Polillo, Quezon

Infobox Philippine municipality
infoboxtitle = Pollilo
sealfile =
region = CALABARZON (Region IV)
province = Quezon
founded =
pop2007 = 27,912
popden2007 = 97
areakm2 = 286.5
coordinates =
barangays = 20
class = 2nd class; partially urban
locatormapfile = Ph_locator_quezon_polillo.png caption = Map of Quezon showing the location of Polillo
districts = 1st district of Quezon
mayor =

Polillo is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is located on Polillo Island in the Philippine Sea and separated by Polillo Strait from the main island of Luzon. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 27,912 peoplecite web | url = http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html | title = 2007 Census of Population | publisher = Philippine National Statistics Office| accessdate = 2008-10-04] .

Geography

Polillo is located about 18 miles off the Eastern Coast of Luzon bounded by municipality of Panukulan in the north, and the municipality of Burdeos in the east. Lamon Bay bounds it at the south, east and west. It is 15 miles west of the municipality of Infanta and 17 miles northern west of the municipality of Real, Quezon. It can be reached by motorboats three hours via Real-Polillo in the Ungos Port and a little bit shorter via Infanta-Polillo.

Barangays

Polillo is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.

* Anawan * Atulayan * Balesin * Bañadero * Binibitinan * Bislian * Bucao * Canicanian * Kalubakis * Languyin

* Libjo * Pamatdan * Pilion * Pinaglubayan * Poblacion * Sabang * Salipsip * Sibulan * Taluong * Tamulaya-Anibong

History

Trade relations between the natives of the Polillo Islands and Chinese merchants existed long before the Spanish conquerors came to the archipelago. Trade was a conglomeration of Malay-Hindu-Chinese-Tagalog.

Padre Morga wrote that "Polillo" originated from the Chinese word "Pulilu", which means beautiful island with plenty of food. When Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conqueror came to Polillo in 1567, he saw a central government fully organized through the Balangay, with a datu who had a direct supervision and control over all the natives. The inhabitants lived in nipa huts.

In 1571 the Spaniards took hold of the islands of Pu Li Lu. Through the leadership of Padre Domingo, a Spanish friar, a chapel was built, where the old Spanish church was later constructed. After one and a half years, the people, through forced labor built a concrete wall to protect the "pueblo" of Pu Li Lu from moro pirate invaders. Watchtowers called "castillos" were erected in the four corners of the pueblo.

The church was constructed in 1577 . Boulders, gravel and sand were mixed with lime produced out of seashells and coral stones. Padre Domingo instigated the planting of sugar cane in San Isidro, San Antonio and San Francisco. Production of molasses was put into full swing.

Spanish conquistadores were assigned to the "pueblo" of Pu Li Lu to promote church construction. The church tower was constructed with priority, so that in 1587, in the early summer of May, two huge bronze bells rang atop. Due to language problems, Padre Domingo changed Pu Li Lu to Polillo.

In 1942, the occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Polillo.

In 1945, the liberation by the Philippine Commonwealth troops landed in Polillo we fought the battles against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Polillo Island during World War 2.

In recent years, government-funded infrastructures were built and private investments in hotel, resorts, services and utilities increased. The Azarias and Mopera are only some of most famous political clans of the town. The most well-known however is the town's favorite son, Honorable Raffy Nantes - a former three-termer 1st district congressman and now the governor of Quezon province.

Some of the more prominent residents are the Bernisca Family who owns many tracts of farmlands.Emil Sorro is the so-called "Zorro of Languyin".

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/default.asp Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
* [http://www.t-macs.com/kiso/local/ 2000 Philippine Census Information]