Apo Island Apo Island Apo Island is a volcanic island covering 74 hectares in land area, 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island and 30 kilometers south of the Negros Oriental capital of Dumaguete in the Philippines. The name "Apo" was derived from a Filipino word for "grandchild". The marine habitat around the island is a marine reserve, protected by the National Integrated Protected Area Act (NIPA) and under the jurisdiction of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). It has become a popular dive site and snorkeling destination with tourists. There are two resorts on Apo Island, each with a
Mount Apo is said to be named after a nobleman named Apong, who was killed while mediating the battle between two suitors of his daughter Saribu. Apo is various local languages mean "grandfather", "master", "grandson", and "wise elder". On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park with "Proclamation No. 59" by President Manuel L. Quezon, followed by "Proclamation No. 35" of May 8, 1966, then "Proclamation No. 882" of September 24, 1996. On February 3, 2004, the approval of "Republic Act No. 9237" established Mount Apo as a protected area under the category of "natural park" with an area