Millennium Media Entertainment: More Fun In the Philippines--Puerto Princesa, Palawan!

Come To Puerto Princesa, Palawan Province.

You Will Love It and Visiting Is More Affordably Fun In The Philippines

It’s cold in most parts of the US now and this is when people think about traveling to warmer and exotic locales. American travel numbers to Southeast Asia has been growing in leaps and bounds, over the last few years. The Southeast Asia Region certainly has many interesting and fun things to do, plus is very affordable to travel to.

Have you thought about the Philippines? In some ways the Philippines has the most to offer you. First of all forget whatever you have head about The Philippines from the Media about this country of 7,100 islands.

Allot has been said about The Philippines by the World Press and this country has the one of the world’s most vibrant Free Presses, one of very few in Asia.

Freedom of Speech and Press sounds great on paper, but comes with a price. If only negative stories are haphazardly picked up by the World Press, just for sizzle appeal, then a country’s reputation is often unfairly damaged. I think most Americans would agree that the US Press, except for Local Television Stations, is long on bad news and short of anything else.

I have been a News Consultant for over 30 years, so this is an informed opinion. The truth is that The Philippines is far more safer on a bad day, than the US is on a good one.

So with this in mind, let me first background you about the Philippines. Then, I will discuss Puerto Princesa, in the Palawan Province, which for many reasons should be at the top of your travel plans.

When you think about The Philippines, your first thoughts might be about the seemingly endless number of beauty queens the country has provided. The Philippines will very likely continue being one the world's dominant sources of top models, actresses, singers and beauty queens.

The Philippines will very likely continue being one the world's dominant sources of top models, actresses, singers and beauty queens.

Janine Tugonon (Left) recently was named First Runner Up in the Miss Universe Pageant.

No question that The Philippines has a disproportionate number of beautiful girls and women. Maybe, the most on Earth.

But, there is much more to The Philippines than Beauty Queens and exotic scenery. First of all, it isn't a gaggle of little islands scattered across the Pacific. Some of The Philippines islands are bigger than many countries in Europe.

The Philippines has beautiful cities and a rich culture, with some colonial Spanish and American influences.
(Cebu City)

It's the third biggest English speaking Country on Earth and is home to the English Speaking World’s Call Service Centers. Chances are that when calling a 800 number for assistance, you most likely will speaking with a Filipino.
Filipinos are wonderfully service minded.

It is important to them that other people are happy and satisfied with their work. It is part of the Filipino culture to be helpful, thorough and competent, while remaining friendly.

The nation has 100 Million people and is the 12th largest country on Earth, with a national government budget of over $48 Billion.

It is a truly unique country in many other ways. For example, 80% of Filipinos trust their reformist President, Benigno Aquino.

President Aquino didn’t want to be president of the Philippines. His people insisted he run and Aquino won by a landslide, in 2010. Sometimes they hug him publicly, as this high school girl did during an event naming her as one of the national academic scholarship recipients.

It is very rare for guests in the Philippines to become ill or suffer an accident. But, you don’t have to worry.

But, you don’t have to worry.

The Philippines has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

In fact, three of highest rated hospitals in the world are in the Philippines. People come from all over the world for the Philippines very affordable, high quality health care.

The Philippines has the highest literacy rate in Asia. English is one of the country’s two official languages. The other is Filipino (Tagalog.)

It has universities older than Harvard and students from all over the World come to the Philippines for its post graduate programs.
School kids are taught mostly in American English and higher learning is all taught in English.
Forty five thousand are enrolled at Santo Tomas University (Above Right) which was founded in 1611.
If you can’t speak English, come to The Philippines, since it's one of foremost English teachers in the world. English language schools are also very affordable.

Consequently The Philippines is one of the world’s largest Professional Outsourcing Services Providers. The Philippines is primarily a service driven economy. Filipino engineers, lawyers, accountants, architects, teachers, merchant mariners, doctors, nurses and airline pilots work all over the globe.

So, are you still mentally locked on exotic scenery and Beauty Queens?

Natural beauty of all kinds does abound in The Philippines.

The Philippines is the third largest Roman Catholic Country on Earth.

The Philippines recently had a Cardinal named and another Saint was canonized.

The Philippines is a very diverse country, with much to offer all kinds of people and interests.

Filipinos love food. Many inquire if you have eaten instead of saying hello. Food is a way of life in the Philippines. You will love Filipino food. Pictures say a thousand words, as they say.

The Philippines is an Affordable, Pleasant and Safe, Travel Destination

Very Affordable
The Philippines is one of the most affordable countries you can visit. Philippines Airlines has several flights daily from the US West coast to Manila, with all kinds of special packages.

Speaking of Manila, it is a world class city and the 9^th biggest metro area on Earth. Sting and Elton John played in Manila last week. Also, much of the Bourne Legacy was done in Manila.

