Having eaten breakfast, I then walked towards the domestic airport for my flight to Busuanga Island (yup, my cousin’s place is only a walking distance to the airport). The flight itself via Zest Air was early and pleasant (as my previous trips have been). I’m a big fan of the airline company, having experienced its service during my bar exams in 2009. Of course, not all of its services were perfect, but the same can also be said of the other two airlines. What I like about Zest Air is that they offer cheaper rates, they are almost always on time, and their staff is always friendly and accomodating. I sure hope they can offer more flights to other locations in the future.
Arriving in Busuanga, I was pleasantly surprised that their airport (Francisco Reyes Airport), although a small one, was actually clean and newly built. I later found out from a Korean tourist friend that the Korean government actually played an instrumental part in its construction. Observing the island from the plane, and seeing the terminal location, one can feel like you are in the middle of a safari somewhere in the outskirts of Africa. The weather was hot, the land barren, with few dried leaves and grasses every now and then, and silica soil everywhere. Good thing the road leading to Coron was cemented, otherwise it would have been an uncomfortable and dusty journey for me.
Together with other strangers, we boarded the vans waiting outside the terminal. I was hoping to find a jeepney (the cheapskate mindset was already at work) but there were only vans plying the route from the airport terminal to the Coron town proper. During the trip, the van driver said something (which disgusted me)to the two front-seat passengers who were Canadians. He was offering to assist them in the event they were in need of beautiful Filipina ladies for "company." That was an outright solicitation for prostitution. Even if he said it jokingly, it was done it bad taste and improper because not only were there other Filipinos inside the van but it also gives the idea that Filipina women can just be bought anywhere for as long as one has money. I wanted to berate and scold the driver but I held my tongue back. I just hope that we do not promote sex when dealing with foreigners. No wonder there are a lot of them who come here only to sow their oats (or some other words with the same effect) because we encourage them to.
I thought Coron was a quaint old little town with very little provisions which was why I bought a box full of junk food, water, and beverages. Oh how utterly wrong I was! Not only was the place brimming with life, it reminded me of Boracay four years ago. I could compare the place with Carcar City, only that Coron is full of foreigners.
Before my trip, my sister (a medical doctor stationed in Roxas, Palawan) advised me to stop by the district hospital to check on a friend of hers who might offer me a place to stay for free. So I requested the van driver to drop me off at the hospital. However, since my sister had not given me any names whatsoever of her friend I didn’t have such information to give when the hospital staff inquired for it. I was really embarrassed the staff was very accommodating and hospitable (I love these traits so much. You rarely get it anymore when you’re living in the city). Even the hospital chief, Dr. Flores, offered the hospital dormitory in case I didn't have any place to stay (which embarrassed me to my bones). After many repeated calls, my sister finally answered her phone (she was attending to a patient pala) and gave her friend’s name, who turned out to be not anymore assigned in the area. She called her friend, who then gave the name of Mrs. Fritzie Lim, and advised my sister that if ever I should need any assistance in Coron, Mrs. Lim was the right contact person.
Mrs. Lim was not only very friendly and accommodating, she was also well-known in the area, being a successful businesswoman in Coron. We talked over lunch at her place and then she assisted me in looking for a place to stay (I decided to decline Dr. Flores’ offer out of delicadeza and shyness). There were a lot of hotels and lodges to stay in Coron but I was primarily looking for a cheap place to stay. Good thing the lodge near her pharmacy had a room. It was only for P200.00/night but I honestly will not recommend it for others, unless you have a mindset like me. Living in that room was like a scene from the movie The Beach (starring Leonardo DiCaprio). It was hot, cramped, already termite-infested and dilapidated. I will not even mention what the comfort rooms look like. Yet I took the place for three reasons: it was cheap, it was near Mrs. Lim’s place, and I will be seldom in it as I will mostly be mobile.
After an afternoon siesta, I went to see again Mrs. Lim as agreed upon. She told one of her employees to accompany me in climbing Mt. Tapyas and also contacted a tricycle to transport me to Maquinit Hot Springs in the evening. The climb itself to Mt. Tapyas was tiring and arduous but exhilarating, especially when you’re already at the top of the hill. It was also perfect that after the climb (which left me hot and sweaty) I went to the hot springs to take a bath. However, what left me disappointed was that there were no shower rooms and the bath itself made me more tired because the water was salty. Having no means to wash myself off, I instructed the tricycle driver to drop me off at the Kawayanan Grill, a name I was given earlier. By the way, I may be a cheapskate when it comes to accommodations but not when it comes to food. I consider myself maarte or pihikan because I make it a point that the place is decent and clean as it helps me enjoy my meal. I was not disappointed in choosing the place as the food was good, the ambience was nice and relaxing, and the staff was efficient and friendly. Afterwards, I walked all the way back to my lodge (even if the place is dark, you will not be afraid as the crime rate in Coron is veeeerryyy low…), took a bath, and went to sleep.
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