Pa Lao Yu, that’s what the Chinese traders called this quiet province thousands of years ago which means the land of beautiful safe harbor. Chinese Traders found many safe places in the province where they could land their ships that’s why they so-called the land. Tabon Man was said to be one the province’s first inhabitants dated 22,000 years ago who lives in the unearthed Tabon Caves, the Cradle of Philippine Civilization and the oldest habitation in Southeast Asia. Early settlers of the land are believed to have come across through ice-age land bridges and the late settlers came through boat. It was in the 18th century when the Spaniards invaded the island and made Puerto Princesa as the capital city. Now, this quiet province is composed of a mix tribe coming from bordering islands.
Situated north of Malaysia’s Sabah Island and southwest of Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Palawan stands as the country’s largest province with its 1.5 million hectares of land that is a good breeding site for the island’s tropical flora and fauna. It is popularly known as the “Last Frontier” basing on its geographical location. Puerto Princesa uses the Philippine peso as their currency and predominantly Roman Catholicism prevails in the city with a little percentage of Protestantism. But because of the proximity of the land to Mindanao and Malaysia, it’s inevitable not to have settlers who are Muslims by religion. Tagalog is spoken by 50 percent of their poplation,. Other languages would include Cuyonon (from Cuyo Island natives), Palawano (Palawan natives) and Ilonggo or Hiligaynon, a language spoken in Western Visayas.
Only the bold and daring could eat Palawan’s exotic delicacy, Tamilok. A mangrove worm, though it’s not exactly a worm, but looks like a worm. It is said to be Palawan’s a must tasted delicacy because of the land’s natural resources is mostly made up of mangroves trees all over the island. When people are asks why they love Tamilok, they would just reason out that it taste like oysters when cooked and cheese when fresh. Other must taste delicacy is the Gooseneck Barnacle, a similar looking creature to a Tamilok. It is cooked by steam to reduce its salty taste; skin removed from shell and the flesh is dipped in garlic butter souce which tastes like crab claws. Other exotic foods would include delicacies from snakes, locusts, bats and frogs.
If you are a festival or a fiesta lover, Palawan is also a place to visit. Port Barton in San Vincente have the Arawedan Festival held 23rd-24th of January that show cases the Land’s numerous natural resources and tourist attraction. The Kulambo Festival in the town of El Nido held every 18th day of March where people sing and dance in the streets using ‘kulambo’ or mosquito nets as costume. Some other festivals the Palawan Island celebrates are The Pasinggatan Festival, The Baragatan Festival and the Puerto Princesa Foundation Day held every 4th of March where the place was declared a city.
Palawan holds one of the first class cities in the Philippines, the Puerto Princesa City. A place where you can enjoy nature at its best by visiting The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a World Heritage Site as inscribed by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Located beneath St. Paul mountain flows this quiet river that snakes out for about 8 kilometers long before it opens up to lagoon that drains into South China Sea. The cave has amusing formations of stalactites and stalagmites which took nature years to form. The Subterranean River alone holds life to a thousand of mountain-to-sea ecosystem.
Summer is the best time to visit Palawan, Philippines where the sun hits the surfaces of your body. Island adventures such diving and snorkeling, island hoping or mountain hiking could be best enjoyed with the heat of the sun where you can fully see and enjoy nature’s beauty. Another well-known tourist attraction in Palawan, Philippines is El Nido Marine reserve, a 96,000 hectares land that also houses nature’s flora and fauna where sea cows can be seen, one of the world’s rarest marine mammals.
There are much more reasons why you should travel Palawan, Philippines. This is the place where you can be with nature at its finest and a place where you can be satisfied of. It is indeed a paradise. 100% guaranteed.
