El Nido, Palawan
El Nido, officially the Municipality of El Nido, is a municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
A managed resource protected area, it is known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone cliffs, as well as for being the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago.
Etymology
According to a folktale, a group of Spaniards arrived and asked for the name of the place. It was said that during that time, the inhabitants of the area were Tagalogs. Without understanding the Spaniards, the Tagalogs replied, "Bakit?" The Spaniards, thinking that word was the answer to their question, named the place "Bacuit".History
Prehistory
El Nido, also known as Bacuit, has been inhabited by humans since at least 2680 BC, possibly as early as 22,000 years ago. This was confirmed by fossils and burial sites dating back to the Late Neolithic Age that can be found in many caves and excavation sites surrounding the municipality, particularly in Dewil Valley's Ille Cave in New Ibajay.Foreign contact
Chinese traders regularly visited the area of Palawan for its edible birds' nests during the Song dynasty. The island was mentioned in Chinese records of 1225. Zhao Rukuo, a trade commissioner of the port of Quanzhou, wrote about the island, Palaoyu or Land of Beautiful Harbors, in his book Zhu Fan Zhi.Spanish era
The town traces its roots to a small Tagbanwa village called Talindak. Sometime in the 16th century, waves of migrants from Cuyo Islands settled in the area. In the 1800s, the Spaniards arrived and settled in the area where present-day [|Población] and Mabini are located. The first Spanish families were the Canovas, Vázquez, Ríos, and Rey. In 1882, Talindak became a barrio of Taytay, which was the capital of the former Province of Calamianes from 1818, and the Province of Castilla, the area of what is now known as northern Palawan, from 1858.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.
American era
It remained part of Taytay until 1916, when it formally became an independent municipality. The new municipality was then known as Bacuit.Post-war independence
On June 17, 1954, Republic Act No. 1140 was approved, changing the name of the town from Bacuit to its present name, El Nido, after the edible nests of swiftlets found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. These nests, nido in Spanish, the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup, are being sold at approximately US$ 3,000 per kilogram.In 1957, the following barrios were created:
- Villa Paz comprising the sitios of New Igabas, Candolay, Malapaho, Mabeñgeten, Dewel, Nalbekan, and Lapia;
- Bebeladan comprising the sitios of Mainlong, Bolabod, Balete, Culiong, Codongnon, Vigan, Pagawanen, Langeblangeban, Talulap, Bocboc, Miadiao, Avirawan, Pita, Deboluan, Balay-Bacaco, Kiminawit, Pamontonan, Simpian, Binabanan, Tegas, and Pinacpanacan;
- Bagong-Bayan comprising the sitios of Manogtog, Cadleman, Pinagtual, Omao, Nami, Tebey, Bato, Tuñgay, Cataaban, and Lomocob;
- Pasadeña comprising the sitios of Lamoro, Cagbatang, Bulalacao, Pinañganteñgan, Quinawañgan, Nagbaclao, Colantod, Loblob, and Badiang;
- Sibaltan comprising the sitios of Turatod, Buluang, Santa Monica, Senodioc, Laolao, Caboñgan, Tapic, Panian, Guitan, Loro, and Nagcalasag;
- Barotuan comprising the sitios of Taberna, Locaroc, Nagpan, Yocoton, Calitang, Wawa, Makinit, Canoling, Mabañgaon, and Mapeldeten;
- San Fernando comprising the sitios of Panian, Madorianen, Dipnay, Maubog, Guenleng, Palabuayan, Parañgaycayan, San Pablo, and Olac-olacan; and,
- Villa Libertad comprising the sitios of Calelenday, Taolili, Boloc, Inigtan, Mepague, Matolatolaon, Dao, Batbat, Madacotdacot, Nasigdan, Semenled, Bancalen, and Cagbanaba. In the same year, the barrio of Oton was renamed to Mabini.
Geography
Together with Sulu Archipelago, Sabah, and the South China Sea, El Nido, being part of Palawan, is located in the tectonically active and seismically active Sunda Plate, a plate that is entirely separate from the Philippine Mobile Belt to which the rest of the Philippines belongs. The Permian to Paleogene rocks and limestone cliffs of El Nido are similar to those that can be found in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Guilin in China, as well as Krabi in Thailand, all of which are part of the Sunda Plate.
El Nido is about south-west of Manila, and north-east of Puerto Princesa, capital of Palawan.
Barangays
El Nido is politically subdivided into eighteen barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.Four of these barangays are situated in the Población and are also known by their respective zones.
- Bagong Bayan
- Buena Suerte
- Barotuan
- Bebeladan
- Corong-corong
- Mabini
- Manlag
- Masagana
- New Ibajay
- Pasadeña
- Maligaya
- San Fernando
- Sibaltan
- Teneguiban
- Villa Libertad
- Villa Paz
- Bucana
- Aberawan
Climate
The average temperature ranges from a low of to a high of. The coolest temperatures are usually experienced during January, while the hottest temperatures are felt in April and May.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of El Nido was 51,367 people, with a density of.The first town census of 1918 showed El Nido as having a population of 1,789. Between 1980 and 1990, the population grew to 18,832. Based on the 2000 census, the annual growth rate is 3.58%. This is higher than the average annual population growth rate for the whole country for the periods 1990 to 2000 and 2000 to 2007, which were only 2.34% and 2.04%, respectively.
According to the 2007 census, El Nido has a population of 30,249 people in 6,311 households in its eighteen barangays. Eighty-five percent of the population is living in rural barangays, while only fifteen percent of them are in the Población area.
Ethnic groups
The original settlers of El Nido were the Tagbanwas and Cuyunons. Throughout the centuries, there has been a constant migration of Tagalogs, Hiligaynon, Bicolanos, Ilocanos, Chinese, and Spaniards. There are also a small number of Japanese and Koreans. Intermarriage between ethnic and linguistic groups is not uncommon in El Nido.Languages
The main language is Filipino. In addition, many people are very proficient in English, Hiligaynon, other Visayan languages, and Bicolano. A small but significant percentage of the population speaks or comprehends Cuyonon, the native language of the Cuyo Islands and most parts of Palawan.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 seasonal. Coconut, palay, cashew, banana, and mango are its major products.As a tourist destination, El Nido has been included in Condé Nast Travelers list of "20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World," and CNNgo has called it the best beach and island destination in the Philippines for its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem."