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Palawan - an island paradise, declared as a nature sanctuary of the world, blessed with exotic flora & fauna found nowhere else... |
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FACTS Palawan waters are among the best in the world, not only for diving but also for fishing. A diver's paradise, it has miles of sub-surface coral and rainbow reef walls which surround the coasts and coves teeming with rich marine life. The El Nido Marine Reserve in Miniloc, El Nido, occupying an area of 96,000 hectares, is a popular nature spot in the province. It boasts of diverse ecosystems, such as rainforests, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone reefs as well as a variety of fishes, like manta ray and the sea cow or "dugong" known as the world's rarest marine mammal. The province boasts of extraordinary scenic wonders. African animals from Kenya in Africa - giraffes and elands, zebras and
gazelles – co-exist with endemic Philippine animals, like the Palawan bearcat, mouse deer and peacock (pheasant), in the Calauit Island Wildlife
Sanctuary in Busuanga, considered one of the province’s most amazing sites. Another sanctuary found in Rio Tuba Village, Bataraza is the Ursula Island
Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary. This island is a haven for birds that rest and converge two hours before sunset, after a day's flight. |
Palawan |
GEOGRAPHY Palawan is approximately 586 kilometres southwest of Manila, between Mindoro Island on the north, Borneo on the south, China Sea on the west, and Sulu Sea on the east. Its total land area of 1,489,655 hectares spreads across the peripheral islands of Busuanga, Culion, Linacapan, Cuyo, Dumaran, Cagayanes, and Balabac. Its main island measures 425 kilometres long, and 40 kilometres wide. Puerto Princesa, the capital city, is the chief seaport and the centre of trade and commerce. PEOPLE AND CULTURE The province is a melting pot of 87 different cultural communities and races who live together in peace and harmony. Basically, its culture bears a strong influence from China, India 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. The native-born Palaweños still predominate the populace. Eighteen percent is composed of cultural communities such as the Tagbanua, Palawano, Batak, and Molbog. POPULATION (人口) Palawan, the largest province in the Philippines in terms of land area, registered a total population of 755,412 persons based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing. Of the 24 municipalities comprising Palawan, Puerto Princesa City, the provincial capital, was the highest in terms of population size. This registered a population of 161,912 persons or 21.43 percent of the total provincial population. It was followed by Narra (7.53 percent) and Taytay (7.10 percent). Cagayancillo and Kalayaan had the smallest population with 0.84 percent and 0.03 percent of the total provincial population, respectively. LANGUAGE & DIALECT(語言) There are 52 dialects in the province, with Tagalog being spoken by 28 percent of the people. Other major dialects are Cuyunin (26.27 percent), Pinalwan (11.08 percent), and Ilongo (9.6 percent). English is also widely spoken. RELIGION (宗教) The most dominant religion is Roman Catholic, other Christian groups comprise 9% such as Protestants, Evangelicals, Born Again Christians and the remaining 1% belongs to other non-Christian faiths. |
