PALAWAN, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - Located in the western part of the Philippine archipelago, it comprises the entire civil province of the same name, divided into eight municipalities, and was erected on 10 April 1910 and entrusted to the Recollects of St. Augustine. It extends over approximately 14,500 sq km and has a hot and humid climate and a very fertile and luxuriant soil, but for the most part still covered with jungle. The inhabitants are of Malay stock. The principal dialect is Cuyano. The predominant religion is Catholic. The number of inhabitants is 115,000, of whom 97,369 are Catholics; 16,000 are pagans and Muslims; the others are Buddhists. The number of islands of which the territory of the mission consists is 750. The residence of the Ordinary is Puerto Princesa, which is also the capital of the province of P.
This territory was occupied by the Spaniards in 1622. Five Recollect hermit fathers of St. Augustine, who followed the expedition, undertook the evangelization of that people. They had continually to endure the opposition and hatred of the Muslims, who did not fail to cause grave harm to the Christian communities. Various missionaries met their death there. 276 years of labor produced the conversion of the majority of the inhabitants, organized into two parishes and ten mission stations. The Spanish government paid the Recollects a stipend as compensation for their congrua. But in 1898 the armed revolt, which broke out against the Spanish officials, marked the destruction of the missionary works, churches and parish houses. For three years no priest could enter that region. In 1901, after the first American expedition to the island of P., four Recollects could again be sent there, who gradually restored the missionary organization.
Spiritual state of the Mission: 25 priests, of whom 13 are Recollect fathers, 2 American Jesuits and 10 Filipino secular priests; 4 major and 17 minor seminarians; 23 nuns; 161 catechists; 31 teachers; 151 sacred buildings; 6 leprosaria; 16 elementary schools; 9 middle schools; 9 high schools; one teachers' training college.