PALAWAN (MIS) ADVENTURES (Part 2)
TOUR F – Coron Poblacion to Pier: I flagged down a tricycle going to the pier to catch the fast craft to sail back to El Nido. Voila, upon alighting from the trike, a notice was plastered in the port area- “All Trips Cancelled… Gale Warning”. The weather then seemed also fair everywhere. A porter man noticed my face of unbelief told me, “Sa labas ay malakas ang hangin. At saka mahigpit na po kasi ngayon ang Coast Guard.” In a sort of panic, I struggled for other transport options since I had an appointment set in El Nido. But to no avail. I consoled myself instead that Coron is Coron anyway. It is never worse to overstay in a paradise. TOUR G – Pier of Coron to Pier of El Nido: Early the following morning, I trooped to the pier hopeful that trips would already resume. Gladly, sea transports were back in business. I took the fast craft again. As I was holding on to my ticket searching for my seat, an attendant told me, “Kahit saan po kayo umupo, Sir. Wala namang number po yan.” I seated alone in the coach for the first few minutes of the voyage. Later, a couple from Europe joined me. The lady was seasick. It was the gentlemen who struck a conversation with me. How he described the beauty of Palawan made me every inch proud as a local. He could be a walking and talking billboard promoting Palawan. Midway of our conversation and of the voyage, however, the guy turned perishing and unfortunate with their ordeal of yesterday’s trip cancellation. How he lamented the hassles, the drastic adjustments and financial constraints alike, caused by “gale warning”. Not to mention the numerous delays they encountered courtesy of commuting the Philippine style. He told me that they must catch a flight yet in PPC upon setting foot in El Nido. They were already panicky whether they could catch that flight or what. “Good luck, well”, I sheepishly told them. TOUR K- El Nido Poblacion to Corongcorong: I took a “special” tricycle trip. Please refer to Tour C. TOUR L- El Nido to PPC: Instead of going to the public transport terminal, I was informed that a van could pick me up instead. I surmised this to be more convenient and economical since I did not have to flag down a tricycle again for the so-called “special trip”. So I booked myself for a 6PM departure of the van going to PPC. Lo and behold, it did arrive on sharp time. When I stepped into the van I was tickled that I was the first passenger to board. Hence, I could choose the best seat there was for a 5-hour trip. But my bliss was proven to be only short-lived. I was literally delivered from my place in Corong-corong to the public transport terminal. There, I was asked that I transfer to another van which will take me to the city. To make the long story (or long wait) short, I saw four passengers already waiting inside the van. The ordeal still went on. The van roamed around the Poblacion to pick up for more “preys” in waiting. We went back and forth, here and there, and around Poblacion for God-knows how many times over. It was already past 7PM and suddenly, exasperation, one foreign-passenger exclaimed, “Are we not leaving yet?” “Yes, leaving now,” the driver replied quickly. Off we went indeed, but not until it was already about 8PM. We made a pit stop in Roxas, so by 2AM, we have arrived in PPC. By then I was already dead tired to observe anything except that all I really wanted was to fall asleep and dream that somehow, somewhere and someday things and trips will be brighter the next time around. When will that happen? Your guess is as good as mine. But may your hope and love for Palawan be as steadfast as mine as well.