Cuyo is a small town located on the island of Palawan. According to the 2000 census, there were just over 18,000 people living here. The city is considered the oldest in the province of Palawan, and from 1873 to 1903 it was the second capital of the province.
The Cuyo Islands, of which there are 45 in all, are scattered over an area of 130 square kilometres. They lie south of Mindoro Island between North Palawan and Panay Island. The largest island of the group, Cuyo, has an area of 57 square kilometres and is about 14 kilometres long. It is home to three towns - Cuyo, Agutaya and Magsaysay. The island can be reached the island can be reached by plane from Manila - the journey takes only one and a half hours. And if you travelling by water, it will take almost 24 hours.
The first to discover the Cuyo Islands were Chinese traders who and settled here and started doing business with the indigenous people. Then came the Malays, who began to establish small settlements along the island's coast. They brought their culture with them, particularly the traditional pondo-pondo dance, which is still incredibly popular today. In 1622, the Spanish Count San Augustin arrived on Cuyo with five missions. In 1622, the Spanish Count San Augustin arrived in Cuyo along with five missionaries who, without encountering any resistance, began to spread Christianity among the local population. However, just a few years later - in 1636 - the island was attacked by Muslim pirates, who destroyed the monastery and church and burnt the town, taking with them their captives with them. The Spanish couldn't help but retaliate - in the same year they put out their flotilla of six ships and 250 sailors. During the battle, the Muslim leader Datu Tagul was killed and 300 of his men were captured. The Spanish prisoners were released.
Today, one of the island's main attractions is Fort Cuyo, built by the Spanish to protect the population from Moro pirates in the late 17th century. It is one of the oldest forts in the Philippines. On its territory are located an ancient church and monastery. The original fortified structure made of stone and limestone fort was shaped like a square with four bastions. The present fort, which occupies 1 hectare, has the shape of a rectangle with walls 10 metres high and 2 metres thick. There is also a high bell tower and watchtowers, whose cannons, facing the sea, are now only used during festivals.
Another attraction of Cuyo is the lighthouse, the first thing a traveller sees when approaching the island by water. The streets of the town today are almost are almost entirely paved, but there are still some examples of Spanish colonial architecture. In the centre of town stands a church built in 1860, and next to it is a school and a monument to the Filipino national hero Jose Rizal.
Not far from the city is Mount Aguado, notable for the fact that from its Mount Aguado is notable for the car parks from its foot to its summit, which are used by numerous pilgrims during the Holy Week procession.
Tourists come to Cuyo Island for a variety of water sports and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby popular island of Boracay. Cuyo has facilities for kitesurfing, skimboarding, diving and snorkelling. Nature lovers can go on an island tour to discover the local flora and fauna.
