View source for Lubang Island

{{Short description|Largest island in the Lubang Group of Islands}}
{{Infobox islands
| name                            = Lubang Island
| native_name                     = 
| etymology                       = 
| image_name                      = Lubang Island Beach.jpg
| image_size                      = 
| image_caption                   = One of the beaches on Lubang island
| image_alt                       = 
| map                             = Philippines
| map_alt                         = 
| map_width                       = 
| map_caption                     = Location within the Philippines
| map_relief                      = yes
| label                           = 
| label_position                  = left
| location                        = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|13|46|3|N|120|11|10|E|type:isle_region:PH|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago                     = {{nowrap|[[Lubang Group of Islands]]}}
| waterbody                       = {{unbulleted list | [[South China Sea]] | [[Verde Island Passage]] }}
| area_km2                        = 125
| area_footnotes                  = 
| elevation_m = 610
| highest_mount = [[Mount Ambonong]]
| Country_heading                 = 
| population                      = 20,436 (as of 2020)
| country                         = [[Philippines]]
| country_admin_divisions_title   = Region
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Mimaropa]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Province
| country_admin_divisions_1       = [[Occidental Mindoro]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Municipalities
| country_admin_divisions_2       = {{unbulleted list | [[Lubang, Occidental Mindoro|Lubang]] | [[Looc, Occidental Mindoro|Looc]]
}}
| additional_info = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|frame-width=265|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=10}}
}}

'''Lubang Island''' is the largest among the seven islands in the Lubang Group of Islands, an archipelago situated to the northwest of the northern tip of the island of [[Mindoro]] in the [[Philippines]]. It is positioned approximately 40 kilometers west of [[Calatagan|Calatagan, Batangas]], or 117 kilometers southwest of [[Manila]]. The Lubang Group of Islands is under the jurisdiction of the province of [[Occidental Mindoro]] and divided into two municipalities. The principal settlement is the town of [[Lubang, Occidental Mindoro|Lubang]], located at the northwest section and about 11 kilometers northwest of Tilik Port. The southeastern portion of the Lubang Island falls within the municipality of [[Looc, Occidental Mindoro|Looc]], which also operates a port in a different area, specifically in Barangay Agkawayan. Lubang Group of Islands stands as a distinct geographical entity isolated from any landmass, rendering it biologically unique and also endangered.

==Geography==
Northwest to southeast the four main islands are Cabra, separated by a deep, {{convert|3|km|adj=on}} wide channel from Lubang Island, then Ambil to the northeast of Lubang and finally Golo. The three smaller islands are Talinas, [[Mandaui]] and [[Malavatuan]].<ref name="Landor">Landor, Arnold Henry Savage (1904). [https://books.google.com/books?id=gkU6dy1RsPUC&pg=PA10 ''The Gems of the East: Sixteen Thousand Miles of Research Travel Among Wild and Tame Tribes of Enchanting Islands''], p. 10. Harper & Bros., New York. {{OCLC|1688191}}</ref>

* Cabra, which is wholly under the barangay also named [[Cabra, Lubang|Cabra]] in the municipality of Lubang, is mostly wooded and about {{convert|3|km}} long, rising to a height of about {{convert|60|m}}. It has a [[Cabra Island Lighthouse|lighthouse]] at the northwest end of the island.<ref name="Landor" /><ref name="Dow">Dow, John C. (1906). [https://books.google.com/books?id=XA4PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA19 ''Philippine Islands Sailing Directions: Section II: Southwest and South Coasts of Luzon and Adjacent Islands from Manila to San Bernardino Straits'' (third edition)], pp 19–20. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Manila.</ref>
* Lubang Island is about {{convert|125|km2|sqmi}}, being over {{convert|25|km}} in length and up to {{convert|10|km}} wide.<ref name="Landor" />  It is the 34th largest island in the [[Philippines|Philippine archipelago]].
* Ambil is an extinct [[volcanic island]] rising to over {{convert|760|m}} and is about {{convert|26|km2|sqmi}} in area.<ref name="Landor" />  During the earlier part of the [[History of the Philippines|Spanish Colonial Era]], Ambil was reported to be in eruption.<ref>Daubeny, Charles (1848). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BAUAAAAAQAAJ "A description of active and extinct volcanos, of earthquakes, and of thermal springs"], p.399. Richard and John E. Taylor, London.</ref>  But when it was climbed by German scientist [[Carl Semper]] in the latter part of 19th century, he found no evidence that it has erupted in historical times.<ref>Becker, George F. (1901). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-9qYLSKtUYC "Report of the Geology of the Philippines"], p.53. Government Printing Office, Wachington.</ref>  It is the 93rd largest island in the Philippine archipelago. Together with the two smaller islands of Mandaui and Malavatuan, Ambil is administered under the barangay also named [[Ambil (island)|Ambil]] in the municipality of Looc.
* Golo Island is long, narrow and flat lying, and is about {{convert|26|km2|sqmi}} in area.<ref name="Landor" /> It is divided into two barangays of Looc: Bulacan and Talaotao.

