BARAGATAN SA PALAWAN 2011

           Baragatan sa Palawan 2011 streamer along Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.


BARAGATAN is a Cuyono word derived from the word "bagat" which means "to meet". It can be loosely translated to mean a "convergence" and is therefore the most appropriate word to describe a festival in Palawan held every 23rd day of June to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the first civil government in the province in 1902. It is during this time that delegates from the province's 23 municipalities literally converge in the city to compete in the Booth, Float and Street Dancing Competitions and just enjoy the company of old friends. The Baragatan festival has come a long way since it was first celebrated in the year 2000 and has now become a major tourist attraction Puerto Princesa City. This year's edition was just as grand.

                                    The booth of the Municipality of Brooke's Point, Palawan.

                                  The booth of the municipality of Cuyo, Palawan

   The fiesta-like atmosphere around the Provincial Capitol Complex in Puerto Princesa City. Palawan.


The Baragatan sa Palawan 2011 softly opened last June 1 with a trade fair, a garden show and an open dining area called "Caraenan sa Baragatan", all scattered around the Provincial Capitol Complex along Rizal Avenue. Earlier, the different municipalities in the province erected their respective booths to showcase their products ranging from foodstuffs, fruits, handicrafts and to highlight their localities as tourist destinations. The private sector joined in with stalls filled with consumer goods, apparel and food supplements resulting into a fiesta- like atmosphere that stretched well into the night.

                                          The Philippine National Flag and the honor guards.

                Majorettes and the Drum and Lyre Corp of one of the schools in Puerto Princesa City.
  

On June 13, the provincial government formally opened the Baragatan sa Palawan 2011 Celebrations with a grand civic parade early in the afternoon that passed along Rizal Avenue on the way to the Provincial Capitol grounds. It was participated by selected troops coming from the different branches of service of the AFP, some in their full battle gear. Students from various schools around the city also came with their respective Drum and Lyre Corps. Local executives and their staff headed the delegations coming from the different municipalities in the province, showcasing their floats designed to depict their respective municipalities. Provincial leaders also joined the parade. The over-all mood was festive; not even a slight drizzle failed to intimidate the people from coming out to admire the floats brought by the municipal delegations as they passed by them. The entry from Brooke's Point, a bustling town 192 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa, won the float competition with its realistic interpretation of a huge, open   coconut fruit on top of the float and coconut shells intricately placed at the sides. Brooke's Point is a major producer of copra in Palawan.

                Giant "Lapu-lapu", the float entry of the municipality of Agutaya in Northern Palawan.

                    Giant coconut, the winning entry of the municipality of Brooke's Point, Palawan

On June 22, a Beauty Pageant was held to search for the Mutya ng Palawan 2011. Sarah Sopio Osorio, a  young lady from the municipality of Kalayaan on the western side of Palawan, won the title.

         Sarah Sopio Osorio of the municipality of Kalayaan,the newly-crowned Mutya ng Palawan 2011

   

On the next day, June 23, another parade was held, this time, participated by contestants of  the Street Dancing Competitions. The dancers came in their most colorful costumes and their fanciest moves to the delight of the people who waited for hours along Rizal Avenue to catch a glimpse of them. The delegation coming from Magsaysay won the contest, bagging a hefty P 300,000.00 prize.

                                       The street dancers from Roxas, Palawan.

                                         The street dancers from Sofronio Espanola, Palawan

 

A male dancer from Sofronio Espanola, Palawan enjoying the moment.

                               The street dancers from Brooke's Point, Palawan won the 3rd Prize.

                     A male street dancer from Brooke's Point, Palawan doing a fancy move.

                                   The street dancers from Rizal, Palawan won the 2nd Prize

                    A female street dancer from Rizal, Palawan concentrates on her moves.
                  

                              The street dancers from Magsaysay, Palawan won the Grand Prize.

                             The dancers from Magasaysay, Palawan showing  their winning form.

                                     A female dancer from Magsaysay, Palawan.

