TBK travels to Alimanguan , San Vicente, Palawan , Philippines

The amazing hotel that Adam found for me when I decided to leave Port Barton

The last 14 months have taught me many things like:

Things happen for a reason
Always have a plan B
Expect the unexpected
Deal with things you can and do not stress about those you cannot

The Eshanti cat was sad to see me go

When Powersource disconnected the Power supply to Port Barton on Friday 8.4.22 at 4 am after the residents refused to pay them more money for electricity I decided to leave town. Adam found me another hotel , in Alimanguan, his home town, and even negotiated me a discount! I left early on 9th April after a cold shower in the dark having been drenched in sweat due to the lack of AC . I managed about 2 hours sleep in between the noise of the emergency generator being delivered and started at 10 pm, the people next door waking up and chatting, and then the boy next door snoring in the early hours. The route to Alimanguan was scary ( in the rain with fallen trees and debris) and exhilarating.

Sadly there is no direct route along the west coast so you have to go back to Roxas and then later turn left onto a narrow road down into Alimanguan, part of which is just a rough track. I was very proud of my little Wigo for not rolling over and leaving me dead in a ditch!

I was delighted to see the beach house owners were ardent Leni supporters

I was given a warm welcome at Victoria beach house and taken to my upstairs room with a fabulous sea view, air conditioning, hot shower and lighting! They even had Wi-Fi! After unpacking I walked to the end of the beach and shot some video for the Vlog that will be posted in a few weeks. We also got some amazing photos before returning to the hotel for lunch in the sun outside. All the food is freshly cooked, much of it grown locally ( the owners have a farm), and whilst the menu is simple ( 2 sides A4) it had some unusual and tasty dishes on. They say that Alzheimer's and Dementure are hereditary ( but I cannot remember who told me). So I will just say that during my week in Alimanguan I had seafood curry, squid adobo, sweet bananas , Spaghetti Cabonara, Pizza ( next door with two of the skimmers) and several fruit platters. With Coffee served at 6 am and breakfast at 7, Lunch at 11 and dinner at 6 my intermittent fasting was put on hold as my 16/8 diet changed to 12/12!

The Calamari that I made for Alvin

The food was so good I asked to be shown how to make my favourite dished and the hotel owner kindly obliged. Alvin came from Roxas to film it for TBK cooks and Chester will share that vlog in June ( we already have a backlog from Manila, Marikina, Puerto Princessa, Port Barton and Alimanguan - the place!). The vlogs will be uploaded weekly on a Monday so make sure you like and subscribe!

2 of the Skimmers in Action outside Victoria Beach House

On my second afternoon in Alimanguan I met up with my online friends , The Alimanguan Skimmers . They put on a display of their talent as Skimmers and Surfers. Oliver helped me with the Photography while Jack, Jerome, Oliver , Sandrix, Jerus and Neslie showed of their Skimming skills. Lemuel from San Vic Surf also gave a demonstration of his Surfing skills. He and his cousin are available for surfing lessons if you are visiting the area. I have been so amazed by how Masipag ( industrious) these 17 to 21 year old guys are running from nightly dance practice ( Hip hop, not ballet) , Skimming and beach clean ups . Back in December they helped cook and distribute food to the victims of Typhoon Odette and helped the fishermen rebuild and paint their Banca ( fishing boats). This week they made a presentation at the nearby Barangay of Kemdeng, where they helped set up the Kemdeng skimmers one year ago. You can read more about my involvement with the Alimanguan Skimmers here :

https://thebritishkabayan.blogspot.com/2022/04/tbk-gives-to-alimanguan-skimmers-in-san.html

Chester also worked through the night ( after I was hampered by power cuts, storm winds, heavy rain and slow Wi-fi taking 12 hrs. to upload the video footage. Chester, as usual , worked his magic and created this amazing 7 minute Vlog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsbvhv5ZZc

Lakad Lakad in the rain ( coat by Brands 4 Less, Dubai!)

