Anything About Palawan

The Exotic Tamilok

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:44:00 +0000

One of Palawan’s exotic delicacy is the Tamilok. Although commonly known as “woodworm”, it is actually a mollusk – a mangrove-tree-boring mollusk.

It is rich in protein, calcium and iodine and is said to be an aphrodisiac. Not nearly as awful as it looks, (long, slimy and grayish white) it tastes like a sweet, delicious raw oyster.

It is served raw after the insides are removed and cleaned and usually are served with dips – a choice of either vinegar or calamansi juice. Some, however, prefers the native coconut vinegar, locally called “sukang-tuba”, as this usually tastes better with tamilok than the commercial vinegars.

Gathering tamilok isn't all that easy. You have to chop your way through trunks and trunks of mangroves to get this delicacy. Embedded inside the trunk, you have to pull the tamilok (which grows up to several inches long) slowly and carefully. It actually has a pair of claws at one end of its body, which must be its only means of defense.

When in Palawan, you can try this exotic delicacy in Kinabuch Restobar in Puerto Princesa or when in Sabang (where the Underground River is) just ask the locals where to get some.

This is one thing that uniquely Palawan’s, or so I thought, until I made a “research” on the internet about it.

Tamilok –so I found out - is a delicacy not only in other provinces of the Philippines (Bohol, Agusan del Norte, and Panay Island provinces) but also in other country like Papau New Guinea. Further, this specie can be found any place in the world where mangrove trees thrive. In Australia, tamilok was actually considered as pest to mangroves.

I think the name “Tamilok” did not came from what some people believed to have a came from – “tammy look!”. As a native of the province, I know that the name had been there since the people able to speak and eat the thing. In Papau New Guinea they call it “tambelo”. So the word could have a malayan-indonesian origin (just a guess).

Tamilok, known scientifically as Bachtronophorus thoracites, is a bivalve mollusk that belongs to teredinidae family.

Born to be Wild: Palawan: The Last Frontier

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:36:00 +0000

Watch GMA7 TV's "Born to be Wild" feature about Palawan entitled Palawan, the Last Frontier

This page requires a higher version browser
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Born to be Wild takes you to the country's last nature frontier. Considered a haven of biodiversity and the environment's strong hold, Palawan Island is slowly threatened by various issues.

Romi Garduce and Doc Ferds Recio go on an adventure to discover what truly makes this island worthy of its title, "The Last Frontier." While many other parts of the country have denuded forests, exploited mineral reserves and grave degradation of the environment, Palawan boasts of lush mangroves teeming with wildlife and green forests home to hundreds of species, many of which can be found only in the island.

Romi explores Puerto Princesa's subterranean area and finds a truly awesome underground river and nature preserve which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But what makes this geological wonder remarkable is that it serves as home to native wildlife, including a very playful endemic bird which has taken a liking to Romi!

Palawan's beauty lies not only in its geology and rich wildlife, but also in its pristine seas! Doc Ferds goes underwater to prove why Palawan's waters hold some of the most well-preserved marine ecosystems in the country. He takes a boat ride along the rich mangroves that make up Palawan's waters and marvels at how lush these fish sanctuaries really are.

But as Doc Ferds and Romi discover, Palawan also faces peril with the arrival of new environmental threats. Its rich sediments and minerals are the target of industrial progress. While some see Palawan as a source of energy and resource for the rising demand of the population, environmental groups caution that Palawan should remain untouched and unexploited. As the last remaining environment frontier, they believe that island must be preserved for future generations.

Nominees in the New 7 Wonders of Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Two of the most popular sites in Palawan have been consistently in the top 10 of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, the Tubbataha Reef and the Undergorund River.

Other sites from the Philippines that made it to top 20 are the Chocolate Hills in Bohol and Mayon Volcano in the Bicol Region.

As of this writing, however, these places were down from their previous higher rankings.

- Tubbataha reef now at rank number 5, down from number 4.

- Chocolate Hills at number 6, down from 5.
- Underground river at number 8 from 6.

- Mayon Volcano eased down 3 notches to 12th place.

Support and vote for these great places! Truly nature's masterpieces.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

The Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

Trailer of animated film "Urduja"

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:38:00 +0000

Here is the trailer of the animated film "Urduja" created by Palawan artists/animators.

Ka Luie Resto

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:45:00 +0000

They say that if you were not able to visit Ka Luie Resto in Palawan, your travel to the place is not complete.

Ka Luie Resto in Puerto Princesa is the most popular restaurant. Serving native/local resourced gourmet in a setting of a nipa hut (hut made from bamboo, woods and nipa leaves).

Meals are reasonable priced and service is good and the food is fabulous.

Must try is their "Special of the day", good for two (2) person, consist of 3 main dishes, 2 side dishes and a dessert.

Palawenos are World-Class Animator

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:21:00 +0000

Palawan is not only blessed with nature's wonder but also with talented people.

Yesterday, the first full-length tagalog animated movie, Urduja, was shown in Metro Manila. Various movie critics acclaimed that the animation was world-class.

The movie is about a legendary warrior-princess named Urduja who is recognized as a heroine in the province of Pangasinan. The movie features the voices of Actors Eddie Garcia, Johnny Delgado, Allan K, Michael V, Cesar Montano, and Actress/Singer Regine Velasquez. Brought to us by APT Entertainment, Seventoon and Imaginary Friends production.

And guess where was this animated movie made? Yes, it is in Palawan , by Palaweno artist.

Click here to watch the trailer

Palawan Wonders

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:47:00 +0000

Pictures speaks louder than words..

Sharing with you some of Palawan's Nature wonders and some of famous resorts

Got Deers in Palawan!

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:41:00 +0000

Pilandok: World's Smallest Hoofed Mammal

South of Palawan, lies the Balabac Island, home of the world's smallest hoofed mammal - the Philippine mouse deer. Locally known as Pilandok (Tragalus nigricans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters at the shoulder level.

In Balabac, the Pilandok is hunted for its meat.

In other countries, it is called chevrotain, or simply mouse deer. Contrary to its name, pilandok is not a member of the deer family. It belongs to the family Tragulidae in the mammalian order Artiodactyla. The male species has no antlers like those of a real deer. Instead, it uses its large tusk-like canine teeth on its upper jaw for self-defense; in the same way a deer uses its antlers.Aside from the Pilandok, other mouse deer species include the Malay mouse deer or napu and the African water chevrotain. They are found in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, and India.
While the mouse deer are widely distributed across Asia, their dwindling population has alarmed the World Conservation Union, which declared them as endangered in 1996.

The Calamian Deer

Calamian Islands, north off Palawan province, keep a species of deer that cannot be found elsewhere. Scientists referred to the hog deer in the islands as Calamian deer in order to distinguish them from other hog deer in the world.

An ordinary Calamian deer measures 105 to 115 centimeters in length and 60 to 65 centimeters high at the shoulder and weighs about 36 to 50 kilograms. It is said to have longer and darker legs, compared with other hog deer.

From a relatively large number in the 1940s, the population of Calamian deer dropped to "dangerously low levels" in the 1970s. By 1996, its population further declined to only about 900, prompting conservationists to declare it as an endangered species.

Half-bear half-cat

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:35:00 +0000

Have I seen one? Yes.

My father raised ducks and native chicken as sideline for rice farming and as farmer-partner of a certain research institution. Back then, in the 80’s, I was still a little boy.

I can’t remember exactly when, but one day, my father was so mad at to something. Got dead chicken and one is missing (Back then got only handful of them you actually can count them or knew each one). The incident continued for three days, victims now include the ducks.

He said it must be the “Pasla” or the bearcat. He then sets a trap.

True enough the next morning, in the trap was this creature like a big cat.
Endemic to Palawan, the “cat” , then, was hunted or killed only because it was considered a pest (only few hunted to be sold to zoos, tourists and researchers).

The Palawan bearcat is also known as “Musang” in Tagalog, “Binturong” in Palaw-an, and “Pasla” in Cuyono. The bearcat is a species of its own, with population in the forests of Palawan, Borneo, Burma and Vietnam. It belongs to the family of Viverridae (civets).

Looking half-bear and half-cat but neither a bear nor a cat, this mammal can grow to as much as 1.4 meters. A distinguishing characteristic are ears lined with white fur and long, white whiskers reaching to as much the length of its head. Generally docile when reared and handled and looks docile indeed, the bear cat has sharp claws and teeth that can easily rip through flesh just like a real bear. It can suspend itself by curling its strong tail around branches. It has coarse and thick black-brown fur.

The Palawan Bearcat inhabits thick vegetation in the lowland forests of Palawan. They camouflage themselves in dense vegetation at the canopy of trees preventing easy discovery. Since they are nocturnal, their bright luminous eyes give tell-tale signs of their presence in the trees when light is shone on them.
They are omnivorous, feeding on both fruits, and small animals like rodents, and birds. This was the reason why they are considered pests by farmers because they prey upon poultry.

Because of increased human activities in their habitat, this mammal may become extinct sooner. Aside from the Philippine Government’s DENR (which ability and/or passion in protecting the environment is often questioned) and PCSD, there are other local organization who showed interest in saving wildlife of Palawan, among them, the Haribon Foundation and Katala Foundation.

Palawan Pheasant: The Most Beautiful Peacock

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:26:00 +0000

Palawan peacock pheasants can be found only on the island of Palawan. They inhabit the island’s humid, coastal lowland forest and deep forests, which are rapidly diminishing. Several habitat sites are known to exist in the central mountain range. Due to deforestation, it is now thought that they are becoming increasingly restricted to the island’s mountains.

It is considered to be the most beautiful of the peacock species. The male has a long metallic blue crest with white lines above and below the eye. The rest of the head, underparts, and flight feathers are black. The mantle and wing covering are metallic blue with purple reflections. Its back, rump and tail are black with rusty brown spots. The upper tail coverts and broad tail feathers have metallic ocelli (a marking that resembles an eye) bordered by black and gray. It also has two to three spurs on each leg. The male is attractively colored to attract a female. The female is smaller, with no spurs. She is mainly mottled brown, has a crest that is brown, and isn’t as visible as the male. The face and throat is whitish and the tail is much shorter than the male’s with very faint ocelli on the feathers.

The bills are black and the feet are brown in both sexes.

The Palawan peacock pheasant is very shy, but adapts and breeds well in captivity. The male struts and displays to the female with courtship feeding by spreading the feathers of its lower neck and mantle. He bobs his head with a small piece of food in his beak. The male will drop the food in sight of the female and if she takes the food, the male will make a lateral posture that best shows off all the ocelli on the tail and tail coverts. The crest is then erected and pointed forward.

The male emits a long hissing sound while walking circles around the female. If all goes as planned, his display will so impress the female enough that she will accept him for breeding. If another male challenges him, a fight may ensue, in which the rivals use the spurs on the insides of their legs as weapons.

The bird eats live insects, fruit, and seeds.

Nesting may occur both on and above the ground. The clutch is normally two off-white eggs which are incubated by the hen for 18-20 days. Males take no part in the incubation but will help feed and rear the chicks.

Newly hatched chicks have downy feathers flecked with brown and cream, which act as camouflage. The chicks are covered with down and capable of moving around when hatched. They are fed beak-to-beak by their parents. Within a few days the parents will begin to “call” to the chicks, encouraging them to leave the safety of their hidden nest and feed on open ground. At about 10 weeks, the young attain full juvenile plumage and can survive by themselves.

There is controversy among researchers as to whether they are monogamous.

As with many island species, the Palawan peacock pheasant is endangered because of limited range and declining habitat. It is becoming increasingly restricted to the island’s mountains. The present population is estimated at less than 10,000 and is thought to be declining. Bird trading and hunting for food still continues. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 Palawan peacock pheasants in captivity worldwide. As habitat declines, captive propagation should not be viewed as the sole answer for their future survival. Presently, these magnificent birds are protected in the island’s 15 square miles of St. Paul’s Subterranean River National Park.

A conservation initiative proposed by The World Conservation Union, Birdlife International, and the Species Survival Commission recommends that people should conduct surveys to identify suitable habitat, particularly in the south part of the island. If suitable sites are found, they should be proposed for protection status. Hunting and bird trade should be controlled more effectively. Another way to preserve the species is to carefully manage the captive population to minimize loss of genetic diversity.

We can help in this cause by joining a conservation organization and recycling forest products.

Source: http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Genius!

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Thu, 22 May 2008 05:18:00 +0000

Once there was a Kingdom in the south. Its people are peace loving and the kingdom is rich with gold and abundant with resources. However, it is ruled by a greedy King and his cronies.

The Kingdom has a law that a King can rule only for three consecutive terms. As the time goes by, families of the King and his cronies got bigger, the King and the cronies are getting old.

As greedy as their parents, the children now adults, want a share of the Kingdom. The King and the cronies are facing end of their terms. They’ve got a big problem. They got only one kingdom and there are many of them who want to be Kings and Princes.

To solve the problem, the King and the cronies thought a very good idea. Divide the Kingdom among them so they could all be Kings and since it is already new Kingdoms, they are also avoided the term limits. Genius!

Have I make sense of the story? I am not a good story teller.

Anyway, have you heard that Palawan will be divided into 3 provinces and one city? That’s Southern Palawan, Central Palawan, Northern Palawan and City of Puerto Princesa.

Genius!

Rich yet so poor

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Tue, 20 May 2008 05:14:00 +0000

I’ve been to other places in the Philippines. Actually, almost all over the country, and it makes me wonder, how come Palawan, the richest in natural resources ( timber, fishing, beaches, silica, nickel, chromite, oil, among many), is not as developed as the other provinces.

Existing roads are ill-maintained, almost 80% of the highway to the south is not even paved. People in the south bringing their products to the market find it hard and costly. This, forced them to sell their harvests to middlemen even at a loss. Bringing sick people to the city hospital is also a problem. How can a sick person survived a dirt road for more than 6 hours?

Access to education is another. Have you seen classes of 1st to 4th grader in a room with just one teacher?

Riches of Palawan is continuously exploited, people are peace-loving, yet they get little from their government.

How come?

Say what?

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:57:00 +0000

"Wow! You’ve got a beautiful place.” or “Is it really beautiful?” That’s always the reply I got whenever I told that I am from Palawan. Some impression, huh?

Is it really that beautiful? What do visitors or tourists say about Palawan?

Got an idea one day, surfed the net for information about Palawan.

And you know what? There’s a lot and here are some interesting ones:

“Palawan, the only Philippine island cited, is rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes. One of the most biodiverse (terrestrial and marine) islands in the Philippines...”

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - Of all the exotic locales Denis Brogniart and his collaborators have shot in, the host of the top-rated French reality TV show “Koh Lanta,” a Survivor-like hit show, cited Palawan and New Caledonia as “two of the best.”

Brogniart went on to heap praises on Palawan, particularly El Nido resort, where he stayed, as the most beautiful location they’ve come across in seven years.’

