out missions in
CuyoCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
,
AgutayaAgutaya is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,422 people in 2,040 households...
,
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
and
CagayancilloCagayancillo is a sixth class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, located east of the mainland in the Sulu Sea. As of August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 6,506 people. Cagayancillo is the closest settlement to the Tubbataha National Marine Park...
but they met resistance from Moro communities. Before 18th century, Spain began to build churches enclosed by garrisons for protection against Moro raids in the town of
CuyoCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
,
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
,
LinapacanLinapacan is a fifth class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 9,198 people in 1,721 households....
and
BalabacBalabac is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, off the southern end of Palawan Island. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 25,257 people in 4,723 households...
. In 1749, the
Sultanate of BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
ceded southern Palawan to
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
In 1818, the entire island of Palawan, or Paragua as it was called, was organized as a single province named Calamianes, with its capital in
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
. By 1858, the province was divided into two provinces, namely, Castilla, covering the northern section with
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
as capital and Asturias in the southern mainland with Puerto Princesa as capital. It was later then divided into three districts, Calamianes, Paragua and Balabac, with Principe Alfonso town as its capital.
American rule
In 1902, after the
Philippine-American WarThe Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
, the Americans established civil rule in northern Palawan, calling it the province of Paragua. In 1903, pursuant to Philippine Commission Act No. 1363, the province was reorganized to include the southern portions and renamed Palawan, and Puerto Princesa declared as its capital.
Many reforms and projects were later introduced in the province. Construction of school buildings, promotion of agriculture, and bringing people closer to the government were among the priority plans during this era.
The Palawan Massacre
During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in order to prevent the rescue of prisoners of war by the advancing allies, on 14 December 1944, units of the
Japanese Fourteenth Area Army (under the command of General
Tomoyuki YamashitaGeneral was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...
) herded the remaining 150 prisoners of war at Puerto Princesa into three covered trenches which were then set on fire using barrels of gasoline. Prisoners who tried to escape the flames were shot down. Others attempted to escape by climbing over a cliff that ran along one side of the trenches, but were later hunted down and killed. Only 11 men escaped the slaughter and between 133 and 141 were killed.
The massacre is the basis for the recently published book Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II by Bob Wilbanks, and the opening scenes of the 2005 Miramax film,
The Great RaidThe Great Raid is a 2005 war film about the Raid at Cabanatuan, adapted from William Breuer's book of the same name. It tells the story of the January 1945 liberation of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Philippine island of Luzon during World War II. It is directed by John Dahl and stars Benjamin...
. A memorial has been erected on the site and McDole, in his eighties, was able to attend the dedication.
For further details, see the Axis History Forum: Massacre at Palawan.
Liberation
During the initial phase of the
Battle of Leyte GulfThe Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
, just off the coast of Palawan, two
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
submarines, and attacked a Japanese cruiser task force led by Admiral
Takeo KuritaVice Admiral was a vice-admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Early life:Kurita was born in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture in 1889. He was sent off to Etajima in 1905 and graduated from the 38th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1910, ranked 28th out of a class of...
, sinking his flagship (in which he survived) , and her sister ship . Darter later ran aground that afternoon and was scuttled by .
The island was liberated from the Japanese Imperial Forces by a task force consisting of Filipino and American military personnel between February 28 and April 22, 1945.
Political divisions
Palawan consists of 367 barangays and 23 municipalities, and two congressional districts that divide the province into north and south portions. Thirteen municipalities are considered as mainland municipalities, and these are, Aborlan,
NarraNarra is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 56,845 people in 11,521 households.-Barangays:Narra is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.* Antipuluan* Aramaywan...
,
QuezonQuezon, Palawan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 41,669 people in 8,453 households...
,
Sofronio EspañolaSofronio Española is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is the province's newest municipality, created by plebiscite on May 22, 1994, from land that was formerly a part of Brooke's Point...
,
Brooke's PointBrooke's Point is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines.Named after Sir James Brooke, the municipality has become famous for its promotion of ecotourism...
,
RizalRizal is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 31,745 people in 6,916 households.-Barangays:Rizal is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Bunog* Campong Ulay...
, and Bataraza (located south), Puerto Princesa (positioned in the center), and
San VicenteSan Vicente is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,654 people in 4,174 households.-Barangays:San Vicente is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.* Alimanguan* Binga...
,
RoxasRoxas is a municipality located on the eastern coast of the provincial island of Palawan, Philippines. As of 2000, it had a population of 47,242 people....
, Dumaran,
El NidoEl Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines...
, and
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
(found in the north). The remaining municipalities are island municipalities, and they are: Busuanga,
CoronCoron is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of 32,243 people in 6,264 households....
, Linapacan and Culion (forming the
Calamianes group of islandsThe Calamian is a group of islands in the Philippine province of Palawan. It includes:* Busuanga Island* Coron Island* Culion Island* Calauit Island* several minor islands....
),
CuyoCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
, Agutaya and
MagsaysayMagsaysay is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,885 people in 2,269 households...
(the
Cuyo group of islandsCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
),
AraceliAraceli is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,894 people in 2,050 households.Cuyono is the principal language of the area.Araceli was formerly known as Dumaran....
, Cagayancillo, Balabac and
KalayaanKalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
(
Spratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
), claimed by Vietnam. The capital Puerto Princesa is a highly-urbanized city that governs itself independently from the province, but it usually grouped with the province for statistical purposes.
It has a total land area of 14,896 square kilometer (km
2), which is distributed to its mainland municipalities, comprising 12,239 km², and the island municipalities, which altogether measure 2,657 km². On the average, each municipality has an area of 620 km². On the other hand, the island municipality of
CuyoCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
(4,003 km²) ranks largest in terms of municipal waters. On the latter, the mainland municipality of
Sofronio EspañolaSofronio Española is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is the province's newest municipality, created by plebiscite on May 22, 1994, from land that was formerly a part of Brooke's Point...
has the smallest marine area with only 485 km².
The largest municipalities are situated in the central and northern mainland, and they are: Puerto Princesa (2,106 km²),
TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
(1,390 km²), and
RoxasRoxas is a municipality located on the eastern coast of the provincial island of Palawan, Philippines. As of 2000, it had a population of 47,242 people....
(1,220 km²). On the contrary, the smallest local government units are the island municipalities of
CagayancilloCagayancillo is a sixth class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, located east of the mainland in the Sulu Sea. As of August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 6,506 people. Cagayancillo is the closest settlement to the Tubbataha National Marine Park...
(15.40 km²),
MagsaysayMagsaysay is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,885 people in 2,269 households...
(27.70 km²) and
CuyoCuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
(57.30 km²). All 24 local government units have 431 barangays .
Mainland Municipalities
- Aborlan
Aborlan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It lies in a vast plain between the Sulu Sea and the mountains. It is located 69 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City...
- Bataraza
Bataraza is a second class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is named after Datu Bataraza Narrazid, a locally influential Muslim chieftain and father of the town's first mayor and former mayor of Brooke's Point, the late Datu Sapiodin Narrazid...
- Brooke's Point
Brooke's Point is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines.Named after Sir James Brooke, the municipality has become famous for its promotion of ecotourism...
- Dumaran
Dumaran is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 18,737 people. It is bounded on the northeast by Municipality of Araceli, on the south by Sulu Sea by, on the southwest by Roxas, and on the northwest by the...
- El Nido
El Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines...
(Bacuit)
- Narra
Narra is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 56,845 people in 11,521 households.-Barangays:Narra is politically subdivided into 23 barangays.* Antipuluan* Aramaywan...
- Quezon
Quezon, Palawan is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 41,669 people in 8,453 households...
- Rizal
Rizal is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 31,745 people in 6,916 households.-Barangays:Rizal is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Bunog* Campong Ulay...
(Marcos)
- Roxas
Roxas is a municipality located on the eastern coast of the provincial island of Palawan, Philippines. As of 2000, it had a population of 47,242 people....
- San Vicente
San Vicente is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,654 people in 4,174 households.-Barangays:San Vicente is politically subdivided into 10 barangays.* Alimanguan* Binga...
- Sofronio Española
Sofronio Española is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is the province's newest municipality, created by plebiscite on May 22, 1994, from land that was formerly a part of Brooke's Point...
- Taytay
Taytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
Island Municipalities
- Agutaya
Agutaya is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,422 people in 2,040 households...
- Araceli
Araceli is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,894 people in 2,050 households.Cuyono is the principal language of the area.Araceli was formerly known as Dumaran....
- Balabac
Balabac is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, off the southern end of Palawan Island. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 25,257 people in 4,723 households...
- Busuanga
Busuanga is a municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. The territory of Busuanga covers the western one-third of Busuanga Island, which is part of the Calamian Group of Islands lying between Mindoro and mainland Palawan...
- Cagayancillo
Cagayancillo is a sixth class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, located east of the mainland in the Sulu Sea. As of August 1, 2007 census, it has a population of 6,506 people. Cagayancillo is the closest settlement to the Tubbataha National Marine Park...
- Coron
Coron is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of 32,243 people in 6,264 households....
- Culion
Culion is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, consisting of Culion Island primarily and 41 minor surrounding islands. According to the 2006 census, it has a population of 18,000 people in 3,082 households. Culion is part of the Calamian group of islands...
- Cuyo
Cuyo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 18,257 people in 3,609 households....
- Kalayaan
Kalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
(Spratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
)
- Linapacan
Linapacan is a fifth class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 9,198 people in 1,721 households....
- Magsaysay
Magsaysay is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,885 people in 2,269 households...
Region
In 2001, the residents of Palawan voted in a plebiscite to reject inclusion into an expanded
Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoThe Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is the region, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that is composed of predominantly Muslim provinces, namely: Basilan , Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is the only region that has its own government...
.
On 17 May 2002,
Executive order No. 103 divided Region IV into Region IV-A (
CALABARZONCALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional center is Calamba City in Laguna...
) and Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), placing the province of Palawan into MIMAROPA.
On 23 May 2005,
Executive Order No. 429 directed that Palawan be transferred from Region IV-B to Region VI. However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently,
Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on 19 August 2005 that the implementation of EO 429 be held in abeyance pending approval by the President of its implementation Plan. The Philippine
Commission on ElectionsThe Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
reported the 2010 Philippine general election results for Palawan as a part of the Region IV-B results. , the abeyance is still in effect and Palawan remains a part of MIMAROPA.
