This Week in Palawan (November 9 to 15, 2019)

This week is going to be partly sunny and rainy [1]. Expect partly sunny days with some rain showers and thunderstorms specifically on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 9 to 10). Fortunately, the weather is going to be favorable on the last day of Subaraw Biodiversity Festival on Monday (Nov. 11). During the said day which is predicted to be sunny to cloudy, you can watch the street dancing contests in the morning and the grand parade costume and float competitions. Cap off the day by watching the Subaraw closing program and pyromusical display at City Baywalk. Meanwhile, the remaining days (Nov. 12 to 15) will make you want to stay in a cozy place as you’ll be greeted with cloudy skies with some rain showers and thunderstorms when you go outside. The temperature, on one hand, will range from 27°C to 30°C during daytime and 25°C to 27°C for nighttime.

Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation recently launched its new Fastcat catamaran roll-on, roll-off ferry that will soon connect Batangas to MIMAROPA provinces, including Palawan [2]. The said ferry vessel aims to speed up passenger transfer and boost the movement of products and goods in the said region. It can carry 360 passengers, as well as trucks and private vehicles, and will soon be traveling the Batangas-Mindoro-Coron-El Nido route for three to four times a week. The Fastcat has a 10-seating capacity cabin with its own comfort room for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and also offers business, tourist, and economy classes.

Puerto Princesa City is expecting a boost in tourist arrivals during the celebration of annual Subaraw Biodiversity Festival held from November 2 to 11 [3]. Subaraw comes from the words “suba” and “taraw,”which mean river and limestone cliff respectively. Interestingly enough, these two are prominent features of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The increase in tourist influx is anticipated with the arrival of not only tourists but also of contestants and guests who will be joining the festivities, said Michie Meneses, City Tourism Office’s (CTO) promotions and marketing division chief. Among the must-see activities in the remaining three days of Subaraw are the inter-school Solteros (Cuyunons’ traditional dance) showdown, drum and lyre competition, film festival, street dancing, and grand parade costume and float competitions.

A residential cruise ship, named MS The World, carrying around 480 crew and passengers, is set to make a port call this November in Puerto Princesa City [4]. The luxury ship is expected to stay for two nights and three days, giving its 200 unit owners an opportunity to visit the city’s major tourist destinations, including the underground river. This is the first time MS The World will visit the city, and the CTO is preparing and coordinating the itineraries of the guests, said Michie Meneses, CTO’s promotions and marketing division chief. MS The World is one of around 15 cruise ships that were scheduled to make a port call in the city this year.

Seashells from Puerto Princesa Bay are still unsafe for human consumption as the red tide advisory hasn’t been lifted yet [5]. In a recent Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) advisory, it warned that “all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or ‘alamang’ collected from the said bay are still red tide-contaminated. 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 did clarify 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.”

Check out Yoorekka for the best places to visit in Palawan.