“It’s incredible to see a place like this where you can be totally lost,” he said. “It has everything, from lush forest to transparent waters full of fish and corals of various shapes and colors.”
Show producer Thierry Graff was equally awed when and he his team “stumbled” on Palawan while scouring the globe for possible locations.

“It was really spectacular to see those rock formations and magnificent beaches all in one place,” he said. “It’s a dream location that’s isolated yet accessible enough to stage challenges.”
The irony wasn’t lost on Graff when he admitted that Palawan, by far, is more scenic than Koh Lanta, a resort island in southern Thailand, from which the show got its name.

9 million viewers

But the biggest affirmation came from the French people themselves. Close to nine million viewers reportedly watched the Palawan series during its entire 11-week run, making it the highest-rating “Koh Lanta” adventure so far.

Alex Vergara
Philippine Daily Inquirer

“The beaches of Palawan bested other first-rate destinations in the Asian region including Beach No. 7 on Havelock Island, India; the Nihiwatu Beach in Indonesia; and the Laem Tong Bay in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand..”

Conde Nast Travel Magazine

“Arsi Baliscan recounts that he was at a dinner with members of the foreign community when a German guest waxed eloquent about Palawan. The German said that he had been all over the world and had visited famous resorts, but none of these could hold a candle to what Palawan had to offer: “as close to Paradise as one can get on Earth” is how the province was described. Naturally, Arsi went to see for himself, and was impressed — and berated me for not having yet seen the place. “

Palawan: Love at first sight
Solita Collas-Monsod/Opinion: Calling A Spade..
source:
www.pinoybusiness.org

Why actress Dina Bonnevie like Palawan?

"I like Amanpulo [Palawan] kasi it's so private sa Palawan kaysa sa [Boracay]. Alam mo kung bakit mas maganda sa Palawan? Kasi I'm a diver, e, and the water there is very pelagic. Talagang kahit na six feet lang, marami kang makikita. In [Boracay] kasi, parang walang masyadong dive spots. I like it in Palawan kasi I go there to sunbathe and I can dive because I like diving. And hindi masyadong commercial, mas mahal pero hindi mo naman kasama yung isang tropang ten million people sa beach na binibilang ang mga nunal mo, 'di ba?' Dina Bonnevie said.

Young celebrity actress, Yasmien Kurdi, Palawan experience.

"Best place for summer getaway, hindi ako magbabago, Palawan. Palawan-Coron, Taytay, El Nido—yun ang best place. Pumunta ako sa beaches dito sa Asia, like Phuket, Malaysia, pumunta ka ng kung anu-anong beaches dito sa Asia... Alam n'yo, maniwala man kayo o sa hindi, the best pa rin po ang Pilipinas. Kaya proud to be Pilipino pa rin po ako. Ang ganda ng Palawan, napakaganda," Yasmien narrated.

Nancy Castiglione, Palawan would be the perfect place for summer.

"I'm a beach person because I love outdoor sports, I love diving," said Nancy in an interview with PEP and YES! magazine during the event of The Face Shop last March 12. I just spent my birthday in Lagen [Island, El Nido, Palawan]. I also went diving in Anilao [Batangas]. I wanna go to Balicasag [Bohol] just for diving, I haven't seen it yet, and Tubbataha [Palawan]. Palawan is gorgeous. You know what, the Philippines is underestimated. There are so many beautiful places here." Pinay celebrity model said.

Actress Bianca King, Palawan has preserved natural habitats.

"Well, hindi lang naman siya [Champ Lui Po] yung na-convince ko. Actually, a lot of my friends are doing it din. It's just something that I love that I wanna share with other people because it's awareness also. Through learning how to dive, you know, you kind of learn how to take care of the environment. It makes one more conscious that there is another world out there, there's nature—it's not just you, human being, living in this world."

source:
www.filipinagig.blogspot

“Palawan is such a beautiful place. it's my first time to go there, and i must say, i was amazed by its beauty. where we have land in manila is where there is water in palawan. :) they have no roads for cars, only the ocean for boats. we hopped from one island to the next and enjoyed each island for its own beauty and uniqueness.”

www.delirious-child.blogspot.com

Some said it well in thousand words..

http://www.lanspinoy.blogspot.com/

Club Noah: Man and nature in harmony

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:27:00 +0000

Imagine yourself..

Sitting in the sun with a cool piña colada or romance the strings of a contrabass by the beach, then….

Jumping off one of the resort's floating platforms and dive into the world of napoleon wrasses and parrot fish. Racing out on the deep blue on kayak or windsurf!

Water skiing and touring of the caves..

Climbing the 109 steps that lead to the Rock Bar and savoring the reward of breathtaking view of the bay!

Then, a palette of food to tease the palate is spread out for you..

This can come true in Club Noah Isabelle, where the colors of the sea,the sun,and the sky come alive.

Club Noah-Isabelle is located in one of the 1,780 islands of Palawan, Apulit Island in Taytay Bay
Its vision is man and nature living together in harmony. Isabelle, the first Club Noah-owned resort is designed to be a model-case for eco-tourism.

