Coron is more than just a tourist spot.

Coron is a historical place for Filipinos, Japanese and Americans. For historical buffs (like yours truly), it is a  place to visit. Going to Coron was hitting two birds with one stone for me - I enjoyed the beauty of nature as I learned a puzzle piece of the World War II.

Coron is a municipality under the province of Palawan which is famous for tourists for its white beach, hot spring - a place of virgin and hidden natural beauty. It is a 45-minute plane ride from Manila through its domestic airport at Busuanga.

First: The Tourist Spot Side

Kiangan Lake.

It's a beauty isn't it. It could be reached after a 10-minute rocky trek.

And the views down-under through snorkeling is more amazing.

In there, I saw three heads as stone formation. It was quite scary actually but amazing!

CYC Beach.
This was where we took lunch and just swam after the tummy delight.
It was where I saw white fishes for the first time!

Eye-candy: View from boat rides of the island hopping.
The picture I took doesn't even do justice to see how beautiful it was up close.
The rock islands are just as majestic as the feeling of thousands of fishes
coming close to you during fish feeding.

Twin Lagoon.
The first lagoon was where our boat was docked,
while the second one was where we swam.
The waters of the lagoon was cold and deep that it was unsafe to bring a camera.

Okay then... let's go to the historical side of Coron.

Coron is famous as a diving site for its Japanese navy ships shipwrecks which all sunk on September 24, 1944 due to American bombs. I regret that I didn't have the chance to take a picture of the shipwreck I saw through snorkeling. I also regret that I couldn't come close through diving since it's too painful for the ears if you don't have those diving gadgets. Now, the shipwreck is just a site for fish feeding for tourists.

Coron Shipwrecks. My souvenir from Coron.

Photo by Nino Bayan.

Coron also has a mountain, the locals called Mt. Tapyas. "Tapyas" is a Tagalog word for "cut". (Apparently, I couldn't find the exact translation of the word.). The mountain looked as if it has been cut at one of its side because of the bomb that hit it.

Mt. Tapyas from afar.

This picture was taken at our first day in Coron, at my first few hours at the place.

While the next one was taken on the last day....

Sunrise from Mt. Tapyas

6 years ago, Coron was a private hide away treasure island for privileged and elite people. Before, people could only reach it through the private airport and the private airplane. But, through the Development Assistance from Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Busuanga Airport was built. Coron is also a glimpse of internationalism and what's going on in the world. But, I'm saving it for another blog post.

At Busuanga airport.

I wrote about Coron because memories from this trip flashed before my eyes last night, at the few minutes before I felt asleep, as if haunting me to write about its beauty and history. I'd like to back to Coron again and experience diving. Coron was such a sweet escape from the stress I get at Metro Manila. Now, it's just a memory I'll keep that would constantly replay on my mind. 

Bye Coron! See you again!

And yes, this trip was my first time to ride a plane. :)

great things start from small beginnings

"Great things come from small beginnings...." might be familiar to some. From childhood, I've been drinking this chocolate energy drink. The advertisement says that it helps a child have an active mind and body. It might somehow affected me, that on days that I couldn't drink that chocolate drink in the morning, I don't have the confidence to face the day. Today, I just want to express my gratitude to that drink who made me ready everyday.

But anyway... then again, it shouldn't be the focus of this blog post. :3

This what I usually stare at during train rides.

Yesterday's train ride home felt different. I decided not just to stare at people in front of me but to watch the outside world the train's window has to offer. My eyes were tying to fix itself at staring into buildings, trees and people passed by, but it couldn't due to the rush. 

"The view from above."

This isn't actually taken from the train but from Ate Ame's condo at Makati.

But, this is somehow what I looks like from the train's window.

"The view from below."

This was taken at a sunny morning lunch time, 

a break from paper works at the office.

Nonetheless, it felt great to stare at people from above. They looked small. In a moment, it seemed like I had the power to control them and to direct their lives. A minute at the train from above is equal to kilometers traveled. But as I shifted my view and tried to look at things from their shoes, I realized that a minute from the person down below would mean only five to ten steps. In addition, as they walked, they would feel the radiant sun heat and the pollution all around. Suddenly, I felt the difficulty of walking on the ground.

In a bird's eye view, it looked as if it was easy to help people. But, as you put yourself into helping one, you'll realize that each person came from different walks of life and maybe on a complex journey ahead. I realized it was easy to think of programs from the macro point of view but difficult to implement it in the micro.

Small beginnings is where every poverty reduction program should start. A small beginning that includes talking with people, living with them, understanding them and putting yourselves in their shoes. More than that, is pulling-out from them, the will to change their lives that they themselves decide to take the road to a better life with minimal gratitude in the assistance to be given to them from government / non government organizations. The road to achieving success in the "great things" starts with that first small beginning step. That's what I learned today.... I mean yesterday. I'm glad to be back blogging. ;)