Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City and it is the largest province in terms of land area. The islands of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island.
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[edit] People and culture
Palawan is a melting pot of 87 different cultural groups and races. Basically Its culture bears a strong influence from India, China, and the Middle East. Influx of migrants from other parts of the Philippines, particularly from Muslim Mindanao, accounts for the high population growth rate of 3.98% annually. Eighteen percent of the population is composed of cultural minority groups such as Central Tagbawa, Palawan (Palawano), Batak, Calamian Tagbanwa, and Molbog.
[edit] Economy and environment
Northern Palawan consists of some of the most pristine natural habitats in the world. However, its remoteness puts it at risk for ongoing economic exploitation and environmental degradation. A few programs have emerged to monitor and mitigate negative impact through the initiation of economic alternatives. The development of ecotourism as an alternative to reef degradation, sand theft, illegal logging and wildlife poaching has been approached. However, funding for the development of such programs has been scarce. The Palawan Environmental and Marine Studies Center (PEMS) [1] has been slow in receiving funding, DENR (Government regulatory) remains ineffectively funded and programs offered by international organizations like USAID remain in their infancy.
Palawan Environmental and Marine Studies founder Caril Ridley says Northern Palawan has the potential for becoming an "Ecological-Economic Conferencing Center" for growing Asia and she encourages regional governments and local organizations to work together toward ecological and economic development. "ECO2" she calls it, saying that eco-tourism may offer the most available and effective ongoing funding source for regional education, economic development and environmental protection.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Ecotourism
Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' "last frontier". The province boasts of many splendid beaches and has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
[edit] Political
Palawan is subdivided into 23 municipalities and 1 city.
The Philippine government claims most of the Spratly Islands, locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands, in the South China Sea Islands to be under the jurisdiction of Palawan.
[edit] Religion
The predominant religion in Palawan is Roman Catholicism. 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 Balabac and Bataraza. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons or LDS) have a strong presence on Palawan, as well as the Seventh-day Adventists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jesus Miracle Crusade, Jesus Touch Fellowship, and other Christian denominations. There are also Buddhists - mainly Vietnamese refugees who settled in Palawan, as well as some ethnic Chinese Buddhists. One notable Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Palawan being Vihara Van Phat. Most of the ethnic minorities such as Batak and Tagbanwa are animists, but many have become Christians (usually Protestant) or have joined other sects.
[edit] Municipalities
[edit] Physical
Palawan is the Philippine's largest province in terms of total land area. It consists of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamian Group of Islands, to the northwest consists of Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometers to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Palawan's almost 2,000 kilometers of irregular coastline are dotted with 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its mountain ranges.
[edit] Region
Palawan was originally part of the Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV).
In 2001, the residents of Palawan rejected to be a part of the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao via a referendum.
By virtue Executive Order No. 103, dated May 17, 2002, which divided Region IV into 2 regions, Palawan was reorganized as part of MIMAROPA (Region IV-B).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had Palawan transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005 by virtue of Executive Order 429.[1] 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, Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 129 on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from MIMAROPA to Region VI.[2]
Palawan is currently still part of MIMAROPA.
[edit] History
[edit] Pre-colonial era
Ancient Chinese traders and waves of migrants arrived in the Philippines by way of land bridges between Borneo and Palawan. 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.
In the 12th century, Malay settlers began to populate the island. Most of the settlements were ruled by Malay chieftains. These people grew palay, ginger, coconuts, camote, sugar 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.
[edit] Spanish rule
The northern Calamianes 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 Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay and Cagayancillo 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 Cuyo, Taytay, Linapacan and Balabac. In 1749, the Sultanate of Borneo ceded southern Palawan to Spain.
At first, the territory of Palawan (or Paragua as it was called) was organized as a single province named Calamianes, with its capital in Taytay. Later, it was divided into three provinces: Castilla covering the northern section of the province with Taytay as capital, Asturias in the southern mainland with Puerto Princesa as capital, and Balabac Island with its capital in the town of Principe Alfonso.
[edit] American rule
When the Spaniards left after the 1898 revolution, a civil government was established by the Americans. Provincial boundaries were revised in 1903, the name of the province was changed to 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.
[edit] Palawan Massacre
During World War II, in order to prevent the rescue of prisoners of war by the advancing allies, on 14 December 1944, the Japanese herded the remaining 150 POWs at Puerto Princesa into three covered trenches which were then set on fire using barrels of gasoline. As prisoners tried to escape the flames they were shot down. Some escaped by going 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 site of the massacre can still be visited. The massacre is the premise of 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 movie, "The Great Raid".
[edit] Invasion of Palawan
The island was liberated from the Japanese Imperial Forces by a task force consisting of Filipino and American personnel in what became known as the Invasion of Palawan between February 28 and April 22, 1945
[edit] Honda Bay kidnappings
In May 2001 Palawan hit the headlines when the militant Islamic group Abu Sayyaf abducted 20 guests from the Dos Palmas Resort, located in Honda Bay outside of Puerto Princesa City. The kidnapping raid led to a massive U.S.-backed security operation, and unfortunately two hostages were later killed. Significantly, there have been no repeat incidents of this kind in Palawan, and the combination of a beefed-up military presence and radar surveillance has considerably boosted security. A certain Fritz Pediapco, a known member of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group was arrested following recovery operations by the Philippine Army. He turned state witness and was essential in the recovery of the remaining hostages. However, he was abducted by suspected Muslim separatists and his mutilated body was later found near Honda Bay.
[edit] Palawan is Famous for...
World's Largest Pearl Found Here
The 9.45-inch Pearl of Allah is the world's largest. It was found by a diver off the Philippine island of Palawan in 1934 and is stored in a museum in that country.
Calauit Game Preserve & Wildlife Sanctuary
- It is a unique game reserve and wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan.
- Established on August 31, 1976 by virtue of 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 Marcos attended the 3rd world Conference in Kenya. By virtue of RA 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 PCSDO (Palawan Council of Sustainable Development Office). It is located in Calauit Island, Busuanga, Palawan.
Coron Reefs, Coron Bay, Busuanga
- Seven enchanting lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs attract hundreds of nature lovers to Coron Reefs in Northern Palawan, near the town of Coron.
- Busuanga Island, whose main town is Coron, is the jump-off point for numerous dive operators. The principal dive sites are 12 World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk on September 24, 1944 by US Navy action. They range in depth from the surface to 40M. This large variety offers exciting wreck exploration for enthusiasts, from novice divers and snorkelers and recreational divers to experienced TEC divers. 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
UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park 1999
This park features a spectacular 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. -UNESCO
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. -UNESCO
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