Issue 2: Nueva Ecija: Rustic Routes

April-May 2016

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NUEVA ECIJA

RUSTIC ROUTES

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On the night of the rescue, a P-61 Black Widow plane took off and began distracting the Japanese

as the rescuers cut the camp’s telephone lines and prepared to attack. –Raid of Camp Pangatian, page 15

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The many faces of Nueva Ecija north of Metro Manila, opening of more malls and hotels. there are a handful of destinations that we have Cab's neighboring towns mustn't be long associated with missed either. In terms of food, several vacations. towns have become stopovers because of their carabao milk-rich There is Baguio and, most recently, products – ice cream, pastillas, and Sagada. There's Subic and, for some, cheese across Nueva Ecija. even Clark. La Union, Zambales, and Pangasinan rank most popular for Attractions in Nueva Ecija are varied – beach activities, with Baler catching a mix of natural, man-made, and up. Ilocos is gradually rising, while historic assets that are largely Batanes is everyone’s dream unknown to many Filipinos. destination.

Before arriving in Nueva Ecija, the But not the agricultural province of team has already read viral posts Nueva Ecija or its booming city, featuring the fast-rising adventure Cabanatuan. Yet at a time when destination Minalungao National Park. millennial travelers seek unique One of Asia's largest reservoirs, experiences and not just places, Pantabangan, is also in Nueva Ecija, Nueva Ecija proves to be a destination powering Luzon’s rice fields and that has been long time coming. electric grid amid a haunting history.

We began our trip in Cabanatuan City, dubbed the Tricycle Capital of the Philippines but fondly called Cab by locals. Travelers would remember Cab as where Gina Pareño made batutay (sweet beef longaniza) in the romantic comedy, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2007), but there is more to Cab’s menu than batutay. Guided by our host, Microtel

by Wyndham Cabanatuan, we indulged on Hapag Vicenticos’ Filipino spread, Bistro 360's panizza invention, Cakeland's cheese rolls and mamon, and Cabanatuan Meat Products’ sausages that include the local beef longaniza. All of this as Cab's food and hospitality industry grows with the

Editorial Box E.M. ALGER Publisher

PAOLO ABELLANOSA Editor

IRENE KAY BRANZUELA Creative Director

CHRISTINE SORIANO Community Manager

ED JOSEPH CO Multimedia Editor

GENDALE BIEN TOMAS Features Editor

OUTRIGGER is published bimonthly by Outrigger Media. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

For inquiries, contact Tin Soriano at outriggermag@gmail.com / +639175144383 Unit 105, Seven Coronado Condominium, Coronado Street, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City

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History buffs will love the first-hand account of Cely at the former Martial Law solitary confinement in Fort Magsaysay and a visit to Camp Pangatian, a World War II site where the Hollywood movie The Great Raid (2005) was based.

Should you be available on weekdays or Friday, we suggest you also try visiting the Philippine Carabao Center for an education about the unsung domestic water buffalo and the Central Luzon State University to understand tilapia (and try their tilapia ice cream as well).

I've been four times into Nueva Ecija, and the destination keeps on surprising. This issue highlights the best of what could be experienced over the weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you leave Nueva Ecija with more to share.

THE

ITINERARY

Credit: Katipunero/Wikipedia

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1. Pantabangan Dam

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antabangan Dam is one of the Philippines’ most ambitious projects that created Asia’s second largest reservoir. Completed in 1974, the dam plays two main roles; it irrigates a total land area roughly the size of Metro Manila, Bacoor, and Imus combined, and it generates 112 megawatts of electricity to power Luzon.

The mammoth project has its costs. It submerged the 300year old town of Pantabangan along with its heritage church, seven barangays, and 8,100 hectares of farmlands.

Locals moved to higher ground and rebuilt their town there where it has since progressed from fifth class to a first class municipality.

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WHAT TO DO   

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Stroll Picnic Deep-sea fishing Rafting Swim

Did you know?

So large is Pantabangan reservoir that some communities around it rely on boats as access.

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Photo by EM Alger 08 | Outrigger

In 2001, the Casecnan Transbasin Project that connects to the Pantabangan reservoir began operations and now irrigates an additional 35,000 hectares and provides 150 MW more electricity.

