Saturday, June 21, 2008

Palawan Government Officials (up to 2010)

In case you may want to know the local officials of the different towns of Palawan, here is the list:

Governor: JOEL T. REYES
Vice Governor: DAVID A. PONCE DE LEON

Congressmen: ANTONIO C. ALVAREZ for First District of PalawanA
BRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA for Second District of Palawan

Board Members for First District of Palawan

GIL ACOSTA
DERRICK PABLICO
JOSELITO CADLAON
LEONCIO OLA
EDMUNDO BALERITE

Board Members for Second District of Palawan
ERNESTO LLACUNA
VICKY DE GUZMAN
MODESTO RODRIGUEZ II
CIPRIANO BARROMA
ALICE FABELLEON

Mayors and Vice Mayors for the First District of Palawan

Agutaya
Mayor Zosimo Zabalo
Vice Mayor Jane Raguin

Araceli
Mayor Daniel Rodriguez
Vice Mayor Sub Cudilla

Busuanga
Mayor Samuel de Jesus, Sr.
Vice Mayor Tommy Cruz

Cagayancillo
Mayor Joel Carceler
Vice Mayor Jotham Tapalla

Coron
Mayor Mario T. Reyes
Vice Mayor Joseph Armstrong Palanca

Culion
Mayor Veronica Cantimbuhan
Vice Mayor Paul Evangelista

Cuyo
Mayor Teodoro Villagracia, Jr.
Vice Mayor Ronnie Tan

Dumaran
Mayor David Aurelio
Vice Mayor Condrado Cabanillas

El Nido
Mayor Leonor Corral
Vice Mayor Edna Lim

Kalayaan
Mayor Rosendo Mantes
Vice Mayor Lazaro del Rio

Linapacan
Mayor Bienvenido Cabiguen
Vice Mayor Jessie del Prado

Magsaysay
Mayor Manuel Abrea
Vice Mayor Ariel de la Torre

Roxas
Mayor Dennis Sabando
Vice Mayor Mario Rodriguez

San Vicente
Mayor Antonio Gonzales
Vice Mayor Solomon Maagad

Taytay
Mayor Roberto Rodriguez
Vice Mayor Lanie Abogado


Mayors and Vice Mayors for the Second District of Palawan

Aborlan
Mayor Celsa Adier
Vice Mayor Ariston Madeja

Balabac
Mayor Shuaib Astami
Vice Mayor Rudy Ain Mohamad

Bataraza
Mayor Abraham Ibba
Vice Mayor Antonio Sadongdong

Brooke's Point
Mayor Cesario Benedito, Jr.
Vice Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano

Española
Mayor Marsito Acoy
Vice Mayor Arnold Galan

Narra
Mayor Clarito Demaala, Jr.
Vice Mayor Alfredo Bundal

Quezon
Mayor Ronilo Caputila
Vice Mayor Joselito Ayala

Rizal
Mayor Clara Degillo
Vice Mayor Rogelio Cabuquin

Palawan City and Towns

The Province of Palawan has only one city: the Highly Urbanized City of Puerto Princesa, under the aggressive leadership of Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn.

Towns of the First District of Palawan (15 towns)

Agutaya -- an island municipality
Araceli -- an island municipality
Busuanga -- an island municipality
Cagayancillo -- an island municipality
Coron -- an island municipality
Culion -- an island municipality
Cuyo -- an island municipality
Dumaran -- part mainland / part island
El Nido -- mainland
Kalayaan -- an island municipality
Linapacan -- an island municipality
Magsaysay -- an island municipalityRoxas -- mainland
San Vicente -- mainland
Taytay -- mainland

Towns of the Second District of Palawan (8 towns)

Aborlan -- mainland
Balabac -- an island municipality
Bataraza -- mainland
Brooke's Point -- mainland
Española -- mainland
Narra -- mainland
Quezon -- mainland
Rizal -- mainland

Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay

The Roman Catholic Church in the islands of Palawan are divided into two (2) apostolic vicariates: the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (Palawan) and the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa.His Excellency, Most Reverend Edgardo Sarabia Juanich, D.D., a native of Taytay, Palawan, is the Apostolic Vicar of Taytay while His Excellency, Most Reverend Pedro Dulay Arigo, D.D., a native of Cavite, is the Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Princesa.Territorially, the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay covers the northern municipalities/parishes of Palawan while the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa covers the city of Puerto Princesa and the municipalities central and south of Puerto Princesa.