                                        Male dancers from Magsaysay, Palawan

HOTEL CENTRO, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN

The marker for Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Hotel Centro is the newest hotel to rise up in Puerto Princesa City. It softly opened its doors just this March and comes fully equipped to cater to the needs of even the most discriminating visitor to this side of Palawan. Located along the National Highway in San Pedro, it can be reached within minutes from the Puerto Princesa International Airport. It features 111 guest rooms, a grand ballroom, 5 conference venues, a cafe aptly called "Expressions", a poolside bar named "Soul". It also has a spa, a gym and a horde of other amenities that are all guaranteed to pamper its guests in style.

The driveway of the Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Recently we were able to sample its outdoor swimming pool as a concession to our 3-year-old daughter who had been nagging us all day for a swim. We checked in rather late in the evening at about 8pm and still had two hours to enjoy the soothing waters of the pool before it closed at 10pm.  The fee was P300 per head.

The lights around the building change from one color combination..

To another..

The "Soul" Poolside Bar, Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City (Photo by LDocena)

As the crisp, reggae music wafted through the air, the lights around the building and in the water danced along, changing into different hues and combinations, in a subtle way of  uplifting our tired moods. After two hours of frolicking and wading in the two feet deep children's pool area our daughter was now speechless, completely satisfied. Later on we just retired into the night with smiles on our faces knowing fully well that another day has just ended beautifully.

Hotel Centro Puerto Princesa, Palawan

National Highway, San Pedro,

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 5300

Website: www.hotelcentro.ph

Telephone Number: (6348) 434-1111

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK

The Underground River, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The road going to Sabang, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

One of Palawan's hottest tourist attraction is a river. Nope, it's not your ordinary river because this particular one runs inside a cave,  deep beneath magnificent limestone formations with its steep cliffs. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, popularly known as the Underground River is located at the midwest coast of Palawan mainland facing the South China Sea. It was formally established on March 26, 1971 and was later expanded  to cover its present area of 22,202 hectares by virtue of  Presidential Proclamation No. 212, issued on November 16, 1999. It is believed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world with an estimated length of 8.2 kilometers. The Underground River is currently one of the 28 finalists in the worldwide search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, a prestigious search for seven of the most awesome locations on the planet that would truly represent nature's greatest wonders.

Entrance to the Underground River, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The park contains fragile mountain and sea ecosystems and protected lush forests that serve as habitat to various endangered, beautiful, rare and endemic wildlife species. In the coastal areas, old growth mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs can be found.

Palawan monitor lizard roams the area. (Photo by LDocena)

On December 4, 1999 the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the park's exceptional and universal value and included the park in its list of World Heritage Sites, declaring that the site truly deserves to be protected by all stakeholders for the benefit of all humanity.

I feel blessed to have been to the Underground River three times already yet the beauty of the place and the sense of adventure never fails to send some shivers down my spine each time the paddle boat I'm riding slowly inches its way through the entrance and glides into the pitch black interiors of the cave. The silence only adds suspense to the whole experience as the only audible sound inside are the occasional splash of the boatman's paddle and the dripping sound of water droplets that had seeped through miniscule cracks on the limestone above.    

To get there, visitors must first secure their entry permits for P200 at the Underground River Booking Office located at Rizal Avenue near the airport. Then they may take a shuttle van at the San Jose Terminal complex in Puerto Princesa City for the one-and-a-half trip to Sabang, 76 kilometers away along the north National Highway. Sabang, itself a tourist attraction, is where the park information office is located and where the entry permits will be processed. It is also here that motorized boat arrangements are finalized for the half-hour trip to the entrance of the cave. Since only six passengers maximum are allowed for each boat,  the small tour groups are combined to fill one. Fee is around P700 per boat. For able bodied and adventurous travelers who have the time,  a trek in the jungle might be an option instead of taking the boat. There is a 5.3 kilometer trail from Sabang to the Underground River which passes through thick forest formations affording them a true wilderness experience. Monitor lizards and macaques routinely roam the trail along with numerous birds.

