El Nido, Palawan
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| Location | |
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| Government | |
| Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
| Province | Palawan |
| District | 1 |
| Barangays | 18 |
| Income Class: | 1st class municipality; rural area |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Mayor | Dr. Leonor Dangan-Corral |
| Official Website | www.elnidotourism.com |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Population
Total (2007) |
{{{pop2000}}} |
El Nido is a first class municipality and marine reserve park in the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 420 kilometers southwest of Manila. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 30,249 people in 6,311 households. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the population are living in the rural barangays, while only fifteen (15%) of them are in the Población (town proper).
The municipality covers the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan. It is composed of 45 islands and islets, each has its own unique geological formations. Like the rest of Palawan, it is part of the Eurasian Plate, a plate that is entirely separate from the Philippine Plate to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. The limestone cliffs here are similar to those that can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and Guilin in China, as well as Krabi in Thailand, all of which are part of the Eurasian Plate.
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[edit] History
El Nido has been inhabited by humans as early 2680 BC or even up to 22,000 years ago. This was confirmed by fossils and burial sites (particularly Ille Cave in Barangay New Ibajay), dating back to the Late Neolithic Age, that can be found in many caves and excavation sites surrounding the municipality. Chinese traders had been regularly visiting the area of El Nido for its edible birds' nests during Sung Dynasty (960-1279 BC). In fact, El Nido is specifically mentioned in Chinese records as far back 1225 BC. Caho Ju-Kua, a member of the Chinese Royal Family, Trade Commissioner and Superintendent of Customs of the Port of Chuan How wrote about the island, Pa-Lao-Yu or Land of Beautiful Harbors in his book Chu Fan Chai.
The town traces its roots from a small Tagbanua village called Talindak. Some time in the 16th century, waves of migrants from Cuyo Islands came here to settle. In the 1800s, the Spaniards arrived, and they moved to the part where present-day town proper and Barangay Mabini are located.
The first Spanish families were the Canovas, Vázquez, Ríos and Rey. In 1890, the Spaniards renamed it Bacuit. At the time, the center of the town was Cabigsing, then known as Inventario. Chinese families moved into the area about the same period, first settling in Langeblangeban. The first Chinese settlers were named Lim, Chin, Liao, Edsan, Ambao, Que-Ke, Lim Piao, Yu His, Pe Phan and Pe Khen.
In 1954, the town was finally given its present name, El Nido, after the edible nests of swiftlets collocalia fuciphaga found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. In 1983, major tourism started in El Nido when Ten Knots Development Corporation, a Filipino-Japanese joint venture company, opened a divers’ resort on Miniloc Island, and an airstrip (Lio airport) at Villa Libertad on the mainland.
[edit] People
[edit] Ethnic Groups
The original settlers of El Nido were the Tagbanuas and Cuyunons. Throughout the centuries, there has been a constant migration of Tagalogs, Visayans, Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Chinese and Spaniards. There are also a small number of Germans and Koreans. Intermarriage between ethnic groups are not uncommon in El Nido.
The first town census of 1918 showed El Nido having a population of 1,789. In the period between 1980 and 1990, the population grew up to 18,832. Today, almost 27,000 people call El Nido their home.
[edit] Languages
The main language is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. In addition, many people are very proficient in the English language, Visayan languages (Visayan, Cebuano, Ilonggo, and Waray), and Bicolano. A small but significant percentage of the population speaks Cuyunon, the native dialect of the Cuyo Islands and most parts of Palawan.
[edit] Religion
El Nido is predominantly Roman Catholic. A small segment of the population belongs to other Christian denominations such as Baptist, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Seventh-day Adventist and other Protestant churches. Recently, there is a growing number of migrants, who are engaged in Islamic faith, from southern Palawan and parts of Mindanao.
[edit] Education
El Nido has more than ten public elementary and secondary schools located in most of its barangays. El Nido Central School and El Nido National High School, which are both located at the Poblacion (town proper), have the largest facilities and number of students, among these schools. Recently, Palawan State University (PSU) opened its El Nido campus in New Ibajay, offering extramural programs and studies.