People and culture
Based on the 2000 census, the population of the entire province is 737,000. The province is a melting pot of 87 different cultural groups and races who live together in peace and harmony. Basically, its culture bears a strong influence from
ChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
,
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Influx of migrants from other parts of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, particularly from Muslim Mindanao, accounts for the high population growth rate of 3.98% annually. The native-born Palaweños still predominate the populace. Eighteen percent is composed of cultural minority groups such as the
TagbanuaThe Tagbanua tribe, one of the oldest tribes in the Philippines, can be mainly found in the central and northern Palawan. Research has shown that the Tagbanua are possible descendants of the Tabon Man; thus, making them one of the original inhabitants of the Philippines...
, Palawano,
BatakThe Batak are one of about 70 indigenous peoples of the Philippines. They are located in the northeastern portions of Palawan, a relatively large island in the southwest of the archipelago. There are only about 500 Batak remaining. Also called Tinitianes, the Batak are considered by anthropologists...
, and Molbog.
Language
There are 52 languages and dialects in the province, with
TagalogTagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
being spoken by more than 50 percent of the people. Other languages are Cuyonon (26.27 percent),
PalawanoThe Palawano languages are spoken on the island of Palawan in the province of Palawan in the Philippines.There are actually three related, but not mutually intelligible, languages, each with a number of dialects, which called themselves "Palawano" .The three Palawano languages share the island with...
(4.0 percent), and Ilonggo (9.6 percent).
Roman Catholicism
The predominant religion in Palawan is Roman Catholicism. However, although there are a lot of
Roman CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
parishA parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es in
Puerto Princesa CityThe City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
, the number of
Catholic FaithfulsThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
are still scarce for it to be considered as a full-fledged
DioceseA diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. Some of the
Religious OrderA religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
s that had a significant mission in the Islands is the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
Protestantism and Other Groups
Several
BaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and other Protestant denominations have a strong presence on Palawan as do the
Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the PhilippinesThe Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines is a Christian Pentecostal Group in the Philippines. The CFGP is the national church body of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel originated in Los Angeles California...
, and the
Seventh-day AdventistsThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
. Charismatic groups such as
Jesus is LordThe saying "Jesus is Lord" serves as a statement of faith for millions of Christians who regard Jesus as both fully man and fully God. It is also the motto adopted by the World Council of Churches and by Kenneth Copeland Ministries....
(JIL) and the Life Church (formerly known at the Life Renewal Center)
LifeChurch (LRCM).
Numerous smaller groups are also found on Palawan such as
Church of ChristChurches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
, in front of Bona's. They meet every Sunday morning and Wednesday night.
Other Christian denominations including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the
MormonThe term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s or LDS) are present on Palawan, the
Members Church of God InternationalThe Members Church of God International is an independent Christian organization with headquarters in the Philippines. The Church of God International is colloquially known through its flagship international television program, Ang Dating Daan...
, and the indigenous
Iglesia ni CristoIglesia ni Cristo also known as INC, is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia. Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in...
(not to be confused with the Church of Christ or the United Christ of Christ Philippines (UCCP)), are also strong on Palawan as well as the
Iglesia Filipina Independiente (
Philippine Independent ChurchThe Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, (officially the or the IFI, also known as the Philippine Independent Catholic Church or in Ilocano: Siwawayawaya nga Simbaan ti Filipinas (in in Kinaray-a/Hiligaynon: Simbahan Hilway nga...
or Aglipayan Church) which is standing as one diocese (The Diocese of Palawan).
Non-Christian religions
Because of its proximity to
MindanaoMindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and even
Malaysia, pockets of indigenous Muslims can be found in the southern municipalities with Muslims making up the majority of the population in some municipalities in the far south like
BalabacBalabac is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines, off the southern end of Palawan Island. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 25,257 people in 4,723 households...
and
BatarazaBataraza is a second class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is named after Datu Bataraza Narrazid, a locally influential Muslim chieftain and father of the town's first mayor and former mayor of Brooke's Point, the late Datu Sapiodin Narrazid...
. There are also
BuddhistsBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
- mainly Vietnamese refugees who settled in Palawan, as well as some
ethnic ChineseOverseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
BuddhistsBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. One notable Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Palawan is Vihara Van Phat.
Most of the ethnic minorities such as
BatakThe Batak are one of about 70 indigenous peoples of the Philippines. They are located in the northeastern portions of Palawan, a relatively large island in the southwest of the archipelago. There are only about 500 Batak remaining. Also called Tinitianes, the Batak are considered by anthropologists...
and
TagbanwaTagbanwa, also known as Apurahuano, is one of the indigenous writing systems of the Philippines. The Tagbanwa language, an Austronesian language, with about 8, 000 speakers in the central and northern regions of Palawan, is dying out as the younger generations of Tagbanua are learning Cuyonon...
are animists, but many have become Christians (usually Protestant) or have joined other sects.
Education
Enrollment in public elementary schools is steadily increasing. From 146,114 in 2003, the number of students in the public elementary schools went up to 147,013 in the year 2004 while enrollees in public secondary schools reached 55,887.
Literacy rate in Palawan is increasing by 2% annually because of expanding access to education. Among these programs are the establishment of schools in remote barangays, non-formal education, multi-grade mobile teaching and the drop-out intervention program.
