name Palawan settlement type Province image seal Ph seal palawan.png nickname Philippine's Last Frontier; The Land of the Promise map caption Map of the Philippines with Palawan highlighted coordinates type region:PH_type:isle coordinates display inline,title subdivision type Country subdivision name subdivision type1 Region subdivision name1 MIMAROPA (in transition ) established title Founded established date March 10, 1917 seat type Capital seat Puerto Princesa City government type Province of the Philippines leader title Governor leader name Abraham Kahlil Mitra (Liberal) leader title1 Vice Governor leader name1 Clara Reyes (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) area total km2 14649.7 area rank 1st out of 80 population total 682152 population as of 2007 population rank 38th out of 80 population density km2 auto population density rank 79th out of 80 population demonym Palaweo demographics type1 Divisions demographics1 footnotes demographics1 title1 Independentcities demographics1 info1 1 demographics1 title2 Component cities demographics1 info2 0 demographics1 title3 Municipalities demographics1 info3 23 demographics1 title4 Barangays demographics1 info4 367 including independent cities: 433 demographics1 title5 Districts demographics1 info5 1st and 2nd districts of Palawan (shared with Puerto Princesa City) blank name sec1 Spoken languages blank info sec1 Tagalog, Cuyonon, Hiligaynon, Tausug, Batak, Tagbanwa, Palawano, Kagayen, Bikol, English timezone PHT utc offset +8 postal code type ZIP Code footnotes }} Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The province is named after its largest island, Palawan Island, measuring long, and wide.

Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other smaller islands surrounding the main island. The Calamianes Group of Islands, to the northwest consists of Busuanga Island, Culion Island, and Coron Island. Durangan Island almost touches the westernmost part of Palawan Island, while Balabac Island is located off the southern tip, separated from Borneo by the Balabac Strait. In addition, Palawan covers the Cuyo Islands in the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.

Palawan's almost of irregular coastline are dotted with roughly 1,780 islands and islets, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges. The mountain heights average in altitude, with the highest peak rising to at Mount Mantalingahan. The vast mountain areas are the source of valuable timber. The terrain is a mix of coastal plain, craggy foothills, valley deltas, and heavy forest interspersed with riverine arteries that serve as irrigation.

In AD 982, ancient Chinese traders regularly visit the islands. A Chinese author referred to these islands as Kla-ma-yan (Calamian), Palau-ye (Palawan), and Paki-nung (Busuanga). Pottery, china and other artifacts recovered from caves and waters of Palawan attest to trade relations that existed between Chinese and Malay merchants.

Because of Palawan's proximity to Borneo, southern portions of the island was under the control of the Sultanate of Brunei for more than two centuries, and Islam was introduced. During the same period, trade relations flourished, and intermarriages among the natives and the Chinese, Japanese, Arab, Hindu. The inter-mixing of blood resulted to a distinct breed of Palaweos, both in physical stature and features.

After Ferdinand Magellan's death, remnants of his fleet landed in Palawan where the bounty of the land saved them from starvation. Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's chronicler named the place "Land of Promise."

The northern Calamianes Islands were the first to come under Spanish authority, and were later declared a province separate from the Palawan mainland. In the early 17th century, Spanish friars sent out missions in Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay and Cagayancillo but they met resistance from Moro communities. Before 18th century, Spain began to build churches enclosed by garrisons for protection against Moro raids in the town of Cuyo, Taytay, Linapacan and Balabac. In 1749, the Sultanate of Borneo ceded southern Palawan to Spain.

In 1818, the entire island of Palawan, or Paragua as it was called, was organized as a single province named Calamianes, with its capital in Taytay. By 1858, the province was divided into two provinces, namely, Castilla, covering the northern section with Taytay as capital and Asturias in the southern mainland with Puerto Princesa as capital. It was later then divided into three districts, Calamianes, Paragua and Balabac, with Principe Alfonso town as its capital.

Many reforms and projects were later introduced in the province. Construction of school buildings, promotion of agriculture, and bringing people closer to the government were among the priority plans during this era.

===Japanese invasion===

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