Lighthouses in the Philippines

The Philippine Archipelago

With the Philippine Archipelago comprising over 7,100 islands packed in an area of 300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi), the country has the fifth-longest coastline in the world. The Philippine coast has a total length of 36,289 km (22,549 mi) and is very irregular, with numerous bays, gulfs, and islets.[1]

Eleven of the largest islands of the archipelago are the major islands and main centers of population, with ten of its most populous cities located along the coast. Approximately 1,000 of the smaller islands are also populated. With more than 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) of coasting routes and tortuous channels regularly navigated by vessels trading among some 300 separate ports, navigation aids like lighthouses help mariners against misnavigation and guide them to safety and out of danger from grounding on its treacherous reef and shoals.[2]

Large international ships rely on lighthouses to guide them safely out from the open sea and into Philippine waters. Once within Philippine waters, lighthouses help them maneuver through its narrow straits and channels, pointing out safe passages and leading vessels to their destination ports.[3] Regardless of the advancement in technology and the use of satellite-guided positioning devices, mariners still rely on these light stations as visual confirmations of their electronic readings.[4]

As an archipelago, the future and progress of the islands has and will always depend on maritime travel. Even with the advent of aviation, the water routes continue to be the main highways for travel and commerce, with the lighthouses of the Philippines safely guiding the vessels that ply its routes.

List of lighthouses in the Philippines

The following is a list of historical and notable lighthouses constructed in the Philippines.[5][6][7][8]

