The Tabon Caves

The Tabon Caves (the first of its kind in the Philippines) in Quezon, is a "unique geologic formation with an opening situated 110 feet high up in the western face of Lipuan Point, overlooking a beautiful bay studded with islands". It has a surprisingly large mouth (18 meters high, 16 meters across) leading to a dome-shaped chamber of imposing dimentions (nearly90 meters deep).
The caves are fantastic, some of them look like cathedrals. Some authorities have called the caves the "cradle of civilization in the Philippines". The discovery, a few years back, of the pre-historic Tabon man within these caves, sparked no mean international interest, stirring a singular pride for the natives of the province.
The discovery turns history back by several thousands of years, giving light to the heretofore rich past of the people. Also found were relics of later eras liked burial jars, spoons, kitchen utensils, and strange man-fashioned objects that stir the mind. It is believed that a whole saga of early human life could be whitten if only the secrets of the caves could be deciphered.
The tourist can easily find accommodations in the town of Quezon and rent a banca for the short trip (15-20 minutes) to the point. The climb to the caves, however, is a task for the daring. The discovery of the Tabon caves by Dr. Robert Fox has prompted the National Museum to declare the place a national park. Since then, hundreds of visitors and students of archaeology, have come to study the caves.

Puerto Princesa City

The newly-created city of Puerto Princesa is the capital of the province of Palawan. It was founded on March 4, 1872. Queen Isabela II named this scenic and strategically located port, Port Asuncion, in honor of her daughter Asuncion. Upon the untimely death of Princess Asuncion, the Queen of Spain changed the name of this port to Puerto de la Princesa. After a lapse of ten years, Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo sent a delegation of engineers to survey Palawan and to recommend the place best suited of the establishment of a politico-military government. Puerto Princesa was singled out as the most advantageous place in the province of Palawan.

Some landmarks of the city are the provincial capitol building, the city hall, Rafols Hotel, the Holy Trinity College, the provincial hospital, and the imposing Puerto Princesa City Cathedral, the children's park, the Mendoza Park.

St. Paul Subterranean National Park Underground River

A picturesque stretch of a river, running for an unknown length that overwhelms the beholder, is the main fare offered by the Subterranean River. Emptying itself into St. Paul Bay, this physical wonder was appropriately described by a visitor thus: "Natures´ sculpture is everywhere". Carved by time itself unaided by the hand of man, there reposes a complete and finished griffin (or is it a Sphinx resting amid the sands of the desert?).
Between stately stone pillars rise a series of steps leading from the water to some temple within. Then the cavern stretches away, an almost perfect rectangle with walls and ceiling decorated with many colors-surely the deft work of an artistic, designing hand. One sharp turn of the way and there appears a huge atalactite glittering like a chandelier from the ceiling of some great ballroom. Suddenly, one boat glides into a great chamber resplendent with colors and decorations like a stage set for a scene in some grand opera.

Brief Description. Nature with her boundaries was most generous to Palawan. Viewed from a high vantage point on a cloudless day, Palawan would resemble a dark-green, furry sea-lung brosing among blobs of water plants. The name most probably originated from the Chinese who, as far back as the 9th century, knew of it as Palaw-yu - "Land of Beautiful, safe harbor". Its provincial limits commerce with Busuanga Island in the north, the Agutaya Group northeast, Cagayancillo in the east and winds up with Balabac Island farthest south. The west side faces the South China Sea.

Now the second largest province in the Philippines, Palawan consists of 1,768 islands, most of which have irregular coastline that make excellent harbors. Reclining between Mindoro Island and North Borneo, its extreme length is 650 km. The main island measures 425 km. from tip to tip, 40 km. at its widest at Brooke´s Point and about 8 1/2 km. at its narrowest section at Barrio Bahile, Puerto Princesa.
A chain of tall mountain ranges runs through the entire length of the island, bisecting it into two distinct areas the east and the west coasts. The eastern side is characterized by thin strandlines bordered by swamplands, following a series of wide vast plains and valleys ascending gradually to emerge with low rolling hills toward the mountains. The west coast has less to offer, being pinched by craggy foothills and mountains close to the sea. But it has a wide plain in the north and pockets of big valleys and delta land along the shore down to the south.
The flat areas on both sides are, to a large extent still virgin land, and have an abundance of rivers and streams suitable for irrigation. The mountains ranges average 3,500 feet in altitude, rising to 6,800 feet at their highest point - Mt. Mantalingahan- at the southern end of the island. Thick forests covering these steepsloped mountains assure adequate watersheds for the rivers and streams.

