Homonhon
Nickname: Magellan's First Landing Site
Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar at sunset (view southwest from Guiuan Integrated Transport Terminal)
Homonhon is located in Philippines
Homonhon
Homonhon
Location within the Philippines
Geography
Coordinates10°45′20″N 125°44′21″E / 10.75556°N 125.73917°E / 10.75556; 125.73917
Adjacent to
Area105.2 km2 (40.6 sq mi)[1]
Coastline57.5 km (35.73 mi)[1]
Highest elevation1,227 ft (374 m)[1]
Highest pointHomonhon Peak
Administration
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceEastern Samar
MunicipalityGuiuan
Largest settlementCasuguran (pop. 964)
Demographics
Population4,413 (2020)
Pop. density41.9/km2 (108.5/sq mi)

Homonhon Island is an island in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. The 20-kilometre (12 mi) long island is part of the municipality of Guiuan, encompassing eight barangays: Bitaugan, Cagusu-an, Canawayon, Casuguran, Culasi, Habag, Inapulangan, and Pagbabangnan.

Mantoconan, an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon, is also part of the approximately 7,500 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago. The island is one of the early Pacific contact sites between the East and the West.

History

During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land,[2] even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Yet he landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521.[3] Despite Homonhon being uninhabited at that time, he was detected by the fishing boats of nearby local settlements. The local leaders arrived in more boats, receiving him warmly and trading food and supplies with Magellan's crew. Magellan later left for Limasawa Island.[4]

Barangays

List of Barangays in Homonhon island by population (2020 census)

  • Bitaugan - 445
  • Cagusu-an - 707
  • Canawayon - 427
  • Casuguran - 964
  • Culasi - 446
  • Habag - 317
  • Inapulangan - 548
  • Pagbabangnan - 559

Total population = 4,413

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Islands of Philippines". Island Directory. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ↑ W.D. Brownlee (Master Mariner), 1974. The First Ships Around the World ISBN 0-8225-1204-1, p.44.
  3. ↑ Richard Humble, The Voyage of Magellan, Franklin Watts [1988] ISBN 0-531-10638-1 p.20.
  4. ↑ Laurence Bergreen, Over the Edge of the World : Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe HarperCollins Publishers [2003] ISBN 0-06-621173-5



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