List of lighthouses in the Philippines
With the Philippine Archipelago comprising over 7,100 islands packed in an area of, the country has the fifth-longest coastline in the world. The Philippine coast has a total length of and is very irregular, with numerous bays, gulfs, and islets.
Eleven of the largest islands of the archipelago are the major islands and main centers of population, with ten of its most populous cities located along the coast. Approximately 1,000 of the smaller islands are also populated. With more than of coasting routes and tortuous channels regularly navigated by vessels trading among some 300 separate ports, navigation aids like lighthouses help mariners against misnavigation and guide them to safety and out of danger from grounding on its treacherous reef and shoals.
Large international ships rely on lighthouses to guide them safely out from the open sea and into Philippine waters. Once within Philippine waters, lighthouses help them maneuver through its narrow straits and channels, pointing out safe passages and leading vessels to their destination ports. Regardless of the advancement in technology and the use of satellite-guided positioning devices, mariners still rely on these light stations as visual confirmations of their electronic readings.
As an archipelago, the future and progress of the islands has and will always depend on maritime travel. Even with the advent of aviation, the water routes continue to be the main highways for travel and commerce, with the lighthouses of the Philippines safely guiding the vessels that ply its routes.
List of lighthouses in the Philippines
The following is a list of historical and notable lighthouses constructed in the Philippines.Lighthouse | Location | Province/City | Date First Lit | Tower height in ft | Focal plane in ft | Current Status | Current Condition/ Description |
Apo Reef | Sablayan | Occidental Mindoro | 1906 | ft | ft | Nonextant | Replaced with a new modern white tower. |
Apo Reef | Sablayan | Occidental Mindoro | 1990s | ft | ft | Active | Good |
Bagacay Point | Liloan | Cebu | 1874 | ft | ft | In ruins | Partly in ruins but it is the oldest existing lighthouse tower in the Philippines. |
Bagacay Point | Liloan | Cebu | 1905 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern room were recently replaced. |
Bagatao Island | Magallanes | Sorsogon | 1904 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp was replaced with a solar-powered modern lamp. |
Baliguian Island Light | Baliguian Island | Iloilo | 1916 | ft | ft | Active | Unknown, as Baliguian was heavily damaged by Typhoon Haiyan. |
Basco | Naidi Hills, Basco | Batanes | 2003 | ft | n/a | Active | Good |
Batag Island | Laoang | Northern Samar | 1907 | ft | ft | In ruins | A white cylindrical tower was erected close to the old one. The lantern and light in the old tower is gone. |
Bugui Point | Aroroy | Masbate | 1902 | ft | ft | Inactive | A modern white tower was erected close to the old one. The old tower and keeper's house are in poor condition. |
Caballo Island | Caballo Island | Cavite | 1853 | ft | ft | Unknown | The light station was probably destroyed during WWII. |
Cabra Island | Lubang | Occidental Mindoro | 1889 | ft | ft | Inactive | A modern white tower was erected close to the old one The old tower and keeper's house are in poor condition. |
Cape Bojeador | Burgos | Ilocos Norte | 1892 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp was replaced after it was damaged by the 1990 earthquake. |
Cape Bolinao | Bolinao | Pangasinan | 1906 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern room were replaced. |
Cape Engaño | Palaui Island, Santa Ana | Cagayan | 1892 | ft | ft | Active | Original lantern room is missing and the buildings are in ruins. |
Cape Melville | Balabac Island | Palawan | 1892 | ft | ft | Active | The tower still retains its original First-order lens and mechanisms. |
Cape Santiago | Calatagan | Batangas | 1890 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern room were replaced. |
Capitancillo Island | Bogo City | Cebu | 1905 | ft | ft | Replaced | Old tower was replaced with a new white tower and the dwellings are in ruins. |
Capones Island | San Antonio | Zambales | 1890 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern room were replaced. Tower is in good condition, keeper's house is deteriorating. |
Capul Island | Capul | Northern Samar | 1896 | ft | ft | Active | The tower were recently renovated and the original lamp and lantern were replaced. |
Corregidor Island | Corregidor Island | Cavite | 1853 | ft | ft | Replaced | Damaged by the bombings of World War II. |
Corregidor Island | Corregidor Island | Cavite | 1950 | ft | ft | Active | Good |
Jintotolo Island | Balud | Masbate | 1903 | ft | ft | Active | Only the tower is in good condition, the original light and lantern were replaced. |
Linao Point | Aparri | Cagayan | 1896 | ft | ft | In ruins | The station was destroyed during a storm, and some of the ruins remain on the beach. |
Lusaran Point Guisi Point Lighthouse | Nueva Valencia | Guimaras | 1894 | ft | ft | Replaced | The original lamp and lantern is gone, the iron tower is all rust and the surrounding buildings in ruins. |
Malabrigo Point | Lobo | Batangas | 1896 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern were replaced. |
Maniguin Island | Culasi | Antique | 1906 | ft | ft | Inactive | Replaced with a nearby white tower; Date is not available. |
Pasig River Light | Binondo | Manila | 1846 | ft | ft | Demolished | Demolished and replaced in 1992. |
Pasig River Light | Binondo | Manila | 1992 | ft | ft | Active | Good |
Poro Point Light | San Fernando City | La Union | 1885 | ft | ft | Active | Original 20-meter steel tourelle replaced with 76-foot concrete tower in 1979. Lightkeeper's house built during American era is in ruin. |
San Bernardino Island | Bulusan | Sorsogon | 1896 | ft | ft | Active | Original lamp and lantern were replaced and when tower was renovated. Other buildings are in disrepair. |
San Nicholas Shoals Light | Rosario | Cavite | 1879 | ft | ft | Replaced | Destroyed by a typhoon in 1881 |
Sibago Island | Tuburan | Basilan | 1915 | ft | ft | Active | Galvanized metal tower. Deactivated on Oct. 31, 2001 |
Siete Pecados | Buenavista | Guimaras | 1884 | ft | ft | Active | A new tower was erected next to the old one. Original structure is still maintained. |
Tanguingui Island | Bantayan | Cebu | 1903 | ft | ft | Replaced | The original black steel tower was replaced with a new white tower. Dwellings are in ruins. |