Lighthouse Location Province/City Date First Lit Tower height
in ft (m)		 Focal plane
in ft (m)		 Current Status Current Condition/ Description[6][7][9]
Apo Reef (1) Sablayan Occidental Mindoro 1906 +118 ft (36.0 m) +134 ft (40.8 m) Nonextant Replaced with a new modern white tower.
Apo Reef (2) Sablayan Occidental Mindoro 1990s +110 ft (33.5 m) +115 ft (35.0 m) Active Good
Bagacay Point (1) Liloan Cebu 1874 +21 ft (6.4 m) +46 ft (14 m) In ruins Partly in ruins but it is the oldest existing lighthouse tower in the Philippines.
Bagacay Point (2) Liloan Cebu 1905 +72 ft (21.9 m) +146 ft (44.5 m) Active Original lamp and lantern room were recently replaced.
Bagatao Island Magallanes Sorsogon 1904 +29 ft (8.8 m) +135 ft (41.1 m) Active Original lamp was replaced with a solar-powered modern lamp.
Baliguian Island Light Baliguian Island Iloilo 1916 +66 ft (8.8 m) +75 ft (41.1 m) Active Unknown, as Baliguian was heavily damaged by Typhoon Haiyan.
Basco Naidi Hills, Basco Batanes 2003 +66 ft (20.1 m) n/a Active Good
Batag Island Laoang Northern Samar 1907 +101 ft (30.8 m) +313 ft (95.4 m) In ruins A white 66 ft (20 m) cylindrical tower was erected close to the old one. The lantern and light in the old tower is gone.
Bugui Point Aroroy Masbate 1902 +49 ft (14.9 m) +218 ft (66.4 m) Inactive A modern white tower was erected close to the old one. The old tower and keeper's house are in poor condition.
Caballo Island Caballo Island Cavite 1853 +11 ft (3.4 m) +96 ft (29.3 m) Unknown The light station was probably destroyed during WWII.
Cabra Island Lubang Occidental Mindoro 1889 +67 ft (20.4 m) +216 ft (65.8 m) Inactive A modern white tower was erected close to the old one The old tower and keeper's house are in poor condition.
Cape Bojeador Burgos Ilocos Norte 1892 +66 ft (20.1 m) +386 ft (117.7 m) Active Original lamp was replaced after it was damaged by the 1990 earthquake.
Cape Bolinao Bolinao Pangasinan 1906 +101 ft (30.8 m) +294 ft (89.6 m) Active Original lamp and lantern room were replaced.
Cape Engaño Palaui Island,
Santa Ana 		Cagayan 1892 +47 ft (14.3 m) +316 ft (96.3 m) Active Original lantern room is missing and the buildings are in ruins.
Cape Melville Balabac Island Palawan 1892 +90 ft (27.4 m) +297 ft (90.5 m) Active The tower still retains its original First-order lens and mechanisms.
Cape Santiago Calatagan Batangas 1890 +51 ft (15.5 m) +89 ft (27.1 m) Active Original lamp and lantern room were replaced.
Capitancillo Island Bogo City Cebu 1905 +83 ft (25.3 m) +98 ft (29.9 m) Replaced Old tower was replaced with a new white tower and the dwellings are in ruins.
Capones Island San Antonio Zambales 1890 +65 ft (19.8 m) +230 ft (70.1 m) Active Original lamp and lantern room were replaced. Tower is in good condition, keeper's house is deteriorating.
Capul Island Capul Northern Samar 1896 +39 ft (11.9 m) +142 ft (43.3 m) Active The tower were recently renovated and the original lamp and lantern were replaced.
Corregidor Island (1) Corregidor Island Cavite 1853 +42 ft (12.8 m) +630 ft (192.0 m) Replaced Damaged by the bombings of World War II.
Corregidor Island (2) Corregidor Island Cavite 1950 +48 ft (14.6 m) +633 ft (192.9 m) Active Good
Jintotolo Island Balud Masbate 1903 +51 ft (15.5 m) +187 ft (57.0 m) Active Only the tower is in good condition, the original light and lantern were replaced.
Linao Point Aparri Cagayan 1896 +30 ft (9.1 m) +37 ft (11.3 m) In ruins The station was destroyed during a storm, and some of the ruins remain on the beach.
Lusaran Point
Guisi Point Lighthouse 		Nueva Valencia Guimaras 1894 +38 ft (11.6 m) +111 ft (33.8 m) Replaced The original lamp and lantern is gone, the iron tower is all rust and the surrounding buildings in ruins.
Malabrigo Point Lobo Batangas 1896 +56 ft (17.1 m) +184 ft (56.1 m) Active Original lamp and lantern were replaced.
Maniguin Island Culasi Antique 1906 +97 ft (29.6 m) +191 ft (58.2 m) Inactive Replaced with a nearby white tower; Date is not available.
Pasig River Light (1) Binondo Manila 1846 +49 ft (14.9 m) +52 ft (15.8 m) Demolished Demolished and replaced in 1992.
Pasig River Light (2) Binondo Manila 1992 +46 ft (14.0 m) +43 ft (13.1 m) Active Good
San Bernardino Island Bulusan Sorsogon 1896 +39 ft (11.9 m) +136 ft (41.5 m) Active Original lamp and lantern were replaced and when tower was renovated. Other buildings are in disrepair.
San Nicholas Shoals Light (1) Rosario Cavite 1879 +30 ft (9.1 m) +30 ft (9.1 m) Replaced Destroyed by a typhoon in 1881
Sibago Island Tuburan Basilan 1915 +75 ft (22.9 m) +705 ft (214.9 m) Active Galvanized metal tower. Deactivated on Oct. 31, 2001[10]
Siete Pecados Buenavista Guimaras 1884 +21 ft (6.4 m) +89 ft (27.1 m) Active A new tower was erected next to the old one. Original structure is still maintained.
Tanguingui Island Bantayan Cebu 1903 +113 ft (34.4 m) +128 ft (39.0 m) Replaced The original black steel tower was replaced with a new white tower. Dwellings are in ruins.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency. "Geography of the Philippines". The World Factbook. Retrieved on 2011-04-06.
  2. ↑ Department of Commerce, "Commerce Reports", p. 1052. Washington Government Printing Office, 1917.
  3. ↑ Villalon, Augusto (2007-07-27). Adopt a Lighthouse". Inquirer.net. Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  4. ↑ Philippine Coast Guard, "Maritime Safety"
  5. ↑ U.S. Hydrographic Office, "List of Lights, Vol.2", p.74. Washington Government Printing Office, 1920.
  6. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Northern Philippines". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  7. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Central Philippines". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  8. ↑ "Lighthouse Depot Explorer", Retrieved on 2010-03-20.
  9. ↑ M. Noche, "Lonely Sentinels of the Sea: The Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines". U.S.T. Publishing House, 2005.
  10. ↑ Philippine Coast Guard. Light Stations of Southwestern Mindanao. Retrieved on 2010-05-17.
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