Day 3: El Nido, Palawan (Tour B)

3rd day of a 3-day sequel featuring Tour B as follows:

1. Entalula Island
2. Cadugnon Cave
3. Vigan & Snake Island
4. Pinasil Island & Cathedral Cave  


1. Entalula Island     

      The Entalula Island was the first stop we had for our third day. The rock formations were really beautiful. One can only imagine what eruptions or quakes occurred that could have produced those bizarre forming rocks. 

2. Cadugnon Cave

   We had to pass thru a hole just big enough for a person to fit in order to enter into the cave. It is believed that this cave had been used as a burial site during the Neolithic Period.

Onward to the cave...

View from the entrance of the cave

Rock formations at the outer portion of the cave

 My mom and office mates while waiting for their turn to enter the cave

My mom and dad crawling into the small hole

This is the sight we saw upon entering but then you have to go up a steep slope to go to the other part of the cave.

Posing by the mickey-mouse-like hollow formation

3. Vigan & Snake Island

       The Snake Island is called as such because especially during low tides, a snake-like formation of sand appears which connects the island to the mainland. It was high tide though when we went there but the connecting part is still visible since it comprises the shallow part between the islands. We also trekked towards the peak of the hill to have a better view of the magnificent scenery below.

Me posing with the long sandbar as the background

4. Pinasil Island & Cathedral Cave
    The Pinasil Island is much visited because of its Cathedral Cave which is called as such because of its dome like structure resembling that of a cathedral. Although we did not enter the cave, it can actually be accessed by the use of smaller boats. Watch out though for bats and sea snakes which are said to abound the area.

The Baywalk: Last Stop of Puerto Princesa Tour

    We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:

1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village

2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm

3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park

4. Mitra's Ranch

5. Baker's Hill

6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

7. Plaza Cuartel

8. The Baywalk

The Baywalk

The Baywalk in Puerto Princesa is somewhat a cross between the Burnham Park in Baguio and the Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay. Like the Burnham Park, there are lots of bicycles and pedicabs for rent, and people are allowed to tour around the place using these bikes. And just similar to the Baywalk in Manila Park, both consist of a seaside promenade overlooking a bay.

    We had fun biking but I guess it can also be annoying to people walking and having activities of their own as they also have to watch out for pedicabs approaching.

    I was not able to catch a picture of the sunset but this is really a nice spot for viewing it, and enjoying the cool sea breeze.

     There is quite a number of food stalls and semi-restaurants in the place including those which offer crocodile meat sisig.

   Here is a picture of our group while waiting for our orders to be served. The place is really well lit during the evening.

Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral & Plaza Cuartel: 6th & 7th Stop of Puerto Princesa Tour

     We paid only Php1,500 (for the van with driver) for a half day tour of Puerto Princesa. Since our group had around 10 members, it only cost Php150 per person. The tour was already inclusive of the ffg places:

1. Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village

2. Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm

3. Crocodile  Farm & Nature Park

4. Mitra's Ranch

5. Baker's Hill

6. Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

7. Plaza Cuartel

8. The Baywalk

Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral

   Our 6th stop for the day was the Cathedral. Actually, there are quite a number of cathedrals in the Philippines named in honor of the Immaculate Concepcion and one of these is this angular-structured church in Barangay Liwanag, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City.  

   In 1872, a Spanish expedition proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary as the patroness of Puerto Princesa; and this previously small church celebrated its first mass in the same year, before it was developed into a cathedral in 1961.

     When we arrived, there were petals strewn on the floor, a sign that a wedding ceremony had just concluded.

A "Stop Abortion" sign, and a  life-sized tablet of the 10 commandments

The Plaza Cuartel

     Just on the right side of the cathedral is a historical site, the Plaza Cuartel. Inside the plaza is the memorial marker for the 143 American prisoners of war. The marker serves as "a grim reminder of the realities of war as a price for freedom and the burning to death of 143 American prisoners of war by their Japanese Imperial Army Kempie-tai captors inside the tunnel on this site on the fateful evening of December 15, 1944."

These are the walls and the gate towards the barracks

    As stated below, a few escaped by swimming all thru the way to Iwahig, on the other side of the bay.

     Admittedly, when we first arrived, I didn't have an inkling on the story behind the Plaza Cuartel. So the small statue on top of the marker sort of creeps me out especially since it is the first thing that catches your attention, it being on top. Only after reading the words did it become meaningful, and it was really effective in the sense that the image stuck in my mind for a long time.

      Despite its grim reminder of World War II, Plaza Cuartel is also a park where lovers can date, friends can hold meetings, or just chill and stroll along.