When the water is low, it is said the tower of the old Pantabangan church resurfaces. The church reappeared in 2014 only to show a damaged faรงade allegedly caused by treasure hunters.

Photo courtesy of Pantabangan tourism office

Photo courtesy of Pantabangan tourism office

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2. Minalungao National Park

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inalungao’s picturesque landscape of limestone and emerald green river water has made it one of today’s most popular destinations in Nueva Ecija. Its name means “Mine of Gold in Caves,” according to the local government.

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Zipline Swim Spelunking Picnic on a raft Hike to Minalungao Cross Overnight stay

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Located on the foot of Sierra Madre in General Tinio, Minalungao offers a relaxing place for lunch on a bamboo raft for rent. Since 2014, Minalungao has seen significant development with the construction of a hanging bridge, ziplines, and cottages for overnight use.

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Photo by Paolo Abellanosa

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3. Aquino-Diokno Memorial

Watch a documentary Stroll inside a solitary confinement prison replica and museum

Photo by Bien Tomas

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amed after one of the country’s popular presidents, Fort Magsaysay is the largest military reservation and training ground of the Philippine military.

Magsaysay as political prisoners for a month until April 1973.

The Aquino-Diokno Memorial was opened inside Fort Magsaysay in commemoration of the dark phase of our history It was inside a facility in and as a symbol of our the fort where former advocacy of upholding the senators Benigno “Ninoy” Universal Declaration of Aquino, Jr. and Jose Human Rights. The “Pepe” Diokno were held memorial features a filmin solitary confinement viewing center, a replica during Martial Law. The of the solitary confinement two were arrested and prison, and a museum of detained in Fort human rights.

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4. Camp Pangatian

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hile most prisoners of war of the Death March were led to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, a number were transported to Camp Pangatian in Cabanatuan City. By 1945, prisoners in the camp reached 500, and the advancing Americans and the Luzon Guerilla Force were determined to free them alive.

At 6 p.m. on the night of the rescue, a P-61 Black

Widow plane took off and began distracting the Japanese as the rescuers cut the camp’s telephone lines and prepared to attack. Firefighting began after more than half an hour, leading to the rescue of POWs who still had to travel a distance to the American lines. The story is immortalized in the movie The Great Raid (2005) starring Benjamin Pratt, James Franco, and local actor Cesar Montano.

WHAT TO DO 

Stroll

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5. National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora

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dream. Tales of miracles and t is hard to miss Gapan City devotion to the image spread en route to Cabanatuan. For afterwards such that the locals, the city is known for parish church adopted it as the National Shrine of Virgen its second patron saint. It was La Divina Pastora (also eventually donated when the known as Three Kings church was declared a Parish) whose intricately national shrine. done interior paintings and woodworks only enhance the story of its legendary patroness.

In the 1700s, the Valmonte Family of Gapan bought a Marian image from Spain via the Galleon trade after a

WHAT TO DO 

Stroll

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Pilgrimage

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WHAT TO DO 

Stroll

Photos by EM Alger

6. Gapan Ancestral Houses Along the streets near the National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora are a series of ancestral houses, some of which owned by actress Eula Valdez, news anchor Joe Taruc, and late premiere actress Nida Blanca. Most old houses are well-preserved and still in use. Unfortunately, they are not open for public viewing.

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Photo by Tin Soriano

7. Assassination Site of Antonio Luna WHAT TO DO 

In front of Cabanatuan Cathedral, a monument of Antonio Luna stands on what is believed to be the site of his assassination on June 5, 1899 by the Kawit Batallion.

Luna, whose story was portrayed in the blockbuster biopic Heneral Luna (2015), was chief-of-staff of the Philippine army under President Emilio Aguinaldo’s administration. While respected as a military strategist, he earned the ire of many Filipinos and close colleagues of the president for his temperament.

In the film, Luna was shown 18 | Outrigger

Stroll

humiliating the Kawit Batallion’s captain for the latter’s insubordination, leading the troupe to participate in Luna’s murder.

Robert Hughes, an American general, remarked after Luna’s death: “They (Filipinos) had only one general, and they killed him.”

Aguinaldo, whom the battalion was loyal to, received blame for the incident. The president’s descendant, Secretary Emilio “Jun” Abaya, denied the assassination story in an ABSCBN report.