==History==
The islands were originally settled by a proto-ethnic group that eventually developed into the present-day [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]].<ref name="Landor" /> The island people of Lubang were among the first in the Philippines to have trade contacts with Chinese traders, as the island was an entry point to what the Chinese then referred as "Ma-i" in their trade records.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Villanueva |first1=Zandro Vasquez |title=Cultural Encounters and Transformation of Early Historical Polities on Lubang Island, the Philippines, Ca. A.D. 1200-1800 |date=2009 |id={{OCLC|659752060|1104354100}} |hdl=10150/195058 |hdl-access=free |degree=PhD |publisher=University of Arizona |pages=109-110}}</ref>

The Spanish built a fort on Lubang Island, the San Vicente Bastion, on the western point of the entrance to Tilik Port.{{fact|date=September 2023}} In the late 19th century, the United States annexed the Philippines following the Spanish-American War.

After [[Pacific War|World War II]], Lubang Island was where [[Hiroo Onoda]], a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] army intelligence officer, and three associates hid in the jungles when the Allies reclaimed the Philippines. They engaged in continuous, and sometimes deadly, guerrilla warfare against the United States and later against Philippine Commonwealth troops and paramilitary police. One of the others surrendered, and two were killed over the decades. Although official flyers were dropped by airplanes in his hiding area, Onoda adamantly believed that the war was not over yet. In March 1974, he was officially relieved of duty by his former commanding officer, 29 years after the end of the war, making him [[Japanese holdout|one of the last Japanese soldiers]] to surrender.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Trefalt |first1=Beatrice |title=A Straggler Returns: Onoda Hirō and Japanese Memories of the War |journal=War & Society |date=October 1999 |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=111–124 |doi=10.1179/072924799791201470 }}</ref>

Two films, ''Onoda's War'' (2016), shot around Vigo, Burol, Agkawayan and Looc,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhymelu.com/onodas-war|title=Onoda's War|website=rhymelu.com|access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> and ''[[Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle]]'' (2021)   are about Onoda's time on Lubang. In addition, [[Werner Herzog]] wrote a novel about it, ''The Twilight World''.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Twilight World |date=2024-08-16 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_World |access-date=2024-08-26 |language=en}}</ref>

==Administration==
The islands are administratively part of the province of [[Occidental Mindoro]] and are divided into two municipalities: [[Lubang, Occidental Mindoro|Lubang]] and [[Looc, Occidental Mindoro|Looc]]. Lubang covers the northwestern half of Lubang Island (Cabra Island included), while Looc covers the remaining half of Lubang Island plus Ambil, Golo and the other islands. Looc Proper is divided into three major sections: BonBon, Gitna and Kanluran.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

==Economics==
Most of the population resides on Lubang Island, where Tilik Port is located. The main economic activity is fishing in the waters surrounding the islands and planting rice, garlic, peanut, and vegetables. However, with the islands fine white-sand coastlines, tourism is growing in economic importance.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

==Biodiversity==
===Mammals===
The '''Lubang forest mouse''' ([[Apomys lubangensis]]) is a species of [[rodent]] endemic to Lubang Islands, Philippines.<ref name="0006-324X-126-4-395">{{cite journal |last1=Heaney |first1=Lawrence R. |last2=Balete |first2=Danilo S. |last3=Veluz |first3=Maria Josefa |last4=Steppan |first4=Scott J. |last5=Esselstyn |first5=Jacob A. |last6=Pfeiffer |first6=Andrew W. |last7=Rickart |first7=Eric A. |title=Two new species of Philippine forest mice (''Apomys'', Muridae, Rodentia) from Lubang and Luzon Islands, with a redescription of ''Apomys sacobianus'' Johnson, 1962 |journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington |date=January 2014 |volume=126 |issue=4 |pages=395–413 |doi=10.2988/0006-324X-126.4.395 |s2cid=49347286 }}</ref>

The population of '''warty pigs''' ([[Sus (genus)|Sus]] spp) in the Lubang Islands might represent distinct population. Research in their Morphology and Phylogentic is required to verify their lineages.