Public schools in the province consist of 623 elementary schools, 126 secondary schools and two universities. Private schools are as follows: 26 – elementary; 19 – secondary; 4 private colleges and 10 vocational schools. Some of the private institutions are the
Holy Trinity UniversityHoly Trinity University ' is a private sectarian university in Puerto Princesa City in the province of Palawan, run by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena....
run by the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena, Fullbright College, Palawan Polytechnical College Inc., in Roxas, San Vicente and Puerto Princesa City, Systems Technology Institute (STI), AMA Computer Learning Center (ACLC) in Puerto Princesa City, San Francisco Javier College run by the Augustinian Recollect Sisters in Narra, Loyola College in Culion run by the Jesuits, St. Joseph Academy in Cuyo, St. Augustine Academy in Coron, Coron Technical School, Sacred Heart of Jesus High School in Brooke's Point;Northern Palawan Christian Institute ( Owned and manage by The Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Palawan Diocese) and the unique educational institution called the
St. Ezekiel Moreno DormitorySt. Ezekiel Moreno Dormitory is a facility of the St. Ezekiel Moreno Parish located in Macarascas, Puerto Princesa City under the supervision of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians or known as the Salesian Sisters...
located in barangay Macarascas, Puerto Princesa City founded by Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the present auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila.
Among the public institutions are the
Palawan State UniversityThe Palawan State University is a government-funded university in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. -History:PSU was established on March 2, 1972, as a teacher-training institution known as the Palawan Teachers College by virtue of Republic Act 4303 with Dr. Walfrido R. Ponce de Leon as...
,
Western Philippines UniversityThe Western Philippines University is a state higher education institution located at Aborlan, Palawan. The University began as the Aborlan Farm Settlement School for the Tagbanuas in 1910. It became the Aborlan Agricultural High School in 1928, and the Palawan Regional Agricultural School in 1960...
with campuses in Aborlan and Puerto Princesa City, Coron College of Fisheries, Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trade and the Palawan College of Arts and Trade in Cuyo, Palawan.
Environment
Unlike most of the Philippines, Palawan is
biogeographicallyBiogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
part of
SundalandSundaland is a biogeographical region of Southeastern Asia which encompasses the areas of the Asian continental shelf that was exposed during the last ice age. It included the Malay Peninsula on the Asian mainland, as well as the large islands of Borneo, Java, and Sumatra and their surrounding...
, with a fauna and flora related to that found in
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
Among the many endemic species are the Palawan Peacock-pheasant,
Philippine Mouse-deerThe Philippine Mouse-deer , also known as the Balabac Chevrotain or Pilandok , is a small, nocturnal ruminant, which is endemic to Balabac and nearby smaller islands south-west of Palawan in the Philippines. It has traditionally been considered a subspecies of the Greater Mouse-deer...
,
Philippine PangolinThe Philippine Pangolin or Palawan Pangolin, also known as the Malintong , is a pangolin species endemic to the Palawan province of the Philippines. Its habitat includes primary and secondary forests as well as surrounding grasslands...
and
Palawan Bearded PigThe Palawan Bearded Pig is a species of pig endemic to the Philippines, where they can only be found on the archipelago of islands formed by Balabac, Palawan and the Calamian Islands...
. In the forests and grasslands, the air resonates with the songs of more than 200 kinds of birds. Over 600 species of butterflies flutter around the mountains and fields of Palawan, attracted to some 1500 hosts plants found here. Endangered sea turtles nest on white sand beaches.
DugongThe dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
numbers have fallen seriously, although Palawan still has a larger population than any other part of the country and organizations such as Community Centred Conservation (C3) are working to end the unsustainable use of marine resources in Palawan and in Philippines.
Total forest cover is about 56 percent of the total land area of the province while mangrove forest accounts for 3.35 percent based on the 1998 Landsat imagery. Grasslands dwindled from 19 percent in 1992 to 12.40 percent in 1998. This is an indication of improving soil condition as deteriorating soil is normally invaded by grass species. Brushlands increased to 25 percent of the total land area. Sprawled beneath the seas are nearly 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, representing more than 35% of the country’s coral reefs.
Palawan, the only Philippine island cited, is rated by
National Geographic TravelerNational Geographic Traveler is a magazine published by the National Geographic Society in the United States. It was launched in 1984. Local-language editions of National Geographic Traveler are published in Armenia, Belgium/the Netherlands, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Latin America,...
magazine as the best island destination in
EastEast Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and
Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes. One of the most biodiverse (terrestrial and marine) islands in the Philippines... The island has had a Biosphere Reserve status since early 1990s, showing local interest for conservation and sustainable development".
The province was also categorized as "doing well" in the 4th Destination Scorecard survey conducted by the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations, and
Conde Nast TravelerCondé Nast Traveler is a US magazine published by Condé Nast. It has its origins in a mailing sent out by the Diners Club club beginning in 1953, listing locations that would take the card. It began taking advertising in 1955. In order to attract more advertisers, it became a full-fledged magazine,...
magazine voted its beaches,
coveA cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
s and
isletAn islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
s as the tourist destination with the best beaches in Asia. Renowned underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau has described the province as having one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world. and Caril Ridley, founder of Palawan Environmental and Marine Studies Center (PEMS) says the Islands of northern Palawan are destined to become a future destination for Asia's growing economic and environmental conferencing.
