Calamian Islands, Archipelago in Palawan, Philippines.
The Calamian Islands are an archipelago in the northern part of Palawan province in the Philippines, made up of three main islands, Busuanga, Culion, and Coron, along with around 95 smaller coral islands. The coastlines are jagged and broken up by shallow lagoons and narrow channels that divide the sea into many small bays.
Spanish colonizers reached the region in the 17th century and set up fortified posts that reshaped the social structure of the island communities. Culion was later turned into one of the largest leprosy colonies in the world during the early 20th century under American rule.
The Tagbanua, one of the oldest indigenous groups in the Philippines, live on several of these islands and keep the tradition of tablay singing alive, passing stories and memories through voice. Visitors who attend local gatherings may hear this form of expression firsthand.
Coron town on Busuanga Island is the main entry point for visitors to the archipelago and gives access to the surrounding islands by boat. The dry season brings calmer waters, which makes moving between islands much easier and more comfortable.
Several Japanese warships from World War II rest on the seafloor around the islands, now covered in coral and serving as natural reefs. Some of these wrecks lie shallow enough to be reached by beginner divers.
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