With administrative authority over a one mile radius of the island, Club Noah has slowly brought the reefs of Isabelle back to life. The presence of the grey reef egrets, the Palawan hornbill and the kingfisher attest to the abundance of fish in the water.

On land are playful otters and civets, and a rainbow of wild orchids color the black marble cliffs.
Just as Noah's ark became the last refuge of all living things in the biblical times, it is Club Noah's vision that future generations will still bear witness to the marvels of nature and commune as one with them wherever there is a Club Noah resort.

Isabelle takes it name from an Old Spanish Fort that sits near the harbor of TayTay town in Northeastern Palawan. Puerto De Sta. Isabel, named in honor of Spain's Queen Isabela II, was built to protect the local townspeople from 18th Century Pirates.

Pa-lao-yu: Land of beautiful safe harbour

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:50:00 +0000

The name Palawan is believed to come from Chinese word "pa-lao-yu" meaning "The land of beautiful safe harbour" and a Spanish word “paragua”, which likens the shape of the island to a closed umbrella.

Palawan is paradise, sanctuary to an amazing variety of fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world. It is blessed with incredibly awesome landscapes that astound even the most indifferent of visitors. Palawan is the country’s biggest province and is composed of 1,768 islands and islets surrounded by a coral shelf with an exceptionally rich marine life. Its steeply sloped mountains are canopied by broad virgin forests. An anchor tourist destination, Palawan is one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. It is the perfect playground for the adventurous.

The island province of Palawan has been declared as a nature sanctuary of the world, and for good reason. It is wrapped in a mantel of rainforests, outstanding dive sites, majestic mountains, primeval caves, and pristine beaches. It is surrounded by a coral shelf that abounds with varied and colorful marine life. It boasts of exotic flora and fauna, like the mousedeer and the scaly anteater, that are found nowhere else.

Palawan waters are among the best in the world, not only for diving but also for fishing. A diver's paradise, it has miles of sub-surface coral and rainbow reef walls which surround the coasts and coves teeming with rich marine life.

The El Nido Marine Reserve in Miniloc, El Nido, occupying an area of 96,000 hectares, is a popular nature spot in the province. It boasts of diverse ecosystems, such as rainforests, mangroves, white sand beaches, coral reefs, and limestone reefs as well as a variety of fishes, like manta ray and the sea cow or ""dugong,"" known as the world's rarest marine mammal. It is now one of the country's premier destinations, blessed with amazing natural scenery, and considered as a sanctuary for various forms of wildlife.

Puerto Princesa City is where the Honda Bay can be seen. The bay consists of several islets with shallow reefs, bordering fabulous beaches and small resorts which have become the favorite water sports destination of local and foreign tourists alike.

The province boasts of extraordinary scenic wonders. African animals from Kenya in Africa - giraffes and elands, zebras and gazelles – co-exist with endemic Philippine animals, like the Palawan bearcat, mousedeer and peacock (pheasant), in the Calauit Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Busuanga, considered one of the province’s most amazing sites. Another sanctuary found in Rio Tuba Village, Bataraza is the Ursula Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary. This island is a haven for birds that rest and converge two hours before sunset, after a day's flight.

Approximately 586 kilometers southwest of Manila, Palawan is between Mindoro Island on the north, Borneo on the south, China Sea on the west, and Sulu Sea on the east. Its total land area of 1,489,655 hectares spreads across the peripheral islands of Busuanga, Culion, Linacapan, Cuyo, Dumaran, Cagayanes, and Balabac. Its main island measures 425 kilometers long, and 40 kilometers wide. Puerto Princesa, the capital city, is the chief seaport and the center of trade and commerce.

A chain of mountain ranges cut down the length of the main island. The mountain heights average 3,500 feet in altitude, with the highest peak rising to 6,800 feet at Mount Matalingahan. The vast mountain areas are the source of valuable timber. The terrain is a mix of coastal plain, craggy foothills, valley deltas, and heavy forest interspersed with riverine arteries that serve as irrigation.

There are 52 dialects in the province, with Tagalog being spoken by 28 percent of the people. Other major dialects are Cuyunin (26.27 percent), Pinalwan (11.08 percent), and Ilongo (9.6 percent).of cultural minority groups.

How to Get There

Palawan can be reached within an hour and five minutes' flight from Manila to the capital city of Puerto Princesa or a 20-hour trip by sea. A choice of regular Philippine Airlines (PAL), Air Philippines or direct-chartered flights can be made, depending on the desired destination. PAL and Air Philippines flights will take one directly to the heart of the province, where connecting trips to nearby premier sites can be made. Charter flights via Soriano Air, Pacific Air, Asian Spirit, and Sea Air will take one to his desired island, be this Cuyo, Curon, Busuanga, or El Nido. WG&A Shipping Company plies the Manila-Palawan route regularly.

"Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines"

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:26:00 +0000

Palawan is known at the "Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines," a distinction bestowed upon the province because of its highly diverse environment that remains relatively pristine in the midst of rapid changes and economic growth. The province boasts of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the pristine Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in the Sulu Sea. The province also has seven protected areas, declared by the Philippine government In recognition of their biological importance as habitants of rare and endangered species of plants and animals. The seven protected areas are:
· Coron Island Protected Area in the Municipality of Coron with its seven lakes.
· Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Municipality of Busuanga known as the first successful wildlife translocation experiment in Asia.
· El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area covering the municipalities of El Nido and Taytay in northern Palawan.
· Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area in the Municipality of Taytay -ecologically and economically important both as a watershed and a rich fishing ground and the habitat of Bottle-nosed and Irrawady dolphins.
· Saint Paul Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Princesa City is among the longest navigable underground rivers in the world
· Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park in Sulu Sea home to 400 species of fish and bird species.
· Ursula Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary near the Municipality of Brooke's Point in southern Palawan. The islet is a migratory and wintering ground for shorebirds and seabirds.

Sustainable development of Palawan's terrestrial and marine resources serves as the framework and main strategy of the province's development efforts. Together with government agencies, non-government organizations, the tourism private sector and the communities strives to maintain Palawan's unique ecological system for the benefit of the present and future generations of Palaweños

Sources: Palawan Provincial Information OfficePalawan Council for Sustainable Development

Palawan fast facts

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:17:00 +0000

Location
Palawan is located on the western side of the Philippines, stretching from Mindoro down to Borneo. It lies between the South China Seain the northwest and the Sulu in the southeast.

Topography
1,780 islands. Mainland Palawan is bisected by three mountain ranges.

Area
1,703,075 hectares

Length
650 kilometers long from tip to tip; Mainland is 450 kilometers long

Political Subdivision
1 City, 23 municipalities and 432 barangays (villages)

Capital
Puerto Princesa City

Population
755,412 (2000 National Census)

Language
Cuyonon, Tagalog, Ilonggo.

Climate
Warm weather all year round. Two pronounced seasons. The dry season is from November to May, and the wet season from June to August.

A love story of missed chances

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:05:00 +0000

A movie review of the "Ploning".

You may wonder why such a big deal about this movie. For one this is something to do with culture of Palaweno, particularly the "cuyonos". Its about their song, about their place.

Here is the article:

Philippine Star - Friday, May 9

Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board, Ploning's initial drum-beating had much to do with Judy Ann Santos taking on the title role in a film touted to be this year's most lyrical and poetic filmmaking effort. There's even a coffee table book that was launched recently at M Café, Ayala Museum, something we've seen highly artistic Hollywood films like Moulin Rouge also have. So with all the noise, critical thumbs up and marketing hoopla, the question left burning in my mind was whether the film's viewing would actually live up to all the fanfare.

Some drum-beaters will make it sound like watching the film is as easy to take as the tiniest of pills, that it will go down effortlessly and hit the spot. I'd rather take the tack that the film is not of your common-garden variety, and is definitely not your regular boffo box-office formula movie. Rather, like a great classical music opus, it is a dense work of art, one that requires one's full attention and patience, but one that ultimately rewards the viewer who makes the effort. At its heart, it is a love story, one of destiny, missed chances, frustration and commitment. And then, there's the layer of the film that treats the Cuyo village in Palawan as a living organism, giving the film character and texture, subtly acting as a force in its own, directing events and destiny. There are instances when the ritual and ceremony of the community makes the film act like a ethnographic testimony to the Cuyo life - and I say that as a compliment because it renders the film educational and informative beyond the emotive storytelling that drives the plotlines. Also challenging is the fact that much of the film's dialogue is in the local dialect, with Filipino subtitles helping understand what's going on.

Written and directed by Dante Nico Garcia (a production designer, this is his first feature film), Ploning employs an impressive number of established thespians and first-time actors, all ably giving service to Garcia's vision. In terms of feel and atmosphere, the film had me thinking Il Postino and Corelli's Mandolin, with that unique mix of love story, a relatively isolated seaside community, events of the world-at-large impinging on the community and the role fate plays in our everyday lives - how cosmic/tragic jokes are made at the expense of everyman. In the ensemble cast, I especially liked the work of Mylene Dizon as social worker/nurse Celeste, Tessie Tomas as the older Celeste, Joel Torre as the town mayor, Ketchup Eusebio, Eugene Domingo and the young boy who plays one of the central characters, Digo, the sidekick of Judy Ann's Ploning.

The title character, Ploning, is Judy Ann masterfully setting her stamp on the film's narrative flow, acting both as observer and participant to the undercurrents of village life. At times, she almost seems like the patroness saint or living conscience of the village. In her, reside the dreams, aspirations, frustrations, simple happiness and despair of the whole village at that juncture of time. And speaking of time, this is another unique proposition of Garcia's vision, how the concept of a village in flux is mirrored in the double helix narrative employed. One narrative strand has a seemingly ordinary seaman returning to the village to trace his roots and identity, while the second strand consists of flashbacks to the days when Ploning walked the streets of the village as a mature young woman. The double narrative device allows us to see what happens to a community over time, how things change and remain the same - how that seeming contradiction has more truth in it than we could ever discern.

