Puerto Princesa City and Palawan Province, and the Spratly Islands Thread [Archive] - Page 4

garzland

May 16th, 2009, 03:52 AM

PGMA’s signing of Tourism Law is a master’s stroke, Puerto Princesa tourism players say (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/PGMA_s_signing_of_Tourism_Law_is_a_master_s_stroke_Puerto_Princesa_tourism_players_say.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 16 (PNA) –“The new tourism law will immensely benefit Puerto Princesa’s tourism industry. This is a master’s stroke for our tourism program by President Arroyo,” City Tourism Council president Felisa C. Torres said.

Torres said the President’s action came when Puerto Princesa tourism stakeholders were all prepared for the influx of foreign tourists, especially today that Western countries affected by the global recession were gradually recovering from the economic turmoil that hit the world.

Puerto Princesa is known for its eco-tourism potentials.

“Newly signed Republic Act 9593, or the National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 will strengthen the industry, especially on tourism infrastructure,” Torres said.

Since last year, numerous hotels and other tourist accommodations were constructed in this city to accommodate the growing number of tourist arrival.

”Before, our tourist arrival was zero, particularly after the kidnapping incident at Dos Palmas. Today, with the intervention of our government, every day is a peak day. We no longer have a lean season,” she said.

The influx of local and foreign tourists skyrocketted due to the huge impact created by Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park’s winning the top rank in the first round of the global search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

”People from around the world become curious what’s inside the Underground River. Every day, a total of one thousand visitors enter the cave. Their stay brings in money into our stakeholders income. Everyone earns. The drivers, guides, vendors, farmers, fishermen, restaurant owners, local businesses and accommodation service providers all benefit from this program,” Torres said.

City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn always told the local media here that he had not conducted yet a massive information campaign to lure tourists from around the world to visit the city.

”I am afraid because if we do so, our existing facilities may not accommodate them all. That’s why we are glad that many investors are now establishing tourism-related businesses to assist us in the ‘tourism rush’ in our city,” Hagedorn said.

Under the law, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC) will be changed to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

It will be responsible for the marketing and promotion of the Philippines as a global tourism destination.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said "the law provides for a budgetary support of P500 million per year for promotions alone."

The law also reorganizes the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) into the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), a corporate body mandated to designate, regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones (TEZs).

The body will also develop, manage and supervise tourism projects in the country.

Local government units together with private enterprises may apply for the establishment of a TEZ in areas suited for tourism.

Entrepreneurs locating within the zone will be entitled to incentives previously given only to industrial locators.

The zones will be set up in strategic areas, such as Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Laguna, the Ilocos provinces, Pangasinan, Cavite, the Camarines provinces, Sorsogon, Boracay, Palawan, Iloilo, and other provinces.
They will boost the Philippines as a premier tourism destination in the Asia - Pacific region and the rest of the world. (PNA)

Rodel

May 16th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Coron is so beautiful!!!

[dx]

May 16th, 2009, 06:15 AM

^Yup! These pictures don't give justice to the place hehe

[dx]

May 16th, 2009, 06:23 PM

Kayangan Lake
Coron, Palawan
May 1, 2009

Kayangan Lake, which is located at Coron Island, Northern Palawan is said to be the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Sometimes called the Blue Lagoon, this freshwater lagoon is amidst sheer limestone cliffs. This beautiful picture-perfect scenery can be seen after a walk up a mountain trail.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/DSC_4626.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/DSC_4611.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/DSC_4609.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/DSC_4612.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/DSC_4684.jpg

reggiedoc

May 18th, 2009, 01:44 AM

Congratulations Palawan! Islands Magazine's 20th Annual Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner

http://www2.worldpub.net/images/isl/124-PhotoContest09_Grand_02.jpg.jpg
Grand Prize, Palawan by Jace Rivers

"I almost threw in the towel this particular evening since it had been raining. I was walking on El Nido Bay, and the sun came out at this moment. The water was shallow with the tide out, so it created this spectacular mirror effect. One villager collecting mollusks was silhouetted right in the middle of the frame. A lot of times, you have to get yourself in a situation where photos like this can happen. But sometimes they happen for you."

Taken with a Canon EOS 5D fitted with a Canon EF 24-70mm lens. The exposure was 1/640 second at f/8 and ISO 400. Prize: Eight nights in Fiji, including air and cruise for two, from Qantas Vacations.

ISLANDS Magazine, June 2009 Issue (http://www.islands.com/photocontest)

garzland

May 18th, 2009, 02:10 AM

Underground River in Palawan gets 500 visitors per day (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Underground_River_in_Palawan_gets_500_visitors_per_day.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 18 (PNA) -– The exposure of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) as a nominee and as the Philippines’ official bet in the world search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature has helped increase its visitors per day, according to travel and tours doing business her.

Gigi Lumauag, owner of Island Paradise Travel and Tours and One Rover’s Place lodging inn, said that since the PPSRNP figured in the N7W, the number of visitors who want to explore the stunning beauty of the cavernous “underground river” has increased from merely more than a hundred a few years ago to around 500 per day.

“The business bringing visitors to see the underground river is very busy these days. Summer has always been the best time of the year for them to come here and be one with the beauty of the park. We are happy that due to its nomination in the N7W, the number of domestic and foreign tourists who go to the park has increased and is giving us travel and tours the business opportunities we need,” Lumauag said.

Unlike in the past, Lumauag said getting permits to enter the subterranean river is no longer at the PPSRNP’s office at Sitio Sabang. “These days, you can’t just go to underground river without getting your permit here in the city because they now impose time,” she explained, adding that many who went to Sabang in Barangay Cabayugan were not able to enter the subterranean river because they can’t readily get permits.

At P1,500 per person, Lumauag said she’s sending at least 4-6 shuttle vans a day to underground river filled with domestic and foreign tourists who are eager to see Puerto Princesa’s pride.

“That’s just my travel and tour. What about the others, we have a lot who do the same business here,” she said.

The PPSRNP has also driven the establishment of more travel and tours businesses in the city, as well as restaurants catering to tourists. “We’ve gone past that stigma of where the abduction of tourists by the Abu Sayyaf happened before,” she stated.
As of May 14, the PPSRNP remains strong on the No. 1 spot in the live ranking of the N7W under Category E Nature Reserve and Nature Park, ahead of the Amazon and the Sundarbans Forest. Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn said that if the PPSRNP maintains its rank consistently until July, it will most likely be declared as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, which could further boost the city’s tourism industry. (PNA)

[dx]

May 18th, 2009, 02:10 AM

garzland

May 18th, 2009, 02:11 AM

500 youth benefit from SPES Program in Puerto Princesa (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Education_20/500_youth_benefit_from_SPES_Program_in_Puerto_Princesa.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 16 (PNA) – Some 500 students had availed the national government’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in Puerto Princesa City from April to May this year.

City Information Officer Alroben Goh said that each SPES beneficiary will be given compensation equivalent to the daily minimum wage.

The city government will shoulder 60 percent of the wage, while the remaining 40 percent will be given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through education vouchers which will be used by the students in paying for their tuition and books.

“Through the program, they not only earned but also learned basic job-related values,” Goh said.

The clients for this program are students and out-of-school youths who are 15 to 25 years old; who are enrolled during the present school year or during the school year immediately preceding the summer vacation.

Also beneficiaries are out-of-school youths who intend to continue their education; whose parents’ net income after tax does not exceed Php36,000 per annum; who obtained a passing school grade.

The mandate of the SPES program is enforced through Republic Act (RA) 7323 titled as “An Act To Help Poor But Deserving Students Pursue Their Education By Encouraging Their Employment During Summer and Christmas Vacations”.

The program is a direct intervention of the government for poor families and aims to support young students aged 15 to 25 years old who want to continue schooling.

The SPES was initiated in 1992 as part of the “President’s Kabataan 2000 Program” and the “Work Appreciation Program (WAP)” of the DOLE.

Meanwhile, SPES beneficiaries appreciated the City Government of Puerto Princesa under City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and the DOLE for their continued support and assistance as well as the City Employment Service Office (CESO) as the implementing arms of this program.

They also thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for signing into law an amendment to the said existing act that expands the employment opportunity of poor students to the mainstream workforce.

They are referring to Republic Act 9547, or the Strengthening and Expanding the Coverage of the Special Program for Employment of Students, an amendment of SPES.

Under this new law, poor but deserving students between 15 to 25 years old should be paid a salary not lower than the minimum wage for private employers and the hiring rate for national and local government agencies.

One good point of the law, Goh said, was that students enrolled in the secondary level should be employed during summer and Christmas vacations while those enrolled in tertiary level, vocational and technical education can be employed anytime.
”This shows that our national government really cares for our youth and their families. On our part, we will be supportive of this new measure to ensure its success by providing a counterpart fund for the purpose,” Goh said. (PNA)

Taga Bogo

May 18th, 2009, 03:27 PM

;36767290']Kayangan Lake
Coron, Palawan
May 1, 2009

Kayangan Lake, which is located at Coron Island, Northern Palawan is said to be the cleanest lake in the Philippines. Sometimes called the Blue Lagoon, this freshwater lagoon is amidst sheer limestone cliffs. This beautiful picture-perfect scenery can be seen after a walk up a mountain trail.

"This beautiful picture-perfect scenery can be seen after a walk up a mountain trail."

Hope you wont mind me asking how far or how long is a walk up a mountain trail?

[dx]

May 19th, 2009, 09:32 AM

"This beautiful picture-perfect scenery can be seen after a walk up a mountain trail."

Hope you wont mind me asking how far or how long is a walk up a mountain trail?

Just a short hike up a moderately steep cliff then down again to reach the lake. There are no concrete steps, however. You will be stepping on earth and limestone while holding on to makeshift railings. Hehe. It's fun!

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9057/dsc4586.jpg

Taga Bogo

May 19th, 2009, 11:08 AM

;36899034']Just a short hike up a moderately steep cliff then down again to reach the lake. There are no concrete steps, however. You will be stepping on earth and limestone while holding on to makeshift railings. Hehe. It's fun!

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/9057/dsc4586.jpg

I see, "There are no concrete steps, however. You will be stepping on earth and limestone" I think this is a more adventurous and natural way of accessing the lake. You certainly had tickled my travel itch, am in the scratching mode now :) but the urge is strong. Summer is officially over maybe next year... Will be visiting Coron web sites for a closer look see.

icarusrising

May 19th, 2009, 05:03 PM

http://eastgatepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/laventa.jpg

http://eastgatepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/_dsc3505.jpg

By Jojie Alcantara
Photos by Paolo Petrignanti/LA VENTA

My excitement upon visiting Puerto Princesa came from curiosity at first. I’m from Davao City, which has a lot in common with Puerto Princesa. Apart from both claiming to be the largest city in the country (Davao has a land area of 244,000 hectares, and Puerto Princesa has 253,982 hectares), both are also consistent and proud recipients of Presidential Awards like the Cleanest and Greenest Highly-Urbanized City in the Philippines.

But once I arrived at the airport for a three-day trip, my mind became more open to exploration. Puerto Princesa is teeming with lush, dense forests, amazing and unique species of flora and fauna (I have read that Palawan was once connected to mainland Borneo millions of years ago, thus having closer similarities with the wildlife of Borneo). Imagine living in a quiet provincial city with a tropical paradise within its borders.

Read the full article in our April 2009 issue. (http://eastgatepublishing.com/category/mabuhay/travel/)

Narnian_King

May 19th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Mamaya, ito ang topic sa isang documentary show ng ABS-CBN.

garzland

May 20th, 2009, 02:23 AM

Palawan lawyers launch free legal aid program (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Palawan_lawyers_launch_free_legal_aid_program.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, May 20 (PNA) -– Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Palawan chapter are giving free legal consultations to the public as part of the program being pushed for implementation by the Supreme Court to aid the efficient and effective administration of justice especially in cases involving indigent litigants.

Atty. Nesario Awat, IBP chapter vice president and legal aid director, said their members have already confirmed their respective schedules of tendering legal consultation at the IBP office in Capitol Complex, this city.

”A number of clients have availed of the free legal consultation during its launching and we decided to do the free consultation every Friday afternoon. We found this program to be very beneficial especially for those who cannot afford to pay this kind of legal service,” Awat said.

The free legal assistance is provided in the Rule on Mandatory Legal Aid Service which the Supreme Court has approved last February 10 aimed at enhancing “the duty of lawyers to society as agents of social change and to the courts as officers thereof by helping improve access to justice by the less privileged members of society and expedite the resolution of cases involving them.”

Under the Rule, a practicing lawyer, among others, shall coordinate with the Clerk of Court or the Legal Aid Chairperson of one’s Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Chapter for cases where the lawyer may render free legal aid service. The 60 hours shall be spread within a period of 12 months, with a minimum of five hours of free legal aid services each month. A practicing lawyer shall also be required to secure and obtain a certificate from the Clerk of Court attesting to the number of hours spent rendering free legal aid services in a case.

At the end of every calendar year, any practicing lawyer who fails to meet the minimum prescribed 60 hours of legal aid service each year shall be required by the IBP, through the National Committee on Legal Aid (NCLA), to explain why the lawyer was unable to render the minimum prescribed hours. The NCLA shall make a report and recommendation to declare a lawyer “not in good standing” if a lawyer fails to give an explanation for said failure or the NCLA finds the explanation unsatisfactory.

IBP-Palawan chapter is among the first local chapters which complied with the Supreme Court’s memorandum.

It is also one of the country’s active lawyers’ group. In fact, it has been in the forefront of historic legal tussles recently.

”We were the only group that opposed the proposed territorial baseline of the country declaring Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal as mere regime of islands,” Atty. Gerardo S. Dilig, newly elected chapter president said.

Kalayaan Island is the 23rd municipality of Palawan.

The lawyers’ group also spearheaded the conduct of public rallies in Puerto Princesa and in the towns at Southern Palawan where it opposed the inclusion of Balabac and Bataraza in the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity as provided in the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain signed between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last year.

Consequently, member-lawyers filed a petition at the Supreme Court which questioned the constitutionality of the MOA-AD.

Dilig’s group also represented Palawan during the oral argument at the Supreme Court defending the province’s rightful revenue claim from the Malampaya Deep-Water-Gas-to-Power Project.

Dilig replaced Atty. Carlo Gomez as president of local IBP.

Other new officers are Atty. Francia Bueno-Secretary, Atty. Liezel Zabanal-Treasurer, Atty. Philip Ray Nangkil-Auditor, and Atty. Joselito Alisuag-PRO.
Members of the board of directors are Atty. Gomez, Judge Felomino Vergara (Ret), Atty. Allan Carlos, Atty. Elena Vergara-Rodriguez and Atty. Leah Delos Reyes-Baguyo. (PNA)

Taga Bogo

May 20th, 2009, 04:09 AM

Brandon32

May 21st, 2009, 04:51 AM

I strongly believe that the spratlys belong to us...Kaya china, vietnam and other claimants back off!
Anyway does the philippines maintain a strong presence in the spratlys? i mean hows our defense and monitoring capabilities in these precious islands?

[dx]

May 21st, 2009, 06:15 PM

I see, "There are no concrete steps, however. You will be stepping on earth and limestone" I think this is a more adventurous and natural way of accessing the lake. You certainly had tickled my travel itch, am in the scratching mode now :) but the urge is strong. Summer is officially over maybe next year... Will be visiting Coron web sites for a closer look see.

No worries. Kayang-kaya akyatin hehe.

Yep, it's the perfect way to enjoy the lake - after huffing and puffing your way up and down the cliff and after sweating like a pig, you will behold this enchanting azure lake enclosed within limestone cliffs - and all you will ever think of is to just dive in and enjoy the cool, calm and clear waters. :okay:

Chrisvenz

May 21st, 2009, 10:22 PM

Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj53/svenz_2008/IMG_9934.jpg

Taga Bogo

May 22nd, 2009, 05:17 AM

;36636232']Thanks :) Yup, I'm more into landscapes and nature photography. Now you're really making me more interested in visiting Puerto Princesa.

;37029936']No worries. Kayang-kaya akyatin hehe.

Yep, it's the perfect way to enjoy the lake - after huffing and puffing your way up and down the cliff and after sweating like a pig, you will behold this enchanting azure lake enclosed within limestone cliffs - and all you will ever think of is to just dive in and enjoy the cool, calm and clear waters. :okay:

your description and picture makes the huffing and puffing and sweating like a pig WORTH it.

You had mentioned this when I described puerto "Now you're really making me more interested in visiting Puerto Princesa". guess its my turn to say "Now you're really making me more interested in visiting Coron" :) A dose of my own medicine :)

OK I give up, now stop the tempting already :)

[dx]

May 22nd, 2009, 07:05 AM

your description and picture makes the huffing and puffing and sweating like a pig WORTH it.

You had mentioned this when I described puerto "Now you're really making me more interested in visiting Puerto Princesa". guess its my turn to say "Now you're really making me more interested in visiting Coron" :) A dose of my own medicine :)

OK I give up, now stop the tempting already :)

^:lol: Palawan is such a paradise. I can't wait to see the rest of the island. I heard the southern part of Palawan is also breathtakingly beautiful.

Taga Bogo

May 23rd, 2009, 06:34 PM

;37060954']^:lol: Palawan is such a paradise. I can't wait to see the rest of the island. I heard the southern part of Palawan is also breathtakingly beautiful.

I have not given the southern part that much thought. I was told that there is only one other worth visiting, the name slips me now, but its a cave where they dug up some early pre hispanic Philippine settlement.

Perhaps another point when I mentioned that its the world heritage cave, coron and tubataha that are getting most of the media coverage. Sure would be nice if someone can post something of what is/are there to see on the southern part of Palawan Island

Brandon32

May 27th, 2009, 05:36 AM

Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj53/svenz_2008/IMG_9934.jpg

wow! ang ganda ng pagkakakuha ng pix na ito:banana:

tonight

June 1st, 2009, 10:03 AM

US ‘no position’ on Spratlys row—Gates (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090601-208260/US-no-position-on-Spratlys-rowGates)
By Marlon Ramos, Thea Alberto

MANILA, Philippines – The United States has refused to be drawn into the dispute by several countries over Spratly Islands, and hoped that the issue would be resolved peacefully.

United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is in the country for talks on RP-US defense relations, told a press conference Monday that the US has “no position on those claims” when asked about the issue.

The Philippine Congress passed the baselines bill earlier this year, claiming ownership of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, including the Spratlys.

Other claimants to what has been reported as an oil-rich territory are China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

"We always want all parties involved to solve these issues clearly, peacefully," said Gates.

Gates arrived in the country shortly before noon Monday, a day after his flight was delayed due to mechanical problems in his Boeing 747 plane.

Gates, who formerly served as director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, arrived at 10:55 a.m. at the Balagbag Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.

The highest Pentagon official who visited the country in recent years, Gates was accompanied by his wife Becky and an entourage of about 40 military officials.

A media advisory from the Department of National Defense said Gates had just attended the Shangri-La Dialogue, an international forum of defense and military officials in Singapore.

Gates was welcomed by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his wife, Tarlac Representative Monica Prieto-Teodoro.

Armed Forces chief General Victor Ibrado and other military flag officers also greeted the US defense secretary who was accorded with planeside military honors.

Airport and US embassy officials did not allow media interviews as Gates and his party immediately left the airport on board a convoy of about 12 vehicles.

Gates is scheduled to leave the country within the day after a brief meeting with Teodoro in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

garzland

June 4th, 2009, 03:52 PM

Puerto Princesa is “City of Natural Wonders” (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Puerto_Princesa_is_City_of_Natural_Wonders.shtml)

Puerto Princesa City, June 2 (PNA) - From being tagged “the City in a Forest” because of its lush greeneries that form thick forest covers within where residents live en masse, Puerto Princesa has been given a new label -- that of being “the City of Natural Wonders” – for its world famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) and other most remarkable creations in the natural environment.

The plan to launch the new label, according to Rod Saucelo of the city government, is now being studied thoroughly to highlight not just Puerto Princesa’s verdant forest but also its other eye-catching features, such as Hunda Bay, crystal clear beach waters, hidden caves such as Ugong Rock in Barangay Tagabenit, mangrove forests, the luminescent fireflies at Iwahig River, gray’s spinner dolphins at Puerto Princesa Bay, the thick mangrove forests in Barangay Cabayugan and many more.

Saucelo said the idea started as a suggestion from a foreign guest who commented that the slogan “the City in a Forest” only connotes areas in Puerto Princesa with high densities of trees and not its other unique features.

It may be launched on June 5, 2009 during the Environment Month in the city and during a planned activity of the Global Legal Action on Climate Change (GLACC).
But despite the absence of the formal launching, the “the City of Natural Wonders” catchphrase is already being used by ABS-CBN to encourage support for the BayaniJuan, according to Saucelo. (PNA)

***

Hagedorn is optimistic Puerto can beat Boracay’s prominence (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Hagedorn_is_optimistic_Puerto_can_beat_Boracay_s_prominence.shtml)

Puerto Princesa City, June 2 (PNA) -- City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn is optimistic that by 2011 Puerto Princesa can surpass the prominence and fame of Boracay, one of the most active and enthusiastic tourism capitals of the Philippines.

In an interview with the city mayor Monday morning, he said that the city government is not yet ready for a full blast tourism campaign this year because of lack of hotels and other infrastructures to cater to the needs of visitors.

However, by 2011, with the completion of the Puerto Princesa International Airport and the operation of several newly constructed hotels, accommodations will increase, and will make Puerto Princesa ready to welcome more domestic and foreign guests.

In the city, Hagedorn said visitors will not only enjoy white sand beaches, but also activities such as island hopping, mountain climbing, diving, bird watching, dolphin watching, firefly watching, and others related to eco-tourism.

Sceneries in Puerto Princesa alone, the mayor said, are postcard-perfect and can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to commune with nature.

“By 2011, I don’t think we can rest. Imagine, in underground river, we get so many visitors. How much more if the airport is already completed by then?” Hagedorn said.
He further added that by that time, there’ll be no coastal squatters. The area will be turned into a boulevard where people can enjoy healthy morning and afternoon walks and a sunrise, sunset view of the bay, he said. (PNA)

CGYanon

June 8th, 2009, 03:31 PM

Cacao Pearl Island was featured in May/June edition of The Traveler.
http://micida.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/insula-5.jpg
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/table-of-contents

Brandon32

June 8th, 2009, 05:15 PM

Cacao Pearl Island was featured in May/June edition of The Traveler.
http://micida.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/insula-5.jpg
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/table-of-contents

:eek2::eek2::eek2: wow!!

hakz2007

June 10th, 2009, 08:12 AM

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:41:00 06/10/2009

Filed Under: Spratlys, Laws

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The Palawan government Tuesday said it would join forces with legal experts, led by UP law professors Merlin Magallona and Harry Roque, in questioning the legality of the recently enacted baselines law.

Vice Gov. David Ponce de Leon said the decision was made following the move of the Solicitor General, not only to postpone the oral argument scheduled next Tuesday by the Supreme Court on Palawan’s claim over the Camago-Malampaya gas field, but also to dismiss the petition altogether.

Ponce de Leon said the Solicitor General added a seventh issue to the national government’s second and latest advisory to the Supreme Court opposing Palawan’s ownership of the Malampaya area because the baselines law had already determined the country’s new territorial boundaries.