The parishes in the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay are the following:

District 1

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish -- Poblacion, Roxas
San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish -- Caramay, Roxas
The Resurrection Parish -- Tumarbong, Roxas
San Vicente Ferrer Parish -- San Vicente

District 2

Sta. Monica Parish -- Poblacion, Taytay
Sto. Niño Parish -- Abongan, Taytay
St. Michael the Archangel Parish -- Liminangcong, Taytay
St. Francis of Assisi Parish -- Poblacion, El Nido
Sta. Potenciana Parish -- Sibaltan, El Nido

District 3

Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish -- Legit, Dumaran
St. John the Baptist Parish -- Poblacion, Dumaran
Nuestra Señora de Araceli -- Poblacion, Araceli

District 4

St. Augustine Parish -- Poblacion, Cuyo
St. Michael the Archangel Parish -- Poblacion, Magsaysay
St. John the Baptist -- Poblacion, Agutaya

District 5

St. Augustine Parish -- Poblacion, Coron
St. Joseph de Freinademitz Parish -- Turda, Coron
Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish -- Salvacion, Busuanga
St. Michael the Archangel Parish -- Poblacion, Linapacan
Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish -- Poblacion, Culion

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Palawan Travel and Tour Operators

Definitely, the assistance of friends will be a great help in planning a hassle-free stay in Puerto Princesa or in any of Palawan's delightful destinations.

The following list of Puerto Princesa's Travel and Tour Operators may help.

1700 Islands Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue Extension
islatours1700@yahoo.com
(048) 434-7726

Ellen's Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue
ellenstrvltours2000@yahoo.com
(048) 433-4878

Floral Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue Extension
floral_travel@yahoo.com
(048) 434-2540

Island Paradise Tours and Convention
Brgy. San Miguel
gigitrav@yahoo.com
(048) 433-2089

Jemadon Travel Services
Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Manggahan
jemadon_travel_service@yahoo.com
(048) 434-9290

Laseasky Travel and Tours
Brgy. Sta. Monica
laseasky_travel@yahoo.com
(048) 434-7611

Last Frontier Travel and Tour Agency
Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Manggahan
info@lastfrontiertravel.com
(048) 434-5145

The Legend Travel and Tours
Malvar Street, Brgy. Mandaragat
salesppc@legendhotels.com
(048) 433-9076

Palawan Ecology Travel and Tours
Brgy. San Pedro
leomonice@yahoo.com
(048) 434-4179

Palawonderous Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao
ed_tacs@yahoo.com
(048) 434-5299

Palkor Marine & Sports Tour
Corporate Center, Rizal Avenue
palkormarinesports@yahoo.com
(048) 434-9871

Sanctuary Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue Extension
sanctuarytours@yahoo.com
(048 434-7673

Sitti Hamrina Travel and Tours
Junction 1, Brgy. San Miguel
shamrina_travel@yahoo.com

Topstar Travel and Tours
Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao
ted_topstar@yahoo.com
(048) 433-8247

Traverse Travel and Tours
San Miguel Runday, PPC
traversetravel&tours@yahoo.com
(048) 434-9652

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Puerto Princesa Restaurants


Travelers to Puerto Princesa have been raving over a new fine dining restaurant in Puerto Princesa City -- The Lotus Garden Asian Fine Dining.

The Lotus Garden, indeed, is Puerto Princesa's newest fine dining experience. Founded in July 2000, in the Americas and the Caribbean, The Lotus Garden is "synonymous with good food and excellent service and maintains its high standard of quality wherever it exists throughout the world. This Puerto Princesa branch opened in December 2007 and "carries the same tested menu and style in a beautiful garden setting that provides a relaxing ambience which is reflective of The Lotus Garden's ecological advocacy.

Other good restaurants in Puerto Princesa City include:

7 Plates House of Seafood & Grill Restaurant-- Basaya Bldg., Junction 1
Backyard Grill -- Rizal Avenue
Badjao Restaurant -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-2761
Badjao Seafront Restaurant -- Brgy. Bagong Sikat / (048) 433-9912
Balai Inasal -- National Highway / (048) 434-5335
Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill --Rizal Avenue
Balinsasayaw Chicken Grill & Restaurant -- Manalo Extension / (048) 434-5804
Baragatan -- Junction 1, San Miguel
Bilao at Palayok -- Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Maningning
Bistro Gerardo Grill Bar & Restaurant -- AR Lustre Bldg. Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-9298
Bulwagang Princesa -- National Highway, Sta. Monica / (048) 433-6079
Cafe Arturo -- San Jose / (048) 433-4146
Cafe Sabang -- Sabang, Brgy. Cabayugan
Haim Chicken Inato -- Manalo Extenstion / (048) 433-2261
Ka Lui -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-4840
Kamarikutan Kape at Galeri -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-9088
Kim's Hotspring Restaurant -- Brgy. Sta. Lourdes
Kinabuch's Grill & Bar -- 348 Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-5194
Lola Itang's Restaurant -- Roxas St. / (048) 433-2990
Sari's Baryo -- Rizal Avenue
Shirley's Sinuglaw -- Manalo St. / (048) 434-5148
Skylight Restaurant -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-4872
Sweethouse Princesa -- Malvar St.
The New Backyard Grill -- Rizal Avenue, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao
Tropical Sun Inn & Restaurant -- Manalo St. / (048) 433-8288


Chinese / Japanese / Korean / Vietnamese Cuisine

Should you wish to try Japanese, Thai and Indonesian dishes, still the best place to go is The Lotus Garden. Their eat-all-you can-sushi is reasonably priced at P375 only.