No one can deny that food and travel are the perfect tandem. It is through travelling that we discover new restaurants and unfamiliar delicacies. Join us as we embark on a food crawl up north, in the province of Nueva Ecija.

Nueva Ecija Food Crawl

Article and Photos by Bien Tomas Outrigger | 19

1. Batutay

list of breakfast favorites. Being the curious cook that I am, we First on the list is Cabanatuan’s experimented on dishes that we best offer: their famous Batutay can do using batutay, which we Longganisa. There are different bought from Nueva varieties of longganisa in the Cabanatuan Meat Products.

Philippines but what sets What we have come up so far batutay apart is not only its were the Batutay Burger, unique name but also its main Batutay Spaghetti and Batutay ingredient: it’s one of the few Creamy Macaroni Pasta that longganisa varieties that use you can easily try at home. beef.

Batutay Tour courtesy of Nueva

Cabanatuan Meat Products The sweet taste of this located at D.S. Garcia, longganisa paved its way to my Cabanatuan City

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2. Adobong Pusit in Olive Oil, Kilaw Sugba, Karioka, Crispy Pata, etc.

If you want to try Filipino food complete with the perfect provincial setting and ambiance, why don’t you drop by at Hapag Vicenticos? An abandoned house transformed into a family restaurant, Hapag Vicenticos is well-known in Cabanatuan due to its mouthwatering Filipino spread prepared with its own creative spin.

We tried their famous Beef Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, Adobong Pusit in Olive Oil, Kilaw Sugba, and Karioka for Dessert. Do not worry because every dish is for sharing and they are offering set menus for families. Hapag Vicenticos

located at 1077 Del Pilar St., Cabanatuan City

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3. Panizza Want to taste what other countries have to offer? Search no further because Bistro 360 is at your service. Bistro 360 is currently a concessionaire at Microtel By Wyndham Cabanatuan, but it has a branch near the town plaza. This restaurant offers dishes from Asian to Western cuisine.

Among all the dishes in the menu, I recommend you to try their panizza, a rectangular pizza cut into strips that you need to roll together with alfalfa.

There are not so many restaurants offering this in their menu, and I am actually amazed that they have this. Bistro 360

located at General Tinio St., Cabanatuan City

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Credit: http://chsi.clsu.edu.ph/

4. Tilapia Ice Cream Everyone loves ice cream especially with the hot weather in the country, but are you brave enough to try the Tilapia Ice Cream?

You read that right! Central Luzon State University’s College of Home Science and Industry created an ice cream out of tilapia fillet, allpurpose cream, milk, chopped walnuts, and diced cheese.

It may strike as too unfamiliar for many, but worry not because it doesn’t have that fishy taste and smell. Just note that the office selling the ice cream is closed on weekends.

CLSU-CHSI located at Science City of Munoz, Munoz City

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5. Carabao milk ice cream, mozzarella, etc.

kesong puti (white cheese).

Buffalo milk ice cream in If you are looking for fresh original, pandan and dairy products, Milka Krem is strawberry flavors are also the best option. It serves as a must-tries. In addition, they market for locally produced offer Yo! Gurt drinks in water buffalo milk. Among blueberry and pineapple their flagship products are flavors. If you’re dropping by their milk and coffee CLSU, might as well go to its concoctions that are tastier neighbor Milka Krem. Milka than when regular fresh milk Krem located at Science City is used. They also have of Munoz, Munoz City cheeses like mozzarella and

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6. Mamon Do you love breads, pastries, or cakes? Edna’s Cakeland would be your haven.

From their wide array of intricately designed cakes, down to their simple breads, you will not leave the place

empty-handed. Now I know why their cheese rolls are the best-sellers because they’re so delicious. You must also buy a box of their fluffy mamon because I’m pretty sure, you won’t get enough of just one.

Edna’s Cakeland located at Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, Cabanatuan City

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Credit: Aying’s Pastillas Facebook Page

7. Pastillas de leche The homemade pastillas from Aying’s are to die for.

Made from pure carabao milk, the pastillas are not too sweet and the texture of is smooth. Their pastillas de leche or the original flavor is a favorite.

You can also try their assorted pastillas in toasted, ube, special yema, buko de panda, langka, queso, and malunggay flavors.

