The island of Palawan is not just home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, it is also a place where celebration happens pretty much all year round. Palawan Festivals and Events are among the factors that draw in tourists to this island and these showcase the warmth and hospitality of the inhabitants. Palawan Festivals and Events also give us a chance to learn more about the history, culture and values of the inhabitants of this island.
The first event up on the calendar when it comes to Palawan Festivals and Events is the Tarek Festival. The Tarek Festival is held in the municipality of Aborlan, some 75 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City. The Tarek Festival is a ritual performed every year by two indigenous groups, the Batak and the Tagbanuas. This is held every 3rd weekend of January and among the highlights are traditional dances performed by the tribes complete with their colorful costumes. This is also a time when we can see the importance of the local priests in the lives of the indigenous community and the Tarek Festival is an opportunity for them to establish contact with local deities.
The next on our list of Palawan Festivals and Events that occurs after the Tarek Festival is the Puerto Princesa Foundation Day. As can be concluded from the name of the event, this is held in the capital city of Palawan and it commemorates the day that Puerto Princesa by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation was declared a highly urbanized city. Puerto Princesa Foundation Day is on the first week of March and here Palawan’s strengths are on display such as their agricultural powers, their skill in dancing and sports and there is much merry making that happens on this day. Puerto Princesa Foundation Day is an event that hasn’t been celebrated for over a decade since the declaration of Puerto Princesa as a highly urbanized city happened less than 5 years ago.
Of all the Palawan Festivals and Events, they say that the most unique is the Cuyo Festival. Similar to the Puerto Princesa Foundation Day, a lot of merry making happens at this event and it involves painting one’s entire body in soot. The highlight of the Cuyo Festival is the street dancing to the beat of drums as compared to choreographed dancing during Puerto Princesa Foundation Day.
Palawan is a progressive province in the southern region of the Philippines, which plays home to universities and colleges that feature informative and extensive academic programs to students in the tertiary level. Aside from promoting high quality education, these institutions also help enhance the Palawan education system by featuring modern teaching facilities. Furthermore, most of these schools offer scholarships to top high school graduates as well as to financially challenge and intelligent students. Below are the most accessible and inviting schools in the province that are popular for the competitive curriculums and degree programs that the institutions offer.
Considered as the top performing public school in the area, Palawan State University takes pride on different outstanding degree programs that the establishment offers including Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Aside from these, the other baccalaureate degrees available at this establishment are Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as well as Bachelor of Science in Tourism. To accommodate and help the individuals who want to have graduate degrees, this educational institution features academic programs like Master of Arts and Master of Education.
One of the Palawan educational institutions that are known for featuring excellent academic programs on agriculture, Western Philippines University aims to develop competitive, creative and resourceful professionals in the future. Some of the associate and short courses that this school offers are the Certificate in Poultry Production and Management, Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology, Certificate in Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Automotive/Diesel Mechanic Course. When it comes to four-year academic programs, the university features numerous courses including Bachelor of Science in Rural Development Management and Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Above all, this institution has a graduate college that features various courses like the Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Master in Public Management.
Fullbright College is a private school situated in the heart of Puerto Princesa City. This educational institution employs competitive and outstanding faculty members. The degree programs offered at this school are limited. Some of the courses available are Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering as well as Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Other degrees offered are Bachelor of Science in Education and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. The tuition fees at this college are cheaper than the enrollment fees at other universities in the province of Palawan.
In the early 1960’s, an American anthropologist, Dr. Robert B. Fox, and his team stumbled upon fossilized remains in Tabon Cave, Palawan. These fossilized remains were of one of the first settlers or early humans in Palawan known as the Tabon Man. The remains were carbon dated and it could be traces way back 22000 years ago. These scientists, researchers or anthropologists also found out remnants of ancient tools and devices signifying civilization in the place. Thus, Palawan had been considered as the Philippines' Cradle of Civilization.
The Island of Palawan has been showered by Mother Nature's blessings. Puerto Princesa, the island's main city, has been a proof of the beauty of Palawan Island. For this reason, the natives or locals of Palawan held different types of festivities with diverse themes as forms of thanksgiving for the blessings bestowed on them. Balagyong Festival, Kaniyogan Festival, Pagdiwata Arts Festival, Panalamin Festival, Manunggul Festival, Kalabukay Festival, Baratagan Festival, Malagnang Festival, Purongitan Festival, Kasadyaan Festival, Palay Festival, Kulambo Festival and Paskuhan sa Kapitolyo are colorful festivities commemorated and celebrated annually in Palawan.
These feasts, though they have different themes, are promoting Palawan's Eco-Tourism. Some best spots in Palawan are the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or the underground river of Palawan and Tubbataha Reef Marine Park. These two sites are also considered as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Palawan Island is certainly a haven of relaxing with nature’s wonders.
The technicalities of traveling and touring may have a tendency to hamper or hinder some excitement the island of Palawan could offer. Therefore, planning out vacation and leisure trip is one way of having a hassle-free trip. JD Travel and Tours is one of the travel agencies based in Palawan Island, specifically in Puerto Princesa. Their area of expertise is the inbound tours. They also provide travel and tours packages which include accommodations and itineraries.
Their agency’s office is at Room G, 2nd floor, Moraga Building Rizal Avenue (Beside Capitol Compound) Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Travel agencies, like JD Travel and Tours, have vital role in promoting and endorsing the Eco-Tourism in Palawan Island. Tourism is also an economic drive for Palawan Island that is why the local government of Palawan gives their full effort in maintaining and exploring the wonders and marvels of the place. Palawan Island is certainly a haven of a true nature lover!