PALAWAN

During Ancient Times

 It is believed that the Palaw’ans people and
the Tagbanuas people are direct descendants of Palawan’s
earliest settlers. They have developed an informal form of
government, their own alphabet, and their own trade
system with sea-borne merchants.

Ancient tribal artworks that managed to survive over

time include reliefs of elephants, sharks, and fish found in
the walls of the Tabon Cave. Approximately 50,000 years
ago that a period of jar burials have begun – this era lasted
until AD 500 and at present, over 1500 burial jar have
already been found, along with a mural depicting a burial
procession.
 Approximately between 220 to 263 AD, a new wave of
recent migrants came during a period called the “Three
Kingdoms” where “Little dark people” who were living in
Anwei province in South China were driven South by Han
people. Some settled in Thailand while others scattered
farther south to Indonesia, Sumatra, and Borneo.

These people are what most Filipinos

call Aetas and Negritos from whom Palawan’s Batak tribe
descended.
In AD 982, ancient Chinese traders regularly visited the
islands. This was attested by the pottery, china and other
artifacts that have been recovered from caves and waters of
Palawan.
Classical period
 During the 12th Century, Malay immigrants arrived in
Palawan with most of its settlements ruled by a Malay
chieftain. These people grew agricultural products such as
rice, ginger, coconuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and
bananas.

They also raised animals such as pigs, goats, and

chickens. Fishing, farming, and hunting by the use of
bamboo traps and bow guns were their economic activities.
They were later on followed by Indonesians from the
Majapahit Empire in the 13th Century who have brought
Buddhism and Hinduism.
 Because of Palawan’s proximity to Borneo, southern
portions of the island of Palawan were under the control
of the Sultanate of Brunei for more than two centuries,
and Islam was introduced.

During the same period, trade relations become of

trend and intermarriages among the natives and foreign
traders such as the Chinese, Japanese, Arab, and the
Hindu have also become common. The mixing of races
resulted in a distinct breed of peoples in Palawan that may
be characterized by both physical stature and feature.
Spanish period
 After the death of Magellan, the remaining members
of his fleet landed to Palawan where the bounty of the
land saved them from starvation, thus, named it “Land of
the Promise” by Magellan’s chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta.

The northern Calamians Islands were first to

come under Spanish authority and were later declared as a
separate province from mainland Palawan.

In the early 17th Century, Spanish friars sent out

missionaries in Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay, and Cagayancillo
but they ended up meeting resistance from the Moro
community who were occupying the place.
 Later before the 18th century, Spain began building
churches that are enclosed by garrisons for protection
against Moro raids in the towns of Cuyo, Taytay,
Linapacan, and Balabac. In 1749, the Sultanate of Brunei
surrendered southern Palawan to Spain. In 1818, the entire
island of Palawan which was then called Paragua was
organized as a single province and named it Calamianes
with Taytay being its capital.

However, in 1858, the province was divided into two

provinces namely Castilla, covering all the municipalities in
the northern part with Taytay as its capital, and Asturias in
the southern mainland with Puerto Princesa as its capital.
Later on during the Spanish colonization in the
Philippines, Cuyo became the second capital of Palawan
from 1873 to 1903.
American Rule
 After the Philippine-American war in 1902, the
Americans established a civil rule on the northern part
of Palawan, calling it the province of Paragua.

In 1903, pursuant to the Philippine Commission

Act No. 1363, the province was reorganized to include
its southern portions and renamed it into Palawan,
and Puerto Princesa was declared as its capital.

During this era, bringing the people closer to the

government was among the priority plans of the
Americans along with the building of schools, and the
promotion of agriculture.
Japanese invasion
The Palawan Massacre

In order to prevent the rescue of prisoners of war byt

the advancement of their American allies during World
War II, on December 14, 1944, units of the Japanese
Fourteenth Area Army under the command of General
Tomoyuki Yamashita have herded the remaining
150 prisoners of war in Puerto Princesa into three
covered trenches which were then set on fire using barrels
of gasoline.

The prisoners who tried to escape the flames were shot

down while others attempted to escape by climbing over a
cliff that ran along one side of the trenches but was later
on hunted down and killed.
 Only 11 of these soldiers escaped from the slaughter
and between 133 to 141 people 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 Raid. A memorial has been erected on the site and
McDole, in his eighties, was able to attend the dedication.

The site, at present, is known as the Plaza Cuartel that

is found next to the Cathedral in Puerto Princesa.
Liberation

During the first phase of the Battle of the Gulf of

Leyte, just off the coast of Palawan, two United States
Naval Submarines, USS Dace (SS-247) and USS Darter
(SS-227) attacked a Japanese cruiser task force that was led
by Admiral Takeo Kurita, sinking his flagship (in which
he survived) Atago, and her sister ship Maya. Darter laer
ran aground that afternoon and was scuttled by USS
Nautilus (SS-168).

