Nature's Horizon

This is my second visit in Puerto Princesa. The first time I visited the place is on an official travel together with other members of the Technical Working Group that drafted the Surigao del Norte Provincial Environment Code. We are on a benchmarking visit then to look into the environmental management policies, programs and its implementation of the province of Palawan.

This time I was with my wife, daughter and son-in-law. Our priority destination is the world famous Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) officially called the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. It is one of the world's longest underground river and confirmed in January 28, 2012 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

But since we arrived in the city 1:10 in the afternoon, we were able to roam around the city after checking in at Hibiscus Garden Inn. A facility owned and maintained by a French national who married a local that settled in the city. My daughter was able to pick the inn for our accommodation after browsing Tripadvisor.com. Hibiscus is named after the scientific name of gumamela flower - Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Different variety of gumamela can be found in its garden along with a number of plants - palms, shrubs, orchids, etc.

By four 4:00 pm, the four of us take a tricycle to the baywalk area facing Honda Bay. What used to be a strip of slum dwellings, the baywalk area is now a beautiful place to stroll. It had a substantial face lifting with its landscaping, street pavement and lighting installation.

In the morning from where we stay in Hibiscus Garden Inn, Manalo Extension it took us approximately two hours to reach Barangay Sabang, the village where the underground river is located. There is a tourist assistance center in Bgy Sabang where all visitors going to the underground river are registered before we took a motorized boat to reach the underground river entrance. We got there in 15-20 minutes.

What we noticed is that the locals were getting benefits of the influx of tourists through various livelihood and micro-enterprises. In transport service alone, pumpboat operators and helpers are earning with the increasing tourist arrivals. There are also tourist guides, boat paddlers, food service workers among others. An expensive hotel also operates in Barangay Sabang catering the class A market segment.

Each pump boat can load only up to 8 passenger tourists. Though we are told that it can carry up to 14-15 passengers at most excluding the pumpboat operator and assistant. Pumpboat operators are organized adapting policies and system ensuring the safety of their passengers as well as maintaining order in receiving incoming tourists. With the eight of us in that ride plus the tourist guide, the pumpboat operator and assistant, there are 11 persons just like in every boat we’ve seen.

Inside the underground river, we are amazed of the formation inside despite the darkness. With a flashlight carried by one of the tourists, the group were able to look the cave formations. We have seen numerous bats and a snake. Water is dripping from the cave ceiling and the guide warned not to open our mouth when gazing up. We are told by the boat paddler cum tourist guide that the river is actually 4 kilometers long but we are only allowed to tour the 1.5 km portion of it since the rest of the river can only be entered by trained persons with specialized gear. The highest ceiling of the cave which is 65 feet is near the end part of the tour. Then we turned back for exit after about 40 minutes inside the cave.

Riding the same motorized boat, we are ferried back to Barangay Sabang where we have a lunch of fish, chicken, vegetables and fresh buko. A lunch treat included in the tour package. We were able to return to Puerto Princesa City around 3:00 pm. Overall, the Puerto Princesa Underground River visit is really worth it. There is no doubt it is one of the new seven wonders of the world. I'm one of the millions of Filipinos that voted online its confirmation last year.

Of course we tried to squeeze our time visiting tourism sites in the city proper next day - Baker's Hill, Mitra Ranch, Crocodile Park, Butterfly Park, Plaza Cuartel, etc.