LAST Sunday, I eagerly Grabbed my way to the NAIA Terminal 2 at 7 a.m. because I had a 9 a.m. PAL flight to Puerto Princesa. This was going to be my second trip by air outside Metro Manila after most alert levels were lowered to Level 1, and it was going to be my first trip to Palawan since March 2020.
I’ve heard from friends about how the pandemic had crushed many businesses in the city of Puerto Princesa and throughout the province and I wanted to see it for myself. (Actually, I was ultimately headed for the Rio Tuba mining operation in Bataraza at the southern tip of the island to join in welcoming NEDA Secretary Karl Chua.)
Our PAL flight departed on time and after a little over an hour we were landing in Puerto Princesa. In the arrival area there were three “booths” at which passengers had to “check in” with the city health authorities (IMT) — by providing their names, contact and travel details; and after that, it was time to exit the airport, and begin your Palawan trip. (During my three-day stay I got three texts from the city IMT checking up on me — which I found very reassuring).
Upon exiting the airport, I was happy to see Oliver Acosta waiting in the parking area, two years after I last saw him there. Oliver is my “suki” van driver, as his brother owns a number of vehicles that can be hired by tourists needing transport through the length and breadth of Palawan.
My home away from home was Aziza Paradise Hotel, one of the better city hotels that has survived the pandemic. Its resort-like atmosphere remains refreshing, and I would have stayed in the hotel and not gone out for three straight days if not for the fact that I had work to do.
Bataraza is a little over 170 kilometers to the south of Puerto, and I was told that travel time was four or so hours due to road work. So, I was up by 3:30 and on board one of the Acosta vans by 4:30 — but by 8 a.m. I was at my destination. There were a few sections of the highway that were being repaved, yes, but otherwise it was an excellent drive on a well-paved highway that at times was six lanes wide and devoid of any traffic!
I commented to Marjo, an Acosta nephew who was driving for me, that many portions of the highway built by outgoing Governor Jose Ch. Alvarez could easily serve as emergency runways if necessary. And I was only half joking. (The highway alone would be a major legacy of the nine years of Alvarez as governor.)
I was pretty pleased that the Bahay Kainan eatery in Narra is open again. It’s a favorite stopover on the road to or from Bataraza as it serves excellent home cooked food at very, very un-Manila prices!
Puerto Princesa itself seems to be picking itself up from the doldrums. A few old favorites remain closed — the Best Western, Legend and Canvass Hotels for example, but other old favorites have reopened such as the Badjao Seafront restaurant of the Mendozas and Ka Inato. Of course, the malls (Robinsons and SM) are there with Savory and Max’s and other favorite eateries inside, and Dunkin Donuts is still doing brisk business. Now that the whole province is at Alert Level 1, I share every Palaweño’s hope that the worst is over because there’s so much “catching up” to do, in the island(s) province that is indeed arguably one of the best islands in the world.
I’ll be flying back real soon (for work, of course!), what with PAL soon having four flights a day (!!). Palawan is open — come and reacquaint yourself with its wonders before the monsoon season is upon us!
