Land of Beautiful Harbors "Palawan"

No one knows the origin of the name, Palawan. The name may have come from the Chinese word “Pa-Lao-Yu” or “Land of Beautiful Harbors.” Others think it’s from the Indian word “Palawans” or “Territory.” However, most think it comes from the Spanish word “Paragua” because Palawan looks like a closed umbrella.

Palawan had been called the “Cradle of Philippine Civilization” because the bones of the first Filipinos were found there 22, 000 years ago. The first known settlers were the Tagbanua, Palaw’an, Tau’t bato and the Bataks. They made the mountains and coastal areas their homes even before the Malay settlers came.

Palawan became the center of trade when there were still land bridges that connected it to Borneo. It was during the 12th century when the Malays from Borneo stared settling in Palawan. Because of this, the southern part of Palawan was under the rule of Borneo. The settlers made a living through farming, fishing, hunting and raising livestock. They developed their own alphabet, non-formal form of government and a system for trading with sea-borne merchants.

When the Spaniards arrived in Palawan, the first to be successfully occupied was Northern Calamianes Islands. In the early 17th century, the Friars tried to reach the parts of Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay and Cagayancillo but the strong Moro forces made their attempts unsuccessful. In the 18th century, the Spanish friars stared building churches with garrisons in the towns of Cuyo, Taytay, Linapacan and Balabac to protect them against the Moro raids. These forts still stand today. Back then, the island was called “Paragua.” In 1749, the Sultanate of Borneo gave the Spaniards the power to rule the southern parts of Paragua.

After the Americans bought the Philippines from the Spaniards for 20 million dollars, they made changes in Paragua. They consolidated the islands and called it Palawan. They promoted education, medical assistance, agriculture and tribal minorities’ rights. Today, Palawan still has a considerable amount of well-preserved beauty thanks to the locals’ and various groups’ perseverance. They even have their own hospital for sick and disabled crocodiles. Two UNESCO World Heritage sites are found there which are the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, South Sulu Sea and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. These are the reasons why Palawan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.