Dismissal seen

“They (national government) want this case dismissed in light of the passage of the baselines law which redefined the boundaries of the Philippine territory,” Ponce de Leon, a former congressman and dean of the Palawan State University College of Law, said in reference to the seventh issue raised by the Solicitor General.

The Supreme Court was set to rule on several issues pertaining to Palawan’s claim over the Malampaya gas field located some 80 kilometers offshore near the northern town of El Nido.
It had scheduled an oral argument from both sides, which the Solicitor General had asked to postpone.

Ponce de Leon, who is heading the Palawan legal panel, said the government asked the Supreme Court to rule first on the Magallona petition, and has submitted a new motion to dismiss altogether the Malampaya petition for being “moot and academic.”

“It looks like we will have to manifest our interest in acting as co-petitioners in the Magallona petition,” he said.

The provincial government earlier took a neutral stand on the baselines bill after Congress agreed to incorporate in the final version of the measure a reference to the province of Palawan’s continued territorial jurisdiction over the Kalayaan municipality in the disputed Spratly Islands.

“Our main concern is our vested rights over the natural wealth. But there is also an evident conflict between the baselines law and Republic Act 7611 (a special law on environmental protection of Palawan passed in 1992) which defined our boundaries,” Ponce de Leon said.

He said while RA 7611 drew the boundaries of Palawan to as far as 100 kilometers offshore, the new baselines law has effectively reduced it to 12 nautical miles, effectively cutting off the Camago-Malampaya gas field from Palawan territory.

Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090610-209661/Palawan-questions-baselines-law)

bledzoe

June 11th, 2009, 05:00 PM

http://anton.blogs.com/flag/large.jpg

HAPPY 111th INDEPENDENCE DAY!

credit to Mr. Anton Diaz for the photo.

SUV111

June 12th, 2009, 12:40 AM

Happy 111th Independence Day

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3617299663_afa6a80872_o.jpg

garzland

June 21st, 2009, 01:10 AM

Puerto Princesa girds for tree planting feast (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Puerto_Princesa_girds_for_tree_planting_feast.shtml)

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso

Puerto Princesa City, June 20 (PNA) –- It’s Pista Y Ang Kagueban (Feast of the Forest) here on June 27, and the city government is now busy preparing for the annual tree planting celebration at the Irawan Watershed in Barangay Inagawan.

For 19 years now, the Pista has been successfully bringing thousands upon thousands of people to the mountains of Irawan to plant trees to prevent its soils from eroding. Irawan is a watershed area that serves as major source potable water of the city.

Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and the city government expect more than 50,000 people to participate in this year’s Pista to plant more than a hundred thousand fast growing and fruit bearing trees on a 15-hectare site that’s now being readied by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

As a customary, free rides on military trucks, buses, jeepneys and other modes of transportation will begin to ferry residents and revelers to the site as early as 5 a.m. from the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum.

Talented novelty artists Wency Cornejo, Cookie Chua, Noel Cabangon, Gary Granada and the Jerks band have been invited to perform in a rock forest concert on the day of the tree planting feast.

On the eve of June 26, the city will have them at the coliseum for a concert to reminisce on the beginnings of the Pista through songs.

“For 19 years, we have been celebrating the Pista with the residents of Puerto Princesa and since then, many visitors and guests have joined us. The concert the night before will allow those who do not know the history of the feast of the forest to understand why we are always planting trees every year,” Hagedorn said.

According to records of the City ENRO, 19 years have already brought to life 1.97 million trees in Inagawan and other sites where the feast was held. It is expected to increase to 2 million this year.

To promote the rehabilitation and conservation of Puerto Princesa's forests and marine ecology, the city initiated Bantay Puerto or Puerto Princesa Watch, composed mainly of civilian volunteers and employees, supported by police personnel handpicked for their integrity.

One of the major components of Bantay Puerto is Bantay Gubat or Forest Watch, which is tasked with the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of the city's forest areas.

To rehabilitate denuded areas of the city's forestlands, the program embarked on a massive reforestation scheme. Dubbed as "Pista Y ang Kageban" or Feast of the Forest, it has annually mobilized 30,000-50,000 people from all walks of life and greatly succeeded not only in terms of the number of trees actually planted, but also in inculcating the proper attitude among the Puerto Princesans toward tree planting and conservation.

“Puerto Princesa has gone a long way from a city whose economic and social future was threatened by an almost irreversible damage to its natural environment. Despite the fact that we’re still facing challenges, in environment protection, Puerto Princesa is a model of sustainable development,” Hagedorn added. (PNA)

hakz2007

June 29th, 2009, 10:44 AM

Kalayaan Islands (http://nicesioc.multiply.com/photos/album/20#21)

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2765/41211765.jpg

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3268/37083075.jpg
General Senga

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Pag-asa Airstrip

hakz2007

June 29th, 2009, 10:49 AM

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/650/28253222.jpg

patoy

July 5th, 2009, 04:14 PM

wow! ang ganda ng pagkakakuha ng pix na ito:banana:

beautiful!

bonixx

July 8th, 2009, 11:52 AM

Anyone can post ng concert sa Undergroun River napanood ko yun sa report ni Marc Logan...

tonight

July 10th, 2009, 02:45 PM

Underground river makes '7 wonders' semis (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090710-214819/Underground-river-makes-7-wonders-semis)
By Redempto Anda

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines -- The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the country's single remaining entry to a Web-based voting for the seven new natural wonders of the world, has made it to the semifinal round of the ongoing selection process.

The organizer of the campaign, the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation, announced Thursday the 77 semifinal winners which made it to the penultimate round of selection following a year of email-based voting where over one billion votes were cast over the Internet with the Philippine's lone entry making the cut.

Based on the predetermined process of selection, an international panel of experts will evaluate the remaining 77 sites and will select the 28 finalists to be announced on July 21 based on a set of criteria determined by the organizers.

A final round of Internet voting will then be held for another year until the seven winners are determined and declared in 2011.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn said the city government, which has launched a full-blown campaign to solicit votes for the country's lone entry, was confident the subterranean river would make it to the list of 28 finalists.

"I'm really pleased that we made it this far, even with little support from the national government, considering that we were competing with entries like the Amazon, which is being supported by at least five countries," Hagedorn said.

Puerto Princesa's underground river, a cave complex that features a two-kilometer navigable route underneath a limestone formation, has attracted hundreds of thousands of local and foreign visitors, particularly during the last two years after it was first nominated as one of the country's several entries in the global voting campaign.

The underground river topped the first phase of the selection process during the first year of the campaign, which involved over 400 entries from all over the globe, leading other previous Philippine nominees including the Tubbataha Reefs, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Mayon Volcano and several other entries.

Also making the top 77 entries are popular natural attractions such as Australia's Great Barrier Reefs, Brazil's Amazon Forest, the Grand Canyon in the United States, and Mt. Olympus in Greece, among others.

Organizers, however, noted that the semifinal has included many places that are less known to the public.

The organizers explained that the criteria for final selection will include: unique beauty of the nominated site; diversity and distribution across and among the different site categories, including landscapes, ice formations, islands, mountains, volcanoes, caves, rock formations, valleys, forests, national parks, nature reserves, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, seascapes; ecological significance (both as ecosystems and/or in their significance for humans); historical legacy (relations that humans have or have had with the site); geo-location (even distribution of the 28 official finalists between continents and countries).

The 28 finalists will be announced in Zurich at the New7Wonders Foundation headquarters on July 21. Votes are cast on this website: www.new7wonders.com.

:okay:

garzland

July 11th, 2009, 03:10 AM

New protected area declared in Palawan with US$ 5.5-B economic value (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/New_protected_area_declared_in_Palawan_with_US_5_5-B_economic_value.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, July 11 (PNA) - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo extended the area of Palawan under formal protection and conservation by 30 percent with the recent signing of Proclamation 1815, which officially created the 120,000-hectare Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL).

Mt. Mantalingahan is home to indigenous Palaw’ans and is the highest peak along the central spine of mountains in southern Palawan. The new protected area is within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipalities of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Quezon, Rizal and Sofronio Espanola.

This largely forested mountain range is critical for providing various ecosystem services that benefit the local communities with an estimated Total Economic Value (TEV) of US$ 5.5 billion.

These ecosystems services include water, soil conservation, flood control, carbon sequestration, non-timber forest products and the high potential of waterfalls, caves and other potential areas for tourism. The watersheds within MMPL are extremely valuable to the lowland agricultural economy in the area.

The protection of all the 33 watersheds of the MMPL will not only ensure the integrity and health of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems but also importantly, the marine ecosystems particularly along the South China Sea on the west and the Sulu Sea on the eastern flanks of Palawan where these watersheds drain.

Both seas have been declared as priority seascapes of the Philippines by President Arroyo during the CTI Leaders’ Summit in Manado, Indonesia last May.

The proclamation of MMPL demonstrates the commitment of the current administration in carrying out the country’s National Plan of Action as well as contribute to the Regional Plan of Action for the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security.

The MMPL also adds to the country’s list of protected areas, and moves the Philippines closer to the government's 2010 target for the Convention of Biological Diversity.

It is of high biodiversity importance, being one of the 17 terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas and one of 11 important bird areas in Palawan, as well as one of only 10 sites of the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) in the Philippines.

Romeo B. Trono, Conservation International-Philippines Country Program director, believes that Mt. Mantalingahan has finally received the recognition and protection that it deserves. He said its proclamation as protected area is a very important step in ensuring the well-being, not only of the rich biological resources, but more importantly, the well-being of the people of Palawan.

According to Sofronio Espanola Mayor Marsito C. Acoy, chair of the South Palawan Planning Council, this undertaking demonstrates excellent collaboration among the local government units, national government agencies and non-government organizations.

All stakeholders within the 36 barangays of MMPL, the Zonal Development Advisory Board, the Provincial Development Council, Provincial Legislative Board, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, the Office of the Second Congressional District, the Regional Development Council, the indigenous communities and the religious sector have favorably endorsed the establishment of Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape.
The experience in Mt. Mantalingahan now creates new opportunities for more collaborative work among institutions in achieving conservation goals in Palawan. (PNA)

Rodel

July 11th, 2009, 11:02 AM

TheAvenger

July 11th, 2009, 08:08 PM

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/jibrael_2007/jibrael_2009/China-claims-Paracel-Spratly-Island.gif

February 22, 2009 AT 8:19 AM •

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today slammed the 2009 Baseline Bill, saying that it kowtows to the demands of the Chinese government for the Philippines to surrender its claim of sovereignty over the Kalayaan Islands (Spratly Islands, in international nomenclature) and nearby Scarborough Shoals.

The bill was approved Wednesday by the Senate and House of Representatives and will soon be signed into law by Arroyo.

“This is nothing but a sellout to China in exchange for the largesse that Gloria and Mike Arroyo have been receiving from corrupt Chinese bureaucrats and big compradors,” said the CPP. “Since Gloria Arroyo began entering into numerous anomalous deals with Chinese officials and corporations, she has been pressing for the outright elimination of the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough Shoals from the Philippine baseline in order to give way to the claim of the Chinese government of sovereignty over the islands.”

While formally maintaining “territorial jurisdiction” over the Kalayaan Islands and Scarborough Shoals, the new baseline bill decisively downgrades the Philippine claim of sovereignty over these through their recategorization as a “regime of islands.”

The recategorization, supposedly in recognition of claims by other countries, upsets the old baseline bill that was passed into law as Republic Act 3046 (in 1961) amended by Republic Act 5446 (in 1968) and which includes all areas covered by the archipelagic theory, the surrounding 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and all other areas covered by international treaties since 1898 and presently under the jurisdiction of the Philippines. The old national baseline includes the Spratly Islands, which are only 25 kilometers from the southern tip of Palawan and currently under the jurisdiction of the provincial government of Palawan and garrisoned and occupied by Philippine military forces.

Interest in the Spratlys was heightened after the first major Philippine natural gas discovery in 1976 occurred within the scope of the islands, which now accounts for 15% of all petroleum consumed in the country. The Spratlys, a cluster of islands, shoals, islets, cays and reefs at the edge of the South China Sea, and their surrounding waters harbor rich mineral and oil reserves and other natural resources.

With the recategorization of the areas as a “regime of islands,” albeit supposedly “under Philippine sovereignty”, the Philippine government has surrendered its exclusive claim over the group of islands and its waters, thus decisively weakening the Philippine claim. In response, China has reiterated its absolute and exclusive claim to the islands. Despite the watering down of the Philippine claim, the Chinese government has formally objected to the wording of the new Philippine baseline bill which still posits a token claim of national sovereignty over the islands.

Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are also claiming ownership over the Kalayaan Islands in part or in whole. “The new baseline bill is the pound of Philippine flesh that the Arroyos are paying back to big Chinese bureacrats and corporations in exchange for the millions of dollars in bribe monies Gloria and Mike Arroyo have accumulated from highly overpriced government contracts, including the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal, North Rail and South rail projects, Cyber-education projects, Mount Diwalwal mining deal and other bribery and corruption-ridden deals with Chinese corporations,” the CPP stated.

The CPP said further that “The Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) which Arroyo signed with Chinese officials in 2004 was a particularly heinous act of national treachery. The deal allowed China to undertake exclusive seismic exploration and data acquisition in and around the Spratlys, resulting in the Philippines’ loss of valuable pieces of information regarding the natural wealth in the disputed area.” After the study was completed by the end of 2005, China’s Geology and Mineral Resources Ministry had estimated that the Spratlys area holds oil and natural gas reserves of 17.7 billion tons, much bigger than the oil reserves of Kuwait, which has the fourth biggest oil reserves in the world. “None of this information has been shared with the Philippines,” said the CPP.

http://www.pinoypress.net/2009/02/22/arroyos-new-baseline-is-a-sellout-to-china-cpp/

Features
• Pagasa Island (Thitu Island
• Likas Island (West York Island)
• Parola Island (Northeast Cay)
• Lawak Island (Nanshan Island)
• Kota Island (Loaita Island)
• Patag Island (Flat Island)
• Panata Island (Lankiam Cay)
• Rizal Reef (Commodore Reef)
• Balagtas Reef (Irving Reef)
• Ayungin Reef (Second Thomas Reef)
Details
37.2 ha. (2nd largest), pagasa means hope
18.6 ha. (3rd largest), likas means natural or evacuate
12.7 ha. (5th largest), parola means lighthouse

7.93 ha. (8th largest), lawak means vastness
6.45 ha. (10th largest), kuta means camp
0.57 ha. (14th largest), patag means flat
0.44 ha. (15th largest and the smallest, panata means oath
Rizal is named after Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines
Balagtas is named after Francisco Balagtas, a famous Filipino poet
Ayungin is a Philippine-endemic fish species with scientific name Leiopotherapon plumbeus

Maps and Photos of our Kalayaan Islands Group :

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http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/jibrael_2007/jibrael_2009/scarboroughtreef-fromSailingDirecti.jpg

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http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/jibrael_2007/jibrael_2009/B1-spratlyvietnam.jpg

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General Senga in Pagasa Islands June 27, 2006

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One of the Kalayaan islands.

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Kota island (old name Loaita)

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Overtaken by Chinese military forces in 1991.

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Pag-asa Islandhttp://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/jibrael_2007/jibrael_2009/pag-asa4.jpg

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Pag-asa airstrip.

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PAF plane in Pag-asa island.

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Parola Island.

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Parola and Pugad Island.

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Patag Island (old name Flat island)

RonnieR

July 15th, 2009, 04:26 AM

I scanned this from Biz New Asia magazine, July 6

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/Photo306.jpg?t=1247623948

icarusrising

July 15th, 2009, 02:05 PM

San Vicente: The 'next big thing' in Philippine tourism? (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=485881&publicationSubCategoryId=87)
KRIPOTKIN By Alfred A. Yuson Updated July 12, 2009 12:00 AM

How big is big? That’s the first question. Second: Do you know the way to San Vicente?

Well, now I do. It’s a 3.5-hour drive north from Puerto Princesa. The first two hours are on a good concrete road built by a South Korean contractor, a good part of it still within the city’s boundaries, albeit as a national highway — until one reaches Roxas town, still on the eastern coastline. The rest of the way it turns rough, veering off northwest to cross the breadth of the island, up and down a mountain to the west coast, where El Nido is also located farther north.

The first-class municipality of San Vicente is 194 kilometers from the humongous capital. The last 50-something kilometers wind through verdant forest, where one slows down on a mostly dirt road with patches of mirage-like concrete here and there. In the rainy season it turns muddy, with rivulets running down from hillsides. Parts are being upgraded by work crews. The plan is to have it all cemented to cut down travel time to 2.5 hours.

For some years now, we’ve heard of San Vicente as yet another relatively unknown destination touted as “the next Boracay.” In fact those who have a stake in the area contend that it’ll surpass Boracay when it does get developed. The prime boast is the fabled 14-kilometer Long Beach of white sand — the gently undulating coastline between barangays New Agutaya and Alimanguan.

If you Google “San Vicente, Palawan” you’ll find most of the entries leading to websites making various pitches for real estate. One objective commentary has it: “And what does sleepy San Vicente have? Well, it has a long stretch of beach... No hotels. No resorts. No restaurants. Nothing. Only raw land, pure and simple... (It’s) all so far just a real estate play.”

A 2.5-hectare beachfront property is being peddled online for a discounted P17.5 million, while a whopping P37.5 million is the tag price for a 1.5-hectare lot with a 60-meter beachfront directly facing Imuruan Bay, said to be only 10 minutes from the new airport.

Indeed, ground has been broken for an international airport, with backhoes and bulldozers already leveling hectares of former rice fields close to the town proper. The powers-that-be reportedly managed to convince most of the rice farmers to sell and move out, while a few have remained adamantly in place despite continuing pressure.

Presently, everything seems to point to a grand conundrum for the future of San Vicente. While it’s touted as “the next big thing” for Philippine tourism, environmental issues appear to be hounding its planned development.

At least a couple of artist-friends have established idyllic havens in the area. One is the painter Diokno Pasilan, who with his Scottish-born wife purchased a 150-meter-long beachfront at Kabantagan 10 years ago, and built a large wooden house cum terrace that rests two meters above ground on large poles.

Red squirrels frolicking on coconut trees at sunrise and spectacular sunsets are daily fare. Now that the couple is based in Australia with their seven-year-old son, the solar-powered house may be rented at a modest P1,500 a day or P7,500 a week. It comes with a caretaker, an outrigger, drinking water from a waterfall nearby, an LPG-powered ref, and beds and linen for six.

In 1988, Ma. Mercedes “Ditchay” Roxas leased 11 hectares of shore and forest in Daplac Cove in Boayan Island, the largest of the outlying islands off San Vicente. For 21 years now, she and her family have lived in harmony with the fisher folk, pioneering efforts to conserve and protect the ecosystem of a prized habitat of endangered species: the Tabun Bird, white Philippine cockatoos, green sea turtles, and fragile species such as Palawan hornbills, eagles, falcons, kingfishers, parrots and giant pigeons, monitor lizards, the bearded wild boar, and rarely seen sea otters.

Her house of no walls, fences or barriers has been featured in various magazines. It has hosted Palawan officials as well as a Tourism undersecretary, who lauded her fine example of land stewardship. For her pains as an assiduous caretaker, now her family has been declared illegal occupants of timberland, with criminal charges filed against them. Why? Because Daplac Cove is being eyed as a satellite resort development to complement the big plans for San Vicente.

But a robust brava! for Ditchay, who’s fighting back the best way she knows, appearing in environmental forums, writing in provincial publications and leading a crusade by way of the Internet. She argues eloquently that the campaign against her is simply “to pave the way for a huge real estate and resort development project of a well-known Manila-Boracay resort group... Once again money and greed are buying up huge tracts of land, displacing people and destroying the inestimable natural capital of the public for the sake of private interest.”

What price development? The question has been asked countless times in our islands, no less so in Palawan, which as a lovely last frontier faces serial tug-of-war on such issues as logging, mining, quarrying, and unabated commercial development.

Last month, on the occasion of the week-long Baragatan festival, the opportunity presented itself for the long drive to San Vicente to check out fabled Long Beach. Little did we know that our small party would be in for quite a shock.

We saw the airport site clearing operation, and surmised that the “visionaries” behind it must have rendered quite a sales pitch to have successfully included San Vicente as part of the President’s Super Region Growth Corridor in Western Visayas. Puerto Princesa already has an international airport, and completing the highway for a 2.5-hour ride to San Vicente seems more feasible, let alone cheaper. Presently, the town only enjoys four hours of electricity, so that concerns are raised over the viability of a future power plant.

And yet the airport a-building is scheduled to open by next year, or 2012 at the latest, with rosy predictions of direct flights from Bali, Kota Kinabalu and Bangkok, so that San Vicente can compete with Phuket, Pattaya and Bali, “and will make Boracay a small congested dot in the local tourism arena.”

That boast is part of the ongoing sales pitch for real estate, similar to what follows: “Price of properties, particularly beach front properties, has steeply risen in the past two years due to the construction of the new airport that can handle an Airbus 300-320 and Boeing 737-400... Property prices now range from P2,000 to P3,500 per square meter for beachfront property in Long Beach. As soon as the first airplane lands on or lifts off the runway, property price will also skyrocket up to P10,000+ per square meter. The minimum price of Boracay’s beachfront property now is P20,000 per square meter. Act now before it is too late. Invest in San Vicente and watch your investment grow in a matter of 4 years.”

Hmm. So is Long Beach all that great to attract investments and impel concerted growth?

We stepped on the beach and marveled at the shimmering stretch north and south, as far as the eye can see. The sea was calm and rolling in gently. The usual aroma bushes and a few coconut trees dotted the foreshore. The sand was soft and powdery, but it certainly wasn’t dazzlingly sugar-white, rather cream-ish pink, conceivably golden at magic hour. Nor was the beachfront as wide and of the gentlest slope as in Boracay.

The feeling was not unlike being in Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, except that there it was an extended crescent beach marking a large bay. Long Beach is definitely enticing, as one can look up and down the coast and feel so minute as an intruder.

There are actually over 50 kilometers of non-contiguous white beaches in the area, inclusive of bays and coves and outlying islands. The next big thing in Philippine tourism? No one can close the door to the idea, but what a grand vision and strategic plan it’ll take. Maybe in 20 years it will be set in place, albeit we hope that not too many transgressions against both habitat and habitués would have been committed.

That hope is instantly dashed when on another road back to the poblacion, we’re confronted with the sight of a mountain that’s been chopped off. The site called Logpond in Sitio Panindigan is in full view of the town proper. We drive right to the location, and indeed, despite the signs we’ve seen posted around town warning against any quarrying, this mountainside has been dug up, trees and all, and all the soil apparently relocated to what looks like a vast flatland across the road.

It turns out that the dumping site used to be a six-hectare fishpond maintained by San Vicente Mayor Antonio Gonzales. Now it’s been filled up with all the ground that’s been scoured off the mountain. The purpose? To convert those six hectares into a marina that will extend from the nearby coastline, to complement a planned “first-class resort.”

