Polilio is an island in the Northeastern region of the Philippines. The mere island is subdivided across three municipalities. The municipality of Polilio takes up the Southern part of the island. The Eastern partition of the island is administered by the municipality of Burdeos, while the North is within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Panukulan. Polilio is a fourth class municipality in the Province of Quezon, Country Philippines. It is located on Polilio Island in the Philippine Sea and separated by Polillo Strait from Luzon.

 

As of the year 2000, Polilio has a population of 24,105 people in 5,102 households. The Polilio is subdivided into twenty Barangays namely: Anawan, Atulayan, Balesin, Bañadero, Binibitinan, Bislian, Bucao, Canicanian, Kalubakis, Languyin, Libjo, Pamatdan, Pilion, Pinaglubayan, Poblacion, Sabang, Salipsip, Sibulan, Taluong, and Tamulaya-Anibong.

 

The island is administratively part of Quezon Province's first district. It is also a bird sanctuary and the home of a rare bird called "balod". Eighty percent of the island is unspoiled forest and almost all of its coastal seas are surrounded with corals. 

 

Polilio Island Name Origin 

 

The name "Polilio" derives its name from the Chinese word "Pulilu", which means beautiful island with plenty of food. Afterwards, due to language difficulties, its first name "Pulilu" then became "Pulilio". The Tradings in this island was very lively and rich way back in the year 1500s between Malays, Hindu, Chinese, and Tagalogs.

In the mid-1500s, Spaniards came to the island and they built there a chapel. They took-charge the management of the island and many changes and development they brought there upon their times. Many centuries and generations were past, but still, the Polilio Island nowadays is still here and alive. It passed the test of time and its existence will continue and getting better.

The Polilio Island Civilization 

 

About a three-hour boat ride from Real, Quezon, the Polillo towns are typically rural, with no permanent and regular public utility buses and jeepneys that runs the routes from one municipality to the other, and the road system not yet well established. The most common mode of transportation here is by boat and many residents have to settle for motorcycles as inland transportation.

 

The environment here is quite peaceful and simple. Electricity is available only between two o’clock in the afternoon to six o’clock the following morning. Simple as it may the lifestyle may be, the Polillos have much more to offer, which many of its residents are even unaware of, and these are the rich biological resources found in this part of the country.

This island has been identified as one of the priority areas for biodiversity conservation because it is home to at least seven endemic species and sub-species of fauna and numerous other biologically important species.

 

The Attractions

Polilio, consists of several islands with beautiful, fine beaches, a game refuge and bird sanctuary. Shallow waters, with extensive mangrove forests surround the islands and coral reefs. In the underwater, you can see many species such as, hammerheads, sharks, and whale sharks.

 

 

 

 

The Polilio Island is located 30 kilometers off the north-eastern coast of Quezon Province, Luzon, in the Philippines. Facing the Pacific Ocean, 25 kilometers East of Luzon. It is separated from the island of Luzon by the Polillo Strait. This group of islands is comprised of 27 islands and islets belonging to five municipalities, namely: Polillo, Burdeos and Panukulan, which occupy the mainland, and the two island municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig.

 

One should not be confused between "Polilio" and "Polillo". Polillo is one of the municipalities in the Polilio, while the Polilio is the name of the whole island itself. Polilio Island, with a land area of 380 square miles, considered as the second largest island of the Pacific coast Luzon, approximately 110 kilometers east of Manila and just North of Lamon Bay in Quezon Province. 

 

It can be reached by motorboats three hours via Real-Polillo in the Ungos Port and a little bit shorter via Infanta-Polillo. Or if you want a pretty long drive from Manila, about four or five hours thru land, and you have to pass through Laguna and ride a ferry boat.