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary
A game reserve and wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan. The reserve was established on August 31, 1976 by virtue of the
Presidential Decree No.1578, this was initiated in response to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to help save African wildlife when former
President Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
attended the 3rd World Conference in
KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. By virtue of the
Republic Act 7611 (SEP), administrative jurisdiction of DENR was given to the local government of Palawan, effective December 31, 1993. Management of the area is the responsibility of the Office of the Palawan Council of Sustainable Development (PCSD). It is located in Calauit Island in Busuanga.
Coron Reefs, Coron Bay, Busuanga
Seven lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs attract hundreds of nature lovers to Coron Reefs in Northern Palawan, near the town of
CoronCoron is a first class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of 32,243 people in 6,264 households....
.
Busuanga IslandBusuanga Island is the largest island in the Calamian Group in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. Busuanga Island is, in fact, the second largest island in the province after Palawan island itself. The island is located halfway between the islands of Mindoro and Palawan with the South...
, whose main town is Coron, is the jump-off point for numerous dive operators. The principal dive sites are 12
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Japanese shipwrecks sunk on September 24, 1944 by US Navy action. They range in depth from the surface to 40 meters. This large variety offers exciting wreck exploration for enthusiasts, from novice divers and snorkelers and recreational divers to experienced TEC divers.
The aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships off
Coron IslandCoron Island is the third largest island in the Calamian Group of Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about southwest of Manila, is known for several Japanese shipwrecks World War II vintage. The island is part of...
are listed in
ForbesForbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best
scubaScuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
sites in the world.
Dive operators offer PADI dive courses ranging from Discover Scuba to Assistant Instructor, Technical and Enriched Air Diving, as well as other specialty courses. Dive operators offer day diving, snorkeling trips, and overnight dive safaris. Live-aboard and charter boats also offer diving in the area.
El Nido Marine Reserve Park
The January 2008 issue of international magazine
Travel + LeisureTravel + Leisure is a travel magazine based in New York City, New York. Published 12 times a year, it has 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit. It is put out by American Express Publishing Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company led by...
, published by the
American ExpressAmerican Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
Co. (which partnered with
Conservation InternationalConservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
) listed
El NidoEl Nido is a first class municipality and managed resource protected area in the province of Palawan in the Philippines...
’s sister hotel resorts El Nido Lagen Island and El Nido Miniloc Island in Miniloc and Lagen Islands as “conservation-minded places on a mission to protect the local environment.” Travel + Leisure’s 20 Favorite Green Hotels scored El Nido Resort’s protection of Palawan’s
giant clamThe giant clam, Tridacna gigas , is the largest living bivalve mollusc. T. gigas is one of the most endangered clam species. It was mentioned as early as 1825 in scientific reports...
gardens and the re-introduction of endangered Philippine
cockatooA cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
s: "8. El Nido Resorts, Philippines: Guest cottages on stilts are set above the crystalline ocean. The resorts are active in both reef and island conservation."
Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area
Located in the
Municipality of TaytayTaytay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 53,657 people in 10,083 households.-History:During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Taytay was founded in 1623...
, this important ecological and economic zone is a watershed and fishing ground, and the habitat of Bottle-nosed and
Irrawaddy dolphinThe Irrawaddy dolphin is a euryhaline species of oceanic dolphin found in discontinuous subpopulations near sea coasts and in estuaries and rivers in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.-Etymology and taxonomic history:...
s.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (1999)
This park features a large limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.
- Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (1993)
The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 332 km², including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands.
Ursula Island
This game refuge and bird sanctuary is situated near the Municipality of Brooke's Point in southern Palawan. The islet is a migratory and wintering ground for shorebirds and seabirds.
Climate
The province has two types of climate. The first, which occurs in the northern and southern extremities and the entire western coast, has two distinct seasons – six months dry and six months wet. The other, which prevails in the eastern coast, has a short dry season of one to three months and no pronounced rainy period during the rest of the year. The southern part of the province is virtually free from tropical depressions but northern Palawan experiences torrential rains during the months of July and August. Summer months serve as peak season for Palawan. Sea voyage is most favorable from March to early June when the seas are calm. The average maximum temperature is 31 degrees C with little variation all year.
Geology
The crust of northeast Palawan was derived from the
Eurasian PlateThe Eurasian Plate is a tectonic plate which includes most of the continent of Eurasia , with the notable exceptions of the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian subcontinent, and the area east of the Chersky Range in East Siberia...
of mainland China. It is the exposed portion of a microcontinent that drifted southward with the opening of the South China Sea. This microcontinent also forms the shallow water north of Palawan in the Reed Bank-Dangerous Grounds area of the southern South China Sea. Some of the oldest rocks of the Philippines are found in northeast Palawan (Permian-Carboniferous age). Southwest Palawan exposes primarily ophiolitic material (rocks derived from uplifted oceanic crust and mantle). This oceanic material appears to have been
thrust upon the continental crustObduction is the overthrusting of continental crust by oceanic crust or mantle rocks at a convergent plate boundary. It can occur during an orogeny, or mountain-building episode....
. The transition from "oceanic" ophiolite in the southwest to "continental"-type rocks in the northeast occurs in the area of central Palawan around Ulugan Bay. In the Dalrymple Point area, on the east side of Ulugan Bay, are several exposures showing that the Palawan ophiolite has been thrust on to the continent-derived clastic rocks ("Sabang thrust").