(Aying’s Homemade Pastillas located at Maharlika Highway, Sto. Nino, Gapan City)

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HOST HOTEL With 13 properties across the Philippines and counting, Microtel by Wyndham is by far the largest international hotel chain in the country by number of branches.

Article by Paolo Abellanosa Photos by E.M. Alger and Ed Co

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HOST HOTEL

Its hotels stand in several major destinations, from Boracay to Puerto Princesa, from Davao to Baguio.

But it is also in places that have been outside mainstream travel guides up until now.

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Eight years ago, it opened a hotel in the middle of a farm in Cabanatuan City. Microtel

by Wyndham Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija opened with 50 rooms in a city where consumption patterns still depend on harvest season and which Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2005) popularized for

its beefy longaniza called batutay.

Davao but also in destinations with large untapped potential for Its arrival was unprecedented tourism and business. of an American hotel brand, but this characterized Nueva Ecija is one of them.

Microtel’s strategy in the And eight years after Microtel Philippines of putting up opened its doors in the city, hotels not only in city centers Cabanatuan – called “Cab” by like Manila, Baguio, and locals – is now in a

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HOST HOTEL

boomtown.

exudes a homey resemblance that is never intimidating. Inside, the spacious hotel lobby welcomes guests with free coffee and WiFi. It also has a swimming pool and outdoor garden area for leisure and events.

Last year alone, it opened two SM malls. More than 11 major supermarkets now spread across town, and residents have noticed a proliferation of restaurants catering to customers who are increasingly becoming more discriminating with their As a no-frills hotel, Microtel’s choices. main selling point are its rooms, which, in Cabanatuan, Microtel brings with it a name are either a suite or double and architectural style room. Double rooms in recognized across the U.S. Microtel can carry four guests and Asia-Pacific. Like other each, making them highly branches, Microtel convenient for family and Cabanatuan’s exterior barkada trips. It helps to 30 | Outrigger

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HOST HOTEL

know that the hotel also customized some rooms for the needs of PWD guests.

Microtel’s rooms carry only the essentials (no minibar or pay-per-view movies) but which don’t equate to compromised quality. Thus, bathrooms have hot and cold showers; bath amenities are sufficient; the towel set is complete; and facilities like television and a Ving Card security system assure customers of a relaxing stay.

only item in the hotel that is imported aside from its name.

New restaurant partner

To beef up its food and drinks, the hotel recently forged a partnership with homegrown restaurant Bistro 360 to cater breakfast, room service, and banquet.

Bistro 360 is one of Cabanatuan’s popular restaurants and serves dishes from various foreign cuisines like panizzas, Angus beef steaks, and Filipino One open trade secret of dishes (thus, 360-degree Microtel is its bed – view of international cuisine), chiropractic-approved and the fitting into Microtel’s profile as an international hotel brand 32 | Outrigger

managed by Filipinos.

Its panizzas – rectangular pizzas whose slices are rolled in with alfalfa – are a hit at Bistro 360’s main branch in Cabanatuan. One of its selections is 5-Cheese Pizza, utilizing ingredients like white cheese that is local to Nueva Ecija.

Microtel Cabanatuan’s location can be a few minutes of drive from the city proper, but even then, it is the nearest hotel to the city’s golf course. It also escapes the noise of Cabanatuan's buzzing town center.

. And despite Microtel’s international profile, it has maintained a Filipino touch to service sharpened by many years of operations in Cabanatuan. As the boom of restaurants and hotels continue in Cab, travelers and guests will surely patronize a hotel with a track record for good service and facilities.

Tip: Microtel is one of the best guides around Nueva Ecija, providing you access and tips to unknown destinations. Make sure to ask the staff about their Nueva Ecija tours

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Aquino – Diokno Memorial:

A Silent Cry of Patriotism Article by E.M. Alger Photos by Aien Branzuela and Ed Co

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More than 40 years after September 21, 1972, when Martial Law was proclaimed on live television, the gap between the young generation and witnesses of atrocities during Martial Law continues to widen.

“Never again” is the outcry of many who lived through the difficult years of Martial Law. But what does it mean to our generation today?

The Aquino-Diokno Memorial in Fort Magsaysay gave us a glimpse of our history.