Back in Puerto Princesa, we learn that a case has been filed against the mayor for “illegal extraction of quarry and illegal hauling of filling materials,” since the operation that started last April has been conducted without any permit from the provincial government. Last May, the mayor was served a cease-and-desist order from the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB), but he reportedly dismissed the procedure, claiming that the company that owns the 14-hectare mountain site already had an MOA with the DENR with regards tree-cutting, and that even the registration of chainsaws with the Palawan Council for Sustainable development (PCSD) was unnecessary.

Thus, the extraction and disposition of quarry materials continues. After all, it’s in the Mayor’s very own turf. Even more curious, the resort development company is said to involve other Palawan small-town officials as well as a private investor, Michael Gleissner. Now that name rang a bell.

Gleissner made his I.T. fortune in Germany and fell in love with Mactan, where he’s set up his version of “Hollywood East,” the Bigfoot studio and post-production facility training young Pinoy filmmakers besides churning out B-type action movies. A naturalized Filipino since 2006 by act of Congress, Gleissner has reportedly plunked down a billion pesos for the grand plan for San Vicente. But did he know that a mountain would be illegally lopped off as part of the development vision? We doubt it.

Local officials involved apparently ignore environmental laws because they couldn’t care less, save for future profit. Besides, a padrino is a peso billionaire whose name everyone in Palawan knows to have been associated with logging before the ban on the profitable enterprise. Jose “Pepito” Alvarez is a nephew of Mayor Antonio Gonzales of San Vicente. But it’s the uncle, also a Palawan migrant, who is the nephew’s henchman. Pepito Alvarez plans to run for Governor of Palawan next year.

Before we can even talk of so-called ecological viability requirements as the main feature of the Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) for Palawan, per RA 7611, or the Forestry Code or any Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN) zoning plans for the province, maybe we should just put it all down into one re-formed question:

Do we know the way for San Vicente?

garzland

July 17th, 2009, 01:57 AM

Coron airport in northern Palawan attracts more tourists (http://positivenewsmedia.com/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Coron_airport_in_northern_Palawan_attracts_more_tourists.shtml)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, July 16 (PNA) - The tourism industry in the municipality of Coron is more vibrant and lively now with the completion of the airport in Busuanga.

Al Linsangan III, president of the Calamian Association of Tourism Establishments (CATE), attributed this development to the completion of improvements at Busuanga Airport under the support of the office of 1st Palawan District Rep. Antonio C. Alvarez.

Coron, a second class municipality that is part of the Calamian Group of Islands (CGI) in northern Palawan, now enjoys five to six service flights a day by commercial airlines Cebu Pacific, Seair, Philippine Airlines and Zestair.

Linsangan said the changes since the completion of the airport are more noticeable due to the increase of tourist arrivals this year, the construction of various tourism-related establishments, and the opening of other related businesses.

Christine Michelle Gesta, acting tourism operations officer of Coron, noted that from January this year to May, they have already logged 18,555 visitors who passed through the Busuanga airport.

This is a 75-percent increase from last year’s tourist arrival of 13,980.

“Aside from a bigger airport, the municipal government’s rigorous tourism campaigns also helped improved its popularity to travellers not just nationwide, but around the world,” Gesta said.

She explained that due to the expanded airport, Coron is getting around 300 to 400 guests a day, brought in by the three airlines. The longest they stay is usually four days, which usually give an occupancy rate of 80 percent.

“The people of Coron really feel the benefits of an improved tourism industry. The tricycle drivers, those who sell souvenirs, and the owners of pension houses and lodging inns here, and the restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. Right now, we’re having constructions left and right of tourism businesses,” Linsangan added.

Alvarez, on the other hand, expressed happiness over what was reported by Linsangan.

He said the completion of the Busuanga Airport was also because of the hard work by Coron Mayor Mario T. Reyes and the local officials of the town.

“Even before, I already believed that Coron has a potential in tourism. And not just Coron, but the whole Calamianes Group of Islands. I am happy that my office’s efforts to assist in putting in place the infrastructures it needed had made the people of this town benefit,” Alvarez stated.

Apart from the completion of the Busuanga Airport, Alvarez and Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes have pulled funds together for the cementing of the 2.9-kilometer road from the airport to Poblacion, Coron.

“Governor Reyes and I pulled our funds for the cementing of the airport road. I allocated P50 million from the Malampaya fund for the cementing of the national highway, that’s 2.9 kilometers from Barangay Guadalupe to Barangay Bintuan that’s now finished. The additional P40 million from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is for the airport access road,” he added.
From his district office’s initiative, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allocated P150 million for Coron from Korea as an aid under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in November 2008. (PNA)

diego

July 19th, 2009, 08:40 AM

I scanned this from Biz New Asia magazine, July 6

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/Photo306.jpg?t=1247623948

Have they started building this one?

TheAvenger

August 3rd, 2009, 08:56 AM

By MICHAEL RICHARDSON
Special to The Japan Times

SINGAPORE — America's protest last week to China over the alleged harassment of two of its navy ships by Chinese vessels, and China's reaffirmation of ownership of the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, highlight two festering maritime disputes. Either position could lead to conflict in the region unless it is carefully managed.

The tiff between Washington and Beijing resurrects a long-standing disagreement over the rights of coastal states in Exclusive Economic Zones that extend for 200 nautical miles from their shores, and the procedures to be followed by foreign military ships and planes when using EEZ waters and airspace.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/impeccable.jpg
US Navy reseach vessel "Impeccable"

The United States says its unarmed ocean surveillance ship Impeccable was about 120 km south of China's Hainan Island last Sunday towing sonars, when it was forced to leave the area after Chinese vessels engaged in "dangerous maneuvers" nearby. The Pentagon says another U.S. surveillance ship had been harassed days earlier in the Yellow Sea, 200 km from China's coast.

U.S. ocean surveillance vessels probe the ocean to gather acoustical data and detect underwater threats. Their work helps the U.S. Navy strengthen its antisubmarine defenses.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/chinese-ships-harass-uss-impeccable.jpg
The US Navy research vessel "Impeccable" being harassed by PRC vessels.

Although the U.S. has not signed the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea that regulates ocean use, it insists that its military ships and planes have freedom of navigation and overflight in "international" waters, including EEZs of foreign states.

China, which has signed the law of the sea treaty, maintains that military operations, hydrographic surveying and intelligence collection by foreign ships or planes can be carried out in an EEZ only with permission from the coastal state. Some Asian countries take a similar view, even though they may be reluctant to challenge the U.S. or other naval powers in the way China does.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/usresearchvessel.jpg
A US Navy research vessel at Subic a few days after the incident at South China Sea.

China's military power is growing steadily, a fact underscored by the announcement earlier this month that the Chinese defense budget will increase by nearly 15 percent in 2009 despite the economic slump. China's ambitions to become a naval power with global reach was also underscored by the recent deployment of Chinese warships on anti-piracy operations off Somalia, and official statements that the Chinese Navy plans to build and operate aircraft carriers.

China's muscle-flexing in its EEZ is not new. In March 2001, a Chinese frigate confronted the U.S. Navy survey ship Bowditch in China's EEZ. The following month, a Chinese jet fighter crashed off Hainan, killing the pilot, after it collided in midair with a U.S. Navy EP-3 electronics surveillance plane.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/1947_South_China_Sea_Islands_Map.jpg
Chinese map claiming almost 80 percent of the South China Sea.

The American aircraft was so badly damaged it made an emergency landing on Hainan, where the crew of 24 was detained by the Chinese military for 11 days, straining U.S.-China relations and causing a temporary break in defense contacts between the two countries.

There have also been reported intrusions by North Korean and Chinese trawlers equipped for spying into Japan's declared EEZ in recent years, and Hanoi has protested Chinese military exercises in Vietnam's claimed EEZ. China's claims to ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea bring it into conflict with other claimants, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Last Monday, China posted an official comment on its Foreign Ministry Web site after the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi the week before had inspected Layang Layang, an atoll off Sabah that China says is part of its Spratly Island territory.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/414px-1947_Nanhai_Zhudao.png

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing asserted that China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the widely scattered Spratly archipelago and "their adjacent waters," but added that it was ready to resolve disputes through consultation.

Beijing's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea are far-reaching and may cover as much as 80 percent of the whole area. It is the only claimant state that will have the military strength to enforce its title, although the cost to its relations with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and major users of the South China Sea, such as the U.S., Japan and South Korea, could be high.

There is already a voluntary code of conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China. It is designed to prevent conflict. There is also a set of nonbinding guidelines for navigation and overflight in East Asia's EEZs. The guidelines were published following an international meeting of maritime experts in Tokyo in 2005.

However, neither arrangement is consistently observed because countries involved put their security and economic interests ahead of regional peace and stability. They need to reverse the order and negotiate durable accords to ensure that small-scale clashes do not spiral into something far more serious.

Michael Richardson is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20090315a3.html

TheAvenger

August 3rd, 2009, 09:15 AM

Press Release
June 17, 2009
Reported Collision between Chinese Submarine
and US underwater sonar Raises Policy Questions

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2009/0617_biazon2.asp

Rodel

August 8th, 2009, 01:13 AM

shyaman

August 10th, 2009, 01:26 PM

The back cover of National Geographic's August 2009 issue has the Palawan hornbill...

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/NG01.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/shyaman_king/NG02.jpg

[dx]

August 11th, 2009, 05:08 AM

Kayangan Lake
Coron, Palawan
by julesnene
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/julesnene/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3620185456_58c0134974_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3631040041_86f0876b6c_b.jpg

[dx]

August 11th, 2009, 05:40 PM

The Beaches of Coron
by Wind-Up Bird (http://www.flickr.com/photos/claireanne/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3520433748_249567d0ba_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3519619291_b54084da62_b.jpg

in_a_rush

August 12th, 2009, 08:25 PM

WOw! ang ganda!

Brandon32

August 13th, 2009, 02:50 AM

Guys good morning...i heard san vicente is the next big thing in philippine tourism! ang lapad pala ng airport na ginagawa dyan...pang world class!

TheAvenger

August 13th, 2009, 10:52 AM

.

Pls see Jibrael Angel Blog for the latest photos of Pag-asa islands.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/jibrael.jpg

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/

.

[dx]

August 13th, 2009, 11:07 AM

El Nido, Palawan
by smampitiyarachchi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/smampitiyarachchi/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/2252171474_2b11abf80c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2252172730_a74d81dc4b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2251380241_552ef9dfc6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/2251379087_e9e251f106_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2251367303_7a15717143_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2252166792_b1f7f635c9_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2252173878_84efd5c398_b.jpg

[dx]

August 13th, 2009, 11:10 AM

Calauit, Palawan

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3185057158_e1a8ef0f94_o.jpg
by rickysy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickysy/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3616721688_38ec91895c_o.jpg
by jpacifics (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpacifics/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3425849868_988b30a784_b.jpg
by bjonsioco (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullet_sx10is/)

TheAvenger

August 13th, 2009, 11:53 AM

Tuesday, 11 August 2009
By TESSA JAMANDRE

THREE months after three other countries formally submitted to the United Nations their claims over the disputed Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), the Philippines finally registered its protests to those claims.

Two protests to the unilateral submissions of Vietnam and Palau and another on the Joint Submission of Malaysia and Vietnam were filed by the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

The diplomatic protests were received by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the United Nations in New York on Aug. 4, shortly before the deadline. The Philippines almost exhausted the 90-day period given to states to lodge their protest. (Download Philippine protests to the claims of Malaysia, Vietnam and Palau.)

Malaysia and Vietnam on May 6 formally made a joint claim on the southern part of the South China Sea as part of their continental shelf. China promptly protested the submission the following day. Vietnam filed its own protest on May 8, while Malaysia’s note verbale in reply to China’s protest was received on May 20.

Malaysia claims Sabah
One of the areas that Malaysia is claiming as its extended continental shelf was clearly projected from Sabah, thereby effectively declaring Sabah to be a Malaysian territory. Its claim also covers the outer edge of the continental margin in the southern part of the South China Sea, an area that includes the KIG which the Philippines has declared as a regime of islands under its baselines law.

http://verafiles.org/index.php/focus/300-rp-protests-claims-over-kalayaan-islands-before-un

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 04:43 AM

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (St. Paul's Underground River)
by Storm Crypt
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3186986868_0409035d71_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3195935278_b1b0e09bc5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/3191851111_0199f719e1_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3200539886_b1555db03b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3207857957_b1854885ba_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3209857028_31cece4073_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/3067410882_4d3fd1fdc8_o.jpg

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 04:44 AM

Aerials of some Spratly Islands/Reefs/Atolls
by Storm Crypt
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/storm-crypt/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/440531808_dcaa44b1ca_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1352/837420339_43a8aefd7c_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/837384775_596835a498_o.jpg

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 04:45 AM

Pls see Jibrael Angel Blog for the latest photos of Pag-asa islands.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af217/cris46/blog.jpg

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing! :applause:

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 07:21 AM

San Vicente, Palawan
The Philippines' longest stretch of white sand beach
by Darren A.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/66886622@N00/)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/960358119_7d64fff813_o.jpg

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 07:24 AM

San Vicente, Palawan
Source (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23461299@N08/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2236353656_cc26468c37.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2115/2236354086_b455510bef.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2236354744_e11c17bd67.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/2235565085_15133f7b43.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2336/2236354434_12a5304879.jpg

[dx]

August 14th, 2009, 07:26 AM

Bright prospects for Palawan (http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/opinion/14394-bright-prospects-for-palawan.html)
Written by Ernesto Hilario / About Town
Monday, 10 August 2009 22:19

Palaweños have ample reason to be happy these days. First of all, the Subterranean Natural Park in Puerto Princesa is now an official candidate for the global campaign to determine the Seven New Wonders of Nature. This is a project of the New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland. The foundation recently pruned down the list of candidates for the distinction from an original 440 to just 28. The final results of the Internet-based voting for the top seven will be known in 2011.

For a while, there were concerns that the Subterranean Natural Park—also known as the “Underground River”—was losing steam in the Internet voting. Now, the fact that Puerto Princesa’s pride is in the top 28 should allay that fear.

There was, however, another concern earlier. The emergence of the Underground River in the global tourism market’s consciousness was expected to trigger a surge in tourism arrivals in Puerto Princesa City, and in Palawan province as a whole. This was a welcome development but also a cause for much worry, especially among the local government officials of the city and province. Why? There were serious problems related to electric-power distribution.

The apprehension was that the power outages which plagued Puerto Princesa and other parts of the province just might drive tourists away. Word-of-mouth is still considered the best marketing tool in the tourism sector. It is also the easiest way to kill the bright prospects of a popular tourist attraction.

But Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, along with other Palawan leaders, came to the rescue and worked together to make sure that the power- distribution woes do not fester. Reyes urged the major players in the province’s power sector to put their acts together to stave off the possible worsening of the situation there. He also pushed for the signing of an interim power-supply agreement between Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) and its most important power source, Delta P.

The Reyes-initiated agreement will make sure there is more than enough power supply for Paleco to distribute, particularly during the peak tourism season—which in Palawan means practically the whole year.

Both Reyes and Hagedorn worked round-the-clock during the critical period in Puerto Princesa’s power- supply situation. Their perseverance led to cooperation among local power-industry players. Earlier, Palawan’s other executive and legislative leaders also pushed hard for an early solution to the power situation.

Paleco and Delta P are reported to be awaiting the final approval of their agreement by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The ERC imprimatur would make permanent the stability of the power situation in Palawan. Reyes’s and Hagedorn’s marathon solutions have buoyed the prevailing optimism in Palawan’s tourism sector.

Other major tourism developments are taking place in the province, and these can now proceed without fear of instability in the power situation. These include the development of a five-star resort in the island of Coron by Banyan Tree Holdings, a leading developer of hotels, resorts and spas in the Asia-Pacific region.

Palawan was voted in 2007 as a tourist destination “with the best beaches in all Asia” by the popular travel magazine Conde Nast.

Apart from the positive develop-ments in the power sector, we’re glad that Puerto Princesa’s airport has already undergone much-needed improvement. This is an important piece of news since the airport used to be the object of complaints. With its airport now spruced up with more comfortable check-in and passenger waiting areas, the island-province should be able to further boost its stock in the local and international tourism markets.

It used to be that bureaucracy and politics caused the loss of good opportunities for the country. But the story of Palawan is a clear exception. The collaboration between the national government represented by Energy Secretary Reyes, and the local government represented by Mayor Hagedorn and the rest of Palawan’s officialdom, has saved the day for Palawan tourism. Productive collaboration such as this, it should be emphasized, will benefit the entire country in the long run.

TheAvenger

August 15th, 2009, 08:54 AM

philstar.com) Updated August 15, 2009 12:00 AM

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/China-claims-Paracel-Spratly-Island.jpg

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - China rejects Philippine plans to extract oil from the Reed Bank in the disputed South China Sea as a violation of Chinese sovereignty, Beijing's ambassador said yesterday.

China claims almost the entire sea, including the Spratlys which are also partly claimed by the Philippines. Reed Bank is in the South China Sea but is closest to Palawan island, which is uncontested Philippine territory.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/map1_rpterritory.jpg

Jose Raymond Apostol, president of Forum Energy Philippines Corp., which has completed its geophysical survey and exploration contract, says it is only waiting for a go-ahead from the Department of Energy to begin extracting oil.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=496221&publicationSubCategoryId=200

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/northdangerreeftomischiefreef.jpg

Definitely Reed Bank is inside the 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone as mentioned by the UN Conference on Law of Sea whether it was measured from the Continental Shelf or from PGMA and Miriam-sponsored new Philippine Territory's baseline.

However the new Baseline Law have complicated the status of our Kalayaan Islands Group and the Reed Bank. The new Baseline Law which lessen our territory have weakened our claims and emboldened the PRC Chinese to became more aggressive.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/PalawanandKIG.jpg

Our country must start the oil drilling in Reed Bank and should not be cowed by the warlike behaviour of the neo-colonialist and neo-imperialist Peoples Republic of China and Taiwan. Our only problem is the unpatriotic and treacherous national leaders who have sold our national interest to China

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/15A4.jpg

/af217/cris46/sell-out3verafeles.jpg[/img]

Please continue reading a the below web link:

http://www.verafiles.org/index.php/focus/203-void-new-baselines-law-urge-constitutional-law-experts

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/2kigandreedbank.jpg

Pls continue reading at the below web link :

http://magdaloparasapagbabago.blogspot.com/2009/03/final-baselines-bill-sell-out-trillanes.html

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/3reedbank.jpg

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=090220b;refer=kr;lang=eng

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/4reedbank1.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/5reedbank3.jpg

VIDEOS :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxYkXdsZtcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrSW_hElAlI

Rodel

August 16th, 2009, 01:19 AM

Guys good morning...i heard san vicente is the next big thing in philippine tourism! ang lapad pala ng airport na ginagawa dyan...pang world class!

yes, i also heard that in the news when i was in palawan....this could be the gateway to el nido.

in_a_rush

August 16th, 2009, 04:34 AM

any pics of the construction of the san vicente airport? kahit render man lang?

wise_zech

August 16th, 2009, 08:35 AM

wla ako masasabi.....ang masabi ko lng wow pang world class talaga ang pinas parang wla ako sa pinas......thanks our mother earth nature......

wise_zech

August 19th, 2009, 06:38 PM

bakit wla sya picture?

[dx]

August 21st, 2009, 04:28 AM

Aerial Photos of El Nido, Palawan
Photos and captions by saatinlang (http://www.panoramio.com/user/933191)

El Nido town
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/ElNidoTown.jpg

Lagen Resort - http://www.elnidoresorts.com/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/LagenResort.jpg

Miniloc Resort
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/MinilocResort.jpg
Miniloc Resort is at the southeast side of Miniloc Island. It is centrally located of all the El Nido Islands and is the best location if you want to explore all the beauty of El Nido Coves or Beaches.

Matinloc and Tapiutan Islands
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/Miniloc_TapiutanIslands.jpg
From the left is Tapiutan Island and then Matinloc Island. From the right side of Matinloc Island, look at the lower right of the picture, there is a another secret beach, which is bigger and accessible by boat. You have to go to either side of the big rock to access the hidden beach.

Tapiutan Beach
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/TapiutanBeach.jpg
This my favorite beach spot of all El Nido Group of Islands. It is situated on the East side of Tapiutan Island facing Matinloc Island overlooking Matinloc Shrine. It is a big area with two interconnected nice beaches when you go further north. Actually it is on Tour C when you go on a boat ride from El Nido Town. It is a good place to camp, but you have to get a permit from local authorities in El Nido Tourism Office.

Secret Beach
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/SecretBeach.jpg
This is located on the west side of Matinloc Island, just below and after Mount Horn, if you came from Tapiutan Strait (from the north).

[dx]

August 21st, 2009, 12:53 PM

Giant Plant That Eats Rodents Discovered in Southeast Asia
(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,541142,00.html)
A giant plant that can gobble up bugs and even rodents has been discovered in Southeast Asia. The carnivorous plant (nepenthes attenboroughii) was found by researchers atop Mt. Victoria, a remote mountain in Palawan, Philippines. The research team, led by Stewart McPherson of Red Fern Natural History Productions, had learned of the plant in 2000 after a group of Christian missionaries stumbled upon it while trekking up a remote mountain and reported it to a local newspaper.

The discovery, announced last week, was detailed in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. The pitcher plant is the world's second largest and can grow to more than 4 feet tall, with a pitcher-shaped structure filled with liquid. The plant secretes nectar around its mouth to lure rats, insects and other prey into its trap. Once an animal has fallen in, enzymes and acids in the fluid break down the carcass of the drowned victim.

"All carnivorous plants have evolved to catch insects but the biggest ones, such as this one, can eat rats and frogs," McPherson told LiveScience. "It's truly remarkable that a plant this big has been undiscovered for so long."

The world's largest pitcher plant (nepenthes rajah) was discovered in 1858 by British naturalist Hugh Low in Borneo. The plant's rat-eating habit was confirmed four years later when his colleague Spenser St. John found a drowned rat inside one of the specimens.

Though some have approached McPherson to ask about the likelihood of cultivating the monster plants as mouse traps for rodent-infested regions like New York City, the botanist (who also happens to specialize in pitcher plants) says he finds the idea "a bit far-fetched."

"Mice and rats are attracted to the sweet nectar of the plant, but it only catches them occasionally," says McPherson. "It just isn't practical. There will be too many mice for the plant to catch anyways."

http://www.foxnews.com/images/554137/0_21_090819_monsterplant02.jpg

[dx]

August 22nd, 2009, 08:33 AM

Aerial Photos of El Nido, Palawan
Photos and captions by saatinlang (http://www.panoramio.com/user/933191)

Culasa Point
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/CulasaPoint.jpg
Norhtern side of Matinloc Island before entering Tapiutan Strait on the right.