Specific rock types in the "continental" northeast, include clastic rocks (sandstones and mudstones). Good exposures of these rocks types can be found on the main road running along the southern coast east of Puerto Princesa all the way up to Malampaya Sound. These rocks probably formed the continental shelf, rise, slope or even deeper marine deposits on the southeast margin of China prior to the opening of the South China Sea. The Palawan Trench is a deep ocean element of the South China Sea.
Further north, around the Malampaya Sound area and up to the El Nido area, one finds deep marine chert and limestone. Based on the structure of these sedimentary units, it is thought that they formed part of an accretionary prism on the southeast margin of China at a time when that part of China was an Andean-type plate margin (an ocean-continent subduction zone). The chert and limestone were scraped off of an oceanic plate and accreted to the margin of China (again, prior to the opening of the South China Sea). Some of the limestones are also thought to be of olistostromal origin (i.e., they formed in shallow water but were transported to deeper water by submarine slides).
It is interesting to note that the spectacular karst limestones in the St. Paul area and El Nido area that Palawan is somewhat famous for, are of different origin and age. The limestones in the St. Paul National Park east of Ulugan Bay (where the famous Undeground River is located) are relatively young. Based on their fossil content they are assigned an Oligocene-Miocene age (~30 to 15 million years old). These younger limestones formed largely as reef structures on the bit of continental crust that drifted south from China during the opening of the South China Sea. These are the same limestones that host most of the oil and gas that is being extracted offshore in the South China Sea. In contrast, the limestones in the El Nido area are largely Permian in age (~300-250 million years old). They are related to the karst limestones of Vietnam and China.
Intruding these rocks in central Palawan (Cleopatra's Needle area) and northern Palawan (Mount Capoas or Kapoas area) are young granite bodies (true granite to granodiorite) of Miocene age (13-15 million years old based on zircon and monazite U-Pb dating). In the Taytay area of northern Palawan, a young basaltic cinder cone is another manifestation of young magmatic activity. The granitic magmatism and basaltic magmatism are both expressions of what has been identified as a widespread post-South China Sea spreading magmatism that has affected many areas around the South China Sea. Hydrothermal activity associated with mercury mineralization near Puerto Princesa is yet another sign of recent magmatic-hydrothermal activity. Surprisingly though, Palawan is relatively "quiet" in terms of seismic activity. Very few moderate-sized earthquakes are recorded in the area in contrast to the rest of the Philippines east of Palawan which are very seismically active.
Tectonically, Palawan with the Calamian Islands, is considered to be a north-east extension of the
Sunda PlateThe Sunda Plate is the tectonic plate on which the majority of Southeast Asia is located. It was formerly considered a part of the Eurasian Plate, but GPS measurements have confirmed its independent movement at 10 mm/yr eastward relative to Eurasia...
, in collision with the
Philippine Mobile BeltThe Philippine Mobile Belt is a complex portion of the tectonic boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, comprising most of the country of the Philippines. It includes two subduction zones, the Manila Trench to the west and the Philippine Trench to the east, as well as the...
at
MindoroMindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
.
Security
Spearheading the maintenance of the peace and order situation are the
Armed Forces of the PhilippinesThe Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
–Western Command in Canigaran and the
Philippine National PoliceThe Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
-Palawan Command with headquarters in Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa. Military units in the province under the Western Command are the
Philippine Air ForceThe Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
4th Naval District IV, Delta Company and 10th Marine Battalion Landing Team located in Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa.
Economy
Palawan's economy is basically agricultural. The three major crops are palay,
cornMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and
coconutThe coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
. Mineral resources include
nickelNickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
,
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
,
manganeseManganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
, and
chromiteChromite is an iron chromium oxide: FeCr2O4. It is an oxide mineral belonging to the spinel group. Magnesium can substitute for iron in variable amounts as it forms a solid solution with magnesiochromite ; substitution of aluminium occurs leading to hercynite .-Occurrence:Chromite is found in...
. Logging is also a major industry. Palawan has one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. About 45% of Manila's supply of fish comes from here. Having natural gas reserves of approximately 30,000 trillion cubic feet, the province is the only
oilAn oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
-producing province in the country. In addition,
tourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is also a thriving sector.
Pearl diving used to be a significant economic activity for Palawan until the advent of plastics. The world's largest pearl, the 240mm diameter
Pearl of Lao TzuThe Pearl of Lao Tzu is the largest known pearl in the world. It is not a gem-quality pearl, but is instead what is known as a "clam pearl" or "Tridacna pearl" from a giant clam. It measures 24 centimeters in diameter and weighs 6.4 kilograms...
, was found off Palawan in 1934.
The economic and agricultural business growth of province is at 20% per annum. Coconut, sugar, rice, lumber, and livestock are produced here.
Communication
Four telecommunication companies provide local and international direct distance dialing and fax services. Inter island communications is available through the government’s telegraph network and the Provincial Radio Communication System. In addition, there are 19 post offices, a number of cargo forwarders provide air parcel and freight services.
