Diplomats savor Palawan's food, fun and sun

Philippine envoy aims to promote exotic islands annual

By Rachel Lee

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, the Philippines ― Adventures in crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches and the freshest local foods are only three of the many facets that make Palawan an ideal getaway for those who need to release themselves from the daily grind.

Palawan, about 586 kilometers southwest of the Philippine capital, is the country’s largest island province, with 1,780 islands.

To promote this beautiful island, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul Hernandez invited Korean media and foreign diplomats and their families for a tour from May 25 and 29. A total of 13 embassies participated in the tour.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul, the Philippine Department of Tourism Office (PDOT) in Korea and the Tourism Promotions Board organized the trip with Smart Premium Philippine Airlines and travel agency Onfill.

“My objective is to bring ambassadors and diplomats to the Philippines to show them personally our beautiful country, its pristine beaches, delicious food including an abundance of seafood and tropical fruits, friendly and generous people and a taste of our rich culture and history,” Hernandez said.

The ambassador added that he aims to make the tour not only for diplomats but also for businessmen.

“Korean businessmen will get a deeper understanding of the business climate of my country and the opportunities for trade and investments for them,” he said.

This is the second tour. Last year, participants travelled to Cebu and Bohol.

According to the tourism board, Korea is one of the important markets for the Philippines tourism industry. Seoul was the biggest spending market with 4.7 billion (120 billion won) pesos during the first nine months of last year, followed by the United States and Japan.

Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa, alone, had 19,502 Korean tourists last year.

“Through this tour, we wanted to raise awareness of Palawan, which is relatively less known in Korea,” PDOT Tourism Director and Attache Maricon Basco-Ebron said.

Getting there is not difficult ― it takes about three and a half hours to fly from Seoul to Manila. And the average flight time to Puerto Princesa City is around an hour and 15 minutes.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

The 8.2-kilometer underground river, in Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been named one of the world’s New Seven Wonders of Nature. It is in the south-western part of the Philippine Archipelago, on the mid-western coast of Palawan, about 76 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa.

It is the longest underground river in Asia and the second-longest in the world.

The river finds its way underneath a mountain range, through the St. Paul Underground River Cave, and goes out into the South China Sea. More than 800 plant species, including around 300 trees, 195 birds, 30 mammals and eight bat species reside there, according to the tourism office.

The river is accessible by boat up to 4.2 kilometers, but tourists are only allowed to go 1.2 kilometers on guided boat tours through the cave system that features stalactites and stalagmites. No lights are set up, except for one on the tour boat.

As the boat passed through the cave, there was absolute silence among the visitors who found eye-catching rock formations as well as thousands of bats hanging above them in the total darkness.

“It was peaceful and comfortable while touring the underground river and sitting on the boat imagining the natural beauty,” Omani Ambassador Mohamed Salim Alharthy told The Korea Times. “I had a feeling of tranquility and harmony while water was dripping from the cave, the sound of the waves created by the boat and the biodiversity of nature in the cave, with various shapes of rock formations and structure.”

Island-hopping & undersea adventures

Palawan is home to some amazing locations for island-hopping, snorkeling and diving. At Honda Bay, on the mid-eastern coast, visitors can hop onto a boat to go to nearby islands including Luli, Panden and Cowrie, all of which boast crystal emerald-blue waters and white-sand beaches.

The small islands are less commercial and crowded; an escape valve for those who need proper relaxation.

With a tempting piece bread in hand, tourists go underwater to feed the fish and get close to other sea animals.

The day does not end with water activities. Next there are great dishes of local food and relaxing massages. What’s more, South Sea pearls are available in an assortment of sizes, at reasonable prices, from souvenir shops.

“The experience of fish feeding was unforgettable,” Yuliia Saveliena, second secretary at the Ukraine Embassy, said. “It is one thing when you feed them in an aquarium and absolutely another when you swim in the sea with them. You feel part of nature.”

Turkish Ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal said: “Palawan is a wonderful place with so many marvels to offer visitors. It must remain a protected island, with its rich habitat of special fauna and flora, together with its natural beauty. The locals' welcoming culture to foreigners is an asset.”

For more information, visit www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com.