PAARL in Palawan 2008

PALAWAN, the island paradise southwest of the Philippine Archipelago, is popularly known for its sugar-white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters teeming with colorful marine, and rare collection of exotic animals, birds and butterflies. Home of two World Heritage sites (the Underground River and Tubbataha Reefs), it is the country’s prime tourist destination, inconceivably exotic and tropical. Palawan is an archipelago of jagged limestone islands with underground rivers, rocky coves, and virgin rainforest. Honda Bay, which has several islets including Cannon Island, Bat Island and Starfish Island, is one of the most popular but the fun in Palawan is in discovering your own deserted stretch of sand.

When Chinese explorer Chao Ju-Kua stumbled upon Palawan in 1225, he dubbed the 270-mile-long (435-kilometer-long) island the “land of beautiful harbors” where “lofty ridges and cliffs rise as steeply as the walls of a house.” Among its Natural Wonders are the world- famous El Nido Cliffs , St. Paul Subterranean Park , Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, Ursula Island Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary , Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, and Coron Island Protected Area( all of which are Protected Areas of Palawan ).

Its main attraction is the St. Paul Subterranean Park, an 8.2 kilometer underground river, reputed to be the world’s longest, that winds through a spectacular cave before emptying into the South China Sea. Cathedral chambers, wide hallways, and interesting geologic formations greet the wide eyed visitor to the grotto hidden beneath St. Paul Mountain. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing night to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards and squirrels find their niche on the beach forest near the cave. Just outside the national park is a wide expanse of beach in Sabang. (View my Amazing Palawan video for more on this trip)

Renowned underwater explorer Jacques Costeau has described Palawan as having one of the most beautiful seascapes in the world. Sprawled beneath the seas are nearly 11,000 square kilometers of coral reefs and myriads of fish swim in these underwater gardens.

For the first time, the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL) held its National Summer Conference in Palawan to enable many participants to enjoy the island paradise, dubbed as “the last frontier.”. Venue of the conference was a retreat house, St. Ezekiel Moreno Spirituality Center, a 15-minute tricycle ride from the airport. During the 3-day conference, participants were treated to a Luau Fellowship Night and an exciting city tour (view my Amazing Palawan City Tour video for more). As one of the conference speakers, I had plenty of time after my lecture to video the place and take a 2.5 hour trip to the underground river. The still shots were done by one of the participants.

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