Palawan Adventures

"Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm.
It is located in Barangay Iwahig, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 35 minutes by tricycle from the city proper. One can take a jeepney along Valencia Street or may hire a tricycle/private vehicle going to the penal farm. It is located 16 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa.

The colony encompasses a 37-hectare scenic farm planted with coconut palm trees, rice, and other crops cultivated by the prisoners and their families. The prison has about 4,000 population and many inmates live with their families in so-called rehabilitation areas. Within the farm is Balsahan River, known for its cascading waters coming from the nearby mountain. Iwahig is more like a modern farm, rather than a prison, where prisoners toil their farms unguarded and are allowed to earn an income by working in the many shops which turn out various handicrafts, most popular of which are the handcarved items made of mahogany wood. The farm is definitely a good shopping stop for tourists.

Vista Luz Picnic Grounds.
It is located in Circulation Road, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 5-7 minutes by tricycle from the city proper via Circulation Road. It is two kilometers away from the airport.

It offers facilities like cottages and picnic huts. Locals come on weekends for swimming and picnicking. The biggest hut called the pavilion is good for groups up to 100 persons. Two cottages, each with two beds, electric fan, and private bathroom are available for an overnight stay.

Nasin-aw White Beach and Silica Beach.
It is located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 5-7 minutes by tricycle from the city proper. The beach is two and a half kilometers away from the airport.

It is a seaside fun place for those who wish to indulge in marine pleasures, without leaving the confines of the city. The fine white sand and clear waters of White Beach make it a perfect spot for swimming. A few picnic tables were installed but an overnight stay is not possible since there are no accommodation facilities here."

Cave in Palawan Philippines

"El Nido has a black marble and limestone cliffs contain large caves with whimsical names like Cathedral Cave and Disco Cave because of their formation. Palawan's St. Paul National Park is Palawan's most popular attraction and covers 5,349 hectares of lush forest, dark mountains, caves and white beaches. In the deep recesses of the marble and limestone peaks of Mt. St. Paul flow the Underground River, said to be the longest in the world. It is easily navigable for at least four kilometers. The caves are filled with filigree-like sculptures formed by stalagmites and stalactites. Near its mouth is a beautiful lagoon with crystal-clear water that teems with fish. Also within the park is the Monkey Trail, a series of wooden paths that winds into the forest where monkeys, squirrels, lizards and some 60 species of birds are found.

Tabon Cave is situated on Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan . Tabon Cave is a 138-hectares, of rugged cliffs and deep slopes. Discovered by an American, the late Dr. Robert B. Fox and his team of Archaeologist from the National Museum in 1962. The discovery of the caves have yielded an important Archaeological find - Fossil human bones tentatively dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. Excavations were done from 1962 to 1970. Of the 200 caves found in Lipuun Point only 29 caves were fully explored, including Tabon Cave, which were found to been used for habitation and / or burial sites by ancient people.

Tabon cave complex is a 30-minute banca ride from the town of Quezon, a Southern municipality of Palawan. It is 155 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City."

La Union Philippines

"La Union has predominantly hilly terrain which gradually rises eastward from the shore.The western border is a coastal plain of raised coral and alluvia (sand or clay deposited by flowing water) overlaying older sediments. East of this palin are rolling hills parallel to the coast covering a wide portion of the central area. The province has two pronounced seasons - dry from November toApril and from May to October.

HISTORY
The natives of what is now La Union were already trading with the Japanese when the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the area of Agoo was then known as "Puerto de Japon". Captain Juan de Salcedo explored the region in 1572, followed by Augustinan missionaries who founded the towns of Balaoan, Bauang, and Agoo in the late decades of the 16th century. The province was created on March 2, 1850 out of towns then belonging to Ilcos Sur and Pangasinan. Luciano Almeda headed the provincial government for a time during the Philippine Revolution while General Manuel Tinio occupied San Fernando in May 1898. After the battle in Aringay River on November 19, 1899, the American troops took controll of the province. A civil government was established in La Union in 1901. A year later, La Union ceded a narrow strip of land to Amburayan which later became a sub-province of the old Mountain Province.

The majority of the population are Ilocanos. Some Pangasinenses are found in the southern part of the province, while a substantial group of Chinese Filipinos are in San Fernando, the commercial center. Ilocano is the predominant language of the people. La Union has 20 municipalities which are subdivide into 576 barangays. The Northern towns of Sudipen, Bangar, Luna, Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel, Baonatan, San Juan and San Fernando comprise the First District. Belonging to the Second District are Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Agoo, Tubao, Sto. Tomas, Rosario and Pugo. San Fernando is moving forward to become a component city.

Commerce and Industy:
The main sources of livelighood are farming and fishing. The pricioal product are rice, corn tobacco, garlic, sugarcane and cassava. Grapes are extensively grown in Bauang. The rich Lingayan Gulf is the main fishing ground. Cottage industries include blanket-weaving, basketry, shellcraft, pottery and furniture-making. La Union is also well known for its basi-making industry, the Ilocano native wine mande from fermented sugarcane juice."

Pagsanjan Falls Laguna Philippines

"This is the place to visit if your time in the Philippines is limited. Approaching the province is one of the most pleasant 1 hour drive in all of Luzon. It is characterized by historic towns, coconut plantations, lakeshores, sheltered valleys, waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes.

A popular place in this picturesque province is Pagsanjan where visitors flock for the thrilling experience of shooting the rapids. Just across the river from Pagsanjan is the town of Lumban, the celebrated embroidery capital of Luzon. The town of Los Banos , famous for its hot springs, is also where the International Rice Research Institure (IRRI) is located. Laguna's richly-forested hills and mountains provide material for the livelihood of the towns of Pakil and Paete which are woodcarvers' haven. The Philippines' biggest family theme park , Enchanted Kingdom, is in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Laguna was one of the first eight provinces to rise in revolt. On August 31,1898 last Spanish garrison in Sta. Cruz surrendered to Filipino troops. Laguna expressed its full support to the First Philippine Republic declared in Malolos, Bulacan. During the Filipino-American War from 1899-1901, Laguna was a major battlefield between American and Filipino troops. Laguna's revolutionaries conducted one of the most successful guerrilla campaigns in the country but the struggle was eventually abandoned after the capture of President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1901. Civilian government was established in June 1902.

Hidden Valley SpringsDrive through a scenic countryside South of Manila to a unique place called Hidden Valley. It's bewitching vegetation flourishes in a 110-hectare crater 300 feet deep believed to have been formed by aviolent volcanic upheaval thousands of years ago.

A private resort that boasts of virgin forests, century old trees, giant ferns, wild orchids, and a hidden waterfall which is a sight to behold. Several natural spring pools are available for dipping to guarantee a well day spent. Meals include Buffet Lunch and Afternoon Snacks (Merienda)."