The motorized boat then brings the passengers to a secluded white sand beach. There,  a wooden walkway winds through a lush tropical forest and leads to the docking station where the paddle boats are lined up. Visitors then log in, are given hardhats and life jackets, and are seated into the paddle boats for the one hour trip inside the Underground River. From then on the excitement begins..

"Dinosaur head" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The "giant corns" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The "giant candle" inside the Underground River, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

The trip inside the cave reaches to a distance of about 1.5 kilometers. The boatman, acting as tour guide, explains the intricacies of the cave, pointing to the various stalactites and stalagmites that have formed over long periods of time into interesting shapes. The passenger in the front row usually holds the battery powered torchlight. At various points during the ride, figures of the "holy family", "giant candle", "giant corns", a dinosaur head emerges from the darkness. The area called "cathedral" elicits the most "WOWS"; the light from the torch can hardly reach the ceiling 65 meters high above!

One word of caution: the smell of bat urine is somewhat strong inside and this might cause discomfort to some visitors. Just bring the appropriate gadget to cover your nose if you think this might cause problems.

The "giant mushrooms" inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Intricate patterns inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Insect bats on the wall inside the Underground River, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

Friends in the Palawan tour (Photo by LDocena)

View from inside the Underground River, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Of course, there are other activities that can be done in Sabang- bird watching, mangrove paddle boat tour, adventure caving, snorkeling, or just a leisurely swim  at the beach. Two posh resorts now operate in the area, the Sheridan Beach Resort and the Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, and both are fully equipped to handle anyone's accommodation needs.

Sabang Beach, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

The Underground River comes as a source of pride not just for the people of Puerto Princesa City and Palawan but the entire country as a whole.

Visit their website at www.puerto-undergroundriver.com

Please support and vote for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. To vote, kindly log on to: www.new7wonders.com

PHO' SAIGON, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN

Pho' Saigon, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

In the 1970's the province of Palawan began receiving surprise visitors arriving on its shores aboard crude, dilapidated wooden boats after weeks of crossing the South China Sea, often without adequate provisions and accommodations. These visitors came from South Vietnam and have fled their country to escape a  war that was going on there at that time. They had fled in haste in the dead of night, intending to seek asylum in the Philippines, or any other country they might happen to land on and was willing to accept them. Later as their number increased in the province,  a refugee camp was set up beside the Puerto Princesa International Airport runway to accommodate them.

Slowly they began to try to integrate themselves with the people of Puerto Princesa, joining various activities in the city. I can barely remember joining a Boy Scout encampment during those days with a few Vietnamese teenagers as participants. The communication barrier was huge but it turned out just fine. Soon they started setting up their small businesses, trying their best to live a normal life in Palawan, far from their native land. It must have been tough for these "boat people", as they've come to be known, but they have proven their resilience as a people despite the situation. Towards the 1980's, they began to be repatriated to countries in North America like the US and Canada which opened their gates and accepted them. One by one, family by family, they began to leave Palawan and settled elsewhere for good. Others may have opted to return to Vietnam as the situation there have now improved.

One of the good things that the Vietnamese people left in Puerto Princesa City was their cuisine. Chao Long, a kind of rice noodles usually topped with fresh mongo sprouts, paired with french bread is a popular snack in the city and I think even in the whole province such that Chao Long restaurants can be found even in far-flung municipalities such as Brooke's Point, 192 kilometers south of the city.

Front facade of Pho' Saigon, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

Interior of Pho' Saigon, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

One Vietnamese restaurant that we recently visited is Pho' Saigon, located along the northbound national highway in San Manuel, Puerto Princesa City. Despite its austere facade and interiors, this place is visited even by Caucasian tourists in Puerto Princesa. The food was good and tasty, even though we only had sauteed shrimp with rice (tom ram), rice noodles with beef stew (pho bo kho), pork spring roll (cha gio heo), french bread with chicken (bahn mi ga), and buko shakes (sihn to dua).

