olango

Just 5 kms east of Mactan is Olango Island. It is part of the Olango Island Group which is composed of 6 satellite islets. The small island has only a few tourist destinations - a water park at Talima, Suba beach at the south and the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) at San Vicente.

The OIWS perhaps identifies Olango more than anything else. This protected sanctuary covers 1028 hectares of shallow coastline, mangroves and sandflats. Except for Suba beach, most, if not all of the island's shore is rocky and is therefore not ideal for leisure swimming. This landscape probably explains why there are a few tourists that frequent Olango. But it has attracted though over 10,000 migratory birds from the Siberia, Northern China and Japan. Olango then serves as a pit stop for birds flying through the East Asian Migratory Flyway.

There are 77 species that use the said migration route. Olango supports 62.34% of that number making it a very important part of the whole migratory picture. It is no wonder then why the OIWS was included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance on November 8, 1994. Other Ramsar sites in the Philippines are the Tubbataha Reef, Lake Naujan and the Agusan Marsh.

malapascua

When I bought my favorite green shirt that has a 'Malapascua' print on it, I have never been to this Cebu island at all. The reason I bought it was because its simple design doesn't make it look like a ubiquitous souvenir shirt. Or perhaps it was just a random decision for me because I went to the mall that afternoon in 2007 just to escape the Sinulog crowd. So when someone asked me how the island looked, I just smiled and provided the last two sentences as my lame alibis.

But that has changed already because my favorite shirt has finally landed in Malapascua. Although it took me two years to do that, I could still say that the long wait was well worth it. The timing was just right too. After various traveling opportunities around the Philippines, I realized that there are many adventures that are just a few bus or jeepney rides from where I am presently living. Cebu has a lot of monuments, museums, landmarks and destinations that may have become too familiar or too accessible for me. All these really deserve another look.

It is for that reason that I would like to finally launch a Cebu series. It will definitely be a work in progress but for the meantime, allow me to start with these five islands - Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes, Olango and Sumilon.

danggit lamayo

I could still remember that my folks got me a pack of danggit lamayo or lamayong danggit as a pasalubong when they went to Palawan several years ago. But at that time, I have no clue what the dish looks like or tastes like. My google search then led me to Marketman's post calling it as the 'Pinoy breakfast heaven.'

He also stated that the term lamayo refers to how the fish is prepared. It is marinated first before partially drying them in the sun. After it is fried, it contains just the right amount of saltiness and crispiness of your usual dried danggit or Rabbitfish. But the marinade keeps the fish from thoroughly drying out from the cooking. The meat would then have texture and flavor similar to your favorite fish paksiw or fish in vinegar sauce.

post mortem: project pps

I can finally end Project PPS (or my 4D-3N adventures in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan) with a travel post mortem. It was indeed an unforgettable solo 'semi-backpacking' journey. It was not a fully DIY trip because I took 3 organized tours in PPS. Looking back now, it was a tradeoff that gave more value to my limited time and budget in Palawan. The prices are charged on a per-person basis so every tour can start even if the van is not filled up to its maximum capacity.

The first thing that I noticed in PPS is that it truly lives up to its reputation of being the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. I guess that it would continue to hold that title as long as its local government officials would not lose their balls in preserving and protecting their natural resources.

And much to my surprise too, that despite being a highly urbanized city, Puerto Princesa is not an expensive destination at all. The breakdown of the 'damage' is reflected below to give you an idea as to how much would it cost to spend a long weekend there. The airfare, the cost for the food, pasalubong and tips are omitted because these expenses can be controlled depending on your budget and preference.

Day 1

my DIY tour of puerto princesa city

After the HB tour, I decided to use the extra time to explore Puerto Princesa City by myself. I also noticed that there were a handful of people staring at me while I walked around probably because I was carrying an 'environment-friendly handbag.' It was quite an unmanly accessory I suppose. But since it contained everything I needed to survive and enjoy PPS on a very limited budget - 1L of bottled water, my camera, an extra shirt and my weekly planner, I had no choice but to endure every bewildered look. Function, for me, will always precede form.

I started at the Puerto Princesa City Hall which had a huge city seal on its facade. It depicts a Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis), which is said to be endemic to the island. If you would care the count, the bird on the seal should have a total of 66 feathers. The 38 in the outer portion represents the rural barangays while the 18 in the inner portion represents those located in the urban section.

The government building is also near the Ramon Mitra Jr. Sports Complex. This was the location for the 2008 Palarong Pambansa. It is complete with an oval track, a 50m swimming pool, and many more outdoor sports facilities.

puerto princesa city tour

The CT (City Tour) was my first organized tour in Puerto Princesa. It is half-day long and has five stops. I requested a friend of a friend to book one for me during my first day in PPS.

We initially had a 'running tour' of the PPS Baywalk, Plaza Cuartel and the Puerto Princesa Church, before heading out for the Crodocodile Farm or the PPCRC, our first destination that afternoon.


Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center
The PPCRC originally was a commercial establishment that breeds and sells Philippine crocodiles. Aside from crocodiles, it also has a nature park that houses other animals which are endemic to Palawan.



Iwahig Penal and Prison Farm
The Iwahig Prison does not look like any other prison bar in the Philippines. It is unique because some of its inmates are given the freedom to roam around the vast property. Escaping is technically impossible since there are no walls or physical barriers in the first place.