Panglao, officially the Municipality of Panglao (; ), is a municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 41,760 people.
Panglao has educational institutions, including the San Agustin Academy (Panglao), Lourdes National High School, the Cristal e-College and elementary schools located in every barangay (including the Panglao Central Elementary School). It is also home to Bohol–Panglao International Airport that serves as Bohol's primary airport, replacing Tagbilaran Airport in November 2018.
The town of Panglao, Bohol celebrates its fiesta on August 27–28, to honor the town patron San Agustin.
Etymology The name Panglao may have come from its former name Panglawod, meaning "to the open sea", or derived from the word panggaw, referring to a fishing implement used by locals. The island also could be named after mapanglao by the Spanish, means "lonesome place".
History
Precolonial era
Panglao flourished during the rule of the Kedatuan of Bo-ol, but raids by Moluccans and conquest by Ternate Sultanate resulted in periods of depopulation when its population fled mostly to Panay and Mindanao, including Dapitan at Mindanao.
Well before the Spanish colonization, the area was already long visited by Chinese and other Asian traders, as evinced by archaeological finds of Tang, Song, and Ming dynasty porcelain and trade wares.
Spanish colonial era
During the Spanish rule, a Jesuit mission post was established, that in 1782 was formed into a parish, known as La Iglesia de San Agustin de Panglawod. In 1803, the town was officially made into a municipality.
The Panglao watchtower was built in 1851. The 5-storey octagonal tower is the tallest of its kind in the Philippines but suffers from neglect.
Geography
The municipality occupies the southwestern part of the eponymous Panglao Island, and its territory also includes the three smaller islands of Balicasag, Gakang, and Pontod (or Pungtud, also known as Virgin Island). It is from Tagbilaran.
There are no fresh water streams or lakes on the island, so for its drinking water, the municipality is dependent on wells and the Canhilbas Underground Spring.
It is one of two municipalities that make up Panglao Island (the other being Dauis). Panglao is known for its diving locations and tourist resorts.
Climate Climate data for Panglao, Bohol Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C°F Average mean °C°F Average low °C°F mmin Climate-data.org Köppen-Geiger climate classification Af Coronas type III
Barangays Panglao is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Demographics
Economy
Tourism
The primary tourist attraction of Panglao are its white sandy beaches, of which Alona Beach is the most famous and most developed. Alona Beach is about long, lined with palm trees. resorts, and shops. However it has drawn criticism for its unrestrained development that ignored municipal development policies, warning against overcrowding and Alona to lose its paradise-like image. Other beaches in Panglao include Bagobo, Bolod, Danao, Doljo, and Momo.
Bohol–Panglao International Airport, also known as New Bohol International Airport, has been operational since November 28, 2018. It replaced Tagbilaran Airport as the main airport in Bohol.
Panglao is renowned for snorkeling and dive sites such as Doljo Beach, Garden Eels, Arco Point, Kalipayan, Napaling, and Puntod. The island's southern portion is ringed with reefs that are relatively narrow and shallow () with submarine cliffs plunging to depths of . Tours can readily be arranged to further dive sites, including Balicasag and Pamilacan, Bohol islands.
Gallery
Notable personalities
Rebecca Lusterio – Actress, born in Balicasag island
References
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code] Municipality of Panglao Panglao Alona Beach Guide Balicasag marine sanctuary map (page 92)