Sauteed shrimp with rice, both abundant in Palawan. (Photo by LDocena)

Rice noodles with beef stew and french bread. (Photo by LDocena)

Travel always have its inherent benefits that includes the opportunity to try the various cuisines of a particular locality and this recent Vietnamese cuisine experience is certainly one such opportunity.

ISLAND HOPPING IN HONDA BAY, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN

When queuing at the airport check-in counters in Manila to take my flight home to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, one of the things that I instinctively do is to look for friends who might be on the same flight I'm taking (well..this is especially so when I've got lots of bags sitting on my pushcart..LOL) This would seem mundane to some but the prospect of seeing a familiar face in the line never fails to excite me. The opportunity to re-connect with old friends even for just a brief moment is always a nice, happy occasion. And as I scan the vicinity for friends another group of passengers almost always get my attention--the vacationers especially those of the younger set.

   

Sta. Lourdes Pier, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

You can't miss them; they're all geared up for vacation. Their attire gives them away--flip-flops, board shorts, sunglasses, the fanciest dSLR's and the latest iteration of the Ipod. I can almost hear their excitement to get on board the plane, land at the Puerto Princesa International Airport and hit the beach. Pronto..

Pandan Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Fortunately, as if by a happy coincidence, many of the beaches that Puerto Princesa City has to offer are located very near the city. There are small islands and sandbars scattered around  Honda Bay, and the jump-off point to the bay is the Sta. Lourdes Pier, located just 20 to 30 minutes drive from the city center. This makes it so easy for visitors to visit an island, swim or snorkel, hop on to the next one, swim some more, move on to the next island until one is completely satisfied, limbs drooping with exhaustion. Thus, island hopping at Honda Bay has become an attraction in Palawan that never fails to delight visitors.

There are plenty of islands in Honda Bay but the more prominent ones are Pandan Island; then there's  Starfish Island, named so because there are plenty of starfish on it. Then there's Bat Island, again, named after its nocturnal inhabitants. Snake Island don't have snakes, I hope, but it  was named so because it resembles a snake slithering on the water when viewed from the air. The luxury resort Dos Palmas is also located at Honda Bay and will be the subject of a future post.

When we were planning our island hopping trip to Honda Bay we were tipped off by the Moana Hotel staff to bring our own food along. So, early in the morning the next day we rented our snorkels at the hotel, went to the market and hauled some fresh fish and veggies, fruits, bread and our drinks and headed to Sta. Lourdes. The boat was rented for about P700 and can carry a maximum if six persons. First stop was the Pambato Reef, a coral reef so popular around Honda Bay. The corals were so stunning that it hardly mattered to me that I was using a rented snorkel! I just wished it was previously worn by a beautiful blonde tourist before I got it.

Beach on Starfish Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

We then went to Starfish Island for a swim. The beach was lovely, the sand was not so fine but it was beautiful nonetheless. True to its name,  there was plenty of starfish around.

Starfish Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Shed on Starfish Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

An old structure on Starfish Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Next destination was Snake Island as it was about noontime now, and we have yet to cook our food. It was a pleasant surprise to know that one of our companions was an excellent cook. There is a mini store at the island that  sell some foodstuffs and some necessities. At the back is the kitchen that we used for cooking our food on borrowed utensils, all for a small fee.

The beach on Snake Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Sheds for eating lunch on Snake Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Boat on Snake Island with Palawan mainland in the background. (Photo by LDocena)

After the sumptuous lunch it was time to hit the beach. The water was so clear and refreshing. One attraction at Snake Island is "fish feeding" and we took bread and started feeding the fish which was now so plentiful. It was truly a unique experience. I decided to up the fun by biting the bread and instead of just holding them by hand. As I submerged my head, hundreds of fish would gang up on my lips. Totally cool experience..

Fish feeding on Snake Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

Fish feeding with the mouth on Snake Island (Photo by LDocena)

Lady vendor on Snake Island, Honda Bay, Palawan (Photo by LDocena)

At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon we started packing for our trip back to the mainland.