Jossa T.

Katigbak
Palawan Puerto Prinsesa (Capital City)
Palawan (Tagalog pronunciation: [plawan]), officially the Province of Palawan
(Filipino: Lalawigan ng Palawan), is an island province of the Philippines that is located in the
MIMAROPA region. It is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction.
Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, but it is governed independently from the province.
Religion
Roman Catholicism
The predominant religion in Palawan is Roman Catholicism. Although there are many
Roman Catholic parishes in Puerto Princesa City, the number of Catholic faithfuls are too scarce
for it to be considered a full-fledged diocese. One of the religious orders that had a significant
mission in the islands is the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
The island of Palawan is divided into two Apostolic Vicariates: the Apostolic Vicariate of
Puerto Princesa in Southern Palawan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay in Northern Palawan.
Protestantism and other groups
Several Baptist and other Protestant denominations have a strong presence on Palawan as
do the Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines, and the Seventh-day Adventists.
Charismatic groups such as Jesus is Lord (JIL) and the Life Church (formerly known at the Life
Renewal Center).
The Members Church of God International popularly called Ang Dating Daan establishes
three church districts namely Coron, Northern Palawan and Southern Palawan which signifies
strong membership in the province.
Other Christian denominations including the indigenous Iglesia ni Cristo has many local
congregations in the province.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the United
Church of Christ in the Philippines or (UCCP), the Jesus Miracle Crusade, the Pentecostal
Missionary Church of Christ or PMCC as well as the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine
Independent Church or Aglipayan Church) which is standing as one diocese (The Diocese of
Palawan). Jehovah's Witnesses have an active membership of 181,236 in the Philippines as of
2012. Special pioneers from the Witnesses have been preaching to prisoners at the Iwahig penal
colony in Palawan, and were permitted to build a small Kingdom Hall right on the premises.
Non-Christian religions
There are Buddhists - mainly Vietnamese refugees who settled in Palawan, as well as
some ethnic Chinese Buddhists. One notable Vietnamese Buddhist Temple in Palawan is Cha
Vn Php.

Most of the ethnic minorities such as Batak and Tagbanwa are animists, but many have
become Christians (usually Protestant) or have joined other sects.
Tourist Attractions
Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary - A game reserve and wildlife sanctuary of
exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan. The reserve was established
on August 31, 1976 by virtue of the Presidential Decree No.1578, this was initiated in response
to the appeal of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to help save African
wildlife when former President Ferdinand Marcos attended the 3rd World Conference in Kenya.
Coron Reefs, Coron Bay, Busuanga - Seven lakes surrounded by craggy limestone cliffs attract
hundreds of nature lovers to Coron Reefs in Northern Palawan, near the town of Coron.
Busuanga Island, whose main town is Coron, is the jump-off point for numerous dive operators.
The principal dive sites are 12 World War II Japanese shipwrecks sunk on September 24, 1944
by US Navy action. They range in depth from the surface to 40 meters.
El Nido Marine Reserve Park - The January 2008 issue of international magazine Travel +
Leisure, published by the American Express Co. (which partnered with Conservation
International) listed El Nido's sister hotel resorts El Nido Lagen Island and El Nido Miniloc
Island in Miniloc and Lagen Islands as "conservation-minded places on a mission to protect the
local environment." Travel + Leisure's 20 Favorite Green Hotels scored El Nido Resort's
protection of Palawan's giant clam gardens and the re-introduction of endangered Philippine
cockatoos: "8. El Nido Resorts, Philippines: Guest cottages on stilts are set above the crystalline
ocean. The resorts are active in both reef and island conservation."
Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area - Located in the Municipality of
Taytay, this important ecological and economic zone is a watershed and fishing ground, and the
habitat of Bottle-nosed and Irrawaddy dolphins.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park - This park features a large limestone
karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it
emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also
represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountainto-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park - The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 332 km, including the
North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine
species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an
excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m perpendicular wall, extensive
lagoons and two coral islands.
Ursula Island - This game refuge and bird sanctuary is situated near the Municipality of
Brooke's Point in southern Palawan. The islet is a migratory and wintering ground for shorebirds
and seabirds.