With a budget of around Php 10,000.00 per pax, they say it's almost the same as going to Hong Kong or Taiwan. But I say, the experience would never be the same and as exciting as going through the natural wonders of Palawan.
Palawan for me used to be a subject to be studied in my elementary and high school days. I never ever dreamed of reaching that place (much more by plane) though I wonder how beautiful it is...But a few days ago, I was there and even wanting to have more of it, he he he...
Mean and me
Three nights and two days of going around Puerto Princesa is not even enough to see and experience the beautiful sights and eat delicious fresh sea food. The largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area, it is also the safest because it doesn't have any fault line, seldom do typhoons reach the area and there are no volcanoes. Not even pick pockets and hold-uppers are around. Cost of living is cheap compared to La Trinidad and houses can be built of light materials (pawid). The weather, it is as warm as the low land areas of the Philippines, but I say it is tolerable. Maybe because of the sea breeze or because it is February? But it is not as hot as Manila.
Internet and communications through cell phones are also available. Some parts or Puerto Princesa where commercial electricity is not available is powered by solar electricity. It is also one of the greenest and cleanest city in the Philippines. The city is more of like a rural area/province in comparison with my home town, La Trinidad. But there are some 24 hours shops like Jollibee and Dunkin Donuts and tricycles.
For people seeking for peaceful and simple get-away, Puerto Princesa can do.
I noticed that there are many foreigner visitors. Tagalog and English can be used and some even can speak Ilocano. There are also some kababayans from Benguet who are residing there. At the plane, we even met a cute stewardess from Bauko, Mountain Province.
Their tourist tour is also organized. Tour vans are provided by the local government but the guides are private in operation.
Our Tour
Day 1: Thursday February 18, 2010
Puerto Princesa Airport
At the Crocodile farm. Picture above: A Palawan weaver.
When we arrived at Puerto Princesa, we had a Eucharistic celebration by Fr. Abner after our check-in. Then we had lunch followed by a city tour to Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The architecture is similar to that of our Baguio Cathedral except that is is not on top of a hill. We also passed by the Plaza Cuartel, then to the Crocodile Farm wherein the wounded crocs captured from poachers are taken cared of. Wow, it is my first time to see live crocs and they are even bigger than me.
Then off we go the the Mitra ranch. There I learned that the late Sen. Ramon Mitra has a fondness for Benguet people. He used to be one of the governors of the old Mountain Province. Though he was born in Palawan, he grew up and studied in Benguet. The Hamada family is where his father came from. When we had the tour in their ranch, it was only our delegation who were exclusively allowed to enter inside their house. Their helpers told us how the late senator gave special treatment to people of Benguet. Hmmm....it made me admire him, eh.
Mitra's House
The teachers of San Jose High School
Palawan's Baywalk
After that, we went to Baker's Hill to have some snack then we go the the Iwahig Penal farm. It is a place established by the Americans where hardened criminals are sent. (Mr. Laruan, our principal, said that one of his uncles were sent there because he is a victim of injustice). It was so hot but very wide and vast in land area. Here, the prisoners can have a chance to live outside the metal rails. They can go out in the fields and work. They cannot escape though because if they will go up in the mountains, they will surely die of Malaria and if they will to go to the city, the people will bring them back. The people know one another because of the few population. What is good in the penal farm is that the prisoners will have a chance to live and work for their own not just be sitting inside the jail. The farm produces rice to be bought by the Dept. of Justice and the money goes to the needs of the prison and of the prisoners. Then we went back home to the city at around 6pm. It took us approximately two hours travel time without traffic and with the van running at a fast speed. Then we had some shopping and made the salesladies so confused with our haggling and with our number.
Day 2: Friday of February 19, 2010
Overlooking the bay of sharks
Our tour van
Sabang Bay
Local children
San Jose High School teachers fishing like children
Mt. of St. Paul. Underneath is the underground river. The under highest tip of the nose is where "the Cathedral" rock formation is.
Destination
After breakfast, we started our 18 kms trip for Sabang where the Underground River is. It is a river under a mountain which forms a face of a man. And they named that mountain St. Paul. Along the way, we had a stop over in the view deck overlooking a sea where sharks roam. Our guide told us that in the earlier times, warring tribes used to throw the head of their opponents in that sea to be eaten by the sharks. It also used to be the only way going to Sabang when the road is not yer built. Sharks used to accompany them with their tour... he he he. Then we continued and stopped for a while at the bay area where our guides registered us and waited for our turn to ride the motorboat going to our destination. Tourist can reach the place through trekking but it will take a day. When we arrived, there are a lot of tourists waiting for their turn to go inside the cave and we have to register again and wait for our turn. It took us around an hour to wait but it's alright because the experience of paddling inside the underground river is worth it. It's just that my camera cannot record the beauty inside. One needs a high powered flash and light because of the darkness. There are also bats inside and snakes in the water. But is is worthwhile looking at the various rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. It took us 20 minutes of sight seeing. We did not go through the 8 kms stretch for one needs a special permit to be inside the very depts of the river cave. Meaning, it is more adventurous but one needs more special equipment to go through it.
Underground river entrance
Cave entrance
Inside the cave
Some rock formation
The Forest Reserve
Find the "Bayawak" (A local giant reptile)
After that, we had our lunch in the forest reserve area where the guides cautioned us against monkeys who love to steal anything that they can eat and will throw back digicams that they can't chew. It is a sure way to destroy the cam and the pictures inside it.
Vietnamese Village
Going back to the city, we had a side trip to the Vietnamese Village where refugees from the Vietnam war was temporarily placed under the Aquino administration. Now, it is more of a ghost town. The houses are abandoned though there are only three families left to maintain the restaurant and the souvenir shop. Aside from the Buddhist Temple, there is also a Catholic chapel for there are some Viets who were converted to Catholicism.
Then when we were back in the city, I joined some teachers who went to the market to buy dried fish as pasalubong. Dannggit which costs around Php 600.00 per kilo in Baguio can be baught for Php 290.00. It made our room smell like Danggit when we were back in the inn.
Day 3: Saturday February 20, 2010
Before breakfast, we had again a Holy Mass. It is already time to pack our baggage. Since our flight back to Manila is 7:30 pm, we spent our free time shopping and going around the city. I was able to see their museum which costs an adult 20 pesos only. Then we chance to see native Aetas who were ferried back to the mountains after their medical check up. They were escorted by marines. Then we went to the mall. Their mall is more of like a huge grocery. There is a play area and TV viewing area. Malls in Baguio are still bigger. 7 hours of free time is not enough to tour the city. But we have to be inside the terminal at 4pm for our check in.
Our flight was delayed for 30 minutes because our plane has to wait for the Zest plane to vacate the loading area. There I learned that prices inside the terminal (and much more inside the plane) is much higher compared to prices outside (which is only a few meters away). A can of soda which costs 15 pesos outside the terminal is 30 pesos. Walk a few steps inside the waiting area and that will cost 40 pesos. Anyway, the flight back to Manila was just 50 minutes. We transferred to Genesis bus and we are back home in La Trinidad at 5 o'clock am Sunday morning with the cool morning air welcoming us back home.
I wish I can go back and tour the places I haven't seen. Hmmm....I did I hear our next tour will be in Bohol? he he he...
