These ethnic group (Cuyonon, Cuyuno, Cuyo, Kuyunon, Kuyunin) are found principally in the island of Cuyo (12,470) in northern Palawan, Puerto Princesa (20,940), Roxas (13,405) in the Palawan mainland, and the island of Dumaran (6,690). The total population is about 97,000, with about 89,000 (NSO 1980) of this found in Palawan. The Kuyonen comprise the ethnic elite in Palawan, the place having been historically the Spanish capital of Palawan prior to Puerto Princesa. It has been contended that the Ratagnon, a subgroup of the Mangyan of Mindoro, are probably Kuyonen that migrated to Mindoro.

       The basic subsistence activities are central Philippine in character combining both marine and terrestrial strategies, with the latter employing both intensive wet cultivation and dry regimes.