The cinematography also deserves comment. The blue of the sea has never seemed bluer than in the film. There's a vivid, hyper-real quality to the manner in which the film has been shot. Whether green vegetation, the preparation of local food delicacies, or underwater scenes, Garcia loves to linger and intensely observe, sharing with us his love for all his eye can see. It's this kind of devotion to his story and visual imagery that makes us, as audience, sit up and notice. Ploning is one quality film all those involved can be very proud about. That it finds a wide audience is still up in the air, but I hope it does. - Philip Cu-Unjieng/Philstar

Calauit Island: Sanctuary to Philippine's endemic and Africa’s exotic wildlife

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:22:00 +0000

"The Philippine safari."

"Africa in Philippines."

"Bastion of endangered wildlife."

These were just few descriptions this island have.

The Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (CGPWS) is the Philippines major conservation showcase for wildlife habitat holding the single distinction as the first successful wildlife translocation experiment in Asia. It has evolved to becoming a home of important Philippine endemic and exotic wildlife from Africa

Its creation (sanctuary) by then President Marcos was through an issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 1578 on August 31, 1976. It has total land area of 3,400 hectares with low-lying island in the Calamian group, north of Palawan; it is a short distance from the much larger island of Busuanga. The natural vegetation is lowland forest and mangroves along the coast. Much of the forest has now been replaced by plantations, secondary growth and open grassland. Marine habitat is said to have been haven to the dugong, sea turtles, giant clams, coral reefs and a sanctuary for commercial fish species as well.

Prior to its declaration as wildlife sanctuary, about 100 families were already settled in the island. During the issuance of the Proclamation, Calauit was a settlement of more than 200 families whose primary livelihood was fishing. But there were wild “gossip” as to the reason for its establishment – the then dictator, Marcos, just wanted to have an exclusive hunting area safari style.

The Project started in 1977 with the introduction of eight species on an experimental basis to see whether the movement of African wildlife from a subtropical to tropical habitat would succeed. The exodus of 104 different exotic animal species composed of giraffe, eland, zebra, impala, bushbuck, gazelle and waterbuck arrived in the island. At present, the number has increased dramatically, except for gazelle and topi, and is now in existence with some endemic and endangered Philippine wildlife.

Preservation of near-to-extinct endemic wildlife of the Calamianes Group-Culion, Linapacan and Busuanga is also being undertaken in Calauit. In 1980s, Calamian Deer, Palawan Peasant Peacock, Balabac Mouse deer and Palawan Bear Cat mingled with the exotic animals of Africa. The endemic animals particularly the Calamian Deer tremendously soared in number.

In recent years, Calauit achieved its popularity as a unique tourist destination. It has continuously attracted students as well as local and foreign researches who undertake various scientific studies on ecology and wildlife related topics. However, much has to be done to protect the animals and marine resources of the Sanctuary. Conduct of research/studies as well as necessary infrastructure and facilities

Palawan: Travel Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:32:00 +0000

Entry Regulations

All visitors are required to present a valid passport upon arrival in the Philippines. Except for stateless persons and those from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors may enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided they have ticket for onward journey. Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports must have special permits. Visas and special permits maybe obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates.

Currency and Foreign Exchange

Unit of currency: Peso (P) = 100 centavos. Bank notes: P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000. Coins: 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, P5 and P10. Foreign currency can be converted in banks (mostly located in Puerto Princesa City). Travelers checks are generally not accepted in Palawan. Visitors traveling to destinations outside of Puerto Princesa are advised to have their foreign currency exchanged to Philippine pesos in Manila or in Puerto Princesa.
Credit card payments are accepted by a number of hotels, resorts, and restaurants in Puerto Princesa City and some resorts in the other municipalities in Palawan. It is always best to check the preferred mode of payment with your hotel or resort prior to arrival.

Business Hours

Private and government offices are open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5pm, with a break for lunch between 12noon to 1pm. Most restaurants and shops are open from 7am to 10pm, and bars until 1am.

Electricity

Power supply is usually 220 volts/ 250 cycles. Normal outlets are for plugs with two flat prongs. It is advisable to bring a universal adaptor. Electricity in some towns run for a limited time only, usually in the evening. Resorts in other areas generate their own electricity.

Medical Facilities and Health

The main hospitals in Palawan are located in Puerto Princesa City. Each municipality has a government-run Rural Health Unit manned by a doctor and support medical staff. Over-the-counter medicine such as paracetamol, cold and cough tablets are available in towns throughout Palawan, it is advisable to bring along an adequate supply of personal prescription medications. Malaria is endemic, especially in the hinterlands. Consult your physicians for oral prophylaxis prior to your trip. Regular application of mosquito repellant is also recommended.

Telecommunication

Telecommunication providers Smart and Globe have cell sites throughout Palawan. Non-Philippine residents are advised to check whether their provider has a roaming agreement with either Smart or Globe. An alternative is to buy a local SIM card. The high-end island resorts in Palawan provide NDD and IDD services.
Internet cafes can be found in Puerto Princesa City and in the larger towns throughout Palawan.

Accommodations

Palawan offers a wide range of accommodations from beachside cottages, island resorts, pensions and inns, and island resorts.