Most people don’t travel to the Philippines to see Manila. The capital city has much to offer, but most people head out to the Provinces for exquisite beaches, surfing, diving, fishing, sailing, sight seeing and eco-tourism.

Wherever you go, you will find the Filipino people are helpful, friendly, generous and hospitable. They genuinely want you to have a comfortable and pleasant visit.

Filipinos are very nice people and don’t forget you can communicate in English with them. One of the benefits of visiting here, is yes, you will be in another country, but not one so different that you feel lost or can’t tell up from down.

You will find many things familiar about the Philippines, since it operates very much like the US. The two countries have a long and historically close relationship, plus they are strong allies.
Most Filipinos like Americans and feel a kindred relationship toward the US. They also speak American English and many have had family members in America for generations.

At the same time, you will find yourself surrounded by almost untouched natural wonders like uncrowded pristine beaches, the longest Underground River in the World, ancient rice fields carved like steps into mountainsides, volcanoes, rainforest, waterfalls, live coral reefs and rainforests.

Sound good so far? Let’s go to Puerto Princesa, in the Palawan Province, a two hundred mile long island. If this is the only place you visit in the Philippines, you will not be disappointed.

Underground River Puerto Princesa

Yes, Puerto Princesa has Beauty Queens and Pageants, too.

Maybe you can find Beauty Queens at the Underground River. It is One of the World's Seven Natural Wonders and an UNESCO Heritage Site.

Worried about safety? The City in a Forest, has 250,000 people, with a crime rate of 0.08%. Ninety four per cent are employed.

Guests can go anywhere they want, night or day, and not worry about their safety. The people of Puerto are very proud of this and also how clean their city is. You will street sweepers daily, around town. Puerto, like the rest of Palawan, is very laid back and hospitable. It a great place to relax, while enjoying its unspoiled natural beauty.

Speaking of this City in a Forest, I often think most this forest are mostly giant mango trees, which are everywhere.
Most of the streets are shaded by tall trees, as in the picture.
Puerto is a very clean city, which with very strict environmental laws.

They will fine you for littering and reward whoever turns you in. (They get the fine as a reward) Puerto also picks up garbage seven days a week. BTW: The tricycle taxi in the photo is the most common way to get around. They are inexpensive and everywhere.

There are plenty of great things to see and do, in town. Rent a motorbike and take a drive along the city’s coast. Go see the Harbor.

The first thing you need to understand is Philippines Pesos versus US Dollars. If you don’t take this step, prices in Puerto will appear misleadingly high. You will be paralyzed if you can’t get your head around that there’s about 42 Pesos per dollar.
Say something costs five hundred Pesos, that’s about $12.00.

Or your trip to the Underground River, in a new air conditioned van with a licensed guide, including freshly caught Palawan grilled fish for lunch, is 1,500 Pesos or a little more than $35. Thirty five dollars will barely cover a movie for two with popcorn in the States.

Your brain will lock on the number 1,500, misleading you. Don’t do that. Just convert the number into dollars and the day long trip to one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders and a UNESCO Heritage Site is about $35 per person.

Bring a calculator if you are mathematically challenged like me.

Or while in Puerto, you may want to go Island Hopping around Honda Bay.

Get ready because there is another big number to process. Convert 1,300 Pesos and you will realize that this day long excursion is really about $30.
You get a licensed guide, air conditioned round trip transport, Filipino boats, and seafood buffet lunch on the beach, plus can go snorkeling.

Compare this price with what you can get at home, at a water or amusement park. No comparison, and those venues aren’t in Puerto.

Puerto has about anything you want. You can stay in a family owned Pension Hotel (Pension means small here, as it does in Europe) with prices generally ranging from $6 to $30 per day.

There are also mid level priced hotels in Puerto, with the basic amenities, starting at $40-50 per day. Puerto is also home to several luxury hotels, which run from $70 on up, per day. There is a even a Five Star resort located on a beach and right next to where you depart via Filipino boat for the Underground River.

Many younger foreign travelers opt for double or single no frills “fan rooms.” These rooms are clean, neat, tidy, roughly ranging from $6 to $10, per day. These same Puerto Pensions usually also offer air conditioned rooms with private showers and cable TV for roughly $30.

You have a multitude of choices and they all are good ones. I suggest you spend some time on TripAdvisor, before coming here. TripAdvisor is one of the most comprehensive websites for travel information, in the world.

There are over 80 hotel choices and so, it really just depends about what you are looking for. Lastly don’t worry about the lower priced hotels. They are usually very good and comfortable.

Read what others say about various hotels on TripAdvisor, Kayak etc. You can also use these sites for restaurant and entertainment information. Puerto has terrific food choices for you to sample Filipino Cuisine.

Let me leave you with something I hope you find informative and entertaining. The Philippines Department of Tourism has come up with a wonderful advertising campaign.
I will leave you with some photos and YouTube links. What is great about this campaign is that not only is compelling, its message is true. Thank you for reading this.