Cuyo, Palawan

Arab and Indian sailors and traders at that period of time. It is a Volcanic island where almost everything is in abundance . Cuyo is comparable to the tiny islands of Tidore and Ternate in Moluccas,Indonesia famous for their spices. While Cuyo is abundant for its red rice, goat, fruits, marine products, birds' nest and most especially its buscay shells that were use as money (medium of exchange or for barter) among the Malay World of Madagascar in Africa, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and most of the islands in the pacific. 

           Cuyo had 3000 settlers before the arrival of Spaniards in 1568. The island has its solar salt factory that is another important item for sailors. This volcanic island is truly a magical island like a paradise with abundance of food supply. Seaweeds like "lato" are plenty here. Then the Chinese centralized the birds' nest collection here coming from the caves of Quiminatin, Taytay, El Nido, Linapacan and Coron. Although it was not Islamized, but Cuyo has a strong connection also to the Muslim world through its Malay connections. In fact, during the first uprising by the Muslim leaders of Tondo in Manila, their leaders were caught in Cuyo Island on their was to Brunei to recruit 2,000 Cuyonon mercenaries in 1588.