{"id":840,"date":"2018-01-19T08:10:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T08:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.palawan-philippines.com\/?page_id=840"},"modified":"2018-02-22T14:20:44","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T14:20:44","slug":"puerto-princesa-palawan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.palawan-philippines.com\/puerto-princesa-palawan\/","title":{"rendered":"Puerto Princesa Palawan"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Laid Back to Highly Urbanized City in the Forest<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n

Puerto Princesa Palawan has now evolved from laid back to \u201chighly urbanized city\u201d. Hence, the city is merrier than ever with the increased in population and challenging traffic jams.\u00a0 Many of the citizens believed that the declaration was at first a political strategy to come up with a third congressional seat. I think, today, PPC really qualifies for it.<\/p>\n

\"Some<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

We now have three malls, Robinson’s, SM, and NCCC who just recently upgraded to such. Banks rolled from 4 to 10. The old domestic air terminal is now an International Airport. The city has now at least 5 gated communities. At least a total of 8 mall cinemas from nothing for more than a decade. And again, traffic jams in almost the whole day. I think that’s evident enough to qualify as a highly urbanized city. Do I like it? Yes and No.<\/p>\n

Things have changed from Way back Then<\/h2>\n

Back then, in the late 80\u2019s you can still count the number of tricycles running around the city. The drivers became familiar faces in your daily routine. They would exactly know where to bring you.<\/p>\n

A friend of mine, Melisa, who grew up here use to tell me stories of the good old days. According to her, they can leave their things and slippers in the trails near the major road sidewalks and not lose it. Their slippers awaits them exactly the same place where they left it. Things have changed from way back then.<\/p>\n

The Mynahs Could Have Been Enough<\/h3>\n

The scenery that really caught me when I first arrived in the city was the presence of caged birds and animals for sale in the market. This was before the anti trafficking law was strongly enforced. Vendors sell most of the wildlife in Palawan; the talking Mynahs, the green parrots, Philippine Cockatoos, squirrels, armadillos, porcupines. They also displayed Orchids and other ornamental plants, like rattan. The sight did indicate how rich the flora and fauna of Palawan is.<\/p>\n

The capacity of the Mynah bird (Chiao or Kiao) mimic every sound they\u2019re exposed to entertains me a lot. So while they\u2019re on the side walk, they would learn the sound of motorbikes, tricycles, jeepneys or jitneys, and cars. Puerto sounded like a highly urbanized city then as it is today with the Mynahs doubling the sound of the engines. They could have been enough.<\/p>\n

\"Mynah<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Anyways, that was Puerto Princesa before my friends. Today, not a single of those species are found in any households in the city. The birds and other animals are now free. The likes of Che Guevara have walked along those sidewalks, organized the Mynahs and the gang to claim back their FREEDOM.\u00a0 The Mynahs learned to shout, GET US BACK TO THE WILDS! They are my heroes and I\u2019d like to think that\u2019s what happened.<\/p>\n

Thanks to the City\u2019s and the Province\u2019s strict enforcement of the environmental laws and ordinances.<\/p>\n

Puerto Princesa Palawan Beaches<\/h2>\n

So now, where are the beaches<\/b>?<\/p>\n

Puerto Princesa Palawan is host to two bays:<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/div>\n
\"View<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Puerto Bay<\/h3>\n

On Puerto Bay, I would say, I came here a little late. There\u2019s not an image of the stories they tell about how pristine the bay was. Imagine catching fish for their viand by just throwing hook and line through the kitchen window!<\/p>\n

Yes. Stilt houses abound along the shore that covers both sides of the wharf. This was Puerto Princesa Palawan’s first town site. All major economic activities of the city are catered there and everyone wants to be near the place where the money is. And yes, wildlife traffickers go through this pier.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the good news! The government of Puerto Princesa Palawan is exercising its political will to clean the bay area. One of its initial moves was to relocate residence out from the shores of Puerto Bay. So now, the left side of the wharf area has been converted to a Bay Walk. It is now a venue for lots of fun activities of the city. There was also the Fishery Resource Management Project implemented along the coastal communities in both Puerto and Honda Bay areas. Dolphins play around the bay area now a days. And very recently, sightings of Whale Shark or Butanding <\/i>have been observed!<\/p>\n

Honda Bay<\/h3>\n

So for basking into clear waters and sun, we go to Honda Bay! There are smaller islets here which are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and other fun beach activities.<\/p>\n

\"Snake<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Snake Island.<\/b> The island looks like a snake when viewed on top, that\u2019s why the name. I enjoyed planting mangroves here and also measuring the island with the GPS. There has been attempt from outside investors to build a high end resort and hotel in this physically vulnerable islet – reported to be unstable according to some geological assessment. NGOs are taking stand against privatization of the place.<\/div>\n