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). The country is divided into 17 regions and subdivided into 81 provinces. This page includes lighthouses of three provinces, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte, including the large island of Leyte and the smaller islands of Biliran to the north and Panaon to the south. These islands are included with the neighboring island of Samar in the Eastern Visayas Region. Historically Leyte Province covered all three islands. Southern Leyte became a separate province in 1960 and Biliran became a province in 1992. 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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Biliran Province Lighthouses
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![]() Amambahag Point Light, Biliran, 2020 frame at 0:17 of a YouTube video by Tambayan ni Magnet |
Leyte Province: North and East Coast Lighthouses
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![]() Carigara Light, Carigara, June 2023 Google Maps street view |
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Southern Leyte Province Lighthouses
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![]() San Juan Light, San Juan, December 2016 Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/QgMZNvn1L9vzqKuR7 |
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![]() Sogod Light, Sogod, November 2016 Google Maps street view |
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![]() Limasawa Island North Light, Limasawa, March 2019 Google Maps photo by Chiez Geralla |
Leyte Province: West Coast Lighthouses
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![]() Canigao Island Light, Leyte City of Tacloban Tourist Development photo |
Information available on lost lighthouses: |
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North: Samar | South: Northeast Mindanao | Southwest: Bohol | West: Cebu | Northwest: Masbate
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted July 24, 2005. Checked and revised November 19, 2024. Lighthouses: 33. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.