Homonhon

Homonhon Island is an island in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines, on the east side of Leyte Gulf. The 20-kilometre (12 mi) long island is part of the municipality of Guiuan, encompassing eight barangays: Bitaugan, Cagusu-an, Canawayon, Casuguran, Culasi, Habag, Inapulangan, and Pagbabangnan.

Homonhon

Nickname: Magellan's First Landing Site
Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar at sunset (view southwest from Guiuan Integrated Transport Terminal)
Homonhon Homonhon (Visayas) Show map of Visayas Homonhon Homonhon (Philippines) Show map of Philippines
Geography
Coordinates	10°45′20″N 125°44′21″E
Adjacent to	Leyte Gulf Philippine Sea
Area	105.2 km2 (40.6 sq mi)[1]
Coastline	57.5 km (35.73 mi)[1]
Highest elevation	1,227 ft (374 m)[1]
Highest point	Homonhon Peak
Administration
Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Eastern Samar
Municipality	Guiuan
Largest settlement	Casuguran (pop. 1,032)
Demographics
Population	4,722 (2024)
Pop. density	41.9/km2 (108.5/sq mi)

Mantoconan, an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon, is also part of the approximately 7,500 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago. The island is one of the early Pacific contact sites between the East and the West.

History

During the first circumnavigation of the globe, Ferdinand Magellan's three surviving vessels passed the Marianas, but did not land,^[2] even though he was out of food after crossing the Pacific Ocean. Yet he landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521.^[3] Despite Homonhon being uninhabited at that time, he was detected by the fishing boats of nearby local settlements in Suluan. The local leaders arrived in more boats, receiving him warmly and trading food and supplies with Magellan's crew. Magellan later left for Limasawa Island.^[4]

Up to the early Spanish period, Ibabaonon (bygone term for Bisaya of the eastern and northern Samar coast) revered the island as the sacred residence of Makapatag, the male aspect of the supreme diwata Malaon.^[5]

Barangays

List of Barangays in Homonhon island by population (2020 census)

Barangay	Population
Bitaugan	445
Cagusu-an	707
Canawayon	427
Casuguran	964
Culasi	446
Habag	317
Inapulagan	548
Pagbabangnan	550
Total	4,413

Economy

The island hosts four large-scale mining operations that are involved in extracting nickel and chromite since the 1980s.^[6]