The province has access to two satellite-linked television stations. Cable television in the City of Puerto Princesa offers dozens of foreign channels while smaller firms provide cable services in selected towns. Individual cable facility (Dream Cable) is available locally. Seven radio stations are based in Puerto Princesa, four on the AM and three on the FM bands. Community-based radio stations operate in some of the municipalities in the north and south of the province. Additional stations are expected to set up local affiliates in the capital city of Puerto Princesa.
Two mobile phone companies,
Smart CommunicationsSmart Communications is a wholly owned mobile phone and Internet service subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company .On June 30, 2010 the company reported that it had over 45 million cellular subscribers.-Brands:...
and
Globe TelecomGlobe Telecom , commonly known as Globe, is a telecommunications company in the Philippines. Globe provides mobile, fixed line, and broadband Internet services.- History :In 1928, Congress passed Act No...
, are operating in the province.
Sun CellularDigitel Mobile Philippines, Inc., is a mobile telecommunication service provider in the Philippines doing business as Sun Cellular. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, or Digitel. Digitel is in turn owned by the JG Summit Group with a minority stake...
is expected to start operations in the province soon.
There are three Internet Service Providers in the Province-Kawing Internet, Mozcom Puerto Princesa and Pal-Isla Globelines Broadband, PLDT My DSL and Smart Amazing Wireless Broadband are also available.
AM Radio stations
- DYPR 765 kHz
DYPR-AM is a commercial broadcast radio station owned and operated by Palawan Broadcasting Corporation, located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan....
in Puerto Princesa, owned by Palawan Broadcasting CorporationPalawan Broadcasting Corporation , also known by its call sign DYPR, was the first local radio station to serve the island of Palawan, the Philippines. It was established in 1965, in the capital Puerto Princesa City, by Ramon Oliveros Decolongon.The station faced many difficulties in its early years...
- DWMR Radyo ng Bayan
DWMR is a government-owned and controlled radio station in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It is operated by the [Philippine Broadcasting Service], the official broadcast arm of the government of the Republic of the Philippines....
, owned by Philippine Broadcasting Service
- DZRH Puerto Princesa
DZRH is a radio station in Metro Manila owned and operated by the Manila Broadcasting Company. The station's studio is located at CCP Complex in Pasay, Philippines, while its transmitter is located at Brgy. Malanday, Valenzuela...
DYPH 693 kHz, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
FM Radio stations
- DYUN 89.3 MHz in Aborlan, owned by State Polytechnic University of Palawan
- 91.1 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by ZOE Broadcasting Network
ZOE Broadcasting Network, Inc. is a Philippine television network of Jesus is Lord Movement leader Eddie Villanueva. ZOE is currently an affiliate of GMA Network. This stations studios and offices are located at 22/F Strata 2000 Bldg, F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. With...
- 92.3 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Interactive Broadcasting Media
- 94.3 MHz Home Radio in Puerto Princesa, owned by Aliw Broadcasting Corporation
Aliw Broadcasting Corporation one of the Philippines largest radio network with automated FM Radio Stations established in 1992. The Network is part of the ALC Group of Companies which also manages pre-need plans, banking, hotel operations, retail mall operations, property development, and...
- 95.9 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Katigbak Enterprises
- 95.9 MHz in Taytay, owned by Palawan Broadcasting Corporation
Palawan Broadcasting Corporation , also known by its call sign DYPR, was the first local radio station to serve the island of Palawan, the Philippines. It was established in 1965, in the capital Puerto Princesa City, by Ramon Oliveros Decolongon.The station faced many difficulties in its early years...
- 96.7 MHz Radyo Natin, Narra owned by Mitransmission
- 97.5 MHz Campus Radio in Puerto Princesa, owned by Republic Broadcasting Systems (Radio GMA
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
)
- DYEZ-FM
98.3 Love Radio Palawan is a radio of Manila Broadcasting Company. Studio and transmitter are located at RV Commercial Building, Malvar Street, Puerto Princesa City....
98.3 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- DWWA Radyo Cabayugan 98.5 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
- The Hit FM 99.1 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Rajah Broadcasting Network
Rajah Broadcasting Network, Inc. is a Philippine television and radio network owned by guitarist-singer-businessman Ramon "RJ" Jacinto...
- DYPR IFM 99.9 MHz
DYPR-AM is a commercial broadcast radio station owned and operated by Palawan Broadcasting Corporation, located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan....
in Puerto Princesa, owned by Palawan Broadcasting CorporationPalawan Broadcasting Corporation , also known by its call sign DYPR, was the first local radio station to serve the island of Palawan, the Philippines. It was established in 1965, in the capital Puerto Princesa City, by Ramon Oliveros Decolongon.The station faced many difficulties in its early years...
and Radio Mindanao NetworkRMN is the largest radio network in the Philippines with almost 60 company-owned AM & FM radio stations located around the Philippines. Radio Mindanao Network remains the legal name of the radio network, while Radyo Mo Nationwide is the slogan of the network. The network's first radio station was...
- DWRZ Radyo Natin 100.5 MHz in Coron, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- DWGA Radyo Inogbong 101.1 MHz in Bataraza, owned by Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
- DWRO Radyo Natin 101.3 MHz in Roxas, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- Bay Radio 103.1 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Baycomms Broadcasting Corporation
- Radyo Natin 103.3 MHz in Taytay, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- DYMS 103.9 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by Romeo Servando (Rolin Broadcasting)
- DWMI Radyo Natin 104.5 MHz in Brooke's Point, owned by Manila Broadcasting Company
- 105.5 MHz in Puerto Princesa, owned by VTV
VTV can stand for the following:*Vaikundar Thirukkudumbam Version, one among the versions of the holy book of Ayyavazhi.*Valtiontalouden tarkastusvirasto — the Finnish State Audit Office* Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, a Tamil movie released in 2010....