Tapiutan Lake
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/TapiutanLakw.jpg

Calaragnan Point
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/CalaragnanPoint.jpg

Matinloc Shrine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/IlogBay.jpg

Ilog Bay
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/MatinlocShrine.jpg

victorlachica

August 24th, 2009, 10:43 AM

Ive been there in Kalayaan Island wayback in Dec 25 2006

[dx]

August 24th, 2009, 12:06 PM

Tubbataha Reefs
Sulu Sea

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2545311450_7143ecac40_o.jpg
by scubaschnauzer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maracleo/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3406242232_99e18200d2.jpg
by Erwin Lim, winner of "Best ASEAN Tourism Photo 2008"

attitude2win

August 25th, 2009, 09:41 AM

El Nido is really breathtaking. Hopefully I'll visit the place soon... The entire place is just as magnificent like Coron... Truly amazing talaga.... I'll save enough budget for you EL Nido :banana:

hecky12

August 26th, 2009, 10:18 AM

regardingn sa banggaan ng US at china sa philippine waters e dun ka magtataka na talagang nag spy na ang chinese tungkol diyan.. its about time na siguro para sa makabagong kagamitan para matukoy natin kung sino sino ang mga pumapasok sa teritoryo natin..

china cant push through ng ganun ganun lang.. masisira sila sa international community.. well... may kakayahan naman talaga sila.. kaya tayong mga pinoy wag ng impokrito na paalisin ang mga sundalong kano sa bansa.. dahil wala tayong kalaban laban pag inatake tayo...

TheAvenger

August 26th, 2009, 10:36 AM

bakit wla sya picture?

There was a technical problem with Photobucket.

Anyhow, the Photos of Pag-asa Island of KIG can be viewed in Jibrael Blog.

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2009/08/two-days-in-paradise-pag-asa-islands-of.html

(just click the above web link)

axel(08)brixx

August 27th, 2009, 04:49 AM

Baka nga nasa harap na ng Malacañang sa ilalim ng Pasig River ang spy ng ibang bansa di pa nila ma detect :c :ohno:

TheAvenger

August 27th, 2009, 07:14 AM

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/1KIGpag-asascalmwater.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/2KIGastrandedPNship.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/3KIGcrawlingpurplelillies.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/4KIGphilnavyboats.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/5KIGafishermanfromPalawan.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/6KIGbananaleaves.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/7KIGbunker.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/8KIGc130.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/9KIGfishermanboat.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/10KIGsoldiercollectsand.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/12KIGseedlingsbegintosurface.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/13KIGevenvandalsclaimownership.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/14KIGabrokentractor.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/15KIGoilbarrelslaypiledup.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/16KIGmembersvisitingcontingent.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/18KIGshellscoralsandpebbles.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/22KIGsoldiersgathersalteddalagangbu.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/23KIGasoldiergrins.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/24KIGsoldierswife.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/25KIGthesoldiersbathroom.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/51KIGvisitingfisherfolk.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/58KIGsoldiersheadovertotheseashore.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/59KIGbuddysoldiers.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/61KIGboodlefight.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/62KIGwivesofsoldiers.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/63KIGhungrysoldiers.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/64KIGsoldierspray.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGAC-130leavepermanentmark.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGthealmostforgottenPNghostship.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGacoolwindbreezes.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGahermitcrabcomesout.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGasoldierbottlesupsands.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGavisitingsoldiersstrikesapose.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGbeachrunway.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGkodakmoment.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGlargestonesserveasnaturalbarrier.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGpag-asaseashore.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGpicturepicture.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGrocksextendouttosea.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/KIGsoldiersrestandchat.jpg

The above photos were courtesy of GMANews.TV-PhotoEssays.

http://www.gmanews.tv/htmfiles/photoessays/twohoursonparadise/

wise_zech

August 28th, 2009, 12:32 PM

El Nido is really breathtaking. Hopefully I'll visit the place soon... The entire place is just as magnificent like Coron... Truly amazing talaga.... I'll save enough budget for you EL Nido :banana:

OT: yup ur ryt super ganda talaga ung lugar na yan....

c6josh

August 28th, 2009, 03:30 PM

[QUOTE='[dx];41593136']Aerial Photos of El Nido, Palawan
Photos and captions by saatinlang (http://www.panoramio.com/user/933191)

El Nido town
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/dxpsycho/ElNidoTown.jpg

I like the aerial view of El Nido it looks similar to Bahamas or Caribbean in Mexico, so beautiful...definitely worth your every penny. sana may mga cruise ship din mag dock...and built more first class resorts.

wise_zech

August 29th, 2009, 12:11 PM

guys tanong lang po dyan na nakabase ang mga military natin dyan?

wise_zech

August 29th, 2009, 12:13 PM

this is my dream place to visit soon.....

TheAvenger

August 29th, 2009, 01:33 PM

guys tanong lang po dyan na nakabase ang mga military natin dyan?

Yes, naka base sila dyan since 1968 during former Pres. Marcos term.

Philippine occupation

The Philippines sent troops to the Spratly chain for the first time in 1968. It prioritized large islands such as Pagasa (Thitu) Island, Likas (West York) Island, Parola Island (Northeast Cay), Kota (Loaita) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, and Pugad Island (Southwest Cay). Two small islands, Patag (Flat) Island and Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), were also occupied. Both are less than a hectare in size.

To further the claim of the Philippines on the island group, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, on June 11, 1978, formally annexed the Kalayaan Islands by virtue of Presidential Decree No.1596 to the Palawan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policies,_activities_and_history_of_the_Philippines_in_Spratly_Islands#History

Brandon32

August 29th, 2009, 04:47 PM

^ marcos did a good job in securing our territory...he even planned to invade malaysia just to get back whats ours: SABAH...kaya lang hindi natuloy kasi somebody leaked it to the media...its an ambitious move by marcos but if it happened..its worth a fight...mas ganado siguro ang mga sundalo nating makipaglaban lalo nat ang kalaban ay hindi natin kaano-ano...lalo nat what at stake is our own territory...

chris_nigel

August 29th, 2009, 04:56 PM

oo nga sayang naman pero past is past...saludo ako sa mga sundalo natin na nasa Pag Asa island mahal ko kayo lahat dyan...dahil sa pagbabantay nio sa ipinaglalaban nating teritoryo

kenken94

August 29th, 2009, 04:59 PM

^^

Parang gusto niyo yata giyerahin yung Malaysia ah.........

Me galit kayo?

_______________________________

Mabuti nga.......... patulong tayo sa Indonesia kasi pareho tayo ng gusto..........

rY17

August 31st, 2009, 01:27 AM

may minahan na ba ng oil tayo dyan?

TheAvenger

August 31st, 2009, 02:00 AM

.

Sa Reed Bank malapit sa Palawan ay may nadiscovered na Oil in commercial quantity pero
hindi makapag simula ng Drilling dahil ina-asungot at tinatakot ng China ang foreign oil
company na gustong magsimula ng drilling doon.

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/KIG%20AND%20CHINA%20SEA/15A4.jpg

Ang Oilfields ng Pilipinas sa El Nido Palawan ay matagal nang nag-pro produce ng Oil.

You tube Videos of Kalayaan Islands Group :

TVyE12yQXpM

QRH5xLeBDws

V77NlemThqA

5Hf2or9FpFY

EaLhYj4a90E

ybz8M1TRc6o

YbhKcv3NYCc

YCujfKueDBU

.

lilmissanna

September 1st, 2009, 10:09 AM

hi guys! been there in palawan this summer 009... i love the sceneries... puerto princesa is earth's last eden talaga... no wonder, daming tourists palagi... :)

wise_zech

September 1st, 2009, 01:51 PM

hi guys! been there in palawan this summer 009... i love the sceneries... puerto princesa is earth's last eden talaga... no wonder, daming tourists palagi... :)

may mga picture ka dun bai?

Pagualon

September 2nd, 2009, 06:50 AM

having the united nations involved in this, there could be a "backdoor" way for the philippines to bring the sabah claim into international bodies.

the malaysians always refused to bring this forward to an international court, since the philippines also included sabah in its baseline bill and opposes the bill malaysia put forward by having sabah as their state.

very interesting development. a good development for the phils, i know how nervous the malaysians are , when it comes to sabah..heheheheh ..good so!

wise_zech

September 2nd, 2009, 01:13 PM

Yes, naka base sila dyan since 1968 during former Pres. Marcos term.

Philippine occupation

The Philippines sent troops to the Spratly chain for the first time in 1968. It prioritized large islands such as Pagasa (Thitu) Island, Likas (West York) Island, Parola Island (Northeast Cay), Kota (Loaita) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, and Pugad Island (Southwest Cay). Two small islands, Patag (Flat) Island and Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), were also occupied. Both are less than a hectare in size.

To further the claim of the Philippines on the island group, the late President Ferdinand Marcos, on June 11, 1978, formally annexed the Kalayaan Islands by virtue of Presidential Decree No.1596 to the Palawan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policies,_activities_and_history_of_the_Philippines_in_Spratly_Islands#History

matagal na pala sila d2.....saludo ako sa military natin dyan.....:guns1:

TheAvenger

September 2nd, 2009, 01:16 PM

Limiting Palawan’s jurisdiction isn’t just about who gets control of US$10 biilion in revenues

The position of the national government that the Malampaya natural gas project is outside the territory of Palawan province has implications more far-reaching than cornering the entire US$8.1 billion to $10 billion expected revenues from the reservoir, experts say.

Should the court decide in favor of Malacañang, Palawan will lose its entitlement to multi-billion-dollar earnings not just from Malampaya but from 2 other commercially viable oil fields in its waters, Galoc and Nido-Matinloc.

Aside from these, there are more than a dozen other explorations in the waters around mainland Palawan for potential oil and gas deposits. In other parts of the country, 19 other explorations are being conducted, although most of them are inland.

Legal experts also say that if the national government will not recognize Palawan’s jurisdiction over Malampaya, it will weaken the country’s territorial claim on the Spratlys islands in the South China Sea.

Effectively shrinking Palawan’s territory will place the Philippine farther from the Spratlys; currently, it is the claimant country nearest the oil-rich group of islands.

The case filed by the provincial government of Palawan against the national government, to invoke its right to get legally mandated 40% of the gross revenues from the Malampaya project, has reached the Supreme Court. Another case questioning the legality of an interim agreement between the Palace and Palawan, which reduces to 20% the province’s share, has been consolidated with the first case. Oral arguments were heard on Tuesday.

41 million barrels

The Malampaya reservoir is estimated to have recoverable reserves of 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and 85 million barrels of condensate. While operational since 2001, it is expected to produce oil in 2010, estimated to reach as much 41 million barrels, according to the US Energy Information Administration website. (Current world market prices peg a barrel of oil at $70).

The project is operated by a consortium composed of Shell Philippines (45%) and Chevron-Texaco (45%). The government has a 10% stake in the project through the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), the oil and gas subsidiary of the state-owned PNOC.

The national government expects revenues of $8.1 billion to $10 billion from the project. Of this amount, Palawan is claiming a share of $2.1 billion, citing a provision in the Constitution that the locality where natural wealth is exploited and developed is entitled to a just share in the revenues from the undertaking. The Local Government Code sets the local government units’ share at 40% of gross revenues.

Palawan’s jurisdiction over Malampaya and the 60-40 revenue sharing scheme between the national and local governments have been acknowledged by past presidents. President Arroyo acknowledged these, too, early in term. She changed her mind when the commercial operations of the project started in October 2001 and she was told of the estimated earnings.

The national government contends that Palawan’s jurisdiction ends 15 kilometers into its municipal waters. Since Malampaya is located 80 kilometers from the shore of El Nido town, the Palace says, it is therefore outside the province’s territory.

“Beyond this limit, the authority and jurisdiction to enforce the laws of the Philippines rests with the National Government through the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police-Maritime Command, and the Department of Agricultutre,” the national government’s petition for review filed in February 2006 reads.

Highest concentration

Local officials are worried that the result of the legal battle over Malampaya would also affect the sharing scheme from the revenues of other petroleum production activities in Palawan.

In fact, a court decision upholding the national government’s claim of jurisdiction over Malampaya would affect the 13 other explorations, and therefore potential commercial projects, around mainland Palawan.

The bodies of water surrounding Palawan are host to commercial oil and natural gas fields that comprise a huge chunk of the petroleum reserves of the Philippines.

“The Philippines is surrounded by oil-rich basins of Indonesia, Sabah, and China,” an energy industry expert, who asked not to named, told Newsbreak. The area around Palawan, he said, has high potential for oil discovery.

A list of service contracts from the oil and gas division of the energy department showed that of the 34 service contracts for oil exploration as of March 2009, 15 are surrounding mainland Palawan. (See the list and map of petroleum service contracts as of March 25, 2009.)

“Most of our discoveries are in Palawan, especially in the northwest portion of Palawan where Malampaya is,” energy undersecretary Ramon Allan Oca told Newsbreak, adding that the province’s geology is similar to its oil-rich neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia.

The northwestern side of Palawan alone, the industry expert told Newsbreak, has a discovery rate of 47%, which is higher than in other parts of the country. In Southwestern Palawan, it’s 28%; Southeastern Luzon, 20%; Cagayan Valley 18%; Sulu Sea, 12%; and the Visayan Basin, 9%.

Galoc proceeds

The northwestern portion of Palawan is also the area where two other wells are located, Galuc and the Nido-Matinloc. (See the map showing location of Malampaya, Galoc and Nido-Matinloc.)

Galoc, an oil field where operations started in October 2008, is said to have a potential oil reserve of 10 billion barrels. On its first 90 days, it produced 20,000 barrels a day, which is equivalent to 6% of the daily demand for oil.

Like Malampaya, it is on northwestern Palawan. Located 70 kilometers west of Culion Island, Galoc, like Malampaya, is beyond the 15-kilometer municipal waters where the province has jurisdiction, according to Malacañang’s definition.

Definite proceeds from the Nido-Matincloc operations are difficult to estimate it because production there is cyclical—there are periods that there are no production.

This early, Palawan Vice Governor David Ponce de Leon expressed concern that an unfavorable decision on the Malampaya case will affect their claim on the shares from the Galoc oil field, which is located about the same distance as Malampaya.

The decision may eventually force a review of the Palawan government’s revenue share from the oil production in West Linapacan.

The West Linapacan oil fields are also outside the 15-kilometer municipal waters of the province, but Palawan received P116 million from their operations from 1992 to 1998. (See the certification showing amount of oil revenues received by Palawan from 1992-1998. )

The amount, as certified by the provincial treasurer, represented Palawan’s 40% share in the oil revenues from West Linapacan oil fields.

Discovered in 1991 by Alcorn Petroleum, the West Linapacan field was producing 17,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and produced a total of 6 million barrels of oil when its operation was suspended in January 1996.

LGU authority

Governance experts are of the opinion that the authority of the local government units on the Malampaya project has been established.

Local officials said that when the Malampaya project was still on its initial stage, the contractors or operators sought the endorsements of the municipal government of El Nido and the provincial government of Palawan.

Antonio La Vina, dean of the Ateneo School of Government and former environment undersecretary, told Newsbreak that local governments usually give endorsements to obtain the environmental impact assessment of the project.

“I do not think it has ever been an issue to the operator that local governments had jurisdiction,” La Vina said in an e-mail interview.

When the case was being heard at Regional Trial Court in Palawan, local officials presented the environmental compliance certificate of the project to prove that it is located northwest of Palawan, and a declaration from the provincial assessor to show that the project is subject to the taxing powers of provincial government.

Alex Brilantes, dean of the University of the Philippines National Center for Public Administration and Governance, said that these permits and endorsements from Palawan showed that the local government exercise jurisdiction on the project.

“These are recognitions of the authority of the LGU on such resources,” Brillantes told Newsbreak.

El Nido Mayor Leonor Corral told Newsbreak that all activities of the project pass through El Nido and that their municipality is the host of the Joint Task Force Malampaya, which safeguards the project.

“The lot where the task force is headquartered was given by the municipality,” Corral said.

Lawyer Harry Roque, one of those questioning the interim revenue-sharing agreement between Palace and Palawan, said that the “local versus national territory” issue should not be raised om the first place because the Philippines is a unitary and not a federal state.

“Everything is national jurisdiction except that there is constitutional provision and a legislative policy which allocates 40 percent of gross [revenues] to local government units,” Roque said, referring to the Local Government Code provision.

“In case that a crime happens there (Malampaya project), who will prosecute? It's the regional trial court in Palawan. In case of tax on concession agreements that has a local tax, who will collect? It’s the municipality in Palawan,” Roque said.

Distance to Spratlys

Aside from the impact of the Malampaya case on the revenue-sharing scheme between the national and local governments, it may either weaken or boost the Philippine claim on the Spratlys, a chain of islands believed to be rich in petroleum resources.

The Philippines is one of the claimant countries to the Spratlys, which has oil deposits ranging from 2 billion to 200 billion barrels, according to various estimates by local and foreign scientists and engineers.

The country, aside from being nearest the contested islands, has initial geologic evidence that its continental shelf in Palawan was once connected to the Spratlys.

Should the Philippines get its hands on the Spratlys oil reserves, it can cover its petroleum requirements for 15 to 215 years. (Read “Making A Claim.” )

However, says Roque, who is an expert in international law, if the national government will say that Malampaya, which is approximately 80 kilometers from the coast of mainland Palawan, is not part of the province, it’s effectively placing the territory farther from the Spratlys.

Palawan Governor Joel Reyes told Newsbreak that saying that Malampaya is not part of Palawan is tantamount to saying that Kalayaan Islands Group (the local name of the Spratlys) is also not part of their province.

“Our last municipality is Kalayaan and Malampaya is nearer to mainland Palawan. If you say that Malampaya exploration is outside Palawan, it’s like saying that Kalayaan is not part of the Philippines,” Reyes said.

Kalayaan became a municipality of Palawan on June 15, 1978 by virtue of former President Ferdinand Marcos Decree No. 1596.

Palawan Vice Governor David Ponce de Leon, a lawyer, told Newsbreak that the fact that Malampaya is nearer to mainland Palawan than Kalayaan is strong proof that they have jurisdiction over the project.

“If Kalayaan, which is 300 kilometers from Palawan is part of the province, how can this 80-kilometer [far] natural gas project be not within Palawan?” he said. - Newsbreak

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/...-spratlys-claim (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/09/02/09/malampaya-case-affects-other-oil-fields-spratlys-claim)

Videos :

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/business/...l-palawan-video (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/business/10/09/08/last-oil-palawan-video)

.

wise_zech

September 2nd, 2009, 01:22 PM

maganda news to...

c6josh

September 3rd, 2009, 10:47 AM

Palawan underground river lags in int’l online votes
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
September 2, 2009, 6:17pm
Manila Bulletin

The country’s entry to the Seven New Wonders of Nature, the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River in Palawan, needs a boost from the international community as the tourist attraction has one of the fewest online votes among the 28 official entries outside their respective countries.

In the fourth week of online voting, the ranking of the 28 official finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign showed that the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park is on 23rd spot.

Zurich-based New7Wonders (N7W) Foundation cited that the online ranking this week showed which of the official candidates are appealing to most voters outside the country or countries they are representing.

However, the ranking does not include votes that the finalists have received from their own nations.

“Maximizing international votes is absolutely essential for a finalist to be successful in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign. Remember, this is a truly global campaign on track to get over one billion votes in total,” Tia Viering, head of communications for New7Wonders, said in a press statement.

“Increased awareness encourages international appreciation for these places of extraordinary natural beauty and ecological significance, so reaching out beyond borders is really crucial for many reasons,” she added.

According to this week’s ranking, the top seven finalists receiving the most international votes are: Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Jeju Island (South Korea), Mud Volcanoes (Azerbaijan), Bu Tinah Shoals (United Arab Emirates), Maldives (Maldives), Milford Sound (New Zealand), and Great Barrier Reef (Papua New Guinea/Australia).

Meanwhile, entries in the bottom seven are the Jeita Grotto (Lebanon), Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (Philippines), Iguazu Falls (Brazil/Argentina), Amazon Rainforest (Venezuela/Suriname/Peru/Guyana/French Guiana/Ecuador/Colombia/Brazil/Bolivia), Masurian Lake District (Poland), Halong Bay (Vietnam), and Komodo (Indonesia).

The Palawan subterranean river features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 kilometer navigable underground river that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea.

It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites and several large chambers, and is known as the longest passable underground river in the world.

The 28 finalists will advance to the final voting to determine the New Seven Wonders of Nature that will be announced in 2011.

The Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign began in 2007 with more than 440 participating locations from over 220 countries.

carl_vilches21

September 3rd, 2009, 12:57 PM

^^
Vote na tayo. I already voted several times.:cheers:

c6josh

September 3rd, 2009, 02:13 PM

^^
Vote na tayo. I already voted several times.:cheers:

^^let's vote and support dito lang tayo ma re-recognized internationally:) the pride of the Philippines.

c6josh

September 5th, 2009, 04:42 AM

Tourist Volume in Top Sixteen Destinations
January to June 2009

Destinations Foreign Domestic Total Growth Rate

Camarines Sur 147,504 754,698 902,202194.0%
Cebu 321,116 509,433 830,599[/COLOR] 2.3%
Boracay 112,315 271,498 383,813 6.0%
Baguio * 20,677 350,528 371,205 -14.5%
Davao 29,691 300,556 330,247 2.7%
Puerto Galera ** 215,755 20.2%
Bohol 45,995 114,619 160,614 15.6%
Negros Occidental * 32,780 113,724 146,504 -55.2%
Negros Oriental 22,729 95,069 117,798 11.1%
Ilocos Norte 8,088 91,659 99,747 6.5%
Masbate * 10,257 71,630 81,887 -7.5%
Camarines Norte 1,711 79,466 81,177 63.9%
Puerto Princesa 11,380 69,376 80,756 63.0%
Legaspi 7,892 59,732 67,624 10.9%
Catanduanes 9,953 55,188 65,141 115.0%
Sorsogon * 26,251 27,952 54,203 -14.0%
Total 808,389 2,965,128 3,989,272 16.5%
Source: First Semester Performance Report for 2009 http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/dot/statistics.asp

^^Doing good through the years...

TheAvenger

September 14th, 2009, 06:53 AM

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/emmanuel_e/pag-asaairstrip2.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/emmanuel_e/pag-asaairstrip.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/emmanuel_e/pag-asabeach.jpg

rally

September 14th, 2009, 10:36 AM

The Jaycees all over the country will converge in Puerto Princesa this coming Oct. 8-11 for the PHilippine Jaycees National Convention.

Any SSC-forumers willing to have a meet by then?

sick_n_tired

September 18th, 2009, 09:59 AM

11-13 Sept 2009

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3140/005nc.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4623/004lh.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2114/007pi.jpg

MOUNT TAPYAS
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/378/dsc1215e.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/5884/dsc1235b.jpg

MAQUINIT HOT SPRING
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4636/dsc1327j.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8985/dsc1345.jpg

KAYANGAN LAKE
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7271/096cb.jpg

SIETE PECADOS
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6485/066q.jpg

rdm

September 20th, 2009, 06:42 PM

hey guys. planning on travelling to palawan this november with family and researching resorts. looking at high end but open to medium end places also. anyone have information regarding club noah isabelle? they don't have much online. also, el nido and coron - from there is the underground river accessible? how do people get around palawan from those provinces. thanks!

Area51

September 22nd, 2009, 05:42 AM

Hi, I heard that the airport is new. I'm not sure which one, I hope it's the one in Puerto Princesa. Can anyone post pictures? Thanks.

tonight

September 22nd, 2009, 02:42 PM

Chevron eyes excess Malampaya output (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507432&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Donnabelle L. Gatdula

MANILA, Philippines - The local unit of US-based energy giant Chevron is planning to bid for the excess output of the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project in Palawan to fuel a proposed 300-megawatt natural gas project at its 40-hectare Batangas terminal.