Other good restaurants in this category include:
Edwin's Food Place -- Valencia St. / (048) 433-3567
Ong's Maki House -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-2999
Phoenix Seafood Restaurant -- Abrea Road
Rene's Saigon -- Brgy. Bancao-Bancao
Suma Ching Hai Vegetarian House -- Burgos St. cor. Manalo
Viet Ville -- Brgy. Sta. Lourdes
We be Sushi Bar & Restaurant -- Hotel Fleuris, Lacao St. / (048) 434-4338

Should you wish to try something European, then, a visit to any of these restaurants would be worth your while:
Bavaria Pizza House & Restaurant -- Malvar St. / (048) 433-7695
McCoy's -- San Miguel / (048) 434-4239
Neva's Place -- Taft St. / (048) 433-2575
Rendezvous Pizzeria -- Macasaet St.
Roadside Pizza & Restaurant -- Rizal Avenue cor. Burgos St. / (048) 433-2214
Trattoria Swiss Bistro -- PEO Road / (048) 433-2719
Pescados -- Asturias Hotel / (048) 434-3851

As for fastfoods, you can always rely on the following establishments:
Chowking -- Rizal Avenue (048) 434-5656
Jollibee-Rizal -- Rizal Avenue
Jollibee-Valencia -- Valencia St. cor. Malvar / (048) 434-4025
KC Restaurant -- Rizal Avenue (048) 433-4853
Nokinoc's -- Junction 1
NCCC Fastfood -- Lacao St. / (048) 433-2620
Shakey's Pizza -- Rizal Avenue

Happy dining!

Puerto Princesa Accommodations

Where to stay in Puerto Princesa is not a problem. Should you wish to spend, there is the Legend Hotel, the Asturias Hotel and Hotel Fleuris, three hotels which are known to pamper their guests with luxury. Should you want to go economical, there is the Duchess Pension which provides comfy rooms at very affordable prices.

From the High End side, there is
The Legend Hotel -- Malvar St. / (048) 434-9076
Hotel Fleuris -- Lacao St. /(048) 434-4338 / http://www.fleuris.com/
Asturias Hotel --National Highway / (048) 434-3851

The other hotels in Puerto Princesa are:
Admiral Hotel -- Junction 1, San Miguel / (048) 343-4561
Ardent Suites Hotel -- Junction 1, San Miguel / (048) 434-9980
Dolce Vita -- V. Romasanta Road, San Pedro / (048) 434-5357
Palawan Village Hotel -- 482 Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-4436
Moana Hotel -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 4753
Rengel Hotel -- Valencia St. / (048) 433-2584
Royal Oberoi Resort Hotel -- Esteban Rd., Sta. Monica / (048) 434-4920

Pension Houses
Abelardo's Pension --63 S. Manga St. / (048) 433-2049
Albon Pension -- 60 Lacao cor. Carandang St. / (048) 434-8582
Aldos Residence -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-2195
Amelia Pension -- 420 Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-7029
Aniceto's Pension -- 71 Reynoso St. / (048) 434-6667
Audisse Pension -- Malvar St. / (048) 433-4153
Balay Inato -- Manalo Ext., Brgy. Bancao-Bancao / (048) 433-2261
Banwa Pension -- Liwanag St. cor. B. Mendoza / (048) 434-7197
Celica Lodge -- Abueg St., Brgy. Bancao-Bancao / (048) 7672
Duchess Pension -- 107 Valencia St. / (048) 433-2873
JC Yayen Pension -- Manalo Ext. / (048) 433-2661
Jeshiela Guesthouse -- 319 Malvar St. / (048) 433-4157
King's Court -- 359 Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-4853
La Paragua International Guesthouse -- 263 Manalo St. / (048) 434-4464
Liberty Park Pension -- Liberty Road, Brgy. Maunlad / (048) 433-9783
Lola Itang Pension -- Roxas St. / (048) 433-2990 / http://www.lolaitang.cjb.net/
Mabini Pension -- Mabini St. / (048) 433-3311
Manggahan Pension -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-5286
Matutina Pension -- Taft St., Brgy. Kalipay / (048) 434-2496
Marina de Bay -- Sandiwa, Tiniguiban / (048) 433-5163
Payuyo Pension -- 200 Manalo St. / 433-2672
Puerto Pension -- Malvar St. /(048) 433-2969
RAQ Pension -- Malvar St. / (048) 433-2533
Rendezvous Lodge -- Macasaet St. / (048) 434-3136
Sheena's Cottages -- Libis Rd., San Pedro / (048) 433-3693
Skylight Apartelle -- 217-A Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-4872 / http://www.skylightapartelle.com/
Sonne Gasthaus -- 366 Manalo Ext. / (048) 433-4638
Venture Ville Pension House -- 155-A Dacuan Rd., Manalo St. / (048) 434-6236
VIM Pension -- 32 Fernandez St. / (048) 433-3190

