Gasan's Baltazar Island, a geodetic azimuth of Luzon Datum (the geographic center of the country)
But old native Gasenos know the islands by their old names Laki (Gaspar), Man-nga (Melchor) and Pangikog (Baltazar). The island nearest the Marinduque mainland is Gaspar Island, the only island with inhabitants, and the farthest is Baltazar Island.
During the early Commonwealth period, the Americans built a lighthouse with a dwelling house in Baltazar Island.
But time and nature took a toll on the structures, and in 1954, a law (RA 1144) was passed appropriating funds for lighthouse stations in the country, which included the repair of the dwelling house of the Baltasar Lighthouse. The dwelling house may be considered as the oldest structure built by the Americans in the province. In 1991, the lighthouse was eventually rehabilitated through a deal with Japan's ODA Loan executed by Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
The lighthouse and the dwelling place in Baltazar Island were no ordinary structures. The place served as an outpost of the US Coast Guard during the Commonwealth Government to monitor smugglers passing through Tablas Strait to Visayas.
More importantly, Baltazar Island (Station Baltazar) is a geodetic azimuth mark of Luzon Datum. (Station Baltazar azimuth: 90 12' 37".00)
In 1911, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) established Station Balanacan in Barangay Hinanggayon in Mogpog as Luzon Datum or the geographical center of the country.
The Luzon Datum is the primary geodetic reference or origin of all geological surveys in the Philippines which means all maps and surveys made in the country use the Luzon Datum as reference point.
In recognition of the significance of the province as the geographical center of the country, the USC&GS named one of its survey ships as SS Marinduque.
Photo credit: Credit to the owner
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