HISTORY OF PALAWAN

The history of Palawan dates back some 22,000 to 24,000 years to about the time when the
Tabon Cavemen existed
in Quezon, Palawan. A Tibia Bone of a man and a skull cap of a woman unearthed in 1962,
which carbon dated to be
47,000 and 16,000 years old respectively. Archaeological findings indicate that the first Filipino
once lived in the
Tabon Caves Complex, thus gave name to the caves as “The Cradle of Philippine Civilization.”

Many anthropologists believe that these cave dwellers reached the island by traveling across the
land bridges which
connected Palawan with mainland Borneo and Malaysia. This belief is fostered by the presence
of unique flora and fauna which exhibit traits similar to Indo-Malayan species.

Studies showed that there came three waves of migration from Asia to Palawan passing through
the land bridges of
Balabac, in the following order: The Aetas/Negritos; the Indonesians/Borneans – to this group
belong the Tagbanuas; and the Malays.

Historical records also show that long before Spaniards discovered the Philippines in 1521,
inhabitants of Palawan
were already doing commerce with ancient Chinese traders, particularly in the coastal areas of
Calamianes. This is
evidenced by the sizeable amount of Chinese porcelains, jars and other relics found in Palawan
today.

On May 18, 1942, at the outbreak of World War II, Japanese Imperial Forces occupied Palawan.
They established
garrisons in Coron, Puerto Princesa and Iwahig. Consequently guerillas were formed in three
sectors led by Capt.
Carlos Amores in Calamianes, Dr. Higinio Mendoza, Sr. (Governor elect 1931-1937) in the
Main Island and Emilio
Tumbaga in Brooke’s Point. Palawan was liberated by the Americans in 1945.

The name Palawan was believed to come from Chinese word “PA-LAO-YU” meaning “The
Land of Beautiful Safe
Harbor” and a Spanish word PARAGUA which likens the shape of the island to a closed
umbrella.

ANCIENT CHINESE & MALAYS

Traders and waves of migrants from China arrived in the Philippines by traversing land bridges
between Borneo and
Palawan. Once Chine author referred to these islands as Kla-ma-yan (Calamian), Palau-ye
(Palawan), and Paki-nung
(Busuanga). The area was described as having many lofty ridges and high ranges of cliffs.
Pottery, china, and other
artifacts recovered from caves and the waters off Palawan attest to the flourishing trade between
the Chinese and
Malays centuries ago.

Malay settlers began arriving in Palawan in the 12th century. For some time, Malay chieftains
ruled many settlements.
Because of its proximity to Borneo, southern Palawan was placed under the control of the
Sultanate of Borneo for
more than two centuries after the arrival of the Spaniards. In pre-colonial times, the local people
had a dialect
consisting of 18 syllables.

SPANISH RULE
The northern Calamianes Islands were the first to come under the sphere of Spanish influence
and declared a
province separate from the Palawan mainland. In the early 17th century, Spanish friars tried to
establish missions in
Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay, and Cagayancillo but met stiff resistance from Moro communities.
Towards the 18th century,
Spain began to build churches enclosed by garrisons for protection against Moro raids in the
towns of Cuyo, Taytay,
Linapacan and Balabac. Many of these forts still exist, serving testimonies to a colorful past. In
1749, the Sultanate
of Borneo ceded southern Palawan to Spain, which then established its authority over the entire
province.

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 intro 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.

AMERICAN RULE
The northern Calamianes Islands were the first to come under the sphere of Spanish influence
and declared a
province separate from the Palawan mainland. In the early 17th century, Spanish friars tried to
establish missions in
Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay, and Cagayancillo but met stiff resistance from Moro communities.
Towards the 18th century,
Spain began to build churches enclosed by garrisons for protection against Moro raids in the
towns of Cuyo, Taytay,
 Linapacan and Balabac. Many of these forts still exist, serving testimonies to a colorful past. In
1749, the Sultanate
of Borneo ceded southern Palawan to Spain, which then established its authority over the entire
province.

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 intro 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.

The Tau’t Bato or “people of rock” is a sub-group of the Palaw’an tribe living in the Singnapan
Valley in southern
Palawan. They stay inside caves during the rainy season and cam out to engage in kaingin
farming during dry
season. The tribe is familiar with certain concepts of the market system such as wages, labor,
and money.

Native- born Palaweños include the Cuyunons, Agutaynons, and Molbogs. Originally from the
island town of Cuyo
in northern Palawan, Cuyunons are considered an elite class. They are religious, disciplined and
have a highly
developed community spirit spirit. The Agutaynons practice a simpler island lifestyle, with
fishing and farming as
their main source of livelihood. The Molbogs, the original inhabitants of the southernmost island
group of Balabac,
derive their name from the word “malubog” which means turbid water. Among Palaweños, the
molbogs are the ones
most exposed to Islamic culture.
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.

References

https://www.palawan.gov.ph/history_culture