“It’s one of the options that we are looking at. We will bid for the excess gas,” said Toby Nebrida, communications manager of Chevron Philippines Inc.

The Malampaya consortium of which Chevron is a part of, is selling up to 500 MW of the excess capacity in its natural gas project in northwest Palawan.

Nebrida said the construction of a power plant is among the business ventures being explored by the company after it was granted another 25-year lease for its Batangas terminal by the National Development Corp. (NDC).

The Chevron Group’s power assets, which include those in refinery and upstream operations, generate more than 5,500 MW of electricity. Chevron has interests in 13 joint venture power facilities in the United States and Asia. Its combined-cycle and natural gas-fired co-generation plants use waste heat to produce additional electricity and heat for industrial uses. A number of its facilities provide steam for the production of heavy oil.

The company is also the world’s leading producer of geothermal energy, with major operations in Indonesia and the Philippines. Chevron operates the 259-MWDarajat and 377-MWSalak geothermal fields in West Java, Indonesia. In the Philippines, it manages the combined generating capacity of the Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal plants.

Chevron is also exploring alternative and renewable energy technologies.

Natural gas is a growing segment of Chevron’s energy portfolio. Its natural gas resources span six continents, including significant holdings in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Caspian Region, Latin America and North America. Chevron has a net production of more than five billion cubic feet of natural gas per day including equity shares in affiliates, which is expected to substantially increase over the next decade.

In the regions where Chevron has significant gas resources, it is pursuing projects to build liquefaction facilities that will cool natural gas into a liquid so it can be shipped safely in specialized tankers to growing markets.

It is a longtime participant in Australia’s North West Shelf Venture, which ships LNG to customers in Japan, South Korea and China. Chevron also supplies natural gas to LNG processing facilities in Point Fortin, Trinidad, and in Bontang, Indonesia.

On top of the power plant project, the Batangas property will also be used for storage and possible expansion of current oil warehouse.

According to Nebrida, the group is currently assessing its operations through a feasibility study. He said the study also involves the $20 million retooling of its facilities in the Philippines for ethanol blend compliance.

“There are challenges along the way for the retooling and it involves considerable amount of investment but our company will comply with the law,” he said.

degjorst09

October 20th, 2009, 07:14 AM

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz111/emmanuel_e/pag-asaairstrip2.jpg

Oh nice.

(But sadly, that is virtually the whole Municipality of Kalayaan, I think. What are the chances that the Philippines will get the whole Spratlys?)

TheAvenger

October 20th, 2009, 10:35 AM

Oh nice.

(But sadly, that is virtually the whole Municipality of Kalayaan, I think. What are the chances that the Philippines will get the whole Spratlys?)

The Phil government is not claiming the whole Spratly Group but only the northern part which is the Kalayaan Islands Group. However even the small portion of northern part of Spratly claimed by the Philippines, some island like Itu Abba island, South Reef, Mischief Reef, etc, was already garrisoned by troops from Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Peoples Republic of China.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/KalayaanIslandsGroup.jpg

The islands with red marking is occupied by Philppine Armed Forces.

The Municipality of Kalayaan is located in the western section of the Province of Palawan. It is composed of seven (7) islets and one (1) reef with aggregate land area of approximately 79 hectares. They are: a) Pag-asa, 32.7 has.; b) Likas, 18.6 has.; c) Parola, 12.7 has.; d) Lawak, 7.9 has.; e) Kota, 6.45 has.; f) Patag, 0.57 ha.; g) Panata, 0.44 ha.; h) Ayungin Reef, 0 ha; and I) Rizal Reef, 0 ha.

Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) has the biggest area, which is 37.2 hectares. The airstrip in the island has an area of 5.6 hectares, running a length of approximately 1,260 meters

Next in terms of land area is Likas Island (West York Is). This island is located 47 miles northeast of Pag-asa and has an area of 18.6 hectares whose outcrops are visible on the southern and eastern portion of the island during low tides. This island is considered a sanctuary for giant sea turtles (pawikan) that lay their eggs on the island all year round.

The high salinity of the ground water in the island retards the growth of introduced trees like coconuts, ipil-ipil, and other types. Only those endemic to the area that are mostly beach type of plants thrive and survive the hot and humid condition especially during the dry season.

Smaller than Likas Island is the Parola Island (Northeast Cay), located 28 miles northwest of Pag-asa Island. Parola has a land area of approximately 12.7 hectares and is closer to the Vietnamese occupied Pugad island than to Pag-asa Island. Some of its outcrops are visible on its western side. It has high salinity groundwater and vegetation limited to beach type of plants. The corals around the island were mostly destroyed by rampant use of dynamite fishing and cyanide method employed by foreign fishing boats in the past.

Kota Island (Loita Is) has a land area of 6.45 hectares and located 22 miles southeast of Pag-asa. It fringes the Laoita bank and reef. Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues thereby creating another mini-lagoon in the process.

The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island.

Panata Island (Lankiam Cay) is located 8 miles northeast of Kota Island. It has a surface area of 4,400 sq. meters (0.44 hectare). A few years ago this island has a surface area of more than 5 hectares but strong waves brought by a strong typhoon washed out the sandy surface (beach) of the island leaving behind today the calcarenite foundation that can be seen at low tide.

The Lawak Island (Nanshan Is) has a total land area of 7.93 hectares and located 98.0 miles east of Pag-asa. This island is the bird sanctuary of Kalayaan. Its surroundings are highly phosphatized that superphosphate materials can be mined out on a small-scale basis.

Near the fringes of the breakwaters (approx. 2 miles from the island), intact hard coral reefs were observed to retain their natural environment and beautiful tropical fishes were seen colonizing these coral beds of varying colors.

About 6 miles southwest of Lawak Island is Patag Island (Flat Is). It has a surface area of 5,740 sq. meters (0.574 hectare). Patag Island is an example of a cay. It changes its shape seasonally. The sand build up will depend largely on the direction of prevailing wind and waves. Presently, it takes the shape of an elongated one, three years ago it had a shape like that of a crescent moon, and years back it formed the shape of a letter “S”.

Like Panata Island, it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island. Presently, this island serves only as a military observation post in Kalayaan.

Rizal (Commodore) Reef

Located nearest to Balabac. It is a typical reef lying underwater and is now being manned by a military contingent based and established in the area.

TOPOGRAPHY

The islets that comprise the Municipality are generally flat. The highest ground elevation is approximately two (2) meters above sea level.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/spratlyKIG800x600.jpg

The Philippine's Kalayaan Islands Group is only about 200 miles from the coast of Palawan.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/lemuel123/China-claims-Paracel-Spratly-Island.jpg

However the neo-imperialist PRC Chinese is claiming the whole Spratly Groups and even up to the Natuna Islands of Indonesia.

jpdm

October 20th, 2009, 01:21 PM

kiretoce

October 21st, 2009, 03:52 AM

Okay, before this gets out of hand and turn ugly....let's not make this political....this thread should only be utilized to promote, showcase, and educate the reader about the beauty of the place and how we can do our part to help its cause.

manila_eye

October 22nd, 2009, 05:38 PM

We should develop the Kalayaan and other Philippine owned islands into exotic tourist spots.

*Hay ang hirap mag-pigil ng bugso ng damdamin*

allan_dude

October 22nd, 2009, 05:49 PM

^^ developments like those in The Maldives or Seychelles!

manila_eye

October 22nd, 2009, 10:13 PM

Yes! Yung tipong pang-mayaman lang talaga.

TheAvenger

October 23rd, 2009, 04:20 AM

Yes! Yung tipong pang-mayaman lang talaga.

Yes, but we should BAN tourist who may do some espionage in our Kalayaan Islands Group.

We should ban in KIG if it it was open for tourism, the security risk people like the Malaysians, Vietnamese
and Chinese from PRC, Taiwan, other Overseas Chinese, and even Chinese Filipino who may spy for PRC and Taiwan.

My postings above has no political colors except for reasons of national security concerns.

.

Sky Harbor

October 23rd, 2009, 04:24 AM

^^ I highly doubt Chinese Filipinos would spy for either Taiwan or the PRC.

bumbilya

October 24th, 2009, 02:21 AM

relocate informal settlers in manggahan floodway to the spratlys!

TheAvenger

October 24th, 2009, 02:25 AM

relocate informal settlers in manggahan floodway to the spratlys!

Actually the government should subsidize the sending of settlers to KIG just like the peopling of Mindanao during the American era.

They should be provided free with foods and other necessities for a year or two and they can be harness to do some tourism related work. And same time they can be trained as a reservist-front line citizens army for the defense of KIG.

kiretoce

October 24th, 2009, 02:26 AM

Before any relocation of any kind can happen; housing, jobs, everyday conveniences should be provided. Which I doubt the government can afford to take on such a task, as it has other much pressing things to attend to. You can't just dump people there and leave them on their own.

palawan_buddy

October 30th, 2009, 04:06 PM

palawan_buddy

October 30th, 2009, 04:10 PM

ruralvillage

November 14th, 2009, 01:11 AM

How about El Nido? :banana:

El Nido: Wild Asia Responsible Tourism advocate (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=521232&publicationSubCategoryId=87)
RENDEZVOUS By Christine S. Dayrit (The Philippine Star (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=521232&publicationSubCategoryId=87)) Updated November 08, 2009 12:00 AM

The poet John Keats was right: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” But how can we continue to appreciate nature’s priceless fare if tomorrow it is no longer there?

Being a global nomad for the last decade, I have attempted to comb the planet for the most scintillating destinations wherein nature’s pristine landscape has remained preserved despite such luxurious developments. My most recent sojourns — from island hopping in the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles to helicopter escapades over molten lava terrains and paragliding over the effervescent waterfalls in Reunion Island in East Africa — epitomize the kind of tourism that will certainly withstand the test of time. When man seriously takes care of his environment, it reciprocates his magnanimity.

Recently, I have become a keen advocate and supporter of Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Program that includes an annual awards event that goes beyond glitzy dinners and pats on the back. The event is one of the most important regional efforts to inspire change in the travel industry and destination.

It is with pride and honor that I congratulate El Nido Resorts — both Lagen and Miniloc — for winning the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award last Oct. 28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The award means that El Nido has maintained its standing as the country’s greenest resort. Located in the Protected Area of Northern Palawan, Lagen Island Resort and Miniloc Island Resort bested Six Senses’ Soneva Fushi in Maldives and Nikoi Island in Indonesia in the Midsize to Small Accommodation Operators category. Winners were short-listed from a pool of resort operators that used Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism assessment tool, and were then further evaluated by an on-site visit from the organization’s team members. El Nido Resorts environment manager Mariglo Laririt was present to accept the award.

Wild Asia, the Malaysia-based social enterprise behind the award, judged El Nido Resorts’ practices that aim to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring that it meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.

Among El Nido Resorts’ diverse sustainable practices are its waste management system, which utilizes Sewage Treatment Plants to recycle wastewater and Materials Recovery Facility for proper segregation of wastes.

The Deluxe Seaview Rooms at Miniloc Island Resort, which were opened last year, were specifically designed to run on solar power. Solar panels have also been installed at the resorts’ beach clubs to lessen fossil fuel consumption.

Its commitment to the development of the local community is reflected in its various training programs and employment opportunities for locals, as well as by patronizing local produce.

For over 20 years now, El Nido Resorts has been operating with minimal negative impact on the environment. Both El Nido Resorts and Wild Asia aim to promote the best practices of sustainable tourism and support the creation of more sustainable destinations in Asia.

Last year, El Nido Resorts was also a Wild Asia finalist under the Luxury and Boutique Resorts category. Aside from the recent Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award, El Nido Resorts has also been feted by other award-giving bodies like its recognition as the only Philippine property to have made it to the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Green List 2006 and Island magazine’s Blue List 2007. The honorees were chosen based on their environmental preservation efforts, involvement with local communities and the quality of guest experience. El Nido was also awarded the Green Hotel Recognition Award from the Association of South East Asian Nations for taking the lead role in protecting the area’s greatest assets — its coral reef and marine and forest habitats — by helping secure government protection, collaborating on scientific studies, and planning low-impact development and activities. Every staff member of El Nido, from gardener to dive guide, has taken classes in ecology, geology and history.

During our recent stay at El Nido, our group was well informed of our responsibilities in being good stewards of nature. The resorts’ staff members reminded us of our role in protecting the paradisiacal island — and how else to protect Mother Earth.

My youngest sister Yvonne and her winsome daughter Carin spent an exhilarating weekend exploring El Nido’s charm. In Miniloc, Carin frolicked in the azure waters dotted with eclectic tropical fish. Right off the pier, mother and daughter ecstatically snorkeled as they swam with groupers, sergeant majors, parrotfish, fusiliers and more. After sunset, they retreated to their luxurious water villa with a stunning sea view. They also checked out the marine sports center with its complete diving and snorkeling facilities, as well as kayaks, windsurfing equipment, and aquabikes. The cuisine of the restaurants in El Nido is simply divine, what with only the best chef Buddy Trinidad of Park Avenue Desserts as one of their consultants.

Yvonne adventurously explored the more than 20 dive sites — comparable to the Blue Corner, Turtle Cove and Big Drop Off in Palau, Micronesia — all easily accessible from the resorts. The dive sites range from gradual slopes to drop-offs, wall dives to flat reefs.

Unforgettable, too, for Yvonne and Carin, while in the middle of island hopping, was the story told by our guide about a 100-year-old pawikan (green sea turtle) that died recently due to plastic ingestion. The pawikan mistook a transparent plastic bag for a jellyfish, its staple food. The helpless pawikan was unable to digest the plastic bag. That instant pollutant caused the death of a creature that had been in existence for about a century.

On the other hand, my best friend Bum Tenorio and his younger brother Rod explored Lagen Island — set in a lush forest with a magnificent view of the bay and the El Nido sunset. The sprawling grounds cover more than four hectares. Lagen has water cottages built on stilts, beachfront cottages, forest rooms and suites. It also has a spa offering aromatherapy massages
and treatments. At the back of the forest rooms is the garden chapel perfect for meditation or church services on weekends. It is also the site of romantic weddings and classical concerts. We all took a mangrove tour at the break of dawn and spotted wild ducks and egrets flying from their nests in the early morning mist.

Each time we marvel at nature’s treasure, remember it isn’t only there to bring us pleasure. If we care for Mother Earth as we ought to, just like a diamond, it can certainly last forever.

* * *

For more information about El Nido Resorts call (632) 894-5644 or fax (632) 810-3620. You can also log on to www.elnidoresorts.com) Island Transvoyager Inc. is El Nido Resorts’ official airline. Call 851-5674; mobile 0917-8853104; or e-mail csu@itiair.com for more details.

TheAvenger

November 14th, 2009, 08:24 PM

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/kigandpalawan800x600.jpg

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/emmanuel_kristofer/kalayaanislandgroup.jpg

palawan_buddy

November 20th, 2009, 12:49 PM

palawan_buddy

November 20th, 2009, 01:00 PM

palawan_buddy

November 20th, 2009, 01:01 PM

[dx]

November 21st, 2009, 04:25 AM

^Amazing aerial photos of Puerto Princesa! :applause:

TheAvenger

December 6th, 2009, 07:30 AM

24eLqBuTO7I

TfCCzRoMkKM

jpdm

December 8th, 2009, 12:46 PM

The government should initiate some kind of tourism development in Kalayaan islands...focus must be on eco-tourism...

As I mentioned before, the airstrip needs to be expanded further so that bigger airplanes can land...

hecky12

December 9th, 2009, 09:48 AM

i dont think so na idedevelop ang lugar na yan kasi may issue pa diyan e. hindi ilalagay ng phil.govt sa alanganin ang mga buhay ng mga turista.

about dun sa kailan makukuha ng pinas ang buong spratly's? hindi niya ito makukuha ng buo.. dahil nga madaming umaangkin at makikita naman natin na patong patong ang mga boundaries ng mga bansang sumasakop sa mga isla. pero hindi makatuturan na angkinin ng china na kanila lang porket south china sea e kanila na? kasi kung ganun rin lang e di sana inangkin na ng pinas ang Palau.. dahil nasa territoryo ito ng philippine sea. pero hindi nagawa o magagawa o papayagang mangyari yun..so itong china na ito hindi natin alam kung ano talaga ang isip nila.

jpdm

December 9th, 2009, 12:03 PM

Kalayaan islands (7 islands and islets only), which are part of the Spratlys are officially part of the Philippines as part of the province of Palawan.

So I think puede basta limited lang ang development.

And the government should put more troops there because of the posibility of oil find.

hecky12

December 9th, 2009, 11:59 PM

jpdm

December 10th, 2009, 11:20 AM

yeah.. ang tanong kakayanin ba ng pinoy armies ang dayuhan na gustong pumasok dun? sana diba?!

So far, all claimants including aggressive China and Vietnam, are no doing anything to provoke a shooting war...

So I guess limited development is possible...

Paul George Alcala

December 11th, 2009, 02:27 PM

Uy ano na nangyari dito sa thread na ito

jpdm

December 16th, 2009, 01:28 AM

Four firms vie for Kalayaan Island contract

By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:21:00 12/15/2009

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY has trimmed to four the list of prospective international contractors that will undertake a 2D seismic acquisition and processing over the Reed Bank and Kalayaan Island Group in offshore Palawan.

These are Singapore-based PGS Asia Pacific, CGG Veritas, Norway-based Fugro Geo-Team AS and United Kingdom’s Geraldine Geosurvey Lt, DOE documents showed.

The DOE did not say when the contractor would be selected but it intended to start the survey by the first quarter of 2010.

The department said it had earmarked P75 million for this.

A government official said the project was merely a “Philippine National Continental Shelf Delimitation project” and that the seismic data to be acquired would be submitted to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The data will help define the country’s 150-mile Extended Continental Shelf (ECS), where much of the valuable resources are.

“The seismic, gravity and magnetics data will be owned solely by the DOE, archived at the DOE and be for the exclusive use of the Philippine ECS project. All data will not be made available for licensing to oil and gas exploration companies,” the DOE said.

The survey will be undertaken in four to six weeks.

Parts of the Reed Bank and Kalayaan Island Group were earlier studied under the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU), an agreement that the Philippines had signed with China and Vietnam to search for oil in the Spratlys.

The tripartite JMSU, which took effect in 2005 and expired in 2008, was intended to determine how much oil and other resources lie at the bottom of the disputed islands.

Consisting of scores of isles, reefs and atolls scattered over 410,000 square kilometers in South China Sea, the Spratlys are being claimed wholly or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

296619

December 23rd, 2009, 07:30 PM

relocate informal settlers in manggahan floodway to the spratlys!

hahah:lol:! i agree. Why not....:banana:

johnmizer

December 24th, 2009, 04:08 AM

^ ypko maddumihan an gspratlys =D

Blueleo

December 24th, 2009, 11:15 AM

Amazing Palawan :cheers: :)

296619

December 25th, 2009, 05:01 PM

:)^ ypko maddumihan an gspratlys =D
ahaha:lol:.. nice point!...

xxxriainxxx

January 4th, 2010, 12:12 PM

hakz2007

January 4th, 2010, 12:38 PM

^^maybe you should visit first the Kalayaan Extension Office in Puerto Princesa City.

xxxriainxxx

January 4th, 2010, 02:45 PM

^^maybe you should visit first the Kalayaan Extension Office in Puerto Princesa City.

Hmm not aware of that when I visited Puerto last 2 weeks ago.... you reckon know their contact numbers? contact persons?

hakz2007

January 5th, 2010, 02:57 AM

^^i don't have their contact numbers....far flung island municipalities of Palawan have extension offices in Puerto Princesa like Kalayaan and Cagayancillo.

TheAvenger

January 5th, 2010, 03:19 PM

This is a great thread. I believe that we should assert our sovereignty and not being sold out like the current Arroyo government. I am planning of doing an expedition to the Spratlys this year, wonder who I can contact with, this will be for tourism coverage by online, print and broadcast media.

You may use the below informations :

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/palawanphonenumbers.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/palawanwelcome2.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/palawanwelcome.jpg

xxxriainxxx

January 8th, 2010, 02:09 AM

Thanks man, although I already have the PP Tourism Office numbers but their tourism people are hopeless..

Anyway, this might be a little off-topic, but this could apply to the KIG as well:

Vietnam condemns China tourism plan for islands

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 13:01:00 01/05/2010

HANOI, Vietnam—Vietnam has condemned what it says is a Chinese plan to develop tourism on the disputed Paracel archipelago.

The Paracels would be included in China's plan to develop nearby Hainan island into an international tourist site, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said in a statement late Monday.

China announced its intention on December 31, the ministry said.

Nga demanded China immediately end the plan which "causes tension and further complicates the East Sea situation".

Vietnam and China have a long-standing dispute over sovereignty of the Paracels and a more southerly archipelago, the Spratlys. Both are in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea.

In December Vietnam and Russia signed a major arms deal which reportedly involves the purchase of six submarines. Analysts said the deal aims to bolster Hanoi's claims against China over the potentially resource-rich islands.

Vietnam says its policy is to ensure a peaceful outcome to the maritime disputes.

hakz2007

January 8th, 2010, 06:43 AM

^^According to the Chinese, the Spratlys is part of Hainan Province.

lgseccionph

January 8th, 2010, 07:08 AM

Galoc consortium prepares for 2nd development phase of Galoc oil block

THE Galoc oil field might end up soon with an additional 5 billion barrels of recoverable reserves, with its operator planning to start the second development phase for the said oil block in Northwest Palawan.

In a recent presentation to stakeholders, Paul Moore, president of Otto Energy Ltd., said the consortium developing the Galoc oil field will start this year preparing for the second development phase of the Galoc oil field.

The Galoc oil field, which is developed and operated by a consortium that includes Otto Energy, is projected to have 10 million barrels of recoverable oil reserves.

Apart from Otto, the Galoc consortium is composed of Nido Petroleum Ltd. with 22.8 percent, Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp., 7.57 percent; The Philodrill Corp., 7.03 percent; the UK-based Forum Energy Philippines Corp., 2.27 percent; Alcorn Gold Resources Corp., 1.53 percent; and PetroEnergy Resources Corp., 1.03 percent.

Singapore-based Gaffney and Cline Associates earlier reported that its own assessment showed that the Galoc oil field could contain up to 49 million barrels.

To date, the Galoc oil field has sold a total of more than 3 billion barrels of oil after starting production in October 2008.

Moore said the consortium aims at increasing the second-phase reserves by another 5 million barrels.

Moore said two wells will likely be drilled and production for each well is expected at around 4,000 barrels per day. Current production at the Galoc field is around 11,500 barrels per day.

The preparation for the second development phase of the Galoc oil block this year will include seismic interpretation, well positioning, drilling costs and schedule and tie-back preparations. The second development phase is targeted to start within the first half of 2011.

According to the Department of Energy, the Galoc oil field is expected to produce an average of 17,000 barrels to 20,000 barrels of crude oil daily, or about 6 percent of the country’s 300,000-barrel daily requirement.

Exploration results show that the Galoc field has reserves containing 10 million to 20 million barrels, subject to further studies and exploration that can possibly result in additional yield. [business mirror]

hakz2007

January 8th, 2010, 07:58 AM

^^great news. sana tayo naman ang mag-export ng oil.

