The Republic of the Philippines (Pilipinas in Filipino) includes more than 7600 islands stretching over 1750 km (1100 mi) of the western Pacific and separating the Philippine Sea on the east from the South China Sea on the west. The largest islands are Luzon at the northern end of the country and Mindanao at the southern end. As of 2020 the population of the country was about 109 million. The archipelago was a Spanish colony until the Spanish-American War of 1898, which brought the islands under U.S. administration. Japan occupied the islands during World War II (1942-45) and the country became independent shortly thereafter (1946). Mindoro, the seventh largest island of the Philippines, is roughly 180 km (100 mi) long from northwest to southeast and up to 80 km (50 mi) wide. On the north Mindoro is separated from Luzon by the 25 km (15 mi) wide Verde Island Passage, a very busy seaway. To the southwest the Mindoro Strait separates Mindoro from Palawan Province and provides a wide passage joining the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea. (now called the West Philippine Sea in the Philippines). The east side of Mindoro faces the Sibuyan Sea. The Philippines is divided into 17 regions and subdivided into 81 provinces. Mindoro is part of an administrative region of the country known by the acronym Mimaropa (Mindoro + Marinduque + Romblon + Palawan). The island is divided into two provinces. Filipino and English are official languages in the Philippines. In Filipino a lighthouses is called a parola; an island is an isla or pulo. Many English maritime terms have been adopted into Filipino, including cape, bay, and port, and the names of historic lighthouses are often retained in their Spanish forms. Lighthouses in the Philippines are maintained by the Marine Safety Services Command of the Philippine Coast Guard. Notices to Mariners are posted by the National Mapping and Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA). Many Philippine lighthouses are not well known so better information and photos are always needed. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. PCG numbers are the Philippines Light List numbers, where known. Admiralty numbers are from volume F of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112. |
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Oriental Mindoro (East Mindoro) Province Lighthouses
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Occidental Mindoro (West Mindoro) Province Lighthouses
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Information available on lost lighthouses: |
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North: Southwest Luzon | East: Romblon and Marinduque | Southwest: Palawan
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Posted July 24, 2005. Checked and revised January 5, 2025. Lighthouses: 28. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.