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.
 All these are far from what we see of Palawan now, a
home of beauty and culture with a dark history and a
chamber of hair-raising stories of war and colonization. Its
history is a tough proof that Palawan is not just about the
natural resources, white sandy beaches, long sandbars,
blue crystalline waters, rich marine biodiversity and
abundant ecology.

It is home to culture, heritage, and history. Something

everyone could learn from.

Come and visit this destination that is not only

environmentally rich but historically significant as well.
El Nido and Bacuit Bay
El Nido is a popular tourist destination in the Philippines, especially the
archipelago of Bacuit which is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the
world. The best way to explore El Nido is to join a boat tour and hop around the
Bacuit Archipelago. The spectacular islands are known for the emerald lagoons with
turquoise waters flanked by emerald karst cliffs, and for their secluded powdery
white beaches.
Underground River
Puerto Princesa Underground National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. This complex cave system is flooded

with water surrounded by well-preserved limestones formations and forest

teeming with wildlife. The Underground River, is the second-longest navigable

underground river in the world.

 Coron and Calamian Islands

With its crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches and abundant marine life, Calamian

Islands are the perfect destination for scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Coron is one of the islands that make up the archipelago, but its dramatic rock

formations paired with the deep blue lagoon and barrier reef make the island a

postcard-perfect destination.
1. Honda Bay – consisting of several islets
with beautiful beaches, Honda Bay is the
ideal place to go for swimming, diving,
snorkeling, island hopping and beach
combing.

2. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm – the

minimum-security inmates of this prison
are not locked up but instead, live in
dormitories with their families and work
on one of the many agricultural projects
located within the prison farm. Tourists
can buy handicrafts produced by the
inhabitants.
3. Palawan Wildlife Reserve and
Conservation Centre – the center is both
a tourist attraction and research facility,
with the aim of conducting studies on
how best to preserve endangered species
of crocodiles. It also has a mini-zoo
featuring some of Palawan’s unique
endemic species of animals.

4. Vietnamese Village – this village was

erected to house the “Vietnamese boat
people” displaced by the Vietnam War,
and who came to Palawan in the late
70s. Today, the residents are part of the
local landscape and have integrated into
the cultural fabric of the city. The village
offers super Vietnamese cuisine.
5. Butterfly Garden – tourists are
surrounded by butterflies in this garden of
exotic Philippine flowering plants.
Occasionally, one can witness the
emergence of a young butterfly and other
unusual insects.

6. Mitra’s Ranch – an ideal picnic spot

overlooking Honda Bay and the soft
breeze is refreshing after an entire day of
being under the sun. Attractions to the
North of Puerto Princesa
7. Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park– a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and New 7 Wonders of Nature featuring a spectacular limestone karst landscape
alongside 8 kilometres of traversable subterranean river which leads into an
underground cavern/lagoon commonly known as the “Cathedral.”

8. Stan lake Island Tabon Bird Sanctuary

– a bird refuge where a number of
endangered species can be found. This
bird watcher’s paradise requires some
traveling by land and sea. Roxas provides
the jump-off to this remote island.

9. Batak Tribal Visit and Jungle Trek – an

endangered indigenous mountain-
dwelling tribe with a dwindling number of
less than 500. En route to this remote
village, one treks along virgin forests,
untouched for centuries. Overnight stays
in tents along the fringes of the village are
possible.
10. El Nido Marine Reserve – situated in
spectacular Bacuit Bay, many travelers
have identified this corner of Palawan as
the most beautiful place on earth. It is a
popular nature spot boasting of
extraordinary natural sceneries and
ecosystems such as rainforests, mangroves,
white sand beaches, coral reefs, and
limestone cliffs.

11. Tabon Caves – a 138-hectare complex

of rugged cliffs and deep slopes. Known as
“The Cradle of Philippine Civilization,”
the caves have yielded the fossil remains of
the 22,000-year-old Tabon man. Of the
200 caves, seven are open to visitors,
including Tabon Cave, which was used for
habitation and / or burial sites by ancient
peoples.
 12. Rasa Island Bird Sanctuary – a spectacular island sanctuary that is home to
87 unique bird species, including the Palawan hornbill. Tours also include visits
to waterfalls and mangrove forests.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Underground River
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park
Activities You Can Do in Palawan
– Trekking
– Snorkeling
– Diving
– Island hopping
– Hiking
– Sailing
– Fishing
– Canoeing