Climate. Palawan has two kinds of climate. The type that prevails in the west coast has two distinct seasons: six months dry and six months wet, with the heaviest rainfall in July. The type prevailing in the east coast has a short dry season with varying heavy rainfall months. In Brooke´s Point, the rainiest month is December, in Iwahig November, In Puerto Princesa September, and in Coron August. The two most prevalent winds are the northeast and the southeast monsoons.
The northeast usually blows from October to April, averaging in velocity from five to seven km. per hour. The southeast come in June with heavy rains, and may reach a maximum velocity of 35 km. per hour in July and August. Practically the entire province is very seldom struck by typhoons and if at all, only the northern tip and the Calamianes groups are hit. The calm months are from April to June, when travel to any point in the province is most favorable.
Natural catastrophes such as typhoons, flood and soil erosion are almont non-existent. The climate is generally mild at all seasons, compared to the rest of the country. This results in longer periods of pleasant temperature and a greater number of productive workdays, and is a boon to the farmer, businessmen, sportsmen and the tourists.

People. Palawan today remains as one of the few spots in the Philoppines which retains the ethnic diversity that once characterized the whole archipelago. The first known settlers to the place were the primitive Proto-Malays of Bornean origin, who now inhabit the mountain fastnesses.
The Mohammedan Malays who came later and brought the islands under the dominion of the Sultan of Borneo, the Chinese who traded with the natives long before the Spanish conquest, the Caucasians who came and procreated into large families spread over several generations, the Christianized Filipinos of Luzon and the Visayans who settled in the fertile valleys and plains and brougt trade, commerce and their skills. This is the cultural mosaic that forms the base of the Philippines ´new frontier.

The Forgotten People. Oblivious to the changes that take place in the world outside, time has stood still for some 86,000 members of the cultural minority in the province of Palawan. These people continue to preserve a culture of several thousand years vintage, cradling within their peripatetic communities, the heritage of a distant past.
The cultural minorities of Palawan include the Tagbanuas, scattered in Aborlan, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Quezon, Taytay, El Nido, Linapacan, Coron, Busuanga and Culion; the Palawanos of Brooke´s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Quezon; the Batacs of Roxas and Puerto Princesa; the Jama-Mapun of Brooke´s Point, Bataraza and Quezon; the Calamianes of Northern Palawan and the Ken-Uy (commonly referred to as the vanishing tribe of Palawan) of the mountain ranges of Quezon and Brooke´s Pint.
The Tagbanuas are generally brown-complexioned, fairly short, of slender build and with straight hair. Their women show much fondness for earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. They love to wear colorful skirts, the dominant color of which is red. Contrary to usual beliefs, the Tagbanua is fully dressed, with their women garbed in long-sleeved bouses. Among the men, the hair is worn short. These people usually have fair features and well-shaped noses - a reminder of their Malayan stock.
Another interesting group are the Batacs, the only tribe in Palawan believed to be the descendants of the Aetas of Zambales. These people have kinky hair, tough and very dark skin, and are of average height. The Palawanos have features similar to the Tagbanuas.

A new influx of migration to the province brought with it the Tausogs of Sulu with their Islamic faith. They are astute traders and show much inclination towards farming and other economic activities. Music which reminds one of colorful Morolandia, plays an important role in the social and religious life of the people.

Points of Interest

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. A rehabilitation farm established during the American regime, is situated some 16 km. south of Puerto Princesa. It comprises an area of 37,000 hec., large tracts of which are planted with coconuts, rice and other crops, The prison has a population of about 4,000 and many inmates live with their families in so-called rehabilitation area.
If not for the tangerine-colored shirts of the workers in the fields, Iwahig is a picture of a modern farm rather than a prison. It has beautiful undulating fields of rice and orchards. Most of the prisoners roam the reservation freely and are allowed to earn an income by working in the many shops which turn out various handicrafts, most popular of which are the mandcarved items made from mahogany wood (camagong).
Within the colony may be found impressive administrative buildings, a shool (children of prisoners are provided free education), a church and neat cottages. There are two beautiful river resorts within the colony reservation - the Montible and Balsahan Rivers. The natural beauty of these well-kept resorts make them favorite excursion sites for the residents of Puerto Princesa.

