Save Boayan Island!

What’s happening to the town of San Vicente in the province of Palawan is a prime example why we can’t entrust the lives and welfare of our people to our local officials. If we are to agree on a federal parliamentary form of government, we might yet end up with practically all prime and pristine lands of this country destroyed due to the capriciousness and rapaciousness of those who’ll rule this Paradise called Filipinas.

Residents of San Vicente are up in arms over the scare and bullying tactics being done by San Vicente mayor Antonio V. Gonzales. A former executive of the biggest logging firm owned by billionaire Jose Pepito Alvarez, Gonzales ran and won the mayoral post in this once quiet town. After winning the elections, Gonzales marshaled the entire town on a selling spree and for what? To transform the place into a multi-billion tourism estate.

Nothing wrong here except that, as of late, the construction of tourism facilities has already disrupted the ecosystem. A hill has already been destroyed and some age-old trees have already been cut. Natural springs have been destroyed and what’s worst, the pristine paradise called Boayan Island is now being threatened by commercial tourism interests.

It seems that Mayor Gonzales is lusting for millions of pesos worth of commissions from these tourism projects in exchange for destroying the natural wonder that is San Vicente, Northern, Palawan.

The target for this monumental environmental destruction in the name of commercial tourism is a 15 kilometer stretch of beach with world-class fine, white, powdery sand called Long beach. Long beach is reputedly better than Boracay beach sand. The buying spree started when the local government gave permission for commercial tourism companies to occupy these beach fronts. A marina is being built right now as we speak. Residents said the marina already destroyed the natural protective barriers that shield San Vicente from torrential storms and strong waves.

Aside from the Long beach, rapacious commercial tourist groups are eyeing the natural wonder called Daplac cove. Boayan Island is part of that cove of pristine wonder.

For local residents, Boayan Island is a place very close to their hearts. One of its residents, D. Roxas, a daughter of Sixto Roxas, has been living in the island for more than twenty years with her French husband. She described the place as a heavenly paradise, teeming with rich wildlife and a stretch of fine powdery sand.

An investment group called Palawan Cove Development Corporation in partnership with Boracay-based Discovery Suites has obtained a licence to develop the Daplac cove into a high-end luxury resort.

Nothing wrong with the vision except that it will totally destroy the ecosystem in Daplac, endangering wildlife and opening the place into more predations and environmental destruction brought by commercial tourism. Imagine thousands of uncaring tourists flocking to the place and trashing around. Just think of those tons of garbage destroying the natural beauty of Boayan Island, Daplac cove and the rest of the town of San Vicente in Northern Palawan due to commercial tourism.

This shows you how perverted the view of government in terms of tourism. Why Tourism secretary Ace Durano agreed on this is beyond me. Tourism is good, yes, because it generates employment and much-needed revenues. Yet, growth and progress should be tempered with environmental welfare.

Eco-tourism should forever be the policy of this government simply because these natural wonders which God gave us is not just for the present generation—it is also for the future generation of Filipinos to enjoy. These future Pinoys have every right to see their Motherland protected against commercialism.

Let this be our crusade. Every Filipino who loves the Motherland should see to it that these God-given gifts, like Daplac Cove and Boayan Island would not be ravished by these commercial tourist entities. If we need to launch a revolt against the government, we will.

Palawan–the pristine paradise of the Orient

 

Snake Island, Honda Bay...with no snakes,hehehe!

I was not surprised anymore when Palawan and Boracay, two of the best destination places here in this pristine beauty called the Philippines, were included in the World’s Best Tourist Spots. In my book, Bora and Palawan are two of the most exciting destinations just for their sheer natural beauty alone.

 

Ten years ago, I was fortunate to spend some days in Puerto Princesa. It was memorable for three things: first, it was a momentary respite from my duties as a broadcast journalist; two, it was an invitation to attend a wedding of a friend and three, Palawan was really my choice for an out-of-town trip since I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the place.

When the plane touched down at Puerto Princesa airport, all the exciting things about Palawan seem to rush headlong in my mind. The serenity of the place, the pristine beauty of the city, the age-old trees lining up the roads, the sunny smiles of the people–it was literally, an explosion of colors. To an urbanite, it was like being transported to another place, since we are accustomed to seeing grey, especially having lived in Makati for most of my life.

Gems of the Orient Paradise

 

What impressed me the most about Palawan is its people. They all speak both Tagalog and English, very accommodating and very friendly. Since I always travel as a backpacker with a set budget in mind, asking questions are part of my itinerary. I asked where’s the cheapest place to eat and they point me to a carinderia that caters to my taste. I asked where’s the most reasonable hotel and they led me to this nice, cute and airy inn which has the entire city center for a view. In any tourist destination, the people are the most important part of the whole package since they serve as their city’s “Customer Relations” , so to speak.

That trip led me to the crocodile farm, the Colon Penal colony, and other tourist-sy spots. Yet, two places which really got my nod–the Honda bay with its islands and the underground river, touted as the most beautiful place in Asia. I hired a banca and get to travel most of the islands off the bay–the bat island, etc. I also was able to eat fresh lumot, a delicacy and sea-weed from its natural habitat. I saw these huge bats, swarms of them, dangling in those huge trees at Bat Island. Those scenes still resonate in my mind even now. I don’t have pictures yet the experience is still with me.

 

the park of all parks

The best place though, is the underground river. I already travelled to Malaysia’s fabled beaches, saw Phuket’s virgin islands, trodded the road leading to Chiang Mai and even went to Cambodia’s legendary mountains and Java’s best offerings, but nothing beats the Underground River of Palawan. The river goes through this underground channel and my, the diversity of wildlife, the serenity of the place and the stark silence really transforms one’s soul. It was one commune with nature that I would love to go over and over again.

By the way, I almost forgot. Palawan is also for history freaks like me. It would be good to know that the first peoples of the Philippines first arrived in Palawan before fanning out to other places in the archiepelago. It would be best for those who promote Palawan to highlight the historical significance of the place as an important trading hub in the region before the Spaniards, the Dutch and the Europeans came. 

Someday, if I have money, I’ll invest in this place. I’ll buy land in Puerto Princesa and probably spend my retirement years there.