PALAWAN, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — Situated in the western part of the Philippine archipelago, it comprises the entire civil province of the same name, divided into eight municipalities; it was erected on 10 April 1910 and entrusted to the Recollects of S. Agostino. It extends over approximately 14,500 sq km and has a hot, humid climate and very fertile, luxuriant soil, but is still for the most part covered with dense forest. The inhabitants are of Malayan stock. The principal dialect is Cuyano. The predominant religion is Catholicism. The number of inhabitants is 115,000, of whom 97,369 are Catholics; 16,000 are pagans and Muslims; the remainder are Buddhists. The number of islands comprising the mission territory 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 S. Agostino, who accompanied the expedition, undertook the evangelization of that people. They had continually to withstand the hostility and hatred of the Muslims, who did not fail to inflict serious damage on the Christian communities. Several missionaries met their deaths there. Two hundred and seventy-six years of work brought about the conversion of most of the inhabitants, organized into two parishes and ten mission stations. The Spanish government paid the Recollects a stipend for their adequate support. But in 1898 the armed revolt that broke out against the Spanish officials marked the destruction of the missionary works, churches, and parish houses. For three years no priest was able to enter that region. In 1901, after the first American expedition to the island of P., four Recollects were again sent there, and gradually restored the missionary organization.
Spiritual condition of the Mission: 25 priests, of whom 13 Recollect fathers, 2 American Jesuits, and 10 Filipino secular priests; 4 major seminarians and 17 minor seminarians; 23 nuns; 161 catechists; 31 teachers; 151 sacred buildings; 6 leprosaria; 16 elementary schools; 9 middle schools; 9 secondary schools; one teacher-training school.