Ulugan Bay. Some 47 km. off the city of Puerto Pricesa is an island with white beaches that offers sand, sun, wind and fun, plus an abundance of oysters, fish and other sea foods.

Hot Springs of Sta. Lucia. The hot springs of Sta. Lucia, belived to have medical and curative properties, is located a short distance from Puerto Princesa City.

Tarampitao. One of the moste beautiful sunsets, comparable to that of Manila Bay, can be found along Kanalong Bay in Tarampitao, Quezon. Tarampitao's stretch of white beaches, some 10 km. long, make fine picnic grounds. Its waters offer skiing fun and its forests primmest wild game and good hunting. There are two airstrips that can accommodate jet-propelled airplanes.

Paly Island. As exotic as it sounds, Paly Island in Taytay, with its white beaches and waterfalls, is a good fishing ground. It is also a place where giant sea turtles abound laying their eggs in the beaches.

Spanish Church Fort in Cuyo. Built in 1600, the rectangular solid well fortified with cannons, a towering belfry and watchtowers in each angle occupies a one hectare area along the white sand Kapuaan Beach. Cuyo is where most of the people of Palawan originate.

The Malampaya Sound. Better known as the "fish bowl of the Philippines", Malampaya Sound yealds 35% of the country's total fish needs annually. Located some 28 km. off El Nido, this fishing ground runs 35 km. in length and 7 km. accross. It is common knowledge in Palawan that when people in the area treat visitors to crabs and shrimps, they lap out the cooked delicacies in big baneras or basins. As a scenic spot, the sound offers the curious a thousand and one marine wonders.

Ursula Island. As the name suggests, Ursula Island is a sanctuary for birds. At sunset, the skies darken over this tiny island as the homing birds sing their way to this haven. The island is only 3 miles from Rio Tuba Settlement. Many species of doves are found on the island, including the very rare "siete colores" (it dispalys seven colors) and the wild "Ramaso". It is a fact that at night, a man armed with a lamp can tread his way through the island and with his bare hands, manage to catch enough birds to fill his banca.

The cliffs of El Nido. The famous nido soup, a delicacy well relished for its unique flavor comes from the edible birds' nests which abound in the towering cliffs of El Nido, Coran, Busuanga, Taytay, and few other sites. Along the mountain ranges, the natives ascent these cliffs and descend into deep, pitch-dark caverns and caves, usually some 700 ft. in depth. The gatherers clamber up bamboo scaffordings held up by rattan ropes. The perils encountered by them are hardly surmountable considering the primitive methods employed in the task. The gathering of the nests of the swiftlets is subject to certain rigid taboos.

Tubbataha Reef. The most beautiful dive site on this part of the world. It is deep blue lagoon is bordered all around by the shallower, emerald green waters of the reef varying in depth from knee to waist high. It has a combination of corals, swimming fish and spectacular drop off. A little beyond the lagoon is a small patch of cream color shore.
The reef, a pair of rocks that form an exclamation point in the middle of Sulu Sea, measures 10 miles long and 3 miles wide. The upper longer rock in the north islet and the smaller rock farther south, in the south islet. A prominent landmark of the reefs is lighthouse constructed on its north islets.

Tubbataha is a meeting site of swarm of seagulls and other birds, giant turtles that surface occasionally to lay eggs on the shore and baby shark that sometimes doze on its rocky shores.

Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary. The 3,700 hectare Calauit Island was declared a Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary by Presidential Proclamation 1570 issued on August 31, 1976. It is located off the north western coast of the Philippines in Dusuanga Island, Palawan.
Note: If you want to go there, you have to get clearance from the Conservation and Resources Management Foundation, Inc. with office at G/F IRC Building #02, Mandaluyong. Tel. no. 705001 or loc. 263,264.