Polillo is a second class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is located on Polillo Island in the Philippine Sea and separated by Polillo Strait from the main island of Luzon.
The island is also home to one of the rarest reptiles on the planet, the Butaan lizard, a highly endangered relative of the Komodo Dragon.
History
Trade relations between the natives of the Polillo Islands and Chinese merchants existed long before the Spanish conquerors came to the archipelago. Trade was a conglomeration of Malay-Hindu-Chinese-Tagalog.
Padre Morga wrote that Polillo originated from the Chinese word "Pulilu", which means beautiful island with plenty of food. When Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conqueror came to Polillo in 1567, he saw a central government fully organized through the Balangay, with a datu who had a direct supervision and control over all the natives. The inhabitants lived in nipa huts.
In 1571 the Spaniards took hold of the islands of Pu Li Lu. Through the leadership of Padre Domingo, a Spanish friar, a chapel was built, where the old Spanish church was later constructed. After one and a half years, the people, through forced labor built a concrete wall to protect the "pueblo" of Pu Li Lu from moro pirate invaders. Watchtowers called "castillos" were erected in the four corners of the pueblo.
The church was constructed in 1577 . Boulders, gravel and sand were mixed with lime produced out of seashells and coral stones. Padre Domingo instigated the planting of sugar cane in San Isidro, San Antonio and San Francisco. Production of molasses was put into full swing.
Spanish conquistadores were assigned to the "pueblo" of Pu Li Lu to promote church construction. The church tower was constructed with priority, so that in 1587, in the early summer of May, two huge bronze bells rang atop. Due to language problems, Padre Domingo changed Pu Li Lu to Polillo. In 1942, the occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Polillo.
The whole island group of Polillo, Panukulan and Burdeos, and the island of Jomalig and Patnangunan were used to be referred to as the Polillo Island group in the olden times.
Polillo has great potential for tourism development, it being endowed with beautiful and clean beaches and clear, unpolluted calm waters.
Particular areas for deep diving sprees re the surrounding of Polillo reef in Malabonbon and the Katawian reefs.
Another eccentric feature in the island is the Coccoc rocks, which is famous for its beautiful and serene atmosphere and which is ideal for picnics and sea shell hunting. Plain sightseeing is enjoyable too.
The Balesin Island is the only developed tourist spot in Polillo. The place offers like golf course, horse riding arena and firing range. The island is also famous for its white sand and clean waters which is very ideal for swimming. Sea sports could also be enjoyed in the waters like scuba diving, wind surfing and skiing.
Amenities for small group conferences and private are also available. Balesin Island is about three (3) hours away by boat from the town proper.
Aquatic Resources
Because of its depth, the water in the eastern part of Polillo is very ideal for various sea sports, fishing and other sea activities. The 25,000 hectares of coral reef that surrounds the whole municipality is very rich in resources like fish of various species that range from aquarium to edible and commercial types.
Several species of clams, shrimps and lobster can be found in the municipal water. Cores food along barangays of Libjo, Languyin, Pamatdan, and Canicanian are potentials for culturing lapu-lapu, sea weeds and even oyster. Pearl culture is also feasible.
The availability and abundance of mother of pearl along Polillo waters can make pearl culture a likely profitable business venture.
Commerce, Trade & Industry
There are more than 350 commercial establishments listed in the Office of the Municipal Treasurer. Of this 280 or 77.4 percent are found in the rural barangays while only70 or 22.6 percent are located in the Poblacion. Wholesale and retail mostly sari sari stores, constitute the majority of the establishments representing 306 or 80.3 percent. Manufacturing and processing industries with a total of 54 or 14.2 rank second. Social and personal services with only 8 or 2.1 percent, comes third.
Most commercial establishments are located in the vicinity of the existing market area at Purok 2, Poblacion where about 30 or 35 percent are located within a radius of 100 meters. Other establishments ate interspersed along residential houses in small group of 2 or 3 of the same types like general merchants in Sampaguita district, hardware along M.H. Del Pilar St, and vegetables stall elsewhere.
CLIMATE
Polillo falls under Type II of the PAGASA weather classification. There is no or very little season with very pronounced maximum rain period from November to January. Prevailing wind directions are Southeast monsoon. This starts from May and continues until September while the Northeast monsoon is prevalent from October to April.
Typhoons usually visit Polillo during the last quarter of the year. There are no real reasons as the rain falls all year round. This makes the area suitable to crops such as coconut, rice, bananas and root crops.