This Week in Palawan (October 12 to 18, 2019)

This week’s going to be generally sunny to cloudy, but expect some passing showers and thunderstorms [1]. Morning and afternoon showers can be experienced in the first three days, and a couple of morning thunderstorms in the next three days can also be seen. While it’s already wet season, the temperature throughout the week is going to be hot, ranging from to 28°C to 32°C in the day and 24°C to 27°C at night. To keep you feeling refreshed, consume a lot of water, sport thin fabrics, wear sunblock, and bring an umbrella in case you’re going out in the sun. If you’re planning to go to the beach or go island hopping, always check the weather forecast in advance for your safety.

Palawan is no stranger to international recognition. Proof to this is the new title it received from travel website Big 7 Media that included the destination in its “50 best islands in the world” list [2]. The travel website’s millennial audience particularly voted Palawan’s El Nido as second in the list. It noted El Nido as “a cluster of 45 islands just off the tip of Palawan, which is famous for its Secret Lagoon.” “Swim through a hole in the limestone rocks to enter a hidden bay with crystal clear water and soft sand. It feels untouched, with white sandy beaches and tropical jungle. As soon as you step foot onto here you’ll instantly agree it’s one of the best islands in the world,” the website further described. Topping the list is Iceland’s Flately, while another Philippine island, Cebu ranked number 25. Meanwhile, Palawan landed on eight spot in CNN Travel’s “10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Islands” article published last month [3].

More cruise ships are expected to make port visits in Puerto Princesa City in 2020 and 2021, according to the City Tourism Office [4]. For 2020, these are MV Europa, MV Seaborne Ovation, MV Explorer Dream, Seabourn Sojourn, Star Breeze, MS Noordam, and Celebrity Millenium. For 2021, MS Noordam, Celebrity Millenium, Silver Spirit, Maasdam, Arcadia, Star Breeze, MS Queen Elizabeth, and MV Seabourn Ovation will also visit. Currently, there were 12 cruise ships that already made port calls in the city and three more are expected to arrive before the year ends. The increasing number of cruise ships visiting the city shows that it has already been considered internationally as a cruise ship destination, said Assistant City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior. To further boost the said industry, the national government has funded the ongoing construction of a 500-meter cruise port. The PhP1.5-billion project is expected to be operational by the end of 2020.

Eating seashells while in Puerto Princesa is dangerous as its bay is still red tide-contaminated [5]. In a recent Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources advisory, the authority warned that “all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or ‘alamang’ collected from Puerto Princesa Bay are still not safe for human consumption.” BFAR explained red tide as “a coastal phenomenon in which the water is discolored by high algal biomass or concentration of algae.” When the affected marine products are eaten, the poison “immediately affects the nervous system,” which can result in muscular paralysis and respiratory difficulty that can be fatal. But, if you’re a seafood lover, fret not! The advisory, however, clarified that “fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.”

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