Jeepney Press: PALAWAN by Miles Borja

Summer is not yet over in the Philippines! Though we technically have only two seasons – wet and dry – Pinoys call the hottest three months (March, April, May) in the country “summer”! But due to the El Niño phenomenon, summer this year seemed to extend up to mid-June. Filipinos love to travel during these months not only because weather disturbances are rare, but also because this season coincides with the two-month school break. Some Pinoys in Japan choose this season to go home to the Philippines because it is less busy than the Christmas Holidays and plane fare is less expensive too.

I love summers in the Philippines. When I was younger, summer is always synonymous with a family trip to the beach. So whenever we go home, a trip to the beach is always part of the itinerary. Of the many trips we had, one of my favorites was our trip to Palawan. We first thought there were not so many options for activities for families travelling with kids and babies but we were surprised. We had a fullpacked four-day tour. We even skipped some parts of our itinerary because there was not enough time. So for those who are considering a trip to the Philippines this season, I am sharing with you our Palawan experience to help you plan your vacation.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (also known as Puerto Princesa Underground River)

For all of us, our tour of the Puerto Princesa Underground River was the highlight of our trip. We learned that the park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. It also became a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2012.The kids were excited to be going inside a cave and see live bats in their natural habitat. The rock formations were a sight to behold and the more than 45-minute tour was very relaxing with only the

boatman’s headlamp as guide. We were asked to wear hard hats and advised to keep your mouth closed to avoid swallowing bat poop!

We spent P2,000 pesos per person (P1,500 for the kids) for the tour which include transport from our Hotel to the Underground River and vice-versa, permits, the boat ride, a guide and lunch.

Honda Bay Tour We initially planned to squeeze in a trip to El Nido, but we realized that the 5-hour ride from Puerto Princesa would be so tiring for everyone, we just opted to spend an entire day for a tour of Honda Bay and island hop! We were glad we made the right decision! We also decided to DIY this tour instead of availing of the hotel’s package, we were able to save a lot. We only paid P2,000 to visit five islands.

Starfish Island. This island was so named because the whole island is littered by starfishes! My baby daughter was thrilled.

Luli Island. The island got its name from a combination of the Tagalog words “lulubog” and “lilitaw” as it sinks and rises as the tides. It is actually a sandbar which is more visible during lowtides.

Cowrie Island. This is where we stopped for our buffet lunch. The island was so named because of the abundance of cowrie shells in the island.

Pambato Reef. This is a marine sanctuary in the middle of the bay. This is where we get to snorkel after listening to a short lecture. A floating raft marks the location where people may get off from the boats.

Horse Shoe Sandbar. This island was actually just a bonus. Our guide said it is very rare to see this sandbar. We were also able to snorkel in this area and relax for a few minutes on the floating platform before we headed back to our hotel.

Crocodile Farm and Nature Park. Before we headed back to the airport, we had a quick tour of the Puerto Princesa Town proper. This is our first stop as requested by the kids. They were all excited (and scared) to touch and feel a live crocodile.

Butterfly Farm and Tribal Village. Though my girls liked the butterflies, if you are in a hurry, you can totally skip this from your itinerary.

Baker’s Hills. This is where we bought sweets and treats for pasalubong. It started to drizzle when we reached the area and was not able to go around the place.

Some tips: *If you are travelling with children below three years old, it is best to bring your own life vest as vests available both for the Underground River tour and Honda Bay tour were all too big for our baby. *If you want to save, you can DIY your tour according to your preference. You can just hire a banca and your boatman may serve as your guide (with a little tip) instead of availing packages offered by hotels.