Pan de Azucar Island (Iloilo)

Pan de Azucar (variously Tampisaw Island or Tambaliza [which is also the name of one of the barangays on the island]) is a populated island in the Visayan Sea in the Philippines. The island is known for Mount Pan de Azucar (Mount Sugarloaf) a steep volcanic cone and a prominent landmark at the northern entrance of Guimaras Strait.[1]

Pan de Azucar
Pan de Azucar summit as seen on a cloudy day in 2009.
Pan de Azucar
Location within the Philippines
Geography
Coordinates11°16′49″N 123°10′14″E
ArchipelagoConcepcion Islands
Adjacent bodies of waterVisayan Sea
Area18.4 km2 (7.1 sq mi)
Highest elevation574 m (1883 ft)
Highest pointMt. Pan de Azucar
Administration
RegionWestern Visayas
ProvinceIloilo
MunicipalityConcepcion
Barangays
  • Macatunao
  • Talo-toan
  • Tambaliza
Demographics
Population2,999 (2010)

Pan de Azucar is under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo on Panay Island, one of the largest and major islands of the Philippines. Pan de Azucar is the largest of 16 outlying islands of the town and makes up nearly 19 percent of Concepcion's total land area. According to the 2010 census, the island has a population of 2,999.[2]

The island possibly contains valuable mineral deposits and is being studied for mineral extraction, which could possibly destroy the natural beauty of the island and mountain.[3]

Etymology

Mount Pan de Azucar (Spanish for "Sugarloaf") is one of the mountains and hills worldwide named "Sugarloaf" because of its tall conical shape resembling an old sugarloaf of the 19th century, not because of its resemblance to Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as falsely reported on some local websites.[4]

Geography
Looking out at the Visayan Sea from Mt. Manaphag
Mt. Manaphag as seen from below.

The island is located 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Panay Island and 13 kilometres (8 mi) northeast of Concepcion town proper. Nearby islands include Sombrero Island, Naburut Island, Magaisi Island, and Bocot Islet.[5]

At 574 metres (1,883 ft),[6] the steep-sided Mt. Pan de Azucar (also called Mt. Manaphag) is the most prominent feature and distinguishable landmark of the island. The lofty cone is one of the inactive volcanoes in the country.[1] The island is ringed by beaches, such as Lumpatan Beach in Bagotao, Brgy. Macatunao which are golden-yellow to white in color.

The Pan de Azucar Seascape is an area of 2,480.1478 square meters that includes both land and sea water areas around the island. Local governmental officials recognize the seascape as a protected sanctuary, although the Philippine government has yet to declare the seascape as an official protected area.[7]

History

Early history

In the 1600s, a battle took place near Pan de Azucar between Filipino and Spanish forces. Captain Juan Salagao, who was mayor of Sugbú at the time, defeated Spanish forces who had come up from Mindanao, intent on burning down Arevalo and Octóng.[8]

Mining

It has been speculated that Pan de Azucar contains possible mining deposits of gold, silver, copper, and zinc.[3] Mindoro Resources, Ltd. began initial drilling exploration in 2012 and received initial positive results.[3][9][10]

Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan passed directly over Pan de Azucar in 2013, damaging houses, food stores, and fishing boats.[11] The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) delivered relief goods to the island soon after it passed.[12] The typhoon did not do much to disrupt mining operations on Pan de Azucar.[11]

Transport

Pan de Azucar is accessible from Concepcion by boat. There is one public boat trip per day; trips outside the official schedule are arranged with private boat owners.[13]

See also
  • List of islands in the Philippines

References
  1. PHIVOLCS (2008-07-30). "Inactive Volcanoes Part 6". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on September 1, 2014.
  2. "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  3. "Pan de Azucar Overview". Mindoro Resources Ltd.
  4. "Pan de Azucar Island". Explore Iloilo. Retrieved on 2014-09-01.
  5. "Sailing Directions (Enroute) Philippine Islands" (PDF). National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2008. p. 92. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  6. "Bogo (topography map)". University of Texas in Austin Library. Retrieved on 2014-09-01.
  7. "Tampisaw Festival" Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Official Website of the Municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo.
  8. Blair, Emma (ed.). "Chapter XXX". The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898, Volume XXIV, 1630–34 (ebook). Project Guttenberg. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  9. High-grade copper at Pan de Azucar
  10. Mindoro establishes Pan de Azucar target
  11. Mindoro’s Agata project escapes wrath of typhoon Haiyan
  12. AFP chief: Ceasefire in Yolanda-hit areas up to political leaders
  13. "Mt. Manaphag, Pan de Azucar Island". Pinoy Mountaineer.
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