===Reptiles=== 
The '''Lubang scaly-toed gecko''' ([[Lepidodactylus nakahiwalay]]) is a species of [[lizard]] in the [[Gekkonidae]] family endemic to Lubang Islands, Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Genus Lepidodactylus - taxonomy & distribution / RepFocus|url=http://www.repfocus.dk/Lepidodactylus.html|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.repfocus.dk}}</ref>

The '''Lubang slender skink''' ([[Brachymeles ligtas]]) is a species of [[lizard]] in the [[Scincidae]] family endemic to Lubang Islands, Philippines.<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species|genus=Brachymeles|species=ligtas|accessdate=13 October 2020}}</ref> 

The Lubang Islands in the Philippines is also home to the '''Philippine Cobra''' ([[Naja philippinensis]]) <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sy |first1=Emerson Y. |last2=Balete |first2=Danilo S. |title=Naja philippinensis (Northern Philippine Cobra): Philippines, Lubang Island |journal=Herpetological Review |volume=48 |issue=3 |date=September 2017 |pages=590 }}</ref> and record of '''King Cobra''' species ([[Ophiophagus]] spp.)<ref name=taxonomy>{{Cite journal |title=Taxonomic revision of the king cobra ''Ophiophagus hannah'' (Cantor, 1836) species complex (Reptilia: Serpentes: Elapidae), with the description of two new species |journal=European Journal of Taxonomy |url=https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/2681/12413}}</ref>

They were formerly found in most habitats (from sea level to up to 2800 m) but is now confined to remote forests due to loss of habitat and heavy hunting by noose traps or trigger set bullets.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eol.org/pages/328326/articles | title=Philippine Warty Pig articles - Encyclopedia of Life }}</ref> The island is also home to a variety of myxomycetes or slime molds,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Macabago |first1=S.A.B. |last2=De la Cruz |first2=T.E.E. |last3=Stephenson |first3=S.L. |title=First records of ''Myxomycetes'' from Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines |journal=Sydowia |date=2012 |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=109–118 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Macabago |first1=Sab |title=Diversity and distribution of myxomycetes in coastal and mountain forests of Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines |journal=Mycosphere |date=2016 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=18–29 |doi=10.5943/mycosphere/7/1/2 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Some of the birds that can be found in the island include the [[oriental dwarf kingfisher]], [[glossy swiftlet]], [[mangrove blue flycatcher]], [[white-throated kingfisher]], [[Philippine bulbul]], [[black-naped monarch]], [[rufous paradise flycatcher]], [[purple-throated sunbird]], and [[lovely sunbird]], among others.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peterson |first1=A. Townsend |title=Three new records from Lubang island, Philippines |journal=Forktail |volume=23 |date=2007 |pages=149 }}</ref> The islands are also home to many insect species, some of which were recently identified.{{fact|date=September 2023}} The waters of Lubang island and its outlying islands are also biodiverse. The islands converge with the [[Verde Island Passage]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Gary C |chapter=The Three Research Components of the 2011 Hearst Biodiversity Expedition to the Philippines |pages=53–66 |chapter-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57067390 |editor1-last=Gosliner |editor1-first=Terrence M. |editor2-last=Williams |editor2-first=Gary C. |title=The Coral Triangle: the 2011 Hearst Philippine Biodiversity Expedition |date=2014 |publisher=California Academy of Sciences |isbn=978-0-940228-75-7 |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.154474 }}</ref>
{{clear}}

== See also ==
* [[Hiroo Onoda]], an imperial Japanese soldier in military campaign hiding out on Lubang Island till 1974, believing [[World War II]] had not ended.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Hiroo Onoda (1974) ''No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War'' Kodansha International, New York, {{ISBN|0-87011-240-6}}

== External links ==
*{{commonscat-inline|Looc, Occidental Mindoro}}
*{{commonscat-inline|Lubang, Occidental Mindoro}}

{{Islands of the Philippines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islands of Occidental Mindoro]]
[[Category:Beaches of the Philippines]]