Homonhon Island is an island in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. The island is part of the municipality of Guiuan, encompassing eight barangays: Bitaugan, Cagusu-an, Canawayon, Casuguran, Culasi, Habag, Inapulangan, and Pagbabangnan.
Mantoconan, an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon, is also part of the approximately 7,500 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago. The island is one of the early Pacific contact sites between the East and the West.
History
During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land,W.D. Brownlee (Master Mariner), 1974. The First Ships Around the World , p.44. even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Yet he landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521.Richard Humble, The Voyage of Magellan, Franklin Watts p.20. Despite Homonhon being uninhabited at that time, he was detected by the fishing boats of nearby local settlements in Suluan. The local leaders arrived in more boats, receiving him warmly and trading food and supplies with Magellan's crew. Magellan later left for Limasawa Island.Laurence Bergreen, Over the Edge of the World : Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe HarperCollins Publishers
Up to the early Spanish period, Ibabaonon (bygone term for Bisaya of the eastern and northern Samar coast) revered the island as the sacred residence of Makapatag, the male aspect of the supreme diwata Malaon.
Administratively, the island was part of the undivided province of Samar until Republic Act No. 4221 divided Samar into three provinces in 1965. Since Homonhon is part of Guiuan, it was officially incorporated into the new province of Eastern Samar.
Barangays
List of Barangays in Homonhon island by population (2020 census) + Barangay Population Bitaugan 445 Cagusu-an 707 Canawayon 427 Casuguran 964 Culasi 446 Habag 317 Inapulagan 548 Pagbabangnan 550 Total 4,413
Economy The island hosts four large-scale mining operations that are involved in extracting nickel and chromite since the 1980s.
References