| Polillo | |
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| — Municipality — | |
| Map of Quezon showing the location of Polillo | |
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Polillo
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | CALABARZON (Region IV) |
| Province | Quezon |
| District | 1st district of Quezon |
| Founded | |
| Barangays | 20 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | George P. Verzosa (Liberal Party) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 286.5 km2 (110.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 27,912 |
| • Density | 97.4/km2 (252.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | |
| Income class | 2nd class; partially urban |
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 people.[1]
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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 more or less three hours via Real-Polillo in the Ungos Port and a little bit shorter via, Infanta-Polillo through Dinahican Fish Port.
Polillo is politically subdivided into 20 barangays.
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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 of the 5th and 52nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army landed in Polillo we fought the battles against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Polillo Island during World War II.
In recent years, government-funded infrastructures were built and private investments in hotel, resorts, services and utilities increased.
The Azarias and Moperas are only some of most famous political clans of the town. 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".
The most well-known is the town's favorite son, the late Honorable Rafael "Raffy" Puchero Nantes - a former three-termer 1st District Congressman of Quezon (1998–2001, 2001–2004, 2004–2007) and Governor of Quezon Province (2007–2010). Governor Raffy P. Nantes, fondly called as "Kuya Raffy", died in a helicopter accident that crashed into two houses at Hael Subdivision 1, Barangay Iyam, Lucena City on Monday, May 17, 2010, about 3:15 p.m. He had just attended a regular weekly flag raising ceremony at Quezon Convention Center in Kapitolyo, Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines.
The town of Polillo is celebrating its founding anniversary every March 18 more than 400 years ago. The celebration last for at least three days. Starting from March 17, there are different celebrations held in the town proper including the "Gabi ng Parangal" - Coronation Night of the Town's Beauty, Binibining Polillo and all the ladies representing different barangays.
March 18 is the most awaited day of the celebration where a big parade can be seen by all the natives and guest. The "Parada" includes all the schools, NGOs, LGUs, all the barangay participants and more. The most awaited groups in the parade are the "Banda" - School Bands - from different schools and school levels. Celebration will continue until night fall with the "Sayawan" at the town plaza.
March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph. the Patron Saint of the town. The celebration starts from a procession together with all the patron saints of all the sitios and barangays and all devotees of Saint Joseph. Many believes that this celebration of the Feast of Saint Joseph plays big part from the towns safety against nature disaster specially typoons. Devotees of St. Joseph now turns the old "St. Joseph Parish" into "Prelature Shrine of St. Joseph" as ordered by the Bishop of Infanta, Bp. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD. DD. year 2010 under the leadership of Fr. Noe Ramos, former Parish Priest of the Town.
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