El Nido is located in the northernmost tip of Palawan and is part of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, the largest marine sanctuary in the entire Philippines. This group of islands is a perfect destination for divers and snorkelers as well as beach and island-hoppers with over 30 dive sites and more than 50 beaches and hidden lagoons. Aside from its diverse fauna, El Nido also showcases a striking geological wonder: limestone cliffs that were carved extensively from thick layers of coralline deposits.

“SEAIR is doing a unique service to the country in support of its tourism development goals. We are committed to the mission of bringing travelers from the Philippines’ gateways to its many island destinations,” said Avelino Zapanta, President of SEAIR.

SEAIR has also announced more flights to Basco, Batanes. It now flies twice daily every Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and once daily every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until June 14, 2009.

SEAIR is the nation’s second-oldest airline and has flown almost 3 million passengers to local destinations including Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Tablas (Romblon), Clark, Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-tawi. SEAIR also offers flights from Boracay and Puerto Princesa to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. SEAIR will soon fly to Masbate, Bicol.

SEAIR is extending its 14th anniversary promo with discounts of up to PhP 70,000,000. From April 1 to May 31, 2009, passengers get P1,400 discount per roundtrip on all fare classes and seats to any of its destinations when they book their flights online. Travel period for this promo is from June 15 to October 15, 2009. Travelers may log on to www.flyseair.com and type iflyseair14 in the promo code field to avail of the promo.

In addition to the fares, a PhP 100 environment fee will be collected from all Manila-El Nido passengers to be donated to the El Nido Foundation for the improvement of the quality of life in El Nido and the preservation of its natural environment.

SEAIR offers special service advantages to its passengers, such as in flights to Caticlan (Boracay). SEAIR passengers enjoy complimentary transfers from Caticlan airport to Boracay and vice versa, as well as shortest queues and check-in procedures at the airport, fastest baggage claim, and privileges for their boarding pass in partner establishments in Boracay and Manila.

Fly SEAIR and rediscover the joy of flight – speed, convenience, personalized Service! Go to www.FlySeair.com  for the best deals or call (+632) 8490100 for more information.

I’m in the Philippines, sitting at a six-person dining room table made of bamboo. It’s the kind of table found all across Southeast Asia, but this one is special. This one is unconvincingly strapped to the top of an old bus speeding down an unpaved highway on the island of Palawan.

Apparently, this is how one gets around, dodging wayward branches and low-hanging power lines.

Thirty minutes ago I was stranded with two friends at an intersection in the middle of nowhere. In a town somewhat humorously named Salvacion. Now we’re watching storm clouds creep across the horizon as the road unfurls before us like a roll of film over the undulating landscape.

The Philippines is a staggeringly beautiful country, still largely untouched and unrefined. And Palawan is considered its last frontier.

It’s hard to believe the island is only an hour’s flight from Manila, and ultimately just a few hours away from home in Viet Nam. It feels like another world, and entrance costs nothing more than a cheap ticket on Cebu Pacific’s new Ha Noi-Manila route.

Though our journey begins with a desire to island hop in Honda Bay’s flawless waters and visit Sabang’s famous subterranean river, we soon learn that it’s the modes of transport, the gaps between destinations that set Palawan apart.

After two brief plane rides, a hop on an inter-airport shuttle and a short tricycle ride, we arrive at St Lourdes Wharf to explore Honda Bay. We are roughly 12km from the city of Puerto Princesa, where most flights to Palawan touch down and where we’ll stay the night at the charming if rustic Casa Linda Inn (US$20).

For less than $25, we hire a pumpboat, or bangka, and are cruising on the bay by lunch time.

The roaring recycled motor chugs away. The boat driver shows a toothless smile and introduces himself as Potato. The mainland fades behind us. Islands appear.

Potato points down and through the crystal blue expanse. It’s probably 4m deep and we can see straight to the bottom, like through a rippling windowpane. Colourful coral and sea aenemones rock and sway. Pebbles roll. Basketball-sized jellyfish bloat and float.

We drop anchor off several islands. We swim through starfish and sand dollars, snorkel and wade and end the day watching the tides reconfigure Snake Island, so named for its winding, ever-changing coastline.

We sip San Miguel beers and eat grilled honey-pork.

The sky is bright and large above us. The stretching serpent-like shore slivers back and forth.

Heart of Darkness

The next morning we travel to the town of Sabang to visit the world’s longest subterranean river. It’s a bumpy three-hour ride from Puerto Princesa and one of Palawan’s most prized attractions, often dubbed a journey to the centre of the earth.

It is.

We put our bags in one of the many beachside bungalows ($15) and are on our way.

The river flows through a cave system for over 8km before dumping into the East Sea. Outside on the island, dense, mountainous forests surround the cave. The natural reserve is home to monitor lizards, monkeys and other woods-dwelling creatures. On the inside, bats and birds flutter in the darkness.

We sit aboard a small creaky vessel with helmets and lifejackets and a car battery-powered searchlight. The cave’s water is black and still and every sound echoes. There’s the faint smell of damp history and bat droppings. Structures rise and fall, and the ceiling leaks from far above.

As I sit bobbing in the opaque waters, the stillness and quiet creep strangely over me. For the thing that has struck me most about the Philippines is the open kindness and talkative nature of its people. For a country that has known occupation and violence in the not-so-distant past, Filipinos are extremely open and welcoming to foreign travellers. Their warmth is infectious.

And so perhaps it’s this contrast that makes the cave feel so much darker. The light that seems to shine on every other part of the country is obviously absent here, underground.

It seems odd that in one of the most friendly, open and beautiful countries in Southeast Asia, we’ve holed ourselves away inside a cave. As we drift further along, the darkness weighs heavily. It’s a stunning, almost meditative journey through the underground passage, but we’re thankful that it spans only a few kilometers.

On our way back out, we watch as the cave’s mouth grows larger and larger. Its giant stalactite teeth lead us back into the day.

Air between stations

And so here we are, atop an old bus, careening around curves on a gravel road heading toward El Nido on the northern tip of Palawan. Only an hour ago we were huddled sardine-like into one of the Philippines’ most treasured transportation devices, the jeepney, as we left Sabang behind. The jeepney is basically a jeep and old soup can hybrid. More carnival ride than reliable vehicle.

Along these endlessly winding roads, men, women and children strike up conversations with us. They talk about their homes and families as we sit piled and squished by one another. They’re proud of their country, and the pride is contagious.

Though we had no hard plans after Sabang, we’ve decided to spend a little more time on the island. It’s the kind of place that’s difficult to leave.

Thankfully, Thailand this is not. The bays are uncrowded and unmarred, the prices still quite reasonable. The islands belong to you and, occasionally, a mere handful of others.

At times, here, I’m struck by the oddly intimate possibility that I have found the oft-sought and elusive Away-From-It-All.

Palawan may even be able to retain this sense of idyllic isolation. No matter how relatively close it is to other Southeast Asia countries, it’s far enough away to discourage most casual wanderers. You have to want to come.

But once here, in the late afternoons when the storm clouds finally roll in, even they have thick silver linings.

Travel Tips : Make sure to bring enough cash, most establishments are not accepting credit cards

Trivia >> Shakira : the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time wants to visit Palawan

According Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, “The recognition earned by these hotels should serve to encourage other tourism facilities and establishments to think of the environmental impact of their daily activities and find ways to protect the immediate community to which they belong.”

The tourism chief added that undertaking ecologically-sound activities will further help hotels and resorts save thousands of dollars in operational costs monthly.

The ASEAN defines a “green hotel” as one that “is environmentally- friendly and adopts energy conservation measures.”

The Green Hotel recognition is given to lodges and other accommodations that meet the ASEAN’s 11-point standard. The criteria covers having an environmental policy and actions for hotel operation, use of green products, collaboration with the community and local organizations, human resource development geared towards environmental management, solid waste management, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor and outdoor air quality management, noise pollution control, waste water treatment and management, toxic and chemical substance disposal and management.

The Green Hotel standard was conceptualized to help the 10 member countries, namely Brunei Durussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, develop and promote the region into a single quality destination.

The Tourism Standards Taskforce has further created benchmarks for food and beverage services, public restrooms, home stay accommodations, ecotourism destinations and activities, and tourism heritage sites.

With the initial recognition of the Green Hotels in the region, ASEAN officials plan to award restaurants, shops and other tourism establishments and enterprises in the future to encourage an environmentally responsible industry.

Starting at $3,745 per person (for a group of eight to ten), based on double occupancy, travelers will receive six nights of camping and four nights of resort accommodations; seven days moderate sea kayaking (some previous experience recommended), snorkeling, swimming, easy hiking and touring, as well as all meals.

Lead by expert kayaking guide and world traveler, Joe Toback, highlights of the trip include:

Busuanga Island

Spend the first night at the Busuanga Island Paradise, a small inland resort set within a private nature reserve. Enjoy amenities including comfortable air-conditioned casitas, swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Meet the trip leader and guides over welcome drinks and dinner.

Coron Island

Kayak for three days in and around Coron Island, one of the world’s great limestone islands, camping at a secluded beach on the eastern coast amidst the sounds of birds, monkeys and the starry night. Explore the spiritual hub of the local Tagbanua people, the Calamian sea gypsies who gather swallows’ nests from the island’s famous limestone caves.

Sangat Island

Arrive at Sangat Island Reserve and stay in a native-style eco-resort set near a fine white-sand beach and beautiful coral gardens ideal for snorkeling. Certified scuba divers can opt to spend the afternoon exploring some Japanese wrecks from World War II.

Pass Island Camp

Explore the town of Culion, a former leper colony, visiting its impressive museum. Snorkel at historic Dynamite Point, Calambuyan Island and the Pamilican Islands, observing fascinating sea life and exquisite beaches.

Depart Pass Island Camp, passing through pearl farms, over coral gardens and through extensive mangrove forests along Galoc Island and enjoy a beach picnic lunch surrounded by wildlife, including monkeys and monitor lizards. Time permitting, the group will stop at Coral Bay to visit “Kalipayan,” an exquisite traditional Philippine beach house.

Busuanga Island

Arrive at Black Island (named for its dark color) and spend the day exploring a cave and circumnavigating the limestone island by kayak. Enjoy a mid-afternoon paddle along Busuanga River through a diverse environment filled with nipa palm, mangroves, farmland and forests. Paddle back to the mouth of the Busuanga River to Busuanga Island for one-night resort accommodations at Rio Playa Beach Resort.

Calauit and Wildlife Sanctuary – Maquinit Hot Springs

Depart in the early morning for the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary to view native animals like the Palawan Bearcat as well as some protected African wildlife species. In the late afternoon, visit Maquinit Hot Springs to enjoy floating in the salty volcanic, salt-water springs. A farewell feast follows.

Mountain Travel Sobek is responsible for all arrangements in the field, including camp meals, group gear and kayaking equipment; airport transfers; ground transportation; and basic medical and evacuation insurance.

“While unspoiled wilderness is at the heart of most Philippines’ vacations, this special tour from Mountain Travel Sobek is so ‘off the beaten path,’ one needs a kayak to transverse it,” said Rene de los Santos, Director of the Philippines Department of Tourism in San Francisco.

Starting at $3,745 per person (for a group of eight to ten) based on double occupancy, the Kayaking the Calamian Archipelago is avalible for travel April 6 and April 20, 2008.

For more information or to book Kayaking the Calamian Archipelago, contact Mountain Travel Sobek at 888-MTSOBEK (687-6235), e-mail info@mtsobek.com or visit www.mtsobek.com

For more information on the Philippines, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph  or contact the Philippine Department of Tourism in San Francisco at 415-956-4060; Los Angeles at 213-487-4525; New York at 212-575-7915 or Chicago at 312-782-2475.

Philippine Department of Tourism

The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) is one of the Executive Departments of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines responsible for the promotion of travel to the Philippines, tourism investments, and enhancement and preservation of tourism products in the country. Field offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco provide the following services free of charge on a selective basis: dissemination of tourism information, maps, brochures and posters; lending out of videos, CDs and other tourism-related materials; recommendations on places to visit; endorsement of relevant entities; and assistance to those traveling to the Philippines. These offices also engage in a number of promotional activities: presentations to travel organizations, travel trade shows, media inserts and joint marketing arrangements.

The Philippine Department of Tourism is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, with offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.experiencephilippines.ph or www.wowphilippines.com.ph

Kahn Travel Communications (KTC) is the appointed publicist for the Philippine Department of Tourism, covering North America. Media may contact KTC at (516) 594-4100, or via e-mail at j.kahn@ktcpr.com

Conde Nast Traveler, the largest circulated and most popular travel magazine in the United States voted Palawan as a tourist destination with the Best Beaches Overall in Asia in its October 2007 issue. Palawan has been cited for its outstanding attractions like Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and St. Paul Subterranean River National Park, both listed under the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.

The reputable publication noted that Palawan Province’s 1,200 miles of sugary beaches wrapped around 1,780 pristine islands have attracted travelers since the Chinese traders crossed now sunken land bridges from Borneo. Tubbataha is a reef ecosystem made up of two atolls that lie on a line of extint underwater volcanoes and is a sanctuary for marine life. Located 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding universal value in terms of marine life species diversity and richness.

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, otherwise known as the St. Paul Underground River, features a spectacular limestone landscape with an underground river. The area represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation as the site contains a full ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.

Almost as unique as these two Heritage Sites is Miniloc Island Resort; where a private beach leads to crystalline waters rife with damselfish. Sister property of Miniloc is Lagen Island Resort; whose 51 over-water pavilions are indeed one-of-a-kind. Amanpulo, Amanresorts’ 40 huts scattered along Pamalican Island’s powdery strand is indeed world-class. It was also included in the best hotels category of Conde Nast magazine.

Wherever in the Philippines’ 7,107 Islands; more particularly in Palawan, dubbed as the country’s Last Frontier, there will definitely be beaches reflective of sheer heaven. As in this province alone, anyone will almost surely fall in love with one of the 1,780 mostly uninhabited islands that constitute this wealth of wonder which is beyond the usual. It was definitely enough for Conde Nast Traveler’s October issue of The Great Asian Beach Finder to position Palawan as the Best Beach Overall.

For more information on Miniloc Island Resort and Lagen Island Resort, please visit www.elnidoresorts.com. For information on Amanpulo, please visit www.amanresorts.com. For more of the best beaches overall, please visit www.cntraveler.com .