It was not summer. But, I was raring to go out of the metro and kick up my heels to feel the sand grains beneath my feet. I have been working hard since graduation. So, when my boyfriend and his mother invited me to visit their hometown, I grabbed the chance to reward myself and unwind for a while. With a vision of bright sun, fair clouds, azure water, and white sand in mind, I immediately filed a leave of absence from my office and took a flight to my dream paradise.
It was one Saturday afternoon, 11th of July 2009. We took a 30-minute taxi ride from Makati to the Centennial Airport in Pasay. As soon as we arrived, we presented our e-ticket and ID, paid the Php200 terminal fee, and checked-in our luggage. Because we were two hours early for our flight, we waited in the lobby and surfed the Internet using the free Wi-fi connection until we were called to board the plane.
When we finally boarded and got settled inside the plane, I was anxious yet excited because it was my first time. To calm my nerves, I put on the headset and listened to the installed music player in the passenger seat. Not for long, the all-smiling flight attendants informed us to fasten our seat belt, sit back, and relax as the plane took off. They were also very accommodating and generous with snacks and drinks. As the plane soared higher and higher, I watched how the large houses and tall buildings slowly become a tiny speck. I was very amused, looking at the clouds of different shapes and sizes. I soon forgot all about the hustle and bustle of my urban life. Flying via Philippine Airlines was really a great escape.
After 50 minutes of being airborne, the plane finally landed. Still with disbelief and bewilderment, I peeked outside. The clear blue sky confirmed it. At long last, I reached my destination. I finally arrived at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
A Walk around the City
The city was named after a Spanish princess who, according to legend, wandered around the place. It was initially called Puerto de la Princesa but after the princess’ death, the town’s name was changed and eventually reduced to Puerto Princesa. Akin to its name, its bay area used to be the center of Spanish naval operations, which accommodated any size of shipping vessels.
Today, being the capital of the island province of Palawan, Puerto Princesa is the center of trade, commerce, and tourism. However, unlike cities in Metro Manila, Puerto Princesa is clean, quiet, and spacious. It is hailed as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines and probably the safest tourist destination, because of its zero crime rate. It is also hassle-free, because there is no traffic and you can travel from the airport to the other parts of the city with one short tricycle ride. In going to the secondary portions of the city and small towns, you can also take jeepneys and multi-cabs for a cheap ride. The city offers many natural tourist spots and a few commercial establishments. The place is urban, yet rural.
Because I could not wait to explore its grandeur, I tugged my boyfriend to have a tour around the city as soon as I settled my things. Their house was in the city center or the Poblacion, so I opted for a walk. You can also do this even if you are staying in hotels and inns – The Legend Palawan Hotel, Hibiscus Garden Hotel, Puerto Pension, and Ardent Suites to name a few. Because we were in H. Mendoza Street, it only took a few steps to get to the main road called J. Rizal Avenue, where the Mendoza Park is located. We strolled along the park, which according to the locals, was named after a World War II hero who fought the Japanese. This park is one of the amusement parks in the city that is ideal for relaxation and spending time with family and friends.
We walked along J. Rizal Avenue and found many stores, cafés, and restaurants. Opposite Mendoza Park is Ramtan, which is a small store that sells food supplies. Nearby is Bruno’s, which vends delicacies and fine foods such as cured meats, cheese, sausages, fried chicken, spare ribs, salads, and others. Close to it is Itoy’s Specialty Coffee Haus, the counterpart of Starbucks in Puerto. Other stores include Fresh Café, Kalui Restaurant, Kinabuchs Grill and Bar, Divine Sweets, and of course the fast food chains such as Jollibee, Shakey’s, and Chowking.
We walked further and reached the far end of Rizal Avenue, where the Immaculate Conception Cathedral is located. Unlike other churches, its past is concealed in blue and white paint. But beyond its modern façade, the traditional Catholic worship practices are still held. Masses and other liturgical rites are still conducted before the sacred icons and saints. Palaweños devotees honor the church’s sanctity and this is extended to tourists. Thus, we said a prayer of thanks and guidance for our good travel before heading to our next destination.
Since the church stands on a hill near the pier, it only took us a few minutes to reach Baybay or the Baywalk Area. Unlike its counterpart in Manila Bay, the place is clean and less crowded. The park, which is also the biking area, is wide and well-maintained. Although it is not yet fully finished, there are places for eating street food like ice cream, balut, peanuts, and other fried snacks, sold in small stalls. We sat near the icon and landmark of the bay, ‘Ang Princesa sa Baybay.’ This is a statue of a petite lady standing, with its arm extending to the sky and her long hair blown by the wind. We watched her as we enjoyed the tranquility of the park. With the locals, mostly teenagers, we listened to the waves that hit the rocks near the wall of the bay. The sea breeze was cold and the night sky was very relaxing.
The Eco-Tour
The next day, as soon as the morning sunshine peeped through the window, we got on the road and made our way to Sabang. After a one-hour ride away from the city, we arrived at the proposed place for an “alternative” form of tourism, offered by Pasyar Developmental Tourism. As warm welcome, the locals presented a song and dance number, delivered in Cuyunon, the local dialect. Then, we were guided to a floating restaurant tugged by a boat and experienced the Mangrove Paddle Tour in Sabang River.
It was a surreal yet enjoyable ride along the serene waters of the mangrove swamp. The boat paddled its way amidst the old mangrove trees as we sipped our buko juice whilst serenaded by the sound of the ukulele. As our boat traversed the swamp forest, we saw several old dark trees, with their roots and branches crisscrossing each other, arched over the river. Some members of the community who protect the area served as guides and explained to us bits and pieces about the mangroves. We learned that mangrove trees have gender, too. There are male and female mangrove trees, which can be identified through their leaves. Male mangrove trees have pointed leaves, while the females have rounded ones. I looked around and spotted these differences. Other information about environmental protection, specifically mangrove conservation and marine sanctuary, that we learned from this tour were amazing and interesting, too. The intellectual discussion was brought to a halt when we arrived at the mangrove trail. We were welcomed by a yellow-striped black snake with a finger’s width, curled and was sleeping on a branch of a tree near our boat. The guide assured us that it does not attack unless provoked. So not to awaken the snake, we leapt from the platform to the bamboo bridge stealthily. Then, we walked along the wooden trail that leads to an old mangrove forest. It would have been a 10-minute walk if not for the entwined branches and roots that obstructed some parts of the path. We went over and through the branches like ninjas avoiding the laser beams. Eventually, we reached the end of the trail, which is a peek on another swamp forest. The other side of the river led us to our next destination – Honda Bay.
Honda Bay is a group of islands, popular for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Hopping from one island to another is common in this area. Yet, for our visit, we stayed in just one island. After a rough and fast boat ride, we settled in a cottage and shared a hearty lunch. As soon as our hunger and thirst were satisfied and quenched, we bathed under the sun and walked barefoot along the powdery sand. Hand in hand, my boyfriend and I trailed the sun-baked sand and picked up sand dollars on our way to the end of the sandbar. Then, we sat down on the beach and watched the blue green sea. Afterwards, we tried snorkeling and caught a glimpse of the colorful fishes down under. Amazingly, even above water, this varied and colorful marine life is distinguishable, because the sea is crystal clear. After plunging into the water, we splurged into the sumptuous food again. We went home that day with an evident keepsake – our tan lines.
(to be continued)
