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 describes lighthouses of Masbate Province, which includes the islands of Masbate, Ticao and Burias and associated smaller islands. These islands are located south of Luzon's southeastern Bicol Peninsula and northwest of Samar. Geographically they lie to the north of the islands known as the Visayas. Administratively they are grouped with southeast Luzon within the Bicol Region. Filipino and English are official languages in the Philippines. In Filipino a lighthouses is called a parola or farola; 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 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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Burias and Ticao Lighthouses
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Masbate Island Lighthouses
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Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North: Southeast Luzon | East: Samar | Southeast: Leyte and Biliran | South: Cebu | Southwest: Panay and Guimaras | West: Romblom and Marinduque
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Posted July 24, 2005. Checked and revised November 3, 2024. Lighthouses: 20. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.