Palawan Revisited Day 1: Puerto Princesa City Tour

[June 13, 2013]

After checking in at the hotel, we dropped off our bags and headed to Jollibee for a quick lunch before our city tour.  Our guide was Ate Malou and they picked us up at the hotel after a quick freshening up.

Since it was raining that day, we were only able to drive by the City Baywalk where you can see local fishing boats, walk/stroll/jog along the bay, and enjoy street food prepared by the nearby residents at night amidst the colorful streetlights.  I bet it would've been lovely to stroll around the baywalk.  There's also an area where you can rent bicycles.

Ate Malou said that the local government has provided housing across the Baywalk for the relocated residents and the eateries they set up at night provide additional income for their families.  

gloomy weather  :(

would've been a nice photo op area if not for the rain

bicycles for rent

We also passed by the Plaza Cuartel (barracks in Spanish) that stands as a grim reminder of the merciless killing of numerous American soldiers burned alive inside a tunnel by the Japanese invaders.  Only the original arch remains and inside you will see the hole in the ground that leads to a tunnel where the killing took place.  There's a commemorative plaque and a few trees and plants.  We didn't go inside and opted to proceed to the cathedral located right across the plaza.

part of the original arch

We then proceeded to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral to say our prayers.  The church has Gothic architectural features like its symmetrically pointed towers, spires, arches and its rose windows.

the cathedral's facade with the pointed arches, spires, and towers (tops not seen)

   

When you look up at the ceilings, you'll see rectangular lamps made of capiz shells and intricate narra wood carvings (a type of hardwood found in the Philippines).  

The altar also features narra wood carvings done by prison inmates of Iwahig around 100 years ago.  You can also find stained glass windows and wood carvings of the stations of the cross.

After our visit to the cathedral, we went for some pasalubong shopping at Mercado de San Miguel, a small complex that has some restaurants like Skybox, Isla Casoy de Palawan, and shops that sell different types of native sweets and delicacies, clothes, and south sea pearls.

 

Will have a separate blogpost for the crocodile farm next.