- Published on Sunday, 14 October 2012 20:29
- Written by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo / Special to the BusinessMirror
WITH
its diverse ecosystem that largely remains unspoiled to this day, the
province of Palawan has been dubbed as “The Last Frontier.”
It
has abundant marine resources, a wide array of plant species many of
which continue to be discovered, rare animals and other wildlife and
lush first-growth forests. Indeed, Palawan is a tropical paradise.
The
reputation seemed to have been cemented by the Puerto Princesa
Underground River (PPUR) recently making it to the list of the “New 7
Wonders of the World.” Puerto Princesa City is the capital of the
province.
Landing
on the list is evidently driving new hordes of tourists to Palawan who
have been reported to marvel at stalactites in a cave through which the
underground river passes. The cave is home to tens of thousands of bats
hovering above as bancas filled with tourists make their way through.
To
protect the PPUR’s fragile ecological state, the local government only
allows 900 tourists to visit in a day. To book a tour, e-mail
info@puerto-undergroundriver.com or
undergroundriver_ppsrnp@yahoo.com, or call 
048-723-0904 (Sabang)/Telefax: 048-434-2509).
048-723-0904 (Sabang)/Telefax: 048-434-2509).
After visiting the river, you can just relax or swim at the nearby white-sand Sabang Beach.
Must-see’s
Winged creatures and bay delights.
If you’re unable to book seats on the PPUR tour, don’t fret. There are
other equally interesting places to check out, such as the Iwahig River
Firefly Watching Tour. First initiated by a broadcasting company and the
municipal government, the tour is now exclusively run by the local
community.
As
you travel down the river in pitch-black darkness, you will come upon a
myriad of fireflies flitting about. Look down into the river itself,
and swish your hand in the water, and scores of luminous plankton will
appear. You can also fish in the Iwahig River, but it’s best done in the
early morning.
Another
exciting destination is Honda Bay just a few kilometers from Puerto
Princesa Bay, where whale sharks congregate. The whale-shark area is
about an hour’s ride by banca from Puerto Princesa Bay. These massive
but gentle creatures swim in the area from April to October.
You
can also watch spinner dolphins swim by your boat and do tricks on
Puerto Princesa Bay. They are friendly creatures who seem to welcome the
attention of humans.
Historical perspective.
Within Puerto Princesa City, visit the Special Battalion World War II
Memorial Museum in Barangay Bancao-Bancao, as well as the Palawan State
University Museum in Tiniguiban Heights, which also showcases rare
Palawan artifacts.
For tour packages, call Vivian Musngi of Island Eco Adventures at cell. no. 0917-8495477 .
0917-8495477 .
To-do’s
Good
eats. Seafood is most commonly served in many restaurants in Puerto
Princesa City. The most famous seems to be KaLui on 369 Rizal Avenue (T#
048-433- 2580 )
for the freshest seafood and vegetable dishes in the city at reasonable
prices. Be sure to ask for the catch of the day, which will usually be
served with either rice or camote fries and vegetables. Another
interesting dish is Stingray in Coconut Cream, or your choice of fresh
shrimps, crabs and lobsters in whatever way you want these to be cooked.
048-433- 2580 )
for the freshest seafood and vegetable dishes in the city at reasonable
prices. Be sure to ask for the catch of the day, which will usually be
served with either rice or camote fries and vegetables. Another
interesting dish is Stingray in Coconut Cream, or your choice of fresh
shrimps, crabs and lobsters in whatever way you want these to be cooked.
Authentic
Vietnamese fare is also widely available in Puerto Princesa City, which
once hosted close to 1,500 Vietnamese refugees in a massive camp the
1980s. Viet Ville (Km. 13, Barangay Sta. Lourdes) is where a few
Vietnamese have remained and intermarried with the locals. They run
the Viet Ville restaurant and souvenir shops. The freshly baked French
bread is already a good reason as any for visitors to make a quick stop
for eats in the village. The Pho (noodle soup), which is served with
either beef or pork, makes for a hearty and comforting dish.
The nightlife. In
the evening, most tourists and locals head to bars like Kataboom or
restaurants like Taverna Luna (its kinilaw na tanguigue or Spanish
mackerel ceviche is said to be the best in the city). Both
establishments, which are found on Rizal Avenue, feature live bands.
For a different kind of entertainment, check out Gypsy’s Lair Art Cafe
(Unit 20 Mercado de San Miguel, National Highway) owned by local art
patron Dinggot Prieto. The art café holds jazz/flamenco guitar
performances every Saturday by former Manila-based journalist Dempto
Anda.
Where to stay
Choose
Citystate-Asturias Hotel along the South National Highway, Tiniguiban
(T# 048-4339744/4343747 in Puerto Princesa or 708-9600 to 05 in
Manila/http://www.asturiashotel.ph) for the ultimate in Filipino
hospitality. The Garden View Rooms uplift the soul with a profusion of
flowers and foliage, while the Poolside View Rooms offer guests a
refreshing scenery. It currently has a P299-buffet for lunch and dinner.
Hotel
Fleuris along Lacao Street (T# 048-434-4338/ http://www.fleuris.com/)
offers a central location and a most comfortable stay for guests. It
also usually has barkada (group) packages for six persons based on
triple-sharing rate. Super friendly staff!
The
Legend Hotel on Malvar Street in Barangay Mandaragat (T# 702-2700 to
04/ http://www.legendpalawan.com.ph/) is quietly elegant and offers
guests an extensive breakfast buffet and merienda fare. Staff are tops
for being accommodating to guests’ needs.
Getting there. Most
major carriers fly to Puerto Princesa City from Manila, Clark, Cebu and
Iloilo. For more information on Puerto Princesa, visit http://www.visitpuertoprincesa.com.
In Photo:
The Puerto Princesa Underground River, recently hailed as one of the
New 7 Wonders of the World, are attracting hordes of tourists to the
city.
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