Palawan, Philippines
PALAWAN
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the western sector opposite the Visayan region. The main island, Palawan lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea and the size is 450 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide.
It is composed of long and narrow islands plus a number of other small islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group, to the northeast consist of Busuanga Island, Culion Island and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the western most part of Palawan, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Island in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan, locally called, “Kalayan Group of Islands.”
During the ancient times (some 22,000 years ago) waves of migrants arrived from Borneo as confirmed by some anthropologists in the Philippines and by way of land bridges between Borneo and Palawan. They were known as Aetas and Negritos, Palawan’s Batak tribe descended, other tribes too like Palawano and Tagbanwa. Chinese traders came also to Calamian group, Chinese artifacts are found.
In the 12th century, Malay settlers came by boats. These people planted rice, ginger, coconuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and bananas and raised also pigs, goats and chicken. Most of their activities were hunting and fishing. They had a dialect consisted of 18 syllables. Later the Indonesians followed and brought with them Buddhism and Hinduism.
Because of Palawan’s proximity to Borneo, the southern portion of the island came under the rule of the Sultanate of Brunei. Trade flourished and intermarriages among the natives, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Hindu. The result is the breed of Palaweños, both in physical and features.
Palawan was named, “Land of Promise” by Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s chronicler in 1521.
The northern part of Palawan (the Calamianes
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the western sector opposite the Visayan region. The main island, Palawan lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea and the size is 450 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide.
It is composed of long and narrow islands plus a number of other small islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group, to the northeast consist of Busuanga Island, Culion Island and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the western most part of Palawan, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Island in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan, locally called, “Kalayan Group of Islands.”
During the ancient times (some 22,000 years ago) waves of migrants arrived from Borneo as confirmed by some anthropologists in the Philippines and by way of land bridges between Borneo and Palawan. They were known as Aetas and Negritos, Palawan’s Batak tribe descended, other tribes too like Palawano and Tagbanwa. Chinese traders came also to Calamian group, Chinese artifacts are found.
In the 12th century, Malay settlers came by boats. These people planted rice, ginger, coconuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and bananas and raised also pigs, goats and chicken. Most of their activities were hunting and fishing. They had a dialect consisted of 18 syllables. Later the Indonesians followed and brought with them Buddhism and Hinduism.
Because of Palawan’s proximity to Borneo, the southern portion of the island came under the rule of the Sultanate of Brunei. Trade flourished and intermarriages among the natives, Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Hindu. The result is the breed of Palaweños, both in physical and features.
Palawan was named, “Land of Promise” by Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s chronicler in 1521.
The northern part of Palawan (the Calamianes