TheAvenger

January 8th, 2010, 02:24 PM

^^According to the Chinese, the Spratlys is part of Hainan Province.

they can also say southeast asia is part of china, who cares........

The disputed areas often involve oil and gas resources:

■Indonesia's ownership of the gas-rich Natuna Island group was undisputed until China released an official map indicating that the Natunas were in Chinese-claimed waters.
■The Philippines' Malampaya and Camago natural gas and condensate fields are in Chinese-claimed waters.
■Many of Malaysia's natural gas fields located offshore Sarawak also fall under the Chinese claim.
■Vietnam and China have overlapping claims to undeveloped blocks off the Vietnamese coast. A block referred to by the Chinese as Wan' Bei-21 (WAB-21) west of the Spratly Islands is claimed by the Vietnamese in their blocks 133, 134, and 135. In addition, Vietnam's Dai Hung (Big Bear) oil field is at the boundary of waters claimed by the Chinese.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/spratly.htm

hakz2007

January 9th, 2010, 03:36 AM

^^China has so many boundary disputes, to wit:
*Aksai Chin - this one is part of the Kashmir Region being claimed by India and Pakistan as well.
*Arunachal Pradesh - in India
*Bhutan's eastern part
*Russian administered part of Heixiazi Island
*Myanmar's northern part
*a portion of the Pamir Mountains
*Heilongjiang River's 64 villages
*Tannu Uriankhai.

and now the Spratlys, Macclesfield Banks, Scarborough Shoal, the Paracels and more...

hakz2007

January 9th, 2010, 03:37 AM

^^they have also dispute with Japan, i forgot the name of the islands....

axel(08)brixx

January 11th, 2010, 03:52 AM

^^they have also dispute with Japan, i forgot the name of the islands....

Yes, Senkaku Islands Sir

A group of disputed, uninhabited islands currently controlled by Japan, but also claimed by both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China as part of Taiwan Province, Toucheng Township in Yilan County. The islands are located roughly northeast of Taiwan, due west of Okinawa, and due north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands in the East China Sea.

There's really a lot of disputed territories involving GIANT CHINA.

Nakukulangan pa yata sa kanyang lawak. :ohno::ohno:

xxxriainxxx

January 11th, 2010, 08:31 AM

It all boils down to the fact that Kalayaan Islands and the Scarborough Shoal is inextricably part of the Republic of the Philippines.

Truth to tell, I don't care about Sabah anymore, I went there last July 2009 thinking I could have a photo with my full size Philippine flag. I dint instead. Kota Kinabalu is very dirty and humid and full of Malays who are out to scam everyone. Mas malala ang squatter sa Kota Kinabalu, hindi lang masyadong kita kasi they've put a tall concrete fence around it.

There are a lot of Filipinos in Sabah that I dont even have to speak in English because everyone speaks Tagalog. Effectively Sabah is Filipino territory.

hakz2007

January 11th, 2010, 08:35 AM

Truth to tell, I don't care about Sabah anymore, I went there last July 2009 thinking I could have a photo with my full size Philippine flag. I dint instead.

Why?

xxxriainxxx

January 11th, 2010, 09:29 AM

Why?

I was really disappointed with what I saw. Kota Kinabalu is so dirty. I really dont like the people (the locals) there. Mukhang pera. And besides, kung gugustuhin ng mga Pilipino dun, they could easily stage a revolution and take over sa dami ng mga Pinoy dun.

hakz2007

January 11th, 2010, 09:32 AM

^^Is it forbidden in Sabah to take pictures with the Philippine flag?

xxxriainxxx

January 11th, 2010, 10:35 AM

^^Is it forbidden in Sabah to take pictures with the Philippine flag?

No it's not, but after seeing KK, bleh, naisip ko, sa kanila na lang ang Sabah. ampangit.

lgseccionph

January 12th, 2010, 03:55 AM

Italians to invest in 5 provinces in 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Developer ItalPinas Inc. is pouring in hundred millions of investment in five provinces in the country this year by constructing eco-friendly buildings.

Romolo Nati, chief executive officer of ItalPinas, said his company already started the construction of a ten-story condominium in Cagayan De Oro City which is expected to be completed in 14 months or by early 2011.

The more than 1,000-square meter property in Cagayan has a total investment of P180 million and the first Green building to be constructed in Asia and in the entire province of Mindanao.

Nati said his company is also targeting to build the same facility in Palawan, Mindoro, General Santos, and Davao, which shows great potential for property development.

Asked why his company has chosen the provinces instead of Metro Manila, Nati said Metro Manila is already congested.

“We did a market survey [before we started the project] and we like Cagayan de Oro because it has higher middle class market, not to mention its fast-growing economy,” Nati said.

”We are not into Metro Manila because our idea is to focus in the provinces,” he added.

According to Nati, since their units are sold lower than P3 million, more Filipinos are expected to buy condo units whose designs are tailored in Europe. Another plus factor for ItalPinas buildings, he said, is that they can produce they own energy through the use of a special solar panel “to maximize and optimize energy use.”

“Our goal is to reduce energy consumption…. Our building will save around 33 percent of energy,” he said.

Nati said his company targets the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) market and the migrants abroad.

Currently, there are over eight million OFWs employed in 194 countries and majority of them are in the United States, Middle East, Canada, Hong Kong, and in Europe.

ItalPinas is a partnership between an Italian firm and the Constellation Energy Corp. headed by its chairman Jose P. Leviste Jr.

Nati said that for future projects, the company plans to enter into joint venture agreements with other companies in the country.

ItalPinas also plans to tap local banks for their funding requirements should its other survey yield positive results.

”At present we are talking with some private investors,” Nati said adding that with the “market seems to be very good, we may not need bank financing.” [inquirer.net (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100112-246857/Italians-to-invest-in-5-provinces-in-2010)]

hakz2007

January 12th, 2010, 07:45 AM

^^pag ibinalik na yan sa Pinas, magiging malinis ulit yan:D

Christian_123

January 12th, 2010, 05:26 PM

O baka lalong pumangit :lol: ! But yeah, magsawa sila sa Sabah na ninakaw nila.

hecky12

January 13th, 2010, 05:54 AM

^^Is it forbidden in Sabah to take pictures with the Philippine flag?

pinabayaan kasi ni Cory Aquino ito nun e kasalanan niya in short.. pinaglalaban na nga ni Marcos to pero ayun... hindi niya pinagpatuloy..

anyways, masama kung itatarak mo ang philippine flag kasi nga they know sa kanila yun...

watcher09

January 18th, 2010, 02:20 PM

I was really disappointed with what I saw. Kota Kinabalu is so dirty. I really dont like the people (the locals) there. Mukhang pera. And besides, kung gugustuhin ng mga Pilipino dun, they could easily stage a revolution and take over sa dami ng mga Pinoy dun.

I've heard that that was the plan of Marcos before. He had sent Filipinos there secretly. When the perfect time would come, it would be easy for us to reclaim what is due to us. The then Senator Ninoy Aquino had opposed the idea and questioned it. To make it short, the plan was abandoned.

I've heard it from a native of Palawan in Palawan. Of course, he told us that he was not a Marcos loyalist, it's just that, he wanted to tell us this story.

For additional information on this, please visit Sabah Issue Thread.

xxxriainxxx

January 26th, 2010, 09:37 AM

O baka lalong pumangit :lol: ! But yeah, magsawa sila sa Sabah na ninakaw nila.

Agree. Yung pinagmamalaki lang naman nila sa Sabah is yung Mt. Kinabalu na sinasabi nilang SEA Highest Mountain- Ennnngg!!!! Mali. The highest peak is in Burma and 2,3,4 ay nasa Irian Jaya sa Indonesia.

Pag naisauli sa atin yang Sabah- oh well. Kawawa na si Malaysia, kasi ang oil nila nandun. Bwahahahaha. yayaman lalo ang mga gaya ni Ampatuan!

axel(08)brixx

January 26th, 2010, 09:47 AM

Irian Jaya, Guinean part ng Indonesia na may mga snow caps ang mountain. ^^^^

Brandon32

January 26th, 2010, 09:59 AM

^ Mt Kinabalu sa Sabah...medyo snow capped na rin

hecky12

January 27th, 2010, 11:56 PM

I've heard that that was the plan of Marcos before. He had sent Filipinos there secretly. When the perfect time would come, it would be easy for us to reclaim what is due to us. The then Senator Ninoy Aquino had opposed the idea and questioned it. To make it short, the plan was abandoned.

I've heard it from a native of Palawan in Palawan. Of course, he told us that he was not a Marcos loyalist, it's just that, he wanted to tell us this story.

For additional information on this, please visit Sabah Issue Thread.

kung napanood mo yung case unclosed ni arnold clavio nafeature dun yung massacre.. if im not mistaken yung jabidah? tama ba ako.. correct me if im wrong..

lgseccionph

January 28th, 2010, 08:16 AM

Palawan’s underground river ranks 10th in wonders of nature global search
By Lyle B. Coruña

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) – One year to go before global voting closes but the Philippine’s bet for the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” is now enjoying a tenth place in the worldwide search.

Previously at seventh place, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, known as the Underground River, was overtaken by Angel Falls of Venezuela and Yushan National Park of Chinese Taipei.

The Philippine nominee is located in Sitio Sabang, barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and one among the 28 candidates from countries around the world vying for the prestigious honor in the final stretch of the competition.

”We are confident we can make it through the finals. We hope the Department of Tourism would help us on the campaign,” city mayor Edward Hagedorn said.

Based on the statistics of votes gained by the underground river, the Philippine’s candidate has captured a strong following from the youth sector around the world aging 18 years old and below.

Aside from phone and SMS voting, prospective voters from all over the world can vote directly through its website www.new7woders.com.

The search will end on January 2011.

Hagedorn said the city government, through the City Tourism Office, Office of the Underground River and City Information Department, is in full swing with their campaign to encourage local and foreign tourists to vote for the unique and majestic underground river.

Since the beginning of the competition, more arrivals of domestic and foreign tourists in the city was observed by the City Tourism Council (CTC).

According to Felisa Torres, CTC chairman, thousands of tourists visit the national park due to its amazing limestones cliffs, a healthy ecosystem which protects some of the most significant forest in Asia.

”You haven’t been to Palawan if you have not entered the cave,” couple Raul and Teresa Pantaleon from San Diego, California, USA said.

They are in the country today for a family reunion in Baguio but managed to flew their way to Palawan to meet a long lost friend in Puerto Princesa.

”Luckily, we have found her through a tourist guide. We will help Mayor Hagedorn in campaigning for this wonderful site. This nominee needs our help," the Pantaleon couple said.

Campaign via internet is indeed working favorably for underground river as word-of-mouth did.

Michelle Ann Domingo, Elaine Pia Villaflor, Sheriza Pajimna and Sherilyn Bote are nurses and caregivers working in Australia and Canada.

Through pictures shown by co-worker Jean Castillo Akaruru, they were encouraged to visit the underground river.

”Our bookings for the river are always full. Tourism here is really booming,” Ed Ahoro, owner of locally-based Sanctuary Travel and Tours said.

”The development of tourism in the area has provided income and livelihood opportunities to local people. Tourism establishments are recruiting local workforce to augment the operation,” Cabayugan Barangay Captain Noel Venturillo said.

The 8.2-kilometer underground river runs through a dome of stalactites complemented by stalagmites running the entire length of the cave.

Declared as World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) in 1999, it was described by Hagedorn as the jewel of Puerto Princesa because of its “outstanding universal value” that represents the highest artistic and cultural achievements of mankind or natural sites of intense beauty and ecological significance. (PNA)

xxxriainxxx

February 2nd, 2010, 02:02 AM

kung napanood mo yung case unclosed ni arnold clavio nafeature dun yung massacre.. if im not mistaken yung jabidah? tama ba ako.. correct me if im wrong..

Yep, Jabidah Massacre nga.

I don't think Kinabalu had snow on its tops. well not none at least when I flew over it.

TheAvenger

February 3rd, 2010, 05:03 PM

kung napanood mo yung case unclosed ni arnold clavio nafeature dun yung massacre.. if im not mistaken yung jabidah? tama ba ako.. correct me if im wrong..

The Mindanao Conflict and the Jabidah Massacre

http://jibrael.blogspot.com/2007/05/mindanao-conflict.html

RYP9UYxlnyc

hakz2007

February 6th, 2010, 01:55 AM

^^any other vocational schools in Puerto Princesa aside from Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades?

please PM me the contact person, telephone numbers and its complete address.

Thanks.

habagatcentral1

February 12th, 2010, 12:31 AM

Coming back after months of absence:
From the Airlines, Airplanes, Airports Thread

AIR PHILIPPINES update.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/alfinsky/2010-02-11_212725.jpg

hakz2007

February 16th, 2010, 01:47 PM

RP should pursue claim over Spratlys -- Gibo (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=259201)

MANILA, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said he favors the Philippines pursuing its territorial claim over the disputed Spratlys islands in the South China Sea using as a legal basis the recent baselines law enacted by the Philippine Congress.

"At the end of the day, we must agree as a country that we will not relinquish the institutionalization of our territorial claims no matter how powerful any country is," Teodoro told a presidential forum held Monday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FoCAP).

The former Defense Secretary said the Philippines should be prepared to take its claim before the international community represented by international law experts, a strategy already being undertaken by the other claimant countries.

This would cost a lot of money but it is the country’s best chance to buttress its claim, he said.

Teodoro said the Philippines "must stand our ground and build up ourselves in order to credibly assert our claim."

The tiny but strategic cluster of islands, just off the shipping lanes of the South China Sea, has been the center of a territorial dispute among five Asian countries including China and Vietnam.

Teodoro said the Philippines should base its claim on the present Baselines Law as enacted by Congress showing the islands theory of being an archipelagic country.

"We have secured our baselines already before the international community. We have to use that as a starting point," he said.

The 1989 Bar topnotcher said the country must build the "legal infrastructure in order to prosecute these claims" before the appropriate international body.

But, pending the resolution on the disputed islands, he said, the Philippines has to stand by the present "status quo" arrangement with other claimant countries.

"We have a code of conduct with the claimant countries in the South China Sea and we have to strictly follow that," he said. (PNA)

jpdm

February 17th, 2010, 01:03 AM

^^^^
Our claim on Kalayaan Islands should be strengthened by putting more permanent structures on the 7 islands aside from the main island, Pag-asa...

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 03:11 AM

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 03:15 AM

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 03:23 AM

palawan_buddy

February 17th, 2010, 03:34 AM

jpdm

February 18th, 2010, 01:47 PM

Oil firm cleared for drilling

Thursday, 18 February 2010 00:00
BY EUAN PAULO C. AÑONUEVO Reporter
Manila Times

AFTER more than two years, the Philippines finally gave British firm Forum Energy Plc the go-ahead to start drilling operations in offshore Palawan, an area contested by China and Vietnam.

”We are very pleased to have finally secured the service contract over the GSEC 101 area in what is a company-changing development for Forum Energy. We intend to push forward with the appraisal of this gas field to commerciality and ultimately to the delivery of material value to our shareholders,” Walter Brown, Forum Energy Philippines chief executive officer said.

The exploration block covered by Geophysical Survey Exploration Contract 101 contains the Sampaguita oil and gas discovery in the Reed Bank basin in offshore Palawan, and is said to contain reserves on a par with the Malampaya field.

In 2006, results from a 248-square-kilometer 3D seismic survey conducted by Forum Energy over the license area indicated reserves of about 3.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The Malampaya, the Philippines’ largest natural gas field to date, has estimated reserves of 3.7-trillion cubic feet. It fuels three power plants with a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts.

Forum Energy had been trying to convert GSEC 101 into a full service contract, but the government had been sitting on the proposal for at least two years.

The conversion into a service contract was a pre-negotiated arrangement between the Department of Energy and Forum Energy, giving the British firm the right to pursue this option should it choose to do so.

But Energy department officials said that the department could not act on the company’s request because it was a matter of foreign policy.

Beijing earlier claimed the area covered by GSEC 101 to be part of a joint marine seismic undertaking in the Spratly’s Islands among state-owned companies of the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

The tripartite agreement, however, expired in July 2008, with the three parties yet to renew the accord.

A high-level cabinet meeting held a few weeks ago discussed Forum Energy’s proposed conversion of the GSEC into a full service contract.

Forum Energy holds a 70-percent stake in GSEC 101, which is the company’s principal asset, while Monte Oro Resources & Energy Inc., owns the remaining 30 percent.

Forum Energy was established in April 2005 through the consolidation of the assets of FEC Resources Inc. of Canada and Sterling Energy Plc of the UK into one corporate entity. Monte Oro, on the other hand, is the mother company of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., which in turn owns a 30-percent stake in the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the country’s power grid operator.

hakz2007

February 19th, 2010, 04:08 AM

^^another great development in the Spratlys.

296619

February 19th, 2010, 09:53 AM

Truth to tell, I don't care about Sabah anymore, I went there last July 2009 thinking I could have a photo with my full size Philippine flag. I dint instead. Kota Kinabalu is very dirty and humid and full of Malays who are out to scam everyone. Mas malala ang squatter sa Kota Kinabalu, hindi lang masyadong kita kasi they've put a tall concrete fence around it.

There are a lot of Filipinos in Sabah that I dont even have to speak in English because everyone speaks Tagalog. Effectively Sabah is Filipino territory.

But we can still make use of that... Marami ding resources dun, so we should still pursue our claim!

Bring back Sabah to the Philippines!^^

kiretoce

February 22nd, 2010, 07:51 PM

RP-Korean firm putting up P3-B power plant (http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20100222-254755/RP-Korean-firm-putting-up-P3-B-power-plant)

Philippine-Korean Renewable Energy Corp. plans to invest $72 million or about P3.24 billion to put up a biomass power plant in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

According to Phil-Korean chair Won Gul-lee, the company intends to start the construction of a 30-megawatt power plant next month, following the awarding recently of a renewable energy service contract by the Department of Energy.

With this service contract, companies like Phil-Korean can avail themselves of the various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives provided for under the Renewable Energy Law, including a seven-year income tax holiday.

Lee, a former president of Korea Electric Power Co. (Kepco) Philippines, told reporters that the company was planning to use wood chips from ipil-ipil trees as feedstock for the planned power facility.

The company was planning to develop about 80,000 hectares of ipil-ipil plantation to secure the supply of feedstock for the power plant, Lee added.

The proposed biomass power project, which is also expected to provide employment to about 3,000 people, is expected to be completed and to start commercial operations by 2013.

Phil-Korean officials also said the company had already signed an agreement with the sole buyer of the 30-MW capacity, Palawan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Paleco).

Phil-Korea is among the several Korean companies that have expressed interest in investing in the country’s power and renewable energy sector.

Late last year, nine Korean firms visited the country with an end in view of forming joint ventures with local partners for investments in various energy projects in the country.

The nine firms were Hanhwa Corp., Kepco subsidiary Korea Midland PowerCo Ltd., Unison Co. Ltd., Halla Energy and Environment, GS Caltex Corp. II, EcoFrontier, BIO-CDM Inc., KS Industry Co. Ltd., and Korea Water Resource Corp. (K Water).

Hanhwa, Korea Midland and Unison are looking at biomass, and wind power projects in the Philippines.

Halla Energy is also one of the largest energy and environment engineering firms while GS Caltex is the second largest petrochemical firm in Korea. These companies are interested in biomass, mini hydropower, landfill gas and energy efficiency projects.

Eco-Frontier, the leading CDM full-cycle company in Korea, targets to invest in biomass projects, while BIO-CD, a renewable energy developer, and KS Industry, a power, oil and gas firm, are both planning to invest in renewable energy generation projects.

hakz2007

February 23rd, 2010, 10:33 AM

PGMA campaigns for RP bet in New 7 Wonders of Nature search (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=260477)

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, Feb. 23 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo campaigned hard here today, not for any candidate in the May elections, but for the Philippines’ entry in the Search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, now being voted worldwide in the internet online.

She urged all Filipinos here and abroad to cast their votes through the internet for the St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, a world-renowned site about 91 kilometers from the city proper, which has already made it to the shortlist of 28 New Seven Wonders.

The President flew in here Tuesday and did a 45-minute paddle boat tour of the underground river on the second day of her week-long swing of the Central Philippines Tourism Super Region, of the five growth areas identified in her 2006 strategic development plan.

She was accompanied in the boat ride by City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr., and members of the Palawan media.

She enjoined everybody to persuade friends and relatives to take part in the internet poll “so that our own cherished underground river will ultimately be included in the magic circle of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.”

The winners, to be announced next year, will share the glory of the Seven Man-made Wonders chosen in 2008.

Over a billion people are expected to join the online voting, which is expected to gain momentum with the ongoing Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Results of weekly ranking, copyright owned and released by ©NOWC, unfortunately, showed the Philippine subterranean river slipping down from 4th place in July last year to 24th as of this month.

In May last year, the President had made similar calls when three Philippine tourist spots—the Puerto Princesa underground river, the Tubbataha Reef which is also here in Palawan, and Chocolate Hills in Bohol province—were initially nominated for the worldwide search.

“We really need all the Filipinos who are listening here and abroad to vote for the underground river,” the President said.

The river runs through a deep cavern below rugged limestone and marble cliffs, flowing for some eight kilometers before emptying into an underground lagoon with crystalline waters. The tunnel is bedecked overhead and on both sides with huge stalactites, grotesque rock formations, and domed amphitheaters.

The Central Philippines Super Region, which comprises Regions 4B, 5, 6, 7 8, Camiguin, and Siargao Island, are endowed with rich natural wonders and cultural heritage. Complemented by the extraordinary hospitality and warmth of their people, these places are potential world-class tourist destinations.

The regions are beneficiaries of the massive investment and infrastructure development initiatives by the Arroyo administration to maximize the country’s economic potentials, especially tourism.

As a tourist destination, the Central Philippines Super Region aims for a bigger share of the fast-growing global tourism market, which is said to equal or even surpass that of oil exports, food products or automobiles, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

With the expected recovery of the global economy in 2010, the UNWTO expects tourist arrivals to grow between three percent and four percent this year.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated that travel and tourism contributed 9.4 percent to global GDP (gross domestic product), 7.6 percent to worldwide employment, and 10.9 percent to global exports in 2009. The UNWTO also noted that tourism “produced economic and employment benefits in many related sectors, from construction to agriculture and telecommunications".

While worldwide tourism arrivals went down by four percent in 2009 to 880 million due to the global economic crisis, aggravated by the threat of the influenza A(H1N1), international tourist arrivals still reached its highest level of over 922 million in 2008 with international tourism receipts growing by 1.8 percent from US$ 857 billion in 2007 to US$ 944 billion in 2008.

Based on UNWTO data, the Philippines cornered 0.5 percent of foreign tourist arrivals and 0.3 percent of international tourism receipts in 2008. Philippine tourism showed resilience: posting a six percent growth in tourists in the top 16 destinations the first half of 2009 even as tourist arrivals declined by 8.5 percent worldwide and 6.7 percent in the Asia Pacific region.

The Philippines showed strength in the areas of few visa requirements (3rd), price competitiveness (16th), number of World Heritage natural sites (23rd), comparatively open bilateral Air Services Agreements (28th), and number of known species (40th).