In 1973, Senators Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and Jose W. Diokno were flown secretly from Fort Bonifacio to Fort Magsaysay and detained here in solitary confinement. Both senators were vocal in their opposition against President Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship, and upon declaration of Martial Law they were the first ones to be held as political prisoners.

Inside the camp are the exact confinement rooms of the two late senators. All windows are tightly shut and almost no sunlight can get through. Their statues even stand as reminder of the weeks they suffered in loneliness.

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Manang Cely

confinement, they refused to touch their food. Feeling insulted, she delivered the food herself in the next days. She even dared ask Ninoy why he hardly touched his meals, to which surprisingly he answered, he needed to watch his diet due to high blood pressure.

With that, Manang Cely started cooking what was aligned with Ninoy’s diet.

We were fortunate enough But it is another story with to have met Manang Cely Jose Diokno. She noticed in the museum. that every after meal, the used plastic spoons and During the one-month forks were broken into confinement, she served pieces. Later on, they food to Ninoy and Jose, found out that these were among other duties. The used to build a makeshift military guards who were calendar, which they on rotation duty to secure eventually confiscated. the prisoners did not have any idea who the prisoners In the middle of summer, were, she said. Only five of the military played them, including now Christmas songs over and Secretary of Defense over to disorient the Voltaire Gazmin, knew that detainees. But the “Alpha” and “Delta” were detainees also used songs there. to their own advantage, checking with one another.

Manang Cely shared some One would sing “Bayan of her memories during Ko”, answered by the other those times. with the song “Lupang Hinirang”.

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Ninoy and Jose to move around, said Manang Cely.

Ninoy used the room’s limited space to do some walking while Jose did yoga and was able to find his creative way to train some ants.

locations. The Aquinos and Dioknos finally saw the senators, and aftera few days, the military brought them back to Manila.

Little did she know that she will be an important living witness Eventually, the Supreme Court of those rare moments of Ninoy granted the petitions of their Aquino and Jose Diokno. families to reveal their Outrigger | 37

She’s now part of our rich history to democracy.

Although she has been described as the “cook” in Fort Magsaysay, she is a researcher and held a government position at that time.

on display as well the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

But one thing that I’ve realized during our visit in Fort Magsaysay is that here, we have a living witness, a first-hand actual Across the solitary person who can share her confinement replica is the experiences during the center for Human Rights, important events of our considered as shrine for history. A true vanguard of Human Rights Advocacy human rights, and we need where numerous books are her to spread the

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importance of safeguarding our freedom and sovereignty. We need to hear the bloodbath that caused the rebirth of our freedom.

Today’s generation should know that the democracy we’re enjoying today is not just a gift, but whom heroes fought for, sacrificed for, and died for.

We owe it to our heroes who died fighting for it; we

owe it to the victims of power play; we owe it to our people today; and we definitely owe it to future generation.

Amidst the chaos dividing our land, we need an honest voice that has witnessed the cruelty of suppression. It need not come from the victims themselves, but can be from those who have lived those times and silently

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fought the battle that freed our country from dictatorship.

We have one “Manang Cely” whom should be given the venue to share her story, her testimony. Through her words, we can honestly feel how lucky we are to enjoy the human rights most of our ancestors were deprived during the dark days of Martial Law. Was it all dark those times? Of course not. There were good things that happened too. But a nation governed by an authoritarian president is a nation imprisoned. We are a nation of great people, with that we can be a great nation as well. As what Jose W. Diokno once said, “There is one dream that we all Filipinos share: that our children may have a better life that we have had. To make this country, our country, a nation for our children.”

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DOT reveals winners of “photo-fail” contest What if you could trade your bad photos for an all-expense paid trip to a destination in the Philippines?

The word “fail” has been widely adopted as an internet meme to express disapproval over something. Today, it is used alongside words such as “photo” to poke fun at an attempt that either backfired or did not go according to plan.

Jarne Uytersprot in Baler

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The Department of Tourism recently staged a photo competition that turns photo fails into entries that tourists can submit for a chance to win all-expense paid trip back to the Philippines.

These are the winners of the DOT’s gimmick:

Cinthia Kato in Tumalog Falls, Cebu

Kaisa Kapanen in El Nido, Palawan

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