Brooke's Point, Palawan

Brooke's Point is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines.

Named after Sir James Brooke, the municipality has become famous for its promotion of ecotourism. It has also earned the distinction of being the original home of the biggest pearl in the world, known as the Pearl of Lao Tzu or the Pearl of Allah; found in its waters on May 7, 1934.

As of the August 2007 census, Brooke's Point has an estimated population of 58,537.

History

The name Brooke’s Point comes from an Englishman Sir James Brooke, first white Rajah of Sarawak and founder of the Brooke Dynasty. It is believed that during one of his voyages, he landed on the tip of an island with a long narrow stretch of land inhabited by native Palaweños and Muslims under the Sultanate of Sulu. Establishing trade and gaining the trust of the people, the name Brooke was so imprinted in the minds of the people that when American scouts came to the land almost a century later, they named it Brooke's Point.

On June 28, 1949, the Municipality of Brooke’s Point was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 232 by then President Elpidio Quirino.

Geography

Brooke’s Point is situated in the South-Eastern section of mainland Palawan at latitude 8°47’ and longitude 117°49’, approximately 192 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City. It has a total land area of 85,064.90 hectares stretching about 20 kilometers along the length of Palawan. Brooke's Point is bounded in the North by the Municipality of Sofronio Española, in the South by the Municipality of Bataraza, in the West by the Municipality of Jose Rizal, and in the East by the Sulu Sea.

Landmarks

Fresh Water Spring (locally called the "Ocean Spring") in Brooke's Point, Palawan, Philippines

Barangay Oring-Oring, located some 7 kms from Poblacion proper is the birthplace of the World’s Biggest Pearl; known throughout the world as the Pearl of Allah or the Pearl of Lau-Tzu, this 14.1-pound porcelaneous pearl was found by a native Moslem in the seas of Oring-Oring. Valued in 1984 at USD $42 million, the ownership of this unique pearl is still in dispute. What is clear, however, is its origins: Oring-Oring, Brooke’s Point.

The clam that gave birth to this pearl can still be found in the possession of the heirs of Panglima Pisi, the original owner of the pearl.

Also in Oring-Oring, another Natural Wonder can be found: the Ocean Spring. A few meters from the shore, submerged in the Sulu Sea are freshwater water springs with clean, fresh potable water.Today, the two identified springs are protected by a well, and is still used by the natives as a source of drinking water.

Mainit Falls and Hot Water Springs can be found 10 kilometers from the town proper, approximately 30 minutes by car. The Mainit Waterfalls not only serve to irrigate nearby fields but also serve as a source of drinking water to the residents living around its vicinity. Although Palawan stands outside the Ring of Fire, hot springs flow a few meters from the waterfall. Its sulfuric waters have been known to attract the Trogonoptera Trojana, a species of butterflies that is endemic to Palawan.

Bakbakan falls, a 64-meter waterfall can also be found in Barangay Mainit. Between Barangays Aribungos and Ipilan, Sabsaban Falls, also a frequently-visited site, acts as a natural boundary between the two towns.

Brooke's Port, believed to have been constructed by Sir James Brooke himself, is a historical landmark in Brooke’s Point. Today, owing to erosion and the constant movement of the tides, only a few stones can still be seen in place.

Brooke's Lighthouse, also believed to have been built by the Englishman. The remnants of the original lighthouse tower are still visible, although the area is now occupied by a new lighthouse.

Addison Peak, locally known as Mount Maruyog, with a height of 1,024 meters above sea level, is the highest point in Brooke’s Point and offers a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings.

At the edge of the town, sharing its boundaries with the Municipalities of Brooke's Point, Bataraza, Sofronio Espanola, Quezon and Jose Rizal is Mount Mantalingahan with an elevation of 2,085 meters above sea level. Mount Mantalingahan is part of a series of mountain ranges that effectively divide the whole of Palawan into the East and West Coast.

Barangays

Brooke's Point is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. Samariñana was separated from Tanionbog in 1954.^[1]

• Amas
• Aribungos
• Barong-barong
• Calasaguen
• Imulnod
• Ipilan
• Maasin
• Mainit
• Malis
• Mambalot
• Oring-oring
• Pangobilian
• Poblacion I
• Poblacion II
• Salogon
• Samariñana
• Saraza - formerly Taniongbobog^[2]
• Tubtub

Two of these Barangays (Poblacion I and Poblacion II) are urban, and the other 16 (Amas, Aribungos, Barong-barong, Calasaguen, Imulnod, Ipilan, Maasin, Mainit, Mambalot, Malis, Oring-oring, Pangobilian, Salogon, Samariniana, Saraza and Tubtub) are considered rural.

Infrastructure

Brooke's Point has a modern sea port that may accommodate commercial passenger and cargo ships. from Manila, and Mindanao, as well as numerous fishing vessels.

Health facilities in the municipality include a 25-bed capacity secondary government hospital, the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital; a Rural Health Unit (RHU); Barangay Health Stations (BHS); and private clinics and hospitals. Dental and optical clinics, laboratories, and drugstores are also present and not only serve Brooke's Point, but also neighboring Municipalities.

There is one public University and one privately-owned Technological school, 9 secondary schools and 40 public elementary schools.

Brooke's Point has two radio stations, Radyo Natin Brooke's Point, Palawan and Radyo Mo Nationwide that broadcasts to Balabac, Bataraza, Sofronio Espanola, Rizal, and some parts of Quezon and Narra.

References

1. ^ "An Act Creating the Barrio of Samariniana, in the Municipality of Brooke\'s Point, Province of Palawan". LawPH.com. http://lawph.com/statutes/ra1012.html. Retrieved 2011-04-09. 
2. ^ "An Act Changing the Name of the Barrio of Taniongbobog, Municipality of Brooke's Point, Province of Palawan, to Saraza". LawPH.com. http://lawph.com/statutes/ra1326.html. Retrieved 2011-04-12. 

External links

• Official site
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Sunset Lodge Information and pictures
• Radyo Natin Center Radio station based in Brooke's Point.

Coordinates: 8°46′N 117°50′E / 8.767°N 117.833°E / 8.767; 117.833