At the same time, the government also introduced reforms and made significant improvements along three competitiveness areas: protection of property rights of foreign investors and difficulty in starting a business, safety and security; health and hygiene; and transport, tourism and ICT infrastructure to further achieve sustainable tourism development objectives.

Under the 2004-2010 Updated Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), the government targets to achieve this year 3.27 million tourist arrivals; US$ 3.31 billion in visitor receipts; 3.99 million in jobs generated; and US$ 17 billion contribution of tourism to the GDP, or 13.6 percent share of the GDP. (PNA)

hakz2007

February 24th, 2010, 07:51 AM

'It’s an awesome experience,' PGMA describes her underground river cruise in Palawan (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=260523)
By Lyle B. Coruña

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Feb. 23, 2010 (PNA) –- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made history as the first Philippine president to enter the world-famous underground river in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

“The feeling inside the cave is awesome. I have been entering many caves all my life but my experience in exploring the majestic and grand rock formations inside the underground river is unique. My imagination was tickled by those amazing and interesting centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites shapes”, President Arroyo told members of Palawan Press Club.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is the Philippine’s lone candidate in the final phase of the global search for the “New Seven Wonders of Nature."

“The President’s visit is a big boost to our campaign to be included in the final seven winners of the worldwide contest," City Mayor Edward Hagedorn said.

Mayor Hagedorn previously expressed dismay over the Department of Tourism’s seemingly cold support in the promotion of the underground river in the effort of gathering global support through online and SMS voting.

But Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo said the national government has been supporting the local government initiatives in bringing more local and foreign tourists to Puerto Princesa’s main tourist attraction.

President Macapagal-Arroyo outlined her achievements on infrastructure projects to make travel to the underground river easy and comfortable.

“We should not inquire what more has to be provided but what projects have been done by our administration that contributed to make tourism arrival here tripled in number," the Chief Executive explained.

Felisa Torres, president of the City Tourism Council reported that around 1,000 tourists are entering the cave daily compared to 300 visitors before President Macapagal-Arroyo became president.

“My guide said that in the past, his family would travel all day before reaching their house near the area. But today, with all these roads and bridges projects, you can arrive in just an hour”, the President said.

DPWH Sec. Victor Domingo said the Arroyo administration has concreted 400 kilometers of road all over Palawan, an infrastructure feat larger than all road projects done since the Commonwealth government up to Estrada administration combined.

James Albert Mendoza, underground river park manager alerted members of the City Tourism Council and other tourism stakeholders to be ready for a greater and massive influx of visitors after the President's visit in the underground river.

“President Macapagal-Arroyo is our grand campaign manager today. It will definitely create allurement and a different effect and curiousness among the tourists”, Mendoza said.

At the start of the global search, two other Philippine tourist spots— the Tubbataha Reef also in Palawan and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol province—were initially nominated for the worldwide search.

The river is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world and one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the country.

Located in the Midwest coast of Palawan, some 80 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, it is a source of pride and key element in the identity of the people of Puerto Princesa in particular and of the Philippines as a whole. (PNA)

gustokiddo

February 24th, 2010, 06:20 PM

Where is Starbucks in Palawan located?

palawan_buddy

February 27th, 2010, 06:38 PM

^^ Theres no starbucks in palawan.

Sinjin P.

February 28th, 2010, 02:19 PM

^ Meron daw eh, ayon sa press release ng Starbucks

hakz2007

March 2nd, 2010, 06:47 AM

Release of Diwaran Island ECC to spur development of RP’s Phuket–Durano (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22438:release-of-diwaran-island-ecc-to-spur-development-of-rps-phuketdurano-&catid=45:regions&Itemid=71)

TOURISM Sec. Joseph “Ace” Durano said the biggest tourism investment in the country, the Banyan Tree development in Palawan, is set to take off with the recent release of the project’s environment compliance certificate (ECC).

Durano said the $300-million (P13.5-billion) development project of the Singapore-listed Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd., to turn the 60-hectare Diwaran Island into the next tourist paradise in Southeast Asia, should “start very soon” with the release of the ECC.

“We know that the ECC is one of the most difficult parts of the development, but with the ECC released, we should expect construction to start very soon,” Durano told the BusinessMirror. “They plan to build their new Phuket in the Philippines.”

He said Banyan Tree plans to build a tourist zone out of Dawiran which will cater to various resort, hotel and tourism locators. Durano said Diwaran’s biggest draw is its fine white-sand beach that runs completely around the island and a natural lagoon right in the middle of the island.

The area is also known for its coral reefs, marine life and dive sites.

Diwaran integrated island resort is about 20 minutes by speedboat from the town of Coron in northern Palawan. With the development of the airports in Puerto Princesa and Busuanga, as well as the rehabilitation of the main north-south highway of the island, Durano is confident more tourists will flock to Palawan.

Banyan Tree’s master plan integrates architectural- and interior-design concepts for the development around its two flagship resorts Banyan Tree Diwaran, which consists of 100 keys of beach, hill and water villas, and Angsana Diwaran, made up of 200 keys of one- and two-bedroom suites.

A third hotel is also being planned which would complete a planned 600 villas, three award-winning spas, a marina and a town center with full-fledged recreation facilities, as well as retail and food-and-beverage outlets.

The group has already developed Asia’s largest integrated resort in Laguna Phuket spanning seven hotels, a golf course and residential development. A similar project—Laguna Hue—is also being planned in Vietnam.

Banyan Tree will be pushing ahead with its expansion plans, including projects in Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico in March, as well as six more resort and hotel openings in China, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and the Middle East.

gustokiddo

March 4th, 2010, 07:12 AM

^ Meron daw eh, ayon sa press release ng Starbucks

yeah, thats where i read it too. so i thought meron..maybe there is? or maybe underconstruction pa lang?

bumbilya

March 4th, 2010, 06:06 PM

request lang po: picture sana ng yo mama's restaurant sa rizal st. kung maari lang naman. friend ko kasi part owner.

hakz2007

March 5th, 2010, 02:07 PM

Puerto Princesa starts constructing P25-M hospital waste treatment plant (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=8&sid=&nid=8&rid=262362)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Mar. 4 (PNA) – Puerto Princesa City mayor Edward Hagedorn and Julito Pugoy, president of Cebu-based Pollution Abatement Systems Specialist Inc. (PASSI) led the groundbreaking ceremony for a medical waste treatment plant on a 1,000 square-meter lot near the Sanitary Landfill in Bgy. Sta. Lourdes, this city.

“This project finally completes our line of facilities that will greatly enhance our compliance to numerous environmental laws on waste management,” Hagedorn, who made a name as a local chief executive for a hall-famer city on cleanliness, said.

The P25-million waste treatment facility is the first joint venture deal of PASSI with a local government unit in its six years of operation.

”We want to be successful on this because this might spark our nationwide expansion bid and partnership with other LGUs in the country”, Pugoy said.

Dr. Juancho Monserate, city health officer, expressed gratitude to Hagedorn and the members of the city council for acting speedily on the concerns of hospital and funeral parlor managements on proper handling, treatment and disposal of medical waste.

”Our hospitals want to treat the needles, scalpels, lancets, saw, syringes, infusion set, tissues, body parts, and excretes before finally sending it to the sanitary landfill”, the city doctor said.

”Based on our initial study, the city has about 150 kilos of daily medical waste from all hospitals with combined capacity of 300 beds. Unlike our treatment plant in Cebu which caters for 5,000 beds, we still need to wait for about 4 years here in Puerto Princesa before we can clearly claim a good return of investment,” Vic Vosotros, corporate secretary of Cebu-based PASSI said.

Visotros said that the company continued to suffer losses in Cebu and operated at below capacity since only few healthcare establishments were availing of their service.

However, Hagedorn said the local government did not approve the plan just to generate income.

”We need to protect our people and the environment from potential infectious exposure to disease causing agents. We are glad PASSI supports our cause by propagating the technology in our city,” the mayor said.

The city government will receive 10 percent share from the facility’s net income.

City councilor Luis Marcaida II is hopeful that the compliance of Puerto Princesa hospitals to Republic Act 6969, also known as the “Toxic Substance and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990” may trigger the interest of the city government to achieve its plan of becoming a medical tourist destination in the near future.

The city council will legislate a supporting ordinance to guide the medical service providers in dealing with their wastes.

Lydia Tanaman, vice president for operation of Palawan Adventist Hospital, said the various hospitals in the city welcomed the latest development the right facility to treat their hazardous solid wastes.

Joy Dalendeg, head nurse of MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital, said they would comply with the law to impress support to government’s campaign on waste management.

Medical wastes from public and private hospitals, birthing clinics, funeral parlors and other healthcare establishments will be stored in a metal cart to be collected and transported to the treatment plant by a refrigerated van.

The autoclave machine destroys viruses and bacteria in medical waste by employing 45-minute heat of 180 to 250 degrees centigrade. It is equipped with metal chamber sealed by a charging door and surrounded by a steam jacket.

After treatment, the waste materials will be delivered to the landfill.

Earl Buenviaje, manager of the country’s first engineered Puerto Princesa Sanitary Landfill, said local healthcare establishments were segregating their hazardous waste from the general waste but these were left untreated and disposed of in their landfill for lack of an alternative treatment of disposal system.

”This practice puts our people, the hospital staff and waste workers to maximum health risk from communicable diseases”, Buenviaje said.

After the groundbreaking, which coincided with the city’s celebration of 138th founding anniversary, the city government and PASSI vowed to fulfill their respective obligations to realize the operation of an autoclave treatment facility.

Hagedorn directed all hospitals and clinics in Puerto Princesa to support the project. (PNA)

Aziza1121

March 5th, 2010, 05:49 PM

PPC Airport then (2007)...
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8164/dsc00052c.jpg

PPC Airport now (2009)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5210/dsc05117d.jpg

My favorite resto in PPC, Palawan
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4304/dsc00064ga.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6607/dsc00191oz.jpg
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/8011/dsc00192ca.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1826/dsc00193om.jpg

Crocodile Farm
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1089/dsc00070q.jpg
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9423/dsc00071v.jpg

Palawan Bear cat
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/1722/dsc00087bj.jpg

Honda Bay's fresh catch (crabs, lobsters) for sale for PhP180 only
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7334/dsc00174b.jpg

Starfish(es?)
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4291/dsc00181y.jpg
Alive...
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8922/dsc00184z.jpg
and Kicking!
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6346/dsc00324l.jpg

Cottages in Coco Loco Island Resort, Roxas
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5243/dsc00290l.jpg
Coco Loco sandbar
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7608/dsc00292sfk.jpg
Unidentified water creature
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8643/dsc00297k.jpg
What type of bird is this?
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1074/dsc00306nh.jpg
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1666/dsc00307mo.jpg
Rainbow in CocoLoco
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/3777/dsc00383q.jpg

jpdm

March 6th, 2010, 01:23 AM

Marcos’ vision of Calauit

http://images.inquirer.net/media/newsinfo/inquirerheadlines/nation/images/pic-03060441280685.jpg
BACK TO AFRICA? President Arroyo feeds the gentle giraffes of Calauit Island during her visit to what had been proclaimed by presidential decree of the dictator Marcos as a wildlife sanctuary on April 28, 2002. INQUIRER PHOTO

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:52:00 03/06/2010

Filed Under: Animals, indigenous people

MANILA, Philippines—Calauit Island lies northwest of Palawan and is an-hour-and-a-half boat ride from Busuanga island.

It was declared a game preserve and wildlife sanctuary in August 1976 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1578. Then President Ferdinand Marcos envisioned the island as the country’s version of the African safari.

The island boasts of African wildlife, like giraffes and zebras. Among its indigenous wildlife are the Calamian deer, the Palawan peacock pheasant and the Palawan bear cat. Mouse deer, crocodiles and wild pigs can also be seen on the island, and the waters around it are also home to dugong, sea turtles and giant clams.

The 3,700-hectare game preserve and wildlife sanctuary has been famous for housing giraffes whose namesakes include Joseph Estrada, Atong Ang, Jinggoy Estrada and Luli Arroyo.

Since the first animals were brought to the island from Kenya in 1977, Calauit’s wildlife population has grown to about a thousand.

The Tagbanuas

The island is the ancestral home of the Tagbanua tribe.

Tagbanuas have their own religion, philosophy, dialect, system of writing and socio-political organization with a complex system of laws.

They cultivate rice as well as sweet potato, corn and cassava. Those living in coastal areas also engage in fishing. They also gather forest products, such as gum, rattan and honey, and sell them. They are also known for making handicraft, and excel particularly in woodworking, mat making and basketry.

They are also popular for their rice wine ritual called Pagdiwata. Inquirer Research

Aziza1121

March 6th, 2010, 08:12 AM

Coral Reefs in Cocoloco, Roxas
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8505/dsc00485vi.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4040/dsc00490z.jpg

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/9621/dsc00491a.jpg

Inihaw na PUSIT...
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1820/dsc00504iq.jpg
...and Manok
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2561/dsc00508w.jpg
Kainan na!
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3653/dsc00526a.jpg

Free Parking
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2223/dsc00631c.jpg

Kinabuchs-where you'll taste the TAMILOK
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6628/dsc00691zy.jpg

palawan_buddy

March 8th, 2010, 05:53 PM

yeah, thats where i read it too. so i thought meron..maybe there is? or maybe underconstruction pa lang?

talaga? where exactly in palawan?

i cant imagine palawan having one. wala pa nga kaming mcdo anywhere in the province.

id rather have a sundae than a frap for now.

[dx]

March 10th, 2010, 06:37 AM

Thanks for the great photos, palawan_buddy and Aziza1121. Can't wait to see all these when we visit Puerto Princesa this June.

Fraulein

March 10th, 2010, 09:09 AM

Puerto Princesa Airport - Feb 27 & Mar 2, 2010

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/21/500x500/22/DSC01762.JPG?et=9lo2ppKj%2CnJIW%2BZ8lKpXTQ&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/3/photos/21/500x500/24/DSC01764.JPG?et=QRlnL34MWcgHKk0WjkVGrA&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/21/500x500/26/DSC01766.JPG?et=mwZWREiiWO9jqIhDv8W6Hg&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/21/500x500/27/DSC01767.JPG?et=uhIl4bp0B5OIJQ9Yf2SJRg&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/21/500x500/28/DSC01768.JPG?et=nOYL6fz2nxo4PkmPQvqwtA&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/21/500x500/29/DSC01770.JPG?et=btGNao9JKcEIST9UlAonXw&nmid=321391222

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/102/DSC02187.JPG?et=WJzPmV%2CkI836g1AmcUweSQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/103/DSC02188.JPG?et=qwg4QObpBHiHZCrlbz%2B9ZA&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/104/DSC02189.JPG?et=%2C9AgByPdmbPpOlgOC5JWoA&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/105/DSC02190.JPG?et=Jxc1KdWwVHW1qcvVEne%2BiQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/106/DSC02191.JPG?et=DF7atQui3MWldXv3ObDIrQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/109/DSC02194.JPG?et=S2tRjKZvjcSLOUbS1ARMjQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/110/DSC02195.JPG?et=9EHkCTxK2NO5EkFT1wujXQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/117/DSC02209.JPG?et=%2CK3Ss%2CUffYqeUY21YkineQ&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/118/DSC02210.JPG?et=02oq94ccjL5ishn6Jx4O8w&nmid=322814350

http://images.jhulyus.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/500x500/123/DSC02215.JPG?et=fFJtfUZdV%2CKdU2JSiUdjhQ&nmid=322814350

hakz2007

March 10th, 2010, 02:18 PM

Pag-asa Island
by moretoba (http://www.flickr.com/photos/moretoba/)

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2592/3728981549_e845ba2f02.jpghttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2456/3728940751_e52a8e7018.jpghttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

DX0JP, team. Spratly Island. Kalayaan, Pag-asa Island. Republic of the Philippines.

Aziza1121

March 10th, 2010, 03:43 PM

;53183487']Thanks for the great photos, palawan_buddy and Aziza1121. Can't wait to see all these when we visit Puerto Princesa this June.

Im sure your Palawan shots will as awesome as your posted pics here in SSC. Galing! What cam are you using?

And dont forget to visit KaLui.
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/498/dsc00057sn.jpg

I suggest stay in Puerto Pension. Their resto is on the rooftop, with view of the pier. Get Room 20. It is the best room in PP. The owner occupies this room everytime he is in town. It has view of the sea as well.

Puerto Pension shots from 3rd floor
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5103/dsc00582u.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4387/dsc00583hp.jpg
3rd floor hallway/balcony
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/5480/dsc00580c.jpg
Room20
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5916/dsc00581u.jpg

Rooftop resto of Puerto Pension
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1323/dsc00644l.jpg

View from the rooftop resto
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8/dsc00634e.jpg

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1549/dsc00649k.jpg

jpdm

March 11th, 2010, 01:41 AM

^^^^Good thing there are permanent structures in Pag-asa in Kalayaan Islands to solidify our claims to Sabah.:cheers:

296619

March 13th, 2010, 02:37 PM

^^^^Good thing there are permanent structures in Pag-asa in Kalayaan Islands to solidify our claims to Sabah.:cheers:

What's the connection of having structures in Kalayaan with our claim over Sabah?

manila_eye

March 16th, 2010, 04:57 PM

^^ looks like jpdm gets confused this time :lol:

TheAvenger

March 16th, 2010, 11:11 PM

^^ looks like jpdm gets confused this time :lol:

actually there is a connection between the Phil military structures in Kalayaan Islands Group and the territory of Sabah.

TheAvenger

March 17th, 2010, 01:00 AM

actually there is a connection between the Phil military structures in Kalayaan Islands Group and the territory of Sabah.

Pls note that Swallow Reef was one of the islands claimed by the Philippines
but not occupied and it was inside the Philippine EEZ.

Later the Malaysians claimed and occupied same time the Swallow Reef and
renamed it Layang Layang, since it was inside ALSO IN the 200 miles EEZ of the
State of Sabah. The Philippines EEZ and Sabah's EEZ is overlapping each other
in some areas.

Later they fortified Layang Layang with troops and an airfield and later they
also make a tourist diving resorts on that island.

Not satisfied with Swallow Reef, Malaysia also occupied Erica Reef which is
more closer to Palawan, later to stop the Malaysian encroacment of Philippine
territorial claim, the Phil military occupied the Rizal (Commodore Reef)

SO THAT IS THE CONNECTION ....... :)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/kiggroup.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/9bg141-layanglayang.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/Sabahmap.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/swallowreefnKIG.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/swallowreefnKIG2.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/layanglayang-swallowreef.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/Philipineclaimsbutnotoccupied.jpg

Expansion of other claimants
By the end of the 1970s, the Philippines had occupied a total of eight islands
and two reefs. These features, excluding Southwest Cay, are still occupied
by the Philippines today. The Philippines has never occupied another feature
after the 1970s until 1999. While other countries occupied most of the features
they control now during that period, the Philippines has maintained not to
occupy any features further. It is attributed to the Philippines' initiation for
the cooperative development of the area. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia,
along with other ASEAN countries who can serve as investors, were already
drawing a plan on a wide exploitation of the Spratly group in the early 1980s
when suddenly China became interested in the area. China began occupying
features by mid-1980s causing the ASEAN plan to halt. The most controversial
occupation of China is the Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) in 1995

In 1999, Malaysia occupied Gabriela Silang Reef (Erica Reef) and Pawikan Reef
(Investigator Shoal), causing the Philippines to protest further. Due to this pressure,
with China's Mischief Reef just 130 miles (210 km) off Palawan and Vietnam's
Pigeon Reef and Malaysia's Investigator Shoal just 150 miles (240 km) off Palawan,
the Philippines decided to occupy Ayungin Reef (Second Thomas Reef) in 1999.
No structure is built on the reef. Soldiers stationed there take shelter at
BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship that went aground in the reef shortly before
]the Philippines decided to occupy it.[9] Together with Rizal Reef (Commodore Reef),
Ayungin Reef can give the Philippines a sentry advantage in stopping other countries'
occupation of features nearest to the Philippines (see map below).

China has also been reported seeking to establish another forward outpost, past
Mischief Reef and closer to Palawan. Twice since 1998, it planted buoys on
Sabina Shoal, just 82 miles (132 km) off Palawan. Philippine Air Force planes have
blasted the buoys out
of the water.[10]

China occupied only eight features. However, these features were strategic points
in the area, making China able to assert its exploitation rights for the whole area.
In contrast, the Philippines and Malaysia are limited to particular regions in the area,
making these two countries incapable of contesting exploitation rights in other regions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policies,_activities_and_history_of_the_Philippines_in_Spratly_Islands

Other related articles :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_Reef

http://thepinoy.net/?p=1184

http://mikeinmanila.info/?p=176

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalayaan,_Palawan

hakz2007

March 18th, 2010, 10:36 AM

26th PCGA Annual National Convention set on March 25-27 in Puerto Princesa
MANILA, March 18 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) is holding its 26th Annual National Convention on March 25-27 at the Legend Hotel in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with the theme, “Saving Lives, Protecting our Seas, Volunteer We Must.”

Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, said the three-day event will be highlighted by workshops and search-and-rescue (SAR) and oil spill response demonstrations involving Coast Guard surface and air assets.

The convention will be hosted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary District Palawan headed by Rear Admiral Higinio C. Mendoza, in cooperation with Commodore Joel S. Garcia, commander of Coast Guard District Palawan.

The workshops will focus on maritime search and rescue, marine environmental protection, maritime safety, and maritime community relations.

Some 500 PCGA volunteers, together with PCG district and major unit commanders, and members of the central staff of Headquarters Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the workshops.

Executive Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Acting Secretary Anneli R. Lontoc, Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Thompson C. Lantion, Palawan Congressman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn are among the invited guests.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also been invited as the guest of honor.

The PCGA includes volunteer civilian organizations established by the Philippine Coast Guard for the purpose of assisting in the conduct of search-and-rescue, disaster-relief operations and marine environment protection, as most of its members are owners of boats, yachts and even aircraft while some are licensed professionals in the field of marine transportation and engineering and medical field.

Presently, the PCGA is headed by its national director, Vice Admiral Eduardo R. Alvarez, PCGA.

With the recent enactment of Republic Act No. 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009, PCGA has eventually expanded and is now an organization with various activities aimed at assisting the PCG in promoting maritime safety, search-and-rescue, marine environmental protection and preservation, youth development and humanitarian service.

There are now 10 Coast Guard Auxiliary Districts and the auxiliary membership has grown to around 19,000 around the country.

Included in the three-day program is the search-and- rescue and oil spill response demonstration involving PCG surface and air assets such as SARV-004, SARV-3504, AE-891 and two PCG aircraft together with PCGA assets.

Tamayo has expressed his gratitude to the PCGA members for their invaluable support to the PCG during search-and- rescue and disaster-relief operations, and further enjoined them to renew their commitment of volunteerism based on the spirit of R.A. 9993. (PNA)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=12&sid=&nid=12&rid=265094

jpdm

March 22nd, 2010, 01:38 AM

What's the connection of having structures in Kalayaan with our claim over Sabah?
Ooopss sorry..hehehe:lol:

I mean spratlys..:).

