Palawan’s inescapable magic

Schools of fish frolicking near Lusong Gunboat (Kathleen Pastrana)
Schools of fish frolicking near Lusong Gunboat (Kathleen Pastrana)

OUR boat swooshed as heavy rains accompanied our journey to Malcapuya Island in Coron, Palawan. Although it was sunny when we left the docks, I should have braced myself for the cold. There were nimbus clouds hovering in the distance — the ominous signs that we would spend most of the two-hour boat ride soaked in rainwater.

Last week, I wrote about how the waters of Coron glittered under the sun. I wondered if it would look as mesmerizing when violent drops of rain created ripples on the surface as far as my eyes could see. My surroundings looked gray and dull. Part of me regretted going in Coron during the early days of July when it was supposedly rainier than the other days of the year.

Leaving as fast as it arrived, the dark sky was eventually replaced by a blend of cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds. As strips of golden sunlight revealed a small island surrounded by azure waters, I heard the tourists heave a collective sigh of relief. After the anxiety-filled trip we had just endured, it seemed suitable to call the island Mal-kapuya.

Soon, we found ourselves trekking from the docking area to the cottage-lined shores of the beach. Seeing that my surroundings were once again bathed in full color, I felt like Dorothy Gale stepping out from her Kansas farmhouse after the tornado.

The rest of the days were spent touring the islands of Banana and Bulog Dos, which form part of the Calamianes Island.

In another tour, we were satisfied to chill by the boat and take pictures of the breathtaking landscape. But as we lounged, our tour guide urged us to be more adventurous, especially since Palawan’s most treasured views can only be accessed underwater. So, equipped with our bright orange vests and rented snorkel gears, we jumped off our boat to the Lusong Gunboat and Coral Garden.

True enough, this side of Palawan was a sight to behold. Schools of fish swam past our faces as we propelled ourselves closer to the shapes, sizes, and colors that littered the ocean floor.

I avoided swimming near clumps of sea urchin and plants that looked like human brains, and giggled at corals that resembled Elmo from Sesame Street. Fans of The Little Mermaid would agree with Sebastian that right here on the ocean floor, such wonderful things surround you, so what more are you looking for? It was a visual feast, an experience I would definitely recommend to those in search of something fulfilling to do while in Palawan.

Both tours cost less than Php 3,500.00/person, a package that includes snacks and lunch meals. It broke my heart when the tour ended and it was time to go home. Despite the rain that turned the skies gloomy, Palawan’s magic is inescapable, and I encourage you to find out why.

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