Viet Ville, Palawan

Another place that we visited last December 2018 in Palawan is Viet Ville, a former Vietnamese village, people who fled the Vietnam War in the early 70s and reached Palawan by boat. After many years, almost all Vietnamese refugees there have left, many went to the US, except one or two who stayed in the village until now. They run this restaurant serving Viet food and snacks. Yummy.

Among the few remaining structures that remained intact.

Buddhist temple.

And a Virgin Mary temple.

The trees have grown bigger while the original houses have become dilapidated, except a few where some locals plus the staying Vietnamese are living.

I saw this previously-cute, now-abandoned electric tricycle. These e-vehicles are cute and nice when they are new. Once engine and battery breakdown starts, there are not many spare parts available and skilled local labor to do the repairs and upgrades.

Thanks again for that tour, Pidro Sing.

See also, Viet Ville, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, December 18, 2016.

Iwahig Penal Colony, Palawan

Another late post, photos taken last December 2018 when our friend from UP Narra dorm, Pidro Sing, hosted us. Iwahig is also known as the "jail/prison without walls", prisoners are free to walk around, do various work while serving their jail time for not-so-grave crimes. Below, the administration building.

National hero Dr. Jose Rizal is prominent in the area. It's in front of the open space then the admin building.

The main function hall. It's huge and spacious. Close when we went there though. I think the facility's top officials, local governments, other influential politicians can have a big function or party there.

A small basketball area plus mini-palengke. Prisoners and their families can buy and sell there.

Opposite view from Rizal's monument, this view from the admin building area.

Wide rice fields attended by the prisoners. They produce their own food and earn extra. I saw many prisoners walking around, they are mostly old, average age would be 50+. A person who has been sent here for jail time would be in a dilemma somehow. Staying here for many years, he has freedom to walk around, work and earn some money, have a family, there is public school for the kids and a basic health center for everyone (but not a full and equipped hospital). But the original family and friends are nowhere to see or hardly communicate as this place is hard to reach unless one has a car or rent a jeep. Would he still wish to get out and have full freedom outside the colony, and face the uncertainties of life?

I did not interview any prisoner but I think some will say Yes, others will say No.
Anyway, Ding Aguila here composing his own camera shot.

Thanks again, Pidro.

Sydney, Blue Mountain with Lalaine Balandra and family

On my 2nd day in Sydney last May 22, Mario Tiong brought me to my former HS classmate in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Lalaine Balandra and her family. They live in Woodcroft, aka "Pinoycroft" because roughly 50% of the residents there are Filipinos.

It was also the first time I saw Lalaine after we graduated from high school in 1980, or 39 years ago, haha. We got connected via facebook, along with other high school classmates.

After a 2nd breakfast that day (1st breakfast at Mario's house), Lalaine and her husband Rod brought me to a zoo near their place, then the Blue Mountain. Picture here with Lalaine at the mountain.

At Featherdale zoo, Rod and I holding a cute, small kangaroo. It  was my first time to see a real kangaroo, and touch it, nice.

Rod is from San Juan, Manila, and has been living in Sydney since late 80s I think.

A lake in Woodcroft. Nice place. 

At the Blue Mountain.

The "three sisters."

Deep blue leaves of thick forest. The place attracts thousands of visitors daily.

That night, there was a small party at the house, Lalaine's niece who lives with them had a birthday party. The couple's daughter Stephanie, her boyfriend, Lalaine's sister and her bf, they all came. Lots of food, and beer again with Rod.

The next day, May 23, after a heavy breakfast, Lalaine and Rod brought me to my hotel in the city, Four Points by Sheraton. Here about to leave their house.

Thanks again Lalaine, Rod. I really enjoyed your place and hospitality.

Sydney, with Mario Tiong and family

My first night in my 2nd visit in Sydney (first time was 2010), last month May 21, I stayed with Mario Tiong. Mario is a former schoolmate at UP School of Economics in the 80s, also an orgmate at UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC).

We have dinner in a Thai resto at Rouse Hill Shopping Center, not far from their place, The Ponds. With Mario's wife Tess, and daughter Abi. Nice and yummy food, I ate a lot that night.

Then we headed back to their house. Nice, big, new and clean place, plus cold Australian beer plus chat about our lives in the 80s at UP, current lives and friends. We missed fellow ETCers in Sydney Debbie Abundo and Larry Lara, both are godmother-godfather to my two girls. Debbie has a sprained ankle while Larry was out of town that week.

We finished beer past midnight, haha.
The next day, I looked outside my room, the guest room. Houses there are new and beautiful, like Mario's.

After breakfast, Mario would bring me to another Filipino in Woodcroft who would host me that day, May 22. On our way, Mario brought me to this place. A huge Lindt chocolate store. What's inside?

Awww, lots of chocolates, packed by kilos. Am no longer a kid and chocolate lover but when I saw the place, my eyes sparkled, haha. Was thinking about my family in Makati who love chocolates, Mario gifted them with 4 packs.

We also have hot, yummy chocolate drinks.

Thanks again, Mario. Sa uulitin, hehe.

Sydney, with Kitt Santos and family

When I went to Sydney last May 21, my friend (and my wife's ex-officemate) Francis "Kitt" Santos picked me up from the airport. We took the train, it was good. They live in one of the suburbs of Sydney. Here with Kitt's wife Cherrie and their two girls.

With Ma'am Lot, Kitt's mother.

Sydney's trains. I like the sights on the upper seats. Took this at Sydney central station.

Open space going to Banks' School, where Kitt's older daughter attends.

By evening, another Filipino friend and my former schoolmate at UPSE, Mario Tiong, picked me up from Kitt's house.

Thanks again Kitt, Cherrie.

View of Honda Bay, Palawan

Another late post from photos last December 2018. Honda Bay behind us, from left: Jimmuel Naval, me, Peter "Pidro" Sing (our great and kind host), Clifford Espinosa, Ding Aguila. All former UP Diliman Narra dormmates, mid-80s.

Our van, one of few fleets of Balai Princesa hotel.

Then Pidro brought us to another hotel in Puerto Princesa that he was helping manage.

Nice view of the nearby sea.

With Tito Cruz (rightmost).

Thanks again, Pidro.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean/Underground River

Another late post, taken last December 2018 when our former UP Narra dormmate Pidro Sing hosted us.

More than a thousand people come here everyday, mostly foreign tourists. Could be nearly 2,000 during the vacation months of April-May as domestic visitors also come.

Lots of boats to transport lots of visitors.

How much does it cost?
Here is the entrance fee alone.
Excluded here are the boat rides. I don't know how much, Pidro arranged for everything. We didn't even queue, our tickets were given to us, then an arranged boat was already waiting for us.

Inside the boat, from left: me, Clifford Espinosa, Ding Aguila, and Jimuel Naval. We were among the nice friends and dormmates of Pidro at UP Diliman Narra dormitory in the 80s.

Boat ride is perhaps 30-40 minutes, I don't remember now.


At the shoreline near the underground river.

From the beach and shoreline, we walked several meters in a thick forest, then we reached this area, another boat, non-motorized, would take us inside the underground river. We were given a headphone where a taped narration would tell visitors what are those structures inside the cave.

Entering the cave's mouth.

No pictures inside, my camera phone does not have strong flash to capture the majestic and huge sights inside the cave.

Going out, waiting for our motorboat to bring us back. Clear, white sand beach.

Thanks again, Pidro.