Polillo, officially the Municipality of Polillo (Tagalog: Bayan ng Polillo), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 31,908 people.[4]
Padre Morga wrote that Polillo originated from the Chinese word "Pulilu," which means a beautiful island with plenty of food. It was home to a native barangay-state also known as Pulilu, recorded as such in Chinese chronicles. The island was mentioned as being politically connected to the nation of Sandao, itself a vassal state to the nation of Ma-i. Due to language difficulties, a Spanish friar by the name Padre Domingo eventually changed the name from Pu Li Lu to Polillo.
History
Aerial view of Polillo, 1933
Pre-Spanish period
Trade relations between the natives of the Polillo Islands and Chinese merchants existed long before the Spaniards came to the archipelago. Trade was a conglomeration of Malay-Hindu-Chinese-Tagalog peoples.
Spanish colonization and early settlement
When Juan de Salcedo, a Spanish conquistador, 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 sugarcane in San Isidro, San Antonio and San Francisco. Production of molasses was put into full swing.
Foundation
Spanish conquistadors 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 the name from Pu Li Lu to Polillo.
However, there is inconsistency regarding Polillo's foundation, with some sources and the municipal government claiming it was established as a town in 1587 when the church bells were first rung, while others indicate that it was formally founded as an independent town in 1635 by Franciscan missionaries.
In 1609, Polillo was part of the encomienda of Don Francisco Morante de Nueva. Initially, it served as a visita of Binangonan de Lampon (now Infanta). In 1635, Polillo was officially separated from Binangonan de Lampon and established as an independent town by Franciscan missionaries, with Fray Jose S. de Bernardino appointed as its first leader. In 1658, the town was transferred to the Augustinian Recollects, who managed it until 1703, after which the Franciscan missionaries resumed administration. Polillo served as the seat of government under Spanish rule for the Polillo Islands, with the present-day towns of Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Jomalig once being part of Polillo as barrios.[6]
In 1945, troops of the 5th and 52nd Infantry Divisions of the Philippine Commonwealth Army landed in Polillo. The Battle of Polillo Island ensued, resulting in the defeat of the Japanese.
Contemporary history
On June 18, 1961, barrios such as Bucal, Casuguran, Gango, and Talisoy on Jomalig Island were separated from Polillo to become a separate municipal district named Jumalig (Jomalig) by virtue of Republic Act No. 3372.[7]
In 1987, three weeks before the April 18 coup attempt against the national government, cadres of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked the Philippine Constabulary detachment in Polillo Island.[8]
In recent years, government-funded infrastructures were built and private investments in hotel, resorts, services, and utilities increased.
On March 26, 2021, two NPA members surrendered to government forces in Barangay Salipsip.[9] On February 21, 2022, the Armed Forces of the Philippines fought an armed encounter with the New People's Army in Barangay Binitbitinan. The NPA eventually withdrew.[10]
Geography
Polillo is located about 29 kilometers (18 mi) off the eastern coast of Luzon. It is bounded by municipality of Panukulan in the northwest and the municipality of Burdeos in the northeastern side of the island. Lamon Bay bounds it at the south, east and west. It is 24 kilometers (15 mi) east of the municipality of Infanta and 27 kilometers (17 mi) east of the municipality of Real. It can be reached by motorboats more or less three hours via Real-Polillo in the Ungos Port and a little bit shorter via, Infanta-Polillo through Infanta Municipal Fish Port.
Barangays
Polillo is politically subdivided into 20 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
The town of Polillo is celebrating its founding anniversary every March 18 more than 400 years ago. The celebration last for at least three days. Starting from March 17, there are different celebrations held in the town proper including the "Gabi ng Parangal" (Coronation Night) of the Town's Beauty, Binibining Polillo and all the ladies representing different barangays.
March 18 is the most awaited day of the celebration where a big parade can be seen by all the natives and guest. The "Parada" includes all the schools, non-government organizations, local government units, all the barangay participants and more. The most awaited groups in the parade are the "Banda" - School Bands - from different schools and school levels. Celebration will continue until night fall with the "Sayawan" at the town plaza.
March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph, the Patron Saint of the town. The celebration starts from a procession together with all the patron saints of all the sitios and barangays and all devotees of Saint Joseph. Including all the sitio's and barangay's patron saints in the procession is known as "dapit". Many believes that this celebration of the Feast of Saint Joseph plays big part from the town's safety against nature disaster specially typhoons. It has something to do with the church history where those saints served as protector along the region. Devotees of St. Joseph now turns the old "St. Joseph Parish" into "Prelature Shrine of St. Joseph" as ordered by Infanta Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona in 2010.
Travel
Getting to Polillo from Manila takes around six hours of travel by land and by sea. The first segment of the trip involves travelling to Ungos Port in Real, Quezon via the Pililla-Famy-Real Road. Marikina-Infanta Highway is also another route to Ungos Port. Raymond Bus, with its terminal located along Legarda Street, Manila, has regular scheduled trips to Real, Quezon.
There are two regular boat trips from Real to Polillo. The first trip usually leaves at 7:30 AM PHT as the bus passengers coming from Lucena and Manila try to catch it up. The next boat leaves at 10:00 AM. The boats are outrigger types powered with a surplus truck engine. The return trips from Polillo are at 5:00 AM and 1:00 PM.[24] The trip from Ungos Port to Polillo usually takes three hours.
There are passenger ferries that depart from Dinahican Port in Infanta to Barangay Macnit in Polillo.[25]
There are also boat trips to Balesin Island and Polillo from Atimonan's port.
There are also passenger ferries from Real, Quezon. These ferries are divided into two categories by the locals: “Roros” and “fastcrafts”
Lucena (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Quezon by the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, qualified voters of this city are still allowed to participate in the election of provincial officials as part of Quezon’s 2nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan district.)
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