03 to 06 December 2015
According to Wikipedia, folk etymology attributes the name "Puerto Princesa" to a princess-like maiden who in the early days is said to have roamed around the place on certain nights of the year.
On the other hand, practical people attribute the name to the geographical advantages of the place as a seaport – naturally protected the whole year round and endowed with a depth that can accommodate any size of shipping – a royal haven for vessels or a virtual princess of ports as thus indicated by Spanish colonizers on the country’s map.
Historically, the place was named after Princess Asunción, born in 1864 to Queen Isabella II and her consort, Francisco de Cádiz. When the princess suffered an untimely death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually, the name was reduced to Puerto Princesa as it is known today.
DAY 3 - PUERTO PRINCESA CITY TOUR
On the third day we started the Puerto Princesa City tour at 0700H.
Rancho Sta. Monica
Our first destination was the Rancho Sta. Monica a.k.a Mitra’s Ranch. The place is owned by the late house speaker Ramon Mitra and son, Baham Mitra. It is open to the public except the private house from 0600H - 1800H.
The mansion was built atop a hill overlooking a portion of Puerto Princesa City and Honda Bay Islands. There is also a ZIP line - Palawan Rancho Zipline Adventure.
The mansion was built atop a hill overlooking a portion of Puerto Princesa City and Honda Bay Islands. There is also a ZIP line - Palawan Rancho Zipline Adventure.
The mansion was constructed mainly of hard woods. The floor is made of Narra tree while the columns and trusses are made of Ipil tree.
I was amazed at the huge Ipil tree at the center of the mansion that serves as the main pillar for the structure. According to our guide, the tree was estimated at 250 years old when they cut it.
I was amazed at the huge Ipil tree at the center of the mansion that serves as the main pillar for the structure. According to our guide, the tree was estimated at 250 years old when they cut it.
From the Rancho, we proceeded to the Baker's Hill just a few minute drive away from the Rancho.
Baker's Hill Palawan
The Baker's Hill is a place to go for "Pasalubong" and various souvenir items. Aside from being a bakeshop, the place has nice gardens and landscapes.
I loved the huge Christmas tree made of recycled bottles and other plastic materials.
We stayed at the place for thirty minutes to explore the area and for photo shoots.
After enjoying the landscapes at the Baker's Hill, we went to see the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center a.k.a Crocodile Farm.
Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
We reached the Crocodile farm at 0845H. At the entrance, we were told to wait for fifteen minutes for the next guided tour.
When we got to the reception area, we saw a huge crocodile skin and massive bones. According to the tour guide, the crocodile is almost as big as "Lolong". It is only shorter by two feet.
When we got to the reception area, we saw a huge crocodile skin and massive bones. According to the tour guide, the crocodile is almost as big as "Lolong". It is only shorter by two feet.
From the reception area, we moved into the hatching area.
The salt crocodiles are separated from the fresh water crocodiles. Likewise, the aggressive ones are also on separate crocodile cage.
The salt crocodiles are separated from the fresh water crocodiles. Likewise, the aggressive ones are also on separate crocodile cage.
After touring inside the hatching area, we moved to the adult crocodile area. The oldest of these crocs being 60 years old. Crocodiles are generally nocturnal according to our guide so they were on hibernation during our visit.
Nearby is a photo booth where one can have a photo holding a live two feet long young crocodile.
I had the chance to hold the young crocodile for a photo. The crocodile was gentle and calm.
I had the chance to hold the young crocodile for a photo. The crocodile was gentle and calm.
Bay walk
From the Crocodile farm, we moved to the bay walk. The bay walk, according to our guide was once a landing area of airplanes during the second World War.
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Because of the hot weather, we decided not to stop at the bay walk anymore and moved to Plaza Cuartel instead.
Plaza Cuartel
Plaza Cuartel is located near the wharf of Puerto Princesa so one can get a good view of the blue ocean. At present, it is now a part of the town plaza complex. It is easy to locate by going to the opposite side of Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the city's main cathedral.This is a good spot to take a rest and just enjoy the beauty of nature by looking out to the clear blue sea of Palawan. Aside from getting close to nature, the place also has a lot of tales to tell. Plaza Cuartel has a colorful history because of the events that happened there during the World War II.
The plaza has a bronze marker that contains the names of eleven prisoners of war (POW) who managed to survive the horrible massacre that happened in this place. The bronze marker is placed above the area where the main underground bunkers existed.
These bunkers became the cage for the unfortunate prisoners. The words engraved on the bronze marker are:"Sa pook na ito na dating tanggulang militar noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig naganap ang pagsunog ng mga sundalong hapon sa humigit kumulang 150 Amerikanong bihag ng digma noong 14 Disyembre 1944. Ilang nakaligtas ay lumangoy sa dagat patungong Iwahig. Ang mga labi ng nasawi ay dinala at inilibing sa St. Louis County sa isang panlahatang libingan sa Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, United States, 1952."
The English translation of these words is: "In this place which was a military fort of World War II, the burning of more or less 150 American POW was done by Japanese soldiers on December 14, 1944. Some managed to survive by swimming their way out from the sea to Iwahig. The remains of those who died were brought and buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, United States, 1952."
This tragic event happened when the World War II was about to end. The Plaza Cuartel was a garrison of Spaniards, overtook by Americans and then by Japanese. When the Japanese soldiers realized that they were losing the war, they put all the prisoners in the dungeon, poured out drums of petroleum over them and lit them up alive. The eleven survivors who escaped narrated the story.
After learning something about the colorful past of the Plaza Cuartel, we moved to the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral just opposite the Plaza Cuartel.
Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception Church is one of the tourist attractions in the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa City.
Aside from the architecture of this cathedral, the Immaculate Conception Church has preserved religious edifice used from a century ago and they now form part of the exhibit inside the church.
The statue of the patron saint of Palawan, the Immaculate Conception is also among the things to see here since this is unlike any other statue in the country. Crafted by hand with clothes sewn just for the statue, the Immaculate Conception Church shows the devotion of the people in Palawan to their religion. Many take this opportunity to visit the church believing that this patroness grants the deepest desires of ones heart.
The statue of the patron saint of Palawan, the Immaculate Conception is also among the things to see here since this is unlike any other statue in the country. Crafted by hand with clothes sewn just for the statue, the Immaculate Conception Church shows the devotion of the people in Palawan to their religion. Many take this opportunity to visit the church believing that this patroness grants the deepest desires of ones heart.
The Immaculate Conception Church traces its history all the way back in 1872 during the time of the Spanish occupation. The Immaculate Conception is said to be the patron saint of the inhabitant of Palawan and the very first mass at this church was celebrated in 1872.
Now a cathedral and no longer a small church, developments started in 1961 which is almost 100 years from the very first time that mass was celebrated here. The Immaculate Conception Church is a tourist attraction because of its astounding architecture comparable to none with angular structures and well preserved edifice from a century back.
Now a cathedral and no longer a small church, developments started in 1961 which is almost 100 years from the very first time that mass was celebrated here. The Immaculate Conception Church is a tourist attraction because of its astounding architecture comparable to none with angular structures and well preserved edifice from a century back.
Souvenir Shop
We left the Cathedral at around 1230H and moved to our last destination, the souvenir shop. I got a t-shirt and ten packs of Pili nut as souvenirs.
This concluded my 3-day stay in Puerto Princesa and left the city happy and contented. Palawan is one of the few places that I wanted to visit again in future.
Finally, I left Palawan back to Manila at 1700H.
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