[edit] Economy
The main industries of El Nido are fishing, agriculture and tourism, being a popular diving location. Edible nest-gathering is also an economic activity, although it is relatively seasonal.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Air
The fastest and most direct way to El Nido is from Manila. The flight takes one hour and fifteen minutes, and lands directly at Lio airport, which is located about 4 kilometers from Poblacion (town proper). There are only two airlines that fly to El Nido, namely [South East Asian Airlines ] (SEAIR) and [Island Transvoyager Inc] (ITI). ITI is a charter airline whom operates as a sister company to the two main resorts on El Nido. SEAIR is a commercial airline with flights from Manila to El Nido, with a stopover in Busuanga (Coron). []
[edit] Roads
The main roads of El Nido are organized around a set of radial and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the town proper and its rural barangays. Its interconnected roads are connected to the major highway that leads Puerto Princesa City, Palawan's capital. Bus Times for El Nido
[edit] Seaports and piers
The main port in El Nido is located in Buena Suerte (Zone II), although a number of small and accessible wharfs are being used in other rural barangays. A number of ferry and other sea vessels owned by Atienza Shipping Lines and San Nicholas Shipping Lines have regular trips from Manila to El Nido town proper. Ferry Times for El Nido
[edit] Communication
There is no telephone lines that operate in El Nido. Resorts and other tourist facilities use satellite telephone systems, while majority of the population rely on cellular networks Smart Communications and Globe Telecom.
[edit] Public services
The Población (town proper) is part of the service areas of electric utility, Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO). Other barangays use solar panels and electric generators. Water services are accessible in protected water tables and facilities. Ten percent (10%) of the population can avail of the Level II Water System by the municipal government, while majority of them are still dependent on deep wells and natural springs.
[edit] Government
During the Spanish rule, El Nido town was part of the Province of Castilla, with Taytay as its capital. It remained part of the Municipaliy of Taytay until 1916 when it became an independent Municipality.
El Nido is politically subdivided into eighteen barangays. Four of which are situated in the Población (town proper), and are also known by their respective zones.
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[edit] Places of Interest
[edit] Bacuit Bay
The bay is dotted with islands and islets, most of which are inhabited. Its clear blue waters are rich in marine life. It is home to dugongs, turtles, rays, species of fishes and coral reefs. There are over 30 dive sites ranging in depth from six to more than thirty meters.
[edit] El Nido Resorts
[edit] Miniloc Island
It is where the first resort in El Nido, which first started as a diving station for Japanese and European tourists, can be found. It is a great place for snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. Its Big and Small Lagoons showcase a kaleidoscope of marine life in its orchid-lined limestone walls.
[edit] Lagen Island
The most luxurious exclusive resort in the area is situated in its cove, which is fringed by a lush forest and limestone walls. Its Leta-Leta Cave was an important burial site of the Late Neolithic Age, where a collection of stone and shell artifacts, and sophisticated pottery and nephrite adzes and axes were recovered. Other materials include stone ornaments and shell beads. It was excavated by Dr. Robert Fox in 1965.
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." Doubles from $210." Palawan was also categorized as “doing well” in the 4th Destination Scorecard survey conducted by the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations, and Conde Nast Traveler magazine voted its beaches, coves and islets as the tourist destination with the best beaches in Asia. Further, the aquatic views from the sunken Japanese warships off Coron Island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best scuba sites in the world.[1][2]
[edit] Pangalusian Island
It has one of the widest stretch of powdery white beaches in El Nido, which is very ideal for sun bathing, sunset viewing, and other beach activities.
[edit] Cudugnon Point
It is an important anthropological site, where jewelry and pottery dating back to the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 BC) were yielded. The anthropologists believe that the cave dwellers were from Borneo, and travelled across the ancient land bridge that connected Palawan from Borneo.
[edit] Matinloc Island
Matinloc Island, the longest slim island in El Nido [1], has a secret beach that is inaccessible by boat and surrounded by steep rock walls. To reach it, divers must swim underwater through a narrow crevice in a rock wall. [2] According to local legend, this beach inspired Alex Garland's novel The Beach. [3]
[edit] Trivia
- In the game Chrono Cross there is an island with the name El Nido.
- Actress and FHM Philippines' Sexiest Woman for 2006 and 2007, Katrina Halili, was raised in El Nido. Before joining the reality TV show Starstruck, she represented the Municipality of El Nido in the Miss Palawan contest where she was short-listed as one of the finalists.
- Leg 12 of The Amazing Race 5 was shot in the Bacuit Bay of El Nido.
- The "Desert-Island Special Challenge" of the most-outstanding comedy program in South Korea, Muhan Dojeon, was entirely shot in some parts of El Nido.
[edit] External links
- El Nido beach cabins (Government)
- Philippine Standard Geographic Code listing for El Nido
- El Nido Tours - Your guide to El Nido, Palawan (Private)
- El Nido Municipal Tourism Council (Private)
- Seacology reef rehabilitation project in El Nido Seacology
- Summer at El Nido
- http://www.elnidotourism.com/
[edit] References
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- El Nido, Palawan is at coordinates Coordinates:
