Gigantes Islands
Islas de Gigantes is an island chain within the larger Western Visayas archipelago in the Visayan Sea. It is part of the municipality of Carles in the northernmost part of Iloilo province, Philippines. The Gigantes Islands consist of about ten islands; the two largest are Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,332 residents. There is also a lighthouse on Gigantes Norte.
Location and geography
The Gigantes islands are located roughly from Panay Island in the Visayan Sea. Gigantes Norte is at its highest point, while Gigantes Sur is at its highest point. A narrow channel separates the two islands. Nearby islands include Balbagon Island, which is west of Gigantes Sur and is part of the barangay Lantangan.In addition to the two main islands, the Gigantes group includes the following minor islets: Bulubadiang, Gigantillo, and Gigantuna are islets southeast of Gigantes Norte, while Antonia, Bantigui, Cabugao Daku, Tanguingui, and Turnina are islands and islets south of Gigantes Sur.
The Gigantes group consists of the following four barangays: on Gigantes Norte is Asluman and Granada and on Gigantes Sur is Lantangan and Gabi.
History
The Gigantes group used to be called Sabuluag, or Salauag, which is the name of a species of tree endemic to the islands. During the Spanish colonial era, the name was changed to Gigantes. Local legend describes coffins found inside Bakwitan Cave that contained gigantic sets of human bones, which constituted the name change. For this reason, locals also believe the island is inhabited by engkantos.A lighthouse was built on Gigantes Norte sometime before 1895. Designated ARLHS PHI-094, the white tower features a keeper's house and a focal point in the air, which flashes once every ten seconds. Lantangan Elementary School in Gigantes Sur has a student population of 1,144, which is higher than the populations of mainland schools.
Typhoons
, known in the Philippines as Frank, struck the Gigantes group in June 2008. Fengshen destroyed the original lighthouse on Gigantes Norte, which was one of the original 27 lighthouses built by the Spanish in the Philippines. Japan donated a replacement tower, which is made of iron and solar powered. The brick keeper's house is all that remains of the original structure.Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as "Yolanda", passed over the Gigantes group, along with the rest of Panay, on November 8, 2013, damaging houses and boats. Unofficial reports stated more than 90 percent of the houses on Gigantes were destroyed. The typhoon also tore the roof off of Lantangan Elementary School in Gigantes Sur. As of June 2014, the roof of the school had not yet been repaired. Many groups conducted relief missions to the Gigantes group, including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 6, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, RockEd Philippines-RockEd Iloilo, the ABS-CBN Foundation, Loma Linda University Health, and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. In June 2014, Save the Children donated more than a thousand bags of school supplies to students on the island. Aside from food and clothing, the fishing community also asked relief organizations to help rebuild their livelihoods.