A Honda Bay Tour Experience

Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan is a group of islands that is popular for swimming, snorkeling, and diving destinations. Island-hopping in the Bay has also become a common thing for tourists.

The jump-off point is located in Barangay Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua about 12 kilometers east of the town proper where pump boats could be hired to reach the different islands. Some islands require entrance fees; some are privately owned and require permission before you can visit. “It’s quite a long boat ride to reach there but it is also an adventure of a lifetime and an unforgettable one”, Sheryl muses.

Such event was what happened to Sheryl So and her friends when they went to the Honda Bay in Palawan. Sheryl is currently an officer for the Planning Department employed at Philippine Airlines. Being an employee of an airline gives her the benefit of flying for free in domestic or international destinations. Sheryl is 29 years old, single, and finished industrial engineering at one of the prestigious universities in the Philippines.

She found Palawan to be a typical province. Very organized and spotlessly clean. There are a lot of natural tourist spots to go to, and less commercial establishments.

“I went to Puerto Princesa with friends and I love their beaches. We went to Honda Bay for snorkeling and it’s so amazing how much fishes, corals, among others you can see even if you are nearby the shore. I wonder what more you can see if you go further to the deeper parts of the sea.”

Sheryl enjoyed the blissful scenery of Puerto Princesa along with her friends and office mates. As soon as they arrived, they went island hopping immediately. First stop is the Pandan Island. They stayed in a cottage like many visitors used. Several huts and cottages were located there. And just like any other tropical paradise we’ve seen in the movies, they take turns quenching their thirsts with a coconut juice in their hand and proceeded to go on snorkeling around the island.

The breath taking view of the place above water is equally stunning and amazing as it was under the water, and every visitor should experience seeing the scenery both ways. “Palawan is such a clean place, it’s a refreshing sight especially if you came from a crowded busy place like Makati in Manila”

After a few hours, Sheryl and her friends moved to the Snake Island, which was a two-kilometer sandbar shaped like a snake. It was enjoyable for them to walk around up to the end of the sandbar. Food feasting on Snake Island was very sumptuous for the visitors. After diving, it is always best to splurge into a hearty meal and walking barefoot along the powdery sand.

The last stop they went to was the Starfish Island. This island is known for its fine white sand and clear water that teems with starfish.

The island had a sandbar surrounding the lagoon. They very much enjoyed the warm and peaceful water without the strong waves. Other islands there in Honda include Cannon (Cowrie) Island, Bat Island, Lu-Li Island, Meara Marina, and Senorita Island. The Senorita Island is the breeding site of the lapu-lapu fish.

Since she likes the beach more than anyone else, she considers going back to Puerto Princesa, and would like to visit other places as well like Coron, El Nido, Calauit, among others. “The most unforgettable part of my Palawan experience would be snorkeling and swimming in the Palawan waters — fine sand, clear waters and well preserved coral reefs.”

Compared with another tourist spot here in the Philippines where she went spelunking with her friends in Sagada, she liked very much the caves in the underground river in Palawan. The cave had interesting rock formations, stalactites, bats, and aside from that, the cave has access to a river which leads to the famous falls in Puerto Princesa. You may explore the underground river by boat, while in the caves of Sagada, you need to do lots of walking and climbing.

Sheryl believes that Puerto Princesa is above average place compared to other tourist destinations in the Philippines. "It is a site for relaxation and adventure where you can be one with nature. The place really grows on you, it really stayed in your senses for quite a long time until you come back again to renew the bonding you have with mother nature."

Life begins at forty

Life begins at forty. Many have said this only to deny the biological fact that they are not getting younger anymore. It is like a positive statement that provides inspiration, hopes, and youthful energy.

An inspiration to carry on in life, which is to discover more about this world, about life, and most importantly about one’s self. A hope that more beautiful things and more precious memories are yet to come. And finally, a youthful energy to make these all happen.

Let’s take it from Maria Clara B. Conopio, or simply Mommy Melodz to her friends, who aside from being lively and beautiful at 41, she likes to travel a lot in every chance she gets. It’s like a new journey is unfolded to a bigger world of excitement and new education. That’s right. She believes that in life we are always like children who never stop learning new things.

She just had been in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last October 30, 2007 for a four-day vacation with her friend, who is also an officemate. It was her first time in Puerto Princesa and like what she had expected, it was a beautiful place that we should be very proud of. It was a place where there was a feeling of encouragement that seemed to welcome new dreams and goals in life.

“There is something in Puerto Princesa that gives you comfort and a spiritual healing deep within you. It refreshes your soul, giving you new meaning in life, a new perspective which is a positive one was created in me when I was there.


We went all over the city, to many beautiful gardens and parks, to many different islands they called in different names but I am not good in remembering names. Well, there was Snake Island, though, that was what I could remember. And Sabang Island! (Sabang Beach). These places are so amazing. They seem to have their own spirit. It is like each island or place has something different to offer you, you know, just looking at them.”

When she was asked to name her favorite spot in Puerto Princesa, she happily said, “The beach, the white sand! And when you go snorkeling, well I believe that scuba diving would be a lot better than snorkeling but we contented ourselves with that, you would never stop appreciating every creature under the water. The fish, the corals, and many more, they are all beautiful. You would realize that God had done so much a beautiful work in our oceans.”

She had learned so many things, that according to her, we often take these things for granted. She believes we are so blessed that God had designed the Philippines that beautiful. It should be then our responsibility to take good care of these gifts.

“Nakakapanghinayang naman kung masisira lang ang mga ito, napaka-ganda pa naman,” she said thoughtfully.


The most exciting part throughout her stay in Puerto Princesa was when she had walked 14 kilometers just to reach the famous underground river. She had never expected that she could actually do that. To some point, it made her proud of herself. However, she reluctantly told that she had cried on her bed when she returned to the hotel because she was dead tired all over.


“But my adventure didn’t just end there. When I was in the airport, I met the Mayor (Edward Hagedorn). I told him about my stay there, especially my 14-kilometer walk, he was really amazed that I did that.”

And if given another chance, she would love to return to Puerto Princesa and do it all again. Actually, she is growing impatient waiting for the summer!