Hello from stormy Palawan!

I’m in an internet shop somewhere here in Puerto Princesa. I was dropped off by my sister’s sorority friend and her husband, Marnie and TJ. We had lunch at Ugong Rock (which is one of the restaurants I would recommend when you’re in town, next to Ka Lui’s) and it was a very affordable place to eat at. However, the service took longer than with Ka Lui’s.

For the past two days since I’ve been in Palawan, I’ve been getting some worried texts and calls that a big storm was hitting Puerto Princesa. “What? Eh so it’s hot in here, I can’t even go outside without sweating head to toe.” Or yeah, that might be an exaggeration. I’m a mountaineer and I’m supposed to be good with long walks under the heat of the sun. But somehow, the fact that it’s December and it’s really hot, doesn’t make sense to me.

So I heard that at around 2:00 am, tropical storm Washi, or locally known as Sendong, was going to make landfall. And true enough, at around 6 this morning, I was woken up by the sound of heavy rains and gusty winds outside my cottage. The sound seems to be more magnified here because I’m literally surrounded by trees. I’m staying at my tito’s rest house here in Puerto. It’s a big property of land that he’s still developing but it has two cottages fit for a family of 6. I’m staying in one of the cottages and the helpers all attend to my needs, such as breakfast and dinner. In the morning, they would knock at my door telling me breakfast is served. The only downside is, they all serve me pork! :( My tito’s driver drives me to his office everyday. When they go ahead, though, I need to commute from the resort and to the city. It’s a long walk, not to mention my tito’s dogs are all looking at me with hungry eyes. They seem to think I’m their dinner.

COMMUTING

Commuting in Puerto is actually easy, I found out. You either just go left or right from the National high way. They have tricycles, multicabs and jeeps, and it’s cheap at 8 pesos. I prefer the convenience of tricycles. You can ask them to drop you off wherever, and even if they only have a certain route, you can just add a little (make it from 8 to 12 or 15 pesos) and you have your personal taxi at such a cheap price.

GOING AROUND TOWN

I spent two days going around town, exploring business establishments, trying to have a feel of the place I would soon call my home. The lack of malls in Puerto Princesa actually disappointed me. Well, depends on how you look at it. Sometimes, it’s better to really have a simple life with less commercialism, but I was somehow looking for some semblance of city life. I mean, Davao, CDO, Zamboanga, Bohol —they have SM, Robinsons! Palawan seemsto be a little late! I hope by next year, Robinsons is already completed.

When I visited NCCC, I found it like a sub-standard mall which I liken to Makati Cinema Square. You have the grocery downstairs, the department stores up stairs. That’s it! No shops for clothes (like Bayo, Mango, etc). When I got to the department store, the first thing I tried to look for were outdoor gears. I was disappointed that they don’t have trail shoes for women. I was pleasantly surprised that they carry hiking bags which are locally-made. I also went to an old shop, Montanara somewhere near NCCC with Karen. Unfortunately, it’s closed already. The owner’s son started a Palawan Mountaineering Group. But it’s been inactive and now I’m on the lookout for a mountaineering group here in Palawan. I think if I’m better (with my shoulder injury), I can climb Mantalingahan. MAYBE.

Today’s my last day in Puerto. Tomorrow, I go to El Nido and spend three days there exploring this beautiful paradise! I only hope the weather cooperates and that by the time I arrive there, Washi is already elsewhere. I feel sad having read about the devastation Washi caused in the South, particularly in Iligan and in CDO. What could we have done to prevent that? I can only pray that with Christmas approaching, people will still find a reason to celebrate. God is always sovereign. He calms the storms of our lives.

Catch you in four day’s time! Pictures soon! :)