Mining money

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 03 May 2008 09:17:00 +0000

In the paper today, GMA got mad and ordered an investigation on an alleged extortion to a foreign investor by local government executives. Investors claimed the local officials tried to extort money from them in exchange for the release of the permits. The local official denied the allegation and claimed also that the businessmen offered him contracts amounting to P400 Million so he would allow the company to operate without the necessary permits (“Furious GMA orders Hanjin extort probed”, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 3, 2008).

Well, what do you know, it is actually happening in our Province (contracts of local official with mining company). One particular project that I know of personally is the Narra Nickel Mining.

Excavation, hauling and trucking services contracts were given to the Mayor. Of course, in the contract it was not the name of the mayor, it’s in the name of a dummy, a man identified with the husband of the Mayor (the husband is the former mayor; the dummy was his former Municipal Engineer). Well, maybe he, the Engineer, is the real owner/beneficiary of the contract? Could be. But explain this. People who want to share in the contract can enter to a sub-contract only upon approval of the mayor’s husband.

In my estimate, there are about 50 trucks and 10 excavation and loading equipment, only 6 trucks belong to the Mayor.

Hauling costs P2,000.00 per trip. If sub-contracted sub-contractors receives P1,800.00, that’s P200.00 per trip for Mayor. In a day, a truck’s average trip is 10. That’s P2,000.00 per day for mayor for a single truck. That makes P108,000.00 daily (for the 44 trucks and 10 heavy equipments), and P3.2 million in a month! Not bad.

Is it illegal? Yes, I think it is. Conflict of interest. Enriching selves using the office. With this condition, whose interest is the mayor going to protect, the people or the mining company? Your guess is as good as mine.

Now I know why people kill and invest millions just be elected in office. There, money can be mined.

"Uko"

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Sat, 03 May 2008 09:15:00 +0000

When I was a kid, grandma, a full, truly-blooded Cuyonon, shared a story. Sort of a legend in Cuyo, particularly in Lucbuan, Magsaysay (Cuyo Island is composed of two (2) municipalities, Cuyo and Magsaysay).

It was about human-like creatures called “Uko”.

Uko, as I imagined it, as delicately described by grandma, is hairy (like gorilla) but longer hair in the head, bit short than average human (below 5’), big head, head leaning-forward, no clothing, can speak and understand little of Cuyonon, eat raw and cooked fish and sea shells. They were only a couple, a male and a female.

Prominent feature of the Uko that I can’t forget, as narrated by grandma, was that it has big mouth and large pouting lips. It was so large that when it laughs, the lips covered all its face.

They lived in cave-like rocks near the beach (eastern part of Lucbuan). The “cave” has stone table and bench. Inside the cave, walls were polished or planed and the ground (stone/rock) leveled.

The Uko were not afraid of human, however, the feeling was not mutual. But the Uko never entered the towns or even the “mainland”, it just stayed around the beach or in the sea. In the beach, if a person, according to Lola (grandma), found out that he is alone with the Uko, he will nervously crack a joke or do something funny to make the Uko laugh, that way, Uko’s lips will cover its eyes, and he will fled. The Uko never harmed anyone though.

One day, male Uko dived for clam. His arm, accidently, was caught in by the clam and he never got it out. The male Uko was drowned. Worried, the female Uko, looked for her partner. She chanced upon on a sailboat in the middle of sea, female Uko swam towards it. But the boat is so far, she got tired and also drowned.

From that day on they (people of Lucbuan) never saw an Uko again.

According to Lola, the “cave” is still there.

I can’t remember what the story about, all I can remember was the creature, how it looked like, how it lived and how it perished.

"Ploning"

noreply@blogger.com (Enoch) — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:01:00 +0000

Ag seleng ako ig akeng lebayen y ang pelikulang "Ploning". Ako agbael sa Cuyo, pero tana beken, pero aka-pakun tana ren da duto.

Si Judy Ann Santos ang bida.

Marake-rake ra agseleng. Exclusive gali ang showing sa SM Cenimas. Syempre, karakean nga ag-seleng mga Cuyonon, abaw, ang lilisang manda.. syempre alilipay nga akita ang Cuyo sa sinian.

Sa matud lamang ara ko masyadong naitindian ang istorya. Pero drama tana. Maansyano ang batang bida, si Digo, ag arte. Pati clear tana maglemeg. Ang mga artistang beken cuyonon, pag cuyonon andang dialogue indi ma-intindian mayad.

Ara ko naintindian ang kwento. "Dato bang si Digo bata ni Ploning?".. Opinion ko lang ha, medyo magulo ang pag-istorya. Magkaiba ngani ameng pagka-intindi akeng lebayen.

Akeng ing-i-expect, mapapakita kung pasamoro tinlo ang isla ang Cuyo, pati kung pasamuro ang pangabui sa isla. Andan ingpakita ang krus sa Aguado, ang simban sa lansangan, ang aga-panglato.. Pero ok ren da kung ara.

Matinlo anang mensahe. Mayad anang objective.. basipang maging proud manda kitang mga Cuyonon sa ateng kultura.

In a rating of 1-10, 10 being the highest, akeng rating sa pelikula - 6.