Tourist Inns
Badjao Inn -- 350 Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-2179 / http://www.badjaoinn.com/
Baragatan Inn -- Junction 1, San Miguel / (048) 434-5289
Bulwagang Princesa Inn -- National Highway, Sta. Monica / (048) 433-2678
Bundal Inn -- San Miguel / (048) 433-5289
Casa Linda inn -- Rizal Avenue Interior / (048) 433-2606
Circon Lodge -- Valencia St. / (048) 433-2738
D Lucky Garden Inn -- PEO Road, Brgy. Bancao-Bancao / (048) 433-7869
Dangkalan Inn -- BM Road, San Manuel / (048) 434-9207
De Loro Inn -- PEO Road, Bancao-Bancao / (048) 434-8408 / http://www.deloropalawan.com/ Dorchezter Inn -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-6563
El Rey Residence Inn -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-2314
Garcellano Tourist Inn -- 257 Rizal Avenue / (048) 433-2314
Hillside Resort -- Sandiwa, Tiniguiban / (048) 433-7318
Pagdayon Travellers Inn -- Rizal Avenue / (048) 434-9102
Princesa Inn -- 169 Malvar St. / (048) 433-4218
Seaport Inn -- Malvar St. (near PPC Seaport)
Trattoria Inn -- PEO Road / (048) 433-2719
Tropical Sun Inn -- 152 Manalo St. / (048) 433-6493 / http://www.tropicalsuninn.com/





Monday, June 9, 2008

Palawan Travel Destinations -- General Introduction


Traveling to Palawan may be a bit bewildering, especially for first time travelers. This is because Palawan has hundreds of delightful destinations and this unending list of enchanting choices may be daunting at first look.


For practical purposes, however, and for easy reference, traveling to Palawan may be divided into three categories: traveling to Puerto Princesa City, traveling to the resorts and attractions of Northern Palawan Mainland, and traveling to the resorts and attractions of the Calamianes Group of Islands and environs.

Traveling to Puerto Princesa includes going to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, exploring the islands in Honda Bay or simply visiting the city's local places of interest like the Plaza Cuartel, the Crocodile Farm, or the Iwahig Penal Colony.

Traveling to the resorts and attractions of Northern Palawan Mainland may mean enjoying the beaches of Port Barton or San Vicente, ogling at the awe-inspiring limestone cliffs of El Nido, lazing in Club Noah in Taytay or Coco Loco Resort in Roxas.

Traveling to the resorts and attractions of the Calamianes Group of Islands means frolicking in the beaches of Coron, diving the World War II wrecks in Sangat Island, being on the lookout for giraffe and zebras in Calauit Island or simply whiling away one's time in the 100-year old town of Culion, the site of the Culion Leper Colony.

Not so ordinary mortals, however, get to the very exclusive Amanpulo Resort in Pamalican Island in the town of Agutaya and get to dive at one of the new seven wonders of the world, the Tubbataha Reef.





Palawan Tour Guide -- Introduction

Hello, my name is RO and I want to be your travel companion here in Palawan.

It is my wish that your visit to Palawan: whether it is to the Underground River in Puerto Princesa City, to the diving wrecks around Sangat Island in Coron or to the huge rock formations in El Nido -- wherever -- be memorable and meaningful. That is why I created this blog.

Through this blog, you can "visualize" what to expect in your trip and be armed with the necessary information that shall make your Palawan journey hassle-free.

Palawan is a beautiful place, whether mainland Palawan or the neighboring islands, especially the islands in Northern Palawan, in particular, the Calamianes Group of Islands. It is a place then to bond with friends and loved ones; to make memories, that is, in order to make our lives here on earth more meaningful.

Memories -- these are what remain with us as we grow old, especially when our hair turn gray and our teeth fall off.

Meaning -- this is what we look for in life, in the midst of our many preoccupations and distractions.

Travel with me, then, in Palawan and to its many delightful destinations.