^^ looks like jpdm gets confused this time :lol:

hehehehe:):)

jpdm

March 22nd, 2010, 01:40 AM

Pls note that Swallow Reef was one of the islands claimed by the Philippines
but not occupied and it was inside the Philippine EEZ.

Later the Malaysians claimed and occupied same time the Swallow Reef and
renamed it Layang Layang, since it was inside ALSO IN the 200 miles EEZ of the
State of Sabah. The Philippines EEZ and Sabah's EEZ is overlapping each other
in some areas.

Later they fortified Layang Layang with troops and an airfield and later they
also make a tourist diving resorts on that island.

Not satisfied with Swallow Reef, Malaysia also occupied Erica Reef which is
more closer to Palawan, later to stop the Malaysian encroacment of Philippine
territorial claim, the Phil military occupied the Rizal (Commodore Reef)

SO THAT IS THE CONNECTION ....... :)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/kiggroup.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/9bg141-layanglayang.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/Sabahmap.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/swallowreefnKIG.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/swallowreefnKIG2.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/layanglayang-swallowreef.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af16/cecilia_fello/Philipineclaimsbutnotoccupied.jpg

Expansion of other claimants
By the end of the 1970s, the Philippines had occupied a total of eight islands
and two reefs. These features, excluding Southwest Cay, are still occupied
by the Philippines today. The Philippines has never occupied another feature
after the 1970s until 1999. While other countries occupied most of the features
they control now during that period, the Philippines has maintained not to
occupy any features further. It is attributed to the Philippines' initiation for
the cooperative development of the area. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia,
along with other ASEAN countries who can serve as investors, were already
drawing a plan on a wide exploitation of the Spratly group in the early 1980s
when suddenly China became interested in the area. China began occupying
features by mid-1980s causing the ASEAN plan to halt. The most controversial
occupation of China is the Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) in 1995

In 1999, Malaysia occupied Gabriela Silang Reef (Erica Reef) and Pawikan Reef
(Investigator Shoal), causing the Philippines to protest further. Due to this pressure,
with China's Mischief Reef just 130 miles (210 km) off Palawan and Vietnam's
Pigeon Reef and Malaysia's Investigator Shoal just 150 miles (240 km) off Palawan,
the Philippines decided to occupy Ayungin Reef (Second Thomas Reef) in 1999.
No structure is built on the reef. Soldiers stationed there take shelter at
BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship that went aground in the reef shortly before
]the Philippines decided to occupy it.[9] Together with Rizal Reef (Commodore Reef),
Ayungin Reef can give the Philippines a sentry advantage in stopping other countries'
occupation of features nearest to the Philippines (see map below).

China has also been reported seeking to establish another forward outpost, past
Mischief Reef and closer to Palawan. Twice since 1998, it planted buoys on
Sabina Shoal, just 82 miles (132 km) off Palawan. Philippine Air Force planes have
blasted the buoys out
of the water.[10]

China occupied only eight features. However, these features were strategic points
in the area, making China able to assert its exploitation rights for the whole area.
In contrast, the Philippines and Malaysia are limited to particular regions in the area,
making these two countries incapable of contesting exploitation rights in other regions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policies,_activities_and_history_of_the_Philippines_in_Spratly_Islands

Other related articles :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_Reef

http://thepinoy.net/?p=1184

http://mikeinmanila.info/?p=176

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalayaan,_Palawan

Mukhang hinahamon tayo ng Malaysia.

"Come and get it!"sabi nga ng Malaysia

hakz2007

March 27th, 2010, 04:45 PM

Palawan governor disqualified as House bet
PUERTO PRINCESA City—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has disqualified three-term Palawan Gov. Mario Joel T. Reyes from running as congressman in the province’s second district over questions on his residency.

In a decision promulgated Thursday, the Comelec division upheld the petition filed by one of Palawan’s municipal mayors who alleged that Reyes has not changed his residence from Coron in northern Palawan, where he was born, to Aborlan in the southern district where he has filed his candidacy for congressman.

“He (Reyes) is still considered to be domiciled in Coron... he did not meet the one-year residency requirement in the district where he seeks to run,” the Comelec ruling said.

Beach house

San Vicente Mayor Antonio Gonzales said Reyes has not changed his residence as required in the election code.

Among the key issues raised against Reyes and upheld by the poll body were evidence that contradicted Reyes’ claim to be residing in a beach house in Tigman, Aborlan.

“The alleged residence of the respondent is a mere beach house... at most a temporary place for relaxation and cannot be considered a place of residence,” the ruling added.

At the capitol last Friday, at least 800 supporters of Reyes held a prayer rally to criticize the Comelec ruling.

Streamers were printed with slogans criticizing the Comelec, who earlier disqualified Reyes’ ally, Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra, who is running for governor.

Living in feed mill

Mitra’s disqualification was the result of a similar case, with the Comelec dismissing evidence of his claim to be living in a rented room inside an animal feed mill since moving out of his ancestral home in Puerto Princesa City, a highly urbanized city where residents are not to vote for provincial positions.

“We find this case ridiculous. How can he not be a resident when he has been governor of the place?” said Reyes’ lawyer, Romulo Macalintal. “It is not yet final.”

He said the Reyes camp would file a motion for reconsideration on Monday.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100326-261014/Palawan-governor-disqualified-as-House-bet

tj_brewed

April 5th, 2010, 12:42 AM

Futuristic underwater resort to be built off Palawan
By Daxim Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100405-262424/Futuristic-underwater-resort-to-be-built-off-Palawan)
First Posted 03:25:00 04/05/2010

http://images.inquirer.net/media/newsinfo/inquirerheadlines/nation/images/pic-04050426550934.jpg

MANILA, Philippines—Imagine an underwater hotel room with a panoramic view of tropical fish swimming over large coral reefs, manta rays gliding in the water and turtles chasing after tiny squids.

Science fiction? Not if businessman Paul Moñozca can help it.

Moñozca, a Singapore-based financier who heads a group of international investors, plans to start a futuristic underwater resort off the island of Palawan as part of an aggressive venture into the ecotourism business.

The project, dubbed “Last Frontier Resort,” is expected to bring in a total of $1 billion in investments spread over a 10-year period—an average of $100 million a year which, its proponents hope, will help create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Palawan.

Moñozca—known for his advocacies of helping improve the overseas remittance business, acquiring stakes in the US professional basketball league and junior circuit stock car racing teams—is the main driver of the project.

His Monaco-based philanthropic fund, dubbed “Spirit,” plays a lead role in the development of marine habitats and ocean protection initiatives.

The Last Frontier Resort will be built with submarine technology. When completed, the proposed underwater habitat will be the biggest in the world.

The project has been in the planning stage since last year, and its proponents have identified a group of islands in the Calamianes cluster as the site for development.

The site is owned by businessman and resort developer Steve Tajanlangit. It is made up of a group of seven islands in close proximity to each other, and another group of seven islands outside the main cluster.

The resulting 14-island project will be the largest of its kind in the world.

Sea spiders

The first phase calls for semi-submersible units called “Sea Spiders,” which will be built by a US firm that specializes on submarines, to serve as observation decks. Each sea spider can accommodate 30 tourists.

To rival similar projects such as the underwater resorts of Dubai, Fiji and the Caribbean, the second phase calls for a 100-room underwater hotel in partnership with a high-end boutique hotel brand spread over the cluster of seven islands.

Suite-size rooms will have a 270-degree view of the ocean underwater with 20-to 40-meter visibility. These rooms will be connected by underwater corridors. A further 85 rooms will be built on another cluster of seven islands.

Quake-free zone

Project proponents chose the pristine islands of Palawan because of its recent standing as a quake-free zone and its clear and cove-protected waters.

One of the site’s islands sits adjacent to the Calauit Nature Reserve. The islands nearby are ideal jump-off points for scuba diving.

“The blue print encompasses a strict adherence to protect the environment and the biodiversity of Palawan,” the group said in a statement.

“Groups of scientists from the Philippines and around the globe are part of the project’s protective strategy especially focused on its long stretches of coral reefs which have previously encountered illegal dynamite and cyanide fishing,” it added.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines serves as financial adviser to the project, which developers expect to be completed by 2013.

tyronne

April 5th, 2010, 01:08 AM

^^Very nice!

Brandon32

April 5th, 2010, 04:09 AM

red_jasper

April 5th, 2010, 08:21 PM

Mischief over oil borders is better than making war

Robin Mills
* Last Updated: April 05. 2010 9:37PM UAE / April 5. 2010 5:37PM GMT

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AD&Date=20100405&Category=BUSINESS&ArtNo=704059877&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=300
This photo taken late 2009 and made available by
Diamond Offshore Drilling Monday Feb. 22, 2010 shows
the semi-submersible oil drilling rig the Ocean Guardian
under tow in British coastal waters. Oil exploration
company Desire Petroleum PLC began drilling at a spot
north of the disputed Falkland Islands Monday, the
company said. The announcement is sure to infuriate
Argentina, which claims the south Atlantic archipelago
as its own and lost a seven-week war over the territory
in 1982. (AP Photo/Diamond Offshore drilling, ho) **
EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** *** Local Caption ***
LON108_BRITAIN_FALKLANDS.jpg *** Local Caption ***
LON108_BRITAIN_FALKLANDS.jpg

Mischief Reef is aptly named. Returning recently from east Asia, I happened to fly over this tiny scrap of land, nowhere more than 2 metres above high tide.

Seemingly insignificant, it has become emblematic of the growing issue of disputed borders in oil-rich regions.

Mischief Reef is part of the Spratly Islands, a chain of small islets claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. In 1988, 80 Vietnamese sailors died in a battle with China over some of the islands. In 1995, the Chinese occupied Mischief Reef, first claiming they were building shelters for fishermen. These lucky fishermen now enjoy the use of three-storey buildings, satellite dishes, a helicopter landing pad and anti-aircraft guns.

The Spratly Islands are strategically important and a rich fishing ground. But the most significant factor in the dispute is, predictably, oil. As Asian energy demand rises and domestic production increasingly fails to keep up, possession of such islands can anchor claims to the South China Sea’s large potential reserves of oil and gas.

Source (http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100405/BUSINESS/704059877/1058&template=columnists)

TheAvenger

April 6th, 2010, 07:44 PM

true_north

April 7th, 2010, 04:30 PM

And dont forget to visit KaLui.
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/498/dsc00057sn.jpg

I love Kalui restaurant. the ambiance, food and everything. we had a field trip in PPS last February. I'll try to post some of my photos.

great city; great province :cheers:

[earthling]

April 16th, 2010, 03:09 PM

http://www.bworld.com.ph/images_2009/bworld_logo.png

Robinsons Land eyes two malls, two hotels
Corporate News
Posted on 09:44 PM,
April 15, 2010

GOKONGWEI-led property developer Robinsons Land Corp. will open two shopping malls and two budget hotels in its next fiscal year.

The malls will be in Palawan and Pangasinan provinces, said Frederick D. Go, president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Land at the sidelines of the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Ortigas Center.

For the fiscal year 2010, listed Robinsons Land has opened three malls -- in Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Ilocos Norte, and Cebu City -- meeting the target. Robinsons Land’s fiscal year ends in September.

The new malls increased gross leasing space by 6% or 44,000 square meters (sq. m.) to 1.5 million sq. m., of which 800,000 sq. m. can be leased. To date, the company has 29 shopping malls.

Mr. Go said Robinsons Land would be opening two to three malls every year.

For the budget hotel business, Mr. Go said the first Gohotels.ph, located at Pioneer Center in Mandaluyong, would start commercial operation on May 19. Clients can avail themselves of P88 rooms through early reservations.

“We will start construction of two [hotels] for opening next year,” Mr. Go said, adding that these will be in Tacloban, Leyte and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

Under Robinsons Land’s corporate strategy, Gohotels.ph will be built near commercial centers like shopping malls.

“We believe that general consumer consumption is on an uptrend. It is doing very well. We are in a special period this time,” Mr. Go said.

Robinsons Land has allotted P9 billion for spending this year, which could be used to buy government properties. Mr. Go said about 40% of the budget would be spent to build new malls.

The property firm of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. recorded a net income of P869.2 million in the first quarter ending December, up by 28% from P679.68 million year on year.

Shares in Robinsons Land, which is into malls, hotels and office spaces, dropped to P15.00 yesterday from P15.25 on Wednesday.

source (http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/content.php?id=9080)

:):)

true_north

April 17th, 2010, 04:27 AM

^^ nice! Palawan's going to have a Robinsons too. so with Pangasinan, which is going to be the second Rob Mall in Ilocos Region after Ilocos Norte :banana:

[earthling]

April 18th, 2010, 07:05 PM

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/8593/malayag.jpg

RLC eyes presence in Palawan
April 16, 2010 (by Albert Castro)

Gokongwei-led Robinsons Land Corp. is eyeing to establish its presence in Palawan, identifying the westernmost province as the next location for a number of its projects this year.

Robinsons Land president Frederick L. Go, at the sideline of the company’s stockholders meeting, said the province will be the location for one of the two new budget hotels that the company will construct and will open next year.

Palawan will also be the location for one of the two new malls that the company will construct this year, which is also slated to open next year.

Palawan is accompanied by Tacloban as the location for the budget hotel which was branded Go Hotel, while Pangasinan is the location for the other mall that Robinsons Land will be constructing.

Both mall and hotel in Palawan will be built side-by-side as the company sees a synergy between the two businesses.

Go said the model will be implemented in all areas where Robinsons Land has a mall presence.

The company has allocated P9 billion this year as capital expenditures which it will use for its retail, residential and office space projects.

Sister company Universal Robina Corp., (URC) meanwhile is targeting to improve its sales in its international operation by 25 percent, at $300 million from P240 million recorded this year.

URC president Lance Gokongwei said the international unit of URC has posted its profit last year since it became operational.

URC’s international business has contributed 25 percent of the company’s revenues last year, said Gokongwei.

URC is allocating P3.82 billion as capital expenditures this year, bulk of which will be spent on snack food and beverage businesses.

Gokongwei said they are scheduled to add another one in its beverage line in Hanoi, Vietnam, while a new one will be inaugurated in Ho Chi Min City.

The company is also expanding its snack line in Malaysia and Thailand.

palawan_buddy

April 20th, 2010, 03:25 PM

this is a very good news for us. everyone is realllllllllllllllllly excited.

anyone knows the rendering?

[dx]

April 22nd, 2010, 01:57 PM

TheAvenger

April 23rd, 2010, 07:55 PM

Owing to our government officials unexplained and mysterious don't care attitude regarding our national territory of Kalayaan islands Group, those islands, reefs, and atolls will be lost permanently.

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/KIG-SpratlyBAMap.jpg

.

TheAvenger

April 23rd, 2010, 08:15 PM

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/1KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundNo.jpg

Northwest part of Dangerous ground.

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/2KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundNo.jpg

Northeast part of Dangerous ground.

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/3KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundso.jpg

Southwest part of Dangerous ground.

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/4KIG-SpratlyBAMap-dangerousgroundso.jpg

Southeast part of Dangerous ground

Aziza1121

April 24th, 2010, 07:11 PM

^^What govt agency ba responsible in making bantay our territories? Why it seems kulang sa fight against "territorial invasion"?

TheAvenger

April 24th, 2010, 09:59 PM

^^What govt agency ba responsible in making bantay our territories? Why it seems kulang sa fight against "territorial invasion"?

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is responsible for guarding our territory and our 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zones. BUT they have only very old Vietnam-era Naval ships and Aircrafts given as aid by the american govt.

TheAvenger

April 24th, 2010, 10:08 PM

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04469balabacstrait834x768.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04470balabacstrait795x600.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04381.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04384.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04387.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04459balabacandramosisland.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04462balabacisland.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04464canabunganisland.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04465mantangule.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04466bancalanisland.jpg

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/DSC04487-politicians.jpg

sana nga totoo ang sabi ng politico na yaon na magtatayo siya ng college sa remote island ng bancalan.

hakz2007

April 26th, 2010, 02:18 PM

^^Politically, Puerto Princesa is not part of Palawan but geographically it is.

Puerto Princesa is the only city in Palawan Province. The only thing that separate it from Palawan is its status as highly-urbanized city, thus, it became independent of Palawan Province politically only but not geographically.

Let me quote Kimber:

The Spratly Islands thread merged with the Puerto Princesa City and Palawan Province thread. That bumped off "Puerto Princesa City" from the thread title, which in it's current form reflects the merging to the two previous threads. As to the new thread name being "redundant, unnecessary, and uncalled for;" 1) Puerto Princesa and Palawan is more redundant because everyone knows where the city of Puerto Princesa is located, only an uneducated person wouldn't know where it is. 2) The new thread title is necessary because it tracks the merging of the two threads. 3) How is it uncalled for? It calls for the merging of a much slower inactive thread to a thread that has more visibility and relative interest. Besides, the Spratly Islands are in Palawan's provincial territory anyway.

lightning099

April 27th, 2010, 08:25 AM

Mangroves
http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/600x600/20/aIMG-2749.jpg?et=eRi1Yjg3QtNgAVn9TbqHIA&nmid=278553113

Snake Island
http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/600x600/23/aIMG-2896.jpg?et=G6JvbVktSDoLzYg8NMZK1A&nmid=278553113

Honda Bay
http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/600x600/7/aIMG-2426.jpg?et=07BA3u2QW7nEMD7%2BcKPy%2CA&nmid=278553113

http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/600x600/33/aIMG-2859.jpg?et=rQglp1DemBeKdrEC%2Cgndlg&nmid=278553113

http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/1/photos/25/600x600/30/aIMG-2333.jpg?et=FcyR1rkhEdjaMeEttAuhAQ&nmid=278553113

http://images.lightning099.multiply.com/image/2/photos/25/600x600/1/aIMG-2139.jpg?et=jC57PavgyZX5crlljqQ7tw&nmid=278553113

balay_1

April 27th, 2010, 09:24 PM

^^Ganda talaga ng Palawan!:)

TheAvenger

April 28th, 2010, 09:10 AM

I cannot believe this.
That SSC Moderators could not even read this or any of the private messages I sent each one of them. I cannot believe that SSC could be as lightly regulated as this. Three days had passed since my first complaint-message was posted and there had been no reply from anyone from the moderators.
To the moderators: have some respect to the locals who come from the places you intend to discuss about. I know you have the final say on what to do with this site, but it is our place, and not yours, that you are talking about. at least have some decency and respect to reply.
I know I am the only local who is from Puerto Princesa, but it does not give you the blanket authority to do whatever you like with this thread.

I also believe that Spratly Thread should be separated from Palawan thread since there were many political and military topics to be discussed in Spratly thread and may add confusions to Palawan thread, Beside the devil woman in the Palace together with the brenda senator removed our Kalayaan Islands Group from our our national territory and it became a regime of islands open for the creeping invasions of China, Vietnam and Malaysia.

pthfndr19

April 29th, 2010, 09:23 PM

pomperadz@yahoo.com

April 29th, 2010, 09:25 PM

Thursday, April 29, 2010 Year 14 Issue No. 034N
Philippines
Evening News

REGIONAL MSN & INT'NAL SPORTS

NewsLink Services Ltd.
15 NAFPLIOU ST. 1ST FLOOR P.O. BOX 3627, 3317 LIMASSOL, CYPRUS
TEL: 357 25340360 FAX: 357 25340388 EMAIL: Info@NewsLinkServices.com
COPYRIGHT © - Information appearing in NewsLink is the copyright of NewsLink Services Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without license or should not be forwarded or re-transmitted to any other non-subscribing vessel or individual.
DISCLAIMER - Your Company's regulations & procedures take precedence over all information in NewsLink including Exchange Rates, Safety & Loss Prevention Messages.

Ayala Land Spends PHP 2 Billion For New Palawan Resort

EL NIDO - A PHP 2-billion investment has been invested by property firm Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) to the group that owns the popular El Nido resorts in Palawan for a new tourism development project. Asian Conservation, through subsidiaries under the Ten Knots Group that owns the resorts in Lagen and Miniloc Islands, has entered into an agreement with ALI to develop another island resort property within the province. Asian Conservation chairman Vicente Perez said its joint venture with ALI would provide a winning situation for both parties. "We are pleased to have Ayala Land as our strategic partner, given its strong corporate philosophy on sustainability and its proven track record of building world-class real estate projects," he said.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

this is good for Palawan..sana lang eh di maapektuhan ang natural wonders ng Palawan..:):cheers::cheers::cheers:

TheAvenger

April 30th, 2010, 07:20 AM

Pls see some stories, maps and photos of our Kalayaan Islands Group, Palawan
at the below blog.

http://jibraelangel2blog.blogspot.com/2010/04/kalayaan-islands-group-and-spratly.html

TheAvenger

May 5th, 2010, 02:11 PM

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae105/kerenskyalex/KIG-SpratlyBAMap-sabinashoaletc-1.jpg

Considering that these features of shoals, reefs, etc which is very near Palawan coast is for the protection of the Philippines from further encroachment from China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, then the future Philippine occupation of these mentioned features can be an exemption from this Declaration of Conduct by ASEAN and China.

[/quote]

Expansion of other claimants

By the end of the 1970s, the Philippines had occupied a total of eight islands and two reefs. These features, excluding Southwest Cay, are still occupied by the Philippines today. The Philippines has never occupied another feature after the 1970s until 1999. While other countries occupied most of the features they control now during that period, the Philippines has maintained not to occupy any features further. It is attributed to the Philippines' initiation for the cooperative development of the area. The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, along with other ASEAN countries who can serve as investors, were already drawing a plan on a wide exploitation of the Spratly group in the early 1980s when suddenly China became interested in the area. China began occupying features by mid-1980s causing the ASEAN plan to halt. The most controversial occupation of China is the Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) in 1995 (See Mischief Reef for further discussion).

In 1999, Malaysia occupied Gabriela Silang Reef (Erica Reef) and Pawikan Reef (Investigator Shoal), causing the Philippines to protest further. Due to this pressure, with China's Mischief Reef just 130 miles (210 km) off Palawan and Vietnam's Pigeon Reef and Malaysia's Investigator Shoal just 150 miles (240 km) off Palawan, the Philippines decided to occupy Ayungin Reef (Second Thomas Reef) in 1999. No structure is built on the reef. Soldiers stationed there take shelter at BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship that went aground in the reef shortly before the Philippines decided to occupy it.[9] Together with Rizal Reef (Commodore Reef), Ayungin Reef can give the Philippines a sentry advantage in stopping other countries' occupation of features nearest to the Philippines (see map below).

China has also been reported seeking to establish another forward outpost, past Mischief Reef and closer to Palawan. Twice since 1998, it planted buoys on Sabina Shoal, just 82 miles (132 km) off Palawan. Philippine Air Force planes have blasted the buoys out of the water.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policies,_activities_and_history_of_the_Philippines_in_Spratly_Islands#Expansion_of_other_claimants

In reference to the above postings, pls note that Rizal Reef ex Commodore Reef and the 2nd Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Reef) was occupied by our forces in order to check the further advance of Malaysia, Vietnam and China to the shoals and reefs near the Palawan coast.

Therefore it is more strategic and tactical for our country to also occupy and secure all the remaining unoccupied shoals and reefs like 1st Thomas, Royal Captain, N.E. Investigator, Sabina, Half Moon shoals, etc, to protect our Palawan coast from poachers, terrorist and foreign invaders.