WHITE BEACH, PUERTO GALERA

A top destination among beach travellers, mostly from Manila and neighboring areas, is White Beach in Puerto Galera.  White Beach’s popularity goes back even before Boracay’s. Not only it is cheaper because of its closeness to Manila but it has white sands (not powdery though like in Boracay) Hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and activity centers for snorkelling and scuba diving.

It is a tourist haven. In fact, you might find yourself with some local movie and TV stars enjoying the music in one of its bars most especially during Holy Week.  Or, see a lot of foreigners who already considered the place home and had families.

The place is so crowded during summer most especially the Lenten Season thus you have to book early.  Otherwise, the only available places for your group to sleep in are the rooms or houses that are too far from the beach and being offered for rent by enterprising locals. The price of these rooms or houses during the peak season is ranging from P2,500.00 to P4,000.00 per day and good for at least 6 pax.

Transportation going to White Beach from Manila to Batangas  by air-conditioned buses or vans are available 24/7 except for the rigged boats from the Batangas port to Puerto Galera or vice versa which  sail as early as 6:00 AM until 7:00PM.  Waves though are higher during the afternoon so better schedule your trip very early morning.

Hedonistic, that is what I (who is so used to observe Lenten Season rites yet what am I doing here?) can best describe White Beach during evenings. Seems like Ermita in Manila, once notorious for its sleazy clubs, has been transported to the beach with women in bikini dancing on the ledge or stage of the bars while fire dancers compete for the crowds’ attention.  There are also local brew-sponsored bands playing for the younger market. So while the rest of our folks were beating their chest, others were having an orgiastic way to spend the week.

Puerto Galera however was in the news recently for banning gay performers. I don’t know exactly the reason but local officials want the place “sanitized”. It earned the ire of the gay community because Puerto Galera is actually a “gay haven” the distinction which the officials want to be erased. The gay community however, is among the large part of its visitors which made Puerto famous and brought so much largesse to Puerto Galera’s economy.

THE BASIC CHIFFON CAKE RECIPE

                 I used to watch my Aunt, Elsa Cruz, baked her delicious chiffon cake when I was young. I was inspired by her that when I was in High School, I attended a baking class offered free by the local government. The use of so many utensils of baking however discouraged me to make it as a hobby.  I thought then that it was better to buy cakes from bakeries or bake shops than to make one. Besides, nobody in my immediate family knows how to cook any dish more specially baked stuffs which means, all the needed pans, mixers and measuring utensils were not available in the house.            

                When I was already working, I also attended a baking class intended to employees who wanted to make baking their business upon retirement. Still, it took so long for me to realize that I could make money out of it. Today, I already concocted and designed hundreds of cakes for children’s party, debut or wedding using only the basic chiffon cake recipe which I got from the back of cake flour box. This is because of my friend’s Party Needs Business of which the cake is one of the most important items in any celebration.

                Those who want to make it a try, here is the basic chiffon cake recipe that I’m sure your family will love and can be use for business.  Marshmallow icing  (boiled sugar) is perfect for this recipe  because it won’t melt even in hot weather.

2 ¼ cups               Cake Flour

1 Tbps                   Baking Powder

½ tsp.                    Cream of Tartar

8 pcs.                     Eggs (separated)

½ cup                    Vegetable Oil

¾ cup                    Orange Soda (I use Tru-Orange or orange flavouring)

¾  cup                   Sugar for the batter

¾ cup                    Sugar for the Eggwhites

Line an 8 x 12 inches rectangular pan or 10 inches round pan.  Pre-heat the oven at 345 degrees Celsius. Sift the together the cake flour, baking powder and sugar three times, set aside. Separate the eggwhites from the yolk. Be sure to use a smaller bowl or container first in separating the eggs one by one to avoid mixing spoiled eggs from the rest. For the batter, mix all the ingredients together except the eggwhites, the ¾ cup sugar and cream of Tartar.  Beat the eggwhites with the cream of Tartar using a handheld or stand mixer until frothy. Slowly add sugar and continue beating until stiff but not dry.  Pour the batter slowly using a spatula into the eggwhites. Transfer the mixture to the baking pan and bake for 45 minutes or until done (insert toothpick and see if it has no crumbs).   Invert and cool before taking the cake out from the pan. TIP: Line the pan but don't grease.  

EL NIDO, PALAWAN

When the Underground River or St. Paul’s Subterranean River National Park of Puerto Princesa City in the province of Palawan, was declared as one of the World’s New Seven Wonders of Nature, a hundredfold increase in the number of tourist was noted as compared to previous years. The entire province and the city have never been busier, including two of Palawan’s  popular towns of El Nido and Coron. These places are among the country’s must-see destinations famous for their breathtaking limestone rock formations, their enticing crystal-clear waters that are best for snorkelling and scuba diving and the powdery white sands.                    

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the government agency that manages all ports nationwide, said that El Nido experienced the surge in tourism gauging from the influx of tourists who were mostly from European countries. Tourism, aside from the increasing volume of cargoes (basic commodities) to and from Manila and an aggressive port collection contributed to the remarkable increase in port revenue from Php 3.4Million in 2009 to Php 15Million as of December 2011.

The port has recently been rehabilitated with improved port facilities which include a new passenger terminal, concrete pavements, installation of lights and fencing for security.  It could not, however, accommodate bigger vessels especially the Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) type of sea crafts because of its low water draft. The PPA’s plan in 2009 to dredge the area at the cost of Php 29 million was met with stiff resistance from local officials and community groups because of environmental concerns. After a series of consultations and with the affirmation of the local authorities to go ahead with the dredging, the budget already ballooned to Php120 million. RoRo vessels would definitely bring in more tourists as these would lower the cost of travel to the island just like what has happened in Puerto Galera in Mindoro and Boracay in Aklan.
At daytime, guests may hire a "banca" for P250,00 per person and tour around the nearby islets, chose an island to while away the time and go snorkeling. An island with a cove for me was the best. Going back late in the afternoon though is not advisable because waves already get bigger.      

At night time, pub houses and bars in El Nido teem with foreigners that local visitors might think that he or she is transported to a foreign land if not for the nipa house façade of the establishments.

Ms. Nerissa Dado, the manager of El Nido’s cargo handling operator Bacuit Arrastre Association, Inc., said that the El Nido port community is all-out in supporting the activities that would ensure the cleanliness of the port and the environment and the safety and security of passengers. She opined that it will be for the benefit of the townspeople to always present the best of what the place could offer. 

The welcoming atmosphere of the port was enhanced with decorative and edible plants in its surroundings.  The PPA’s terminal port manager,  hopes for a much bigger port of El Nido in the near future so that bigger vessels could be accommodated and bring in more Filipinos to marvel the beauty of their own country and at the same time, meet the demands of increasing foreign tourist arrivals.