TV stations
- DYFJ-TV Channel 29 in Puerto Princesa City
The City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
owned by the Rajah Broadcasting NetworkRajah Broadcasting Network, Inc. is a Philippine television and radio network owned by guitarist-singer-businessman Ramon "RJ" Jacinto...
- DYPR -TV Channel 7, in Puerto Princesa City
The City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
, owned by Palawan Broadcasting CorporationPalawan Broadcasting Corporation , also known by its call sign DYPR, was the first local radio station to serve the island of Palawan, the Philippines. It was established in 1965, in the capital Puerto Princesa City, by Ramon Oliveros Decolongon.The station faced many difficulties in its early years...
(an affiliate of ABS-CBNABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
)
- NBN Channel 4 in Puerto Princesa City
The City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
, owned by National Broadcasting NetworkPeople's Television is the flagship government television network owned by the Philippine Government through People's Television Network, Inc. . Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at Broadcast Complex, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City .-History:The country's government...
- DYPQ-TV Q Channel 27 in Puerto Princesa City owned by GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- DYPQ-TV Sonshine TV 39 in Puerto Princesa City
The City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
owned by ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network
- DYPU-TV GMA Channel 12 in Puerto Princesa City
The City of Puerto Princesa is a city located on the western provincial island of Palawan, one of 80 provinces which make up the Philippines...
- DYAA-TV GMA Channel 6 in Brooke's Point, Palawan- a relay station of GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
- DWRF-TV GMA Channel 8 in Coron, Palawan- a relay station of GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
Cable Television Companies
- Calamianes Cable Television, Inc.-Coron, Palawan
- Culion CATV Services, Inc.-Culion, Palawan
- Cuyo Cable TV Corporation-Cuyo, Palawan
- Global Destiny Cable-Puerto Princesa
- Palawan Cable Television Corporation-Puerto Princesa
- Puerto Princesa CATV, Inc.-Puerto Princesa
- Roxas Cable Television, Inc.-Roxas, Palawan
- Taytay CATV Service-Taytay, Palawan
- Treasure Cable Television, Inc.-Cuyo, Palawan
- Vinta Cable Services-Brooke's Point, Palawan
- Vinta Cable Services-Narra, Palawan
Print media
- Bandillo ng Palawan (Environment and Development Weekly): Philippine Press Institute's Hall of Fame Awardee for Best in Science and Environmental Reporting
- The Palawan Times by Luntian Publishing Inc., a weekly newspaper in Puerto Princesa
- Palawan Sun
- Palawan Mirror
Health facilities
There are nine provincial government hospitals, two national government hospitals, one military hospital and nine private hospitals in the province. The
Ospital ng Palawan, managed and administered by the Department of Health (DOH), and the Palawan Adventist Hospital are located in Puerto Princesa. The
Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital in Culion is also a DOH-run hospital.
Medicare Hospitals
- Aborlan Medicare Hospital
- Quezon Medicare Hospital
- Roxas Medicare Hospital
District Hospitals
- Brooke’s Point District Hospital
- Taytay District Hospital
- Cuyo District Hospital
- Coron District Hospital
Rural Health Units with Lying-In
- Rizal Rural Health Unit
- Bataraza Rural Health Unit
- San Vicente Rural Health Unit
- Araceli Rural Health Unit
- Linapacan Rural Health Unit
- Busuanga Rural Health Unit
- Cagayancillo Rural Health Unit
Private Hospitals
- Palawan Adventist Medical Center - San Pedro, Puerto Princesa
- Sacred Heart Hospital - Narra
- Manipol Hospital – Brooke’s Point
- RTN Hospital – Rio-Tuba, Bataraza
- Palawan Baptist Hospital – Roxas
- Alfonso Birthing Home – Malvar St., Puerto Princesa
- Leoncio General Hospital – Brooke’s Point
- Sagrado Hospital – Brooke’s Point
- Cooperative Hospital/Medical Mission Group - Burgos St., Puerto Princesa
Electricity
The
National Power CorporationThe National Power Corporation , also known as the NPC or Napocor, is a state-owned company that serves as the largest provider and generator of electricity in the Philippines...
has 14 electric facilities all over Palawan. It operates with a total of 51.363 megawatts of electricity. These electric facilities include:
- Agutaya Power Plant
- Araceli Power Plant
- Balabac Power Plant
- Cagayancillo Power Plant
- Culion Power Plant
- Cuyo Power Plant
- El Nido Power Plant
- Linapacan Power Plant
- Delta P (IPP)
- Puerto Princesa Power Plant
- Roxas Power Plant
- San Vicente Power Plant
- Taytay Power Plant
- NPC Modular Power Plant (Irawan)
Water facilities
Water facilities in Palawan are classified as Level I (deepwell, handpump), Level II (communal faucet), or Level III (house connection). Among all of these types, Level I has the most number of units, accounting to 17,438; this is followed by Level III, with 1,688 units; and Level II, with only 94 units.
External links