Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Puerto Princesa
Highly Urbanized City
City of Puerto Princesa
From top, left to right: Emerald Beach and Nature Park, Dos Palmas Resort, Sabang, Palawan Provincial Capitol, Puerto Princesa seafront
Seal
Nickname(s): The City in the Forest City of the Living God Peacock Capital of the Philippines The Queen City of Western Luzon
Map of Palawan showing the location of Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°45′N 118°45′E / 9.75°N 118.75°E / 9.75; 118.75Coordinates: 9°45′N 118°45′E / 9.75°N 118.75°E / 9.75; 118.75
Country	Philippines
Region	Mimaropa (Region IV-B)
Province	Palawan (geographically only)
District	3rd District of Palawan
Founded	1872
Cityhood	June 21, 1961
Highly Urbanized City	July 9, 2007
Barangays	66
Government
• Mayor	Luis M. Marcaida III
• Vice Mayor	Nancy Socrates
Area
• Total	2,381.02 km2 (919.32 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)
• Total	255,116
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	5300 to 5301
IDD : area code	+63 (0)48
Income class	1st class city; highly urbanized
Languages	Tagalog, Cuyonon, Hiligaynon, English
Website	puertoprincesa.ph

Puerto Princesa, officially City of Puerto Princesa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Puerto Princesa; Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Puerto Princesa; Spanish: Ciudad de Puerto Princesa) and often referred to as Puerto Princesa City, is a city located in the western province of Palawan, Philippines. Though the seat of government and capital for the province, the city itself is one of 38 independent cities within the Philippines not controlled by the province in which it is geographically located and is therefore an independent area located within Palawan.

As of 2015 census, Puerto Princesa had a population of 255,116 people, making it the least densely populated city in the Philippines. In terms of land area, the city is the second largest geographically after Davao City with an area of 2,381.02 square kilometres (919.32 sq mi). Puerto Princesa is the location of the Philippines' Western Command headquarters.

Today, Puerto Princesa is a popular tourist city with many beach resorts and seafood restaurants. It has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.

Historically, the place was named after Maria Cristina, one of the princesses born to Isabella II of Spain and her consort, Francis, Duke of Cádiz. When the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually, the name was shortened to Puerto Princesa.

Spanish Colonizers founded the settlement on 4 March 1872 in the course of their exploration of the province. As they scanned the Palawan shoreline for a capital site, they came upon a hill with steep declivity. Rowing to shore, they surveyed the hill and discovered an extensive plateau which they decided as ideal for settlement.

Soon after, Fr. Antonio Muro levelled a portion of the hill to make way for a chapel. (That section is now occupied by the Catholic Cathedral, the P.C. Barracks and the Rizal Park. The Old Municipal Building used to be there, as well as an Elementary School). The first mass celebrated in Puerto Princesa took place at a site where a marker now stands.