El Nido (Spanish for 'The Nest'), 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,Destination: El Nido . Accessed 24, 2008. 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 2800 BC around the Bacuit Bay area, and at Dewil Valley possibly as early as 14,000 years ago.History of Palawan . Campersponit website. Accessed January 26, 2009. 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.
Spanish era The town traces its roots to a small Tagbanwa village called Talindak in modern-day Langeb-langeban, however near it was one of the largest Tagbanua communities in El Nido called Batacalan, located in modern-day Sibaltan.
In the 16th century, the Spaniards arrived in the area and discovered two sub-tribes of Tagbanua in the region; the Tandulanen and the Silanganen. The Tandulanen were hostile and primitive and stayed in the interior while the Silanganen were more cooperative and assimilated within the Spanish territories. The Tandulanen as a result were able to preserve Tagbanua culture to this day.
Sometime afterwards within the same 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"Republic Act no. 1140". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved on October 20, 2010. was approved, changing the name of the town from Bacuit to its present name, El Nido, after the edible nests of swiftlets (collocalia fuciphaga) 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
El Nido is situated in Bacuit Bay and covers a land area of . It is in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan and is bordered by the Linapacan Strait to the north, the Sulu Sea to the east, and the South China Sea to the west. El Nido includes 45 islands and islets, each with its own unique geological formations. The highest peak is at Cadlao Island, towering up to above sea level.
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,On Shaky Ground . 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.North Palawan Block, Philippines--Its Relation to Asian Mainland and Role in Evolution of South China Sea. Accessed March 29, 2010.
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 (town proper) and are also known by their respective zones.
Bagong Bayan Buena Suerte (Zone II) Barotuan Bebeladan Corong-corong (Zone IV) Mabini (formerly Oton) Manlag Masagana (Zone III) New Ibajay Pasadeña Maligaya (Zone I) San Fernando Sibaltan Teneguiban Villa Libertad Villa Paz Bucana Aberawan
Climate
The climate in El Nido is distinguished by two seasons: dry, from December to May, and wet, from June to November. April and May are typically the driest, while the heaviest rainfall occurs around August. The northeast wind blows from December to March, occasionally interchanging with the north wind from December to February. The southwest wind is felt from June to October, while the east wind, the mildest of all winds, blows during April and May.Philippine Country. Accessed August 25, 2008.
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.El Nido: Info. Accessed August 24, 2008. Based on the 2000 census, the annual growth rate is 3.58%.2000 Census of Population and Housing: Palawan. Accessed August 27, 2008. 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.Population Census 2007 Press Release. Accessed August 27, 2008
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."Municipality of El Nido ". Philippine National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved on October 20, 2010.
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 (Tagalog). 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-gatheringGuardians of the bird nests. Accessed September 5, 2008. is also an economic activity, although it is seasonal. Coconut, palay, cashew, banana, and mango are its major products.Official Website of the Province of Palawan. Accessed August 28, 2008.
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 PhilippinesThe Philippines' best beaches and islands . CNN Go website. Accessed May 15, 2012.El Nido named Best Philippine Beach. ABS-CBN website. Accessed May 15, 2012. for its "extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem."Destination of the Month: El Nido, Palawan . Wow Philippines UK website. Accessed May 15, 2012.
Government
El Nido is governed by a mayor and a vice mayor, who are elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and leads the municipality's departments to execute the municipal ordinances and improve public services. The vice mayor heads the legislative council consisting of eight councilors, more commonly known as Sangguniang Bayan members. The municipal council is in charge of creating the municipality's policies in the form of ordinances and resolutions.
Seal The municipal seal depicts a silhouette of the El Nido territory within an armor-shaped frame. The famous marble and limestone cliffs serve as nesting grounds for swiftlets. Behind it is the oil rig, representing the areas within its administrative boundaries that are found to be rich in oil and natural gas such as the Malampaya Sound, which is 50 kilometers within its borders, and the Cadlao Oilfield in the Bacuit Bay area.Oil exploration firm sells stake in Cadlao oilfield Accessed September 5, 2008. At the bottom of the picture is the rice field, with the carabao head superimposed at the center, and on the other side, the sea, with the fish and the squid situated in the middle, representing farming and fishing, the two main industries of its people.
Protected area status
Establishment In 1984, the then Ministry of Natural Resources issued Administrative Order No. 518, establishing a maritime area in El Nido as a turtle sanctuary. In 1991, the rest of Bacuit Bay, including its island and islets, was proclaimed by the Philippine government as a marine reserve. A year later, by Administrative Order No. 14 Series of 1992 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, this area was expanded even further. In 1998, its status was elevated to that of a protected area, including the terrestrial ecosystem of El Nido and portions of Taytay.UNESCO:El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Area. August 26, 2008.
Extent and scope