Pamilacan

Not to be confused with Pamalican.
Pamilacan
Satellite image of Pamilacan Island
Pamilacan is located in Philippines
Pamilacan
Pamilacan
Location within the Philippines
Geography
LocationBohol Sea
Coordinates9°29′35″N 123°55′26″E / 9.493°N 123.924°E / 9.493; 123.924
Area1.75 km2 (0.68 sq mi)[a]
Length1.6 km (0.99 mi)[b]
Width1.25 km (0.777 mi)[c]
Coastline4.50 km (2.796 mi)[a]
Administration
RegionCentral Visayas
ProvinceBohol
MunicipalityBaclayon
Demographics
Population1,418 (2015)[1]
Pop. density810/km2 (2100/sq mi)
  1. ^ a b estimated from satellite photo  
  2. ^ long side of right containing rectangle
  3. ^ short side of right containing rectangle

Pamilacan is an island barangay in the Philippines, situated 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) south of Bohol island and surrounded by the Bohol Sea (also called Mindanao Sea). It is one of the 17 barangays that compose the municipality of Baclayon. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 1,418,[2] comprising about 240 families whose main livelihoods now concentrate on dolphin- and whale-watching tours and subsistence fishing, but in the past also included whale, dolphin and manta ray hunting.

Pamilacan perhaps means "resting place of the mantas", but it can also be considered to derive from the word pamilac, or harpoon, a device that was historically used to capture the mantas, dolphins and whales.[3]

On the northeast part of the island is a 200‑year‑old Spanish fort, which in the past served as a watchtower for the Spaniards to look out for intruders, such as pirates and other enemies, particularly those coming from the south. Along with the other watchtowers in Dauis, Panglao, Maribojoc, Loay and Balilihan, the island's watchtower was declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure under the collective group of Bohol Watchtowers on August 29, 2011[4][3]

Aside from being famous for the whaleshark and dolphin-watching activities, the island is also known for its white sand beaches and renowned for its snorkeling and dive sites, such as Dakit-Dakit. Snake Island or Cervera Shoal is a sunken plateau about 18 metres (59 ft) deep, to the west of Pamilacan. It is covered with coral but lies in the middle of the ocean, which is why there usually is a very strong current. Here one can see black-white banded sea snakes, sea turtles, moray eels, nudibranchs and bucket sponges.[5]: 93 

  1. ^ Census of Population (2015). Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  2. ^ Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Pamilacan Island". Talibon, Bohol, Philippines: A1 Online Communication and Advertising Services. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  4. ^ National Museum of the Philippines (2011). Annual Report 2011.
  5. ^ Your guide to Bohol (6 ed.). PDP Digital. 2010. ISSN 1908-4749.