I have loved staying here in Alimanguan all week. Chester was telling me how laid back Marikina was after my week in Manila. Puerto Princessa, while a capital city, is much quieter than Manila and then Port Barton was very quiet ( and dark when Powersource turned off the Electricity!). However Alimanguan takes peace and tranquility to a whole new level! I have loved my routine of waking at 2 am , writing my blog and uploading videos as everyone sleeps ( and the Wi-fi is at its fastest) , The hotel serves freshly brewed coffee at 6 am and Breakfast at 7 am and then its time for the first lakad lakad ( walk ) of the day on the sandy beach. I love watching the fishermen bring in their catch and the kids help sort it out.

Dividing up the catch of the day- plenty for everyone!

It's a small Barangay so as I walked or drove around I got happy smiles and waves and I soon became a suki ( regular customer) at the Sari Sari ( corner shop) down the road. I watched the older residents tending their crops which they delivered daily to Victoria Beach House to supplement those from the owners farm. I always love the farm to table concept that I first experienced a few years back at LVF Farm in Puerto Princessa with Beth and Paul.

Just some of the farm fresh produce delivered daily to Victoria Beach House

It is great to know that the food you are eating arrived by Bicycle from a farm down the road, or was caught by a fisherman in the sea at the front of the hotel, rather than being shipped half way around the world and then stored in a warehouse before being sold at Alosra and going off before you eat it! It is even better when you can walk along the path at the back of the hotel and see it growing!

Part of my breakfast yesterday ( green beans) being gown down the road

One of the things I will NOT miss about my 12 years in Bahrain is their lack of white sand beaches that are open to the public for free. So to be able to walk out of the beach house at 630 am , coffee in hand, and kick off your Tsinellas ( sandals, slippers, flip flops or Thongs for the Ausssies) and walk on the hot white sand was amazing ( even in the rain, charizz!)

Part of the 14km white sand beach and the viewpoint called Bato ni Ningning on the left

Back in 2020 Ran and I drove up to Bato ni Ningning where you get a spectacular view of the whole beach. I even used the picture in my Countdown to Palawan Posters! However this year, with all the rain and having seen earlier photos of how the road deteriorated with Typhoon Odette I decided not to attempt the drive again. I asked Adam, the Skimmers and the hotel owners if they knew anyone with a 4 x 4 who could drive us up there but did not get anywhere!

For those not familiar with Bato ni Ningning and for my friends who are rock fans ( Richard, Martin, Barry etc) they cakk it the Rock Star of San Vicente. It is well covered in this Blog https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/05/bato-ni-ningning-the-rock-star-of-san-vicente/ so I will just quote a few of their words which give the back story:

"Bato ni Ningning is an iconic rock on top of a hill found in Barangay Sto. Niño in San Vicente, Palawan. The name was coined from a TV show featuring a character named “Ningning” and how this area with the huge boulder became her playground. We felt that a trip to San Vicente, Palawan, would not be complete if we missed out on this visit to Alimanguan town.

We traveled to this barangay to see and experience the majestic views of Sto. Niño and San Vicente’s long beach. The trip provided us with magnificent panoramas of the countryside. The roads were paved at first, then we traveled on dirt roads for the last leg of the trip. It was explained to me that this is the city separating the barangays by means of the road conditions. No complaints there, we were in Palawan, so everything was good. Our kilometer zero is Peak View Resort, located right in front of the beach, and about less than an hour drive from San Vicente airport?"

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/05/bato-ni-ningning-the-rock-star-of-san-vicente/ ( accessed 14.4.22)

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my stay in Alimanguan. I will certainly be returning here soon and eventually hope to get a Philippina to buy some land in the area and build a house here. I was born by the sea on Hove in the UK and I intend to die by the sea ( but not for some time yet!)

As General McArthur said when he left Corregidor many years ago: