Palawan Seminar

SK MANILA PALAWAN SEMINAR (2012)

Puerto Princesa Airport

   Another much awaited year for our annual SK off-site training and seminar. We were given the great opportunity to go to Puerto Princesa, Palawan and see the Underground River (which is now part of the New 7 Wonders of the World). We stayed at Microtel Inns and Suites. I was not feeling well during the first time because I've been suffering for headache for nearly 3days plus the long road trip made me more dizzy. What I observed in the City wherein Edward Hagedorn is the former Mayor, was that there were hardly any litters and traffic. He turned it into an ecotourism haven. We had a side trip to where dump or trash was made into another form, where plastic straws and plastic wastes are put in a machine and made to be an arm chair used in classrooms.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

   Tourist spots are far from each other; city tour takes lots of hour to be done. In most parts, signal is very poor you need to find a good spot to gather up signal (specifically Globe Telecom). Smart signal is okay but not that excellent. Aside from low signal, which would piss off some techy people (like me) again, the road trip takes hours, very long hours. It's like travelling from the North to South of Manila (but of course, I'm being exaggerated).

Underground River

What killed my boredom and upset was the incredible 'Underground River' plus the very talkative and funny boatman (where I thought he was the only one who was like this until I found out that every boatman is). Before you reach the island where the majestic 'Underground River' is located you would arrive and wait in the "pier" first where a load of pocket-friendly restaurants are located, and oh! They also sell this "eel" that is safe to eat (but I wasn't able to taste it though). Boat ride going to the island takes around 30-40mins then you'd arrive in another "pier" where is it mandatory to sign a contract for safety purposes. The place is like a rain forest (or is it so?). BEWARE there are monkeys lurking here and there, you are not allowed to bring any kind of plastic because these monkeys are attracted to them.

On our way to the port of the 'Underground River'

One of the caretakers told us that during the first batch of SK Manila who were there for the same seminar (I forgot which District), one of the participants who is so "pasaway" wrapped his/her mobile phone in a plastic which he/she carried along with on his/her way to the waiting area and a monkey who was so fond of plastics got the plastic and swung up the branches of the tree, up up from there and they waited for the monkey to come back. Losing hope, they went back in the evening and found the said plastic bag with the mobile phone. Good thing the mobile phone is still working and in good condition.

Microtel Inns and Suites, Puerto Princesa

When you finally reach the end of the wooden trail, you will find those people who are in charge of giving you and helping you out with those safety gears for your 'Underground River' tour (the usual orange vest and a helmet). The tour takes about 30-40mins, inside the cave are different sections (Meat section, The Cathedral, Fruits and vegetable section). Before starting the tour, the boatman would repeat you the guidelines you just read and heard earlier at the port. One of you would be given a flashlight to be able to see inside. It is safe to dip your feet in the water while in the tour (but it is not recommended). There are droplets of water from the top of the cave upon entering and the boatman would address them as "some are holy water those that are coming form the minerals while some are called holy sh*t coming from the bats that are freely roaming around". How incredible these rock formations are, they were given these sections because in those sections you are able to find random meat, fruit and veggies plus Catholic images. In the meat section there are chicken, pig, etc., the vegetable section there are "sitaw", kalabasa, etc. but what caught me into such amazement was the Cathedral. There is a huge rock formation of a candle wherein at the top of it is the Last Supper, no this is not man-made everything you see in the cave are rock formations by combined minerals. You can also see the image of the Holy Family and such, it's indeed incredible and unbelievable at the same time. As you are reading this, you may not believe me for most are like doubting Thomas so I suggest that you come and visit the 'Underground River' and see for yourself how wonderful it is and you'll understand why it deserved a spot in the New 7 Wonder of the World.