Palawan is called the Philippines' "Last Frontier" because the province abounds with natural resources much like in an unexplored frontier. In fact, Palawan supplies about 50% of the seafood requirements of Metro Manila. Visitors call it a "paradise on earth" because of its beautiful sceneries, bountiful natural resources and high level of animal and plant life endemicity. Despite frequent visits by wildlife researchers, many of Palawan's wildlife are still undiscovered in the many pristine ecosystems of the province for many years. In 2009, for example, a new species of giant, rat-eating pitcher plant and sundew were discovered in Mt. Victoria in central Palawan.

The giant rat-eating pitcher plant (Image Source).

Notable wild plants and animals can be found only in the wilderness of Palawan. A rare tree, the tabulian, that can withstand termites, fire, and extreme weather conditions is only found in the southern municipality of Rizal. Balabac in the far south end of Palawan is home to the endemic Balabac mouse deer. In the hinterlands, thePalawan bear cat prowls the forests at night. And of course in Aborlan, while riding a van, jeep or bus, you can smell the familiar pungent odor that can kill a horse. This is coming from the exudants of "pantot" or Palawan skunk. In Taytay, you may encounter the flying squirrel, or experts say, should be correctly referred to as the flying lemur. Crocodiles, aside from those found in the Crocodile Farm in Irawan, are found in the less frequented rivers lined with mangroves. However, they are in very small populations in the wild because of hunting pressure in the past. During the breeding periods from March to May, crocodiles may be active and more visible. These are saltwater crocodilles so intruding into their habitat during the breeding season can be dangerous. In Rio Tuba, Bataraza, a crocodile attacked a fisherman and mangled him to pieces. Find out why here. Generally, however, crocodiles are shy and would avoid humans as much as possible.

SCUBA divers who do not want to travel great distances to dive can find a lot of diving sites in places like Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa Bay and Ulugan Bay. All dive sites are easily accessible from the city where several dive shops are serving the needs of divers. For snorkelers, they can enjoy the beaches of Cowrie Island, Snake Island, Pandan Island, Arrecife Island or the recently added attraction of fish feeding and coral reef viewing in Pambato Reef. For those who want to venture farther out east of Honda Bay, they can see the whale shark or butanding together with schools of tuna and swim with them. Dolphins are also well sought attractions in Puerto Princesa Bay.

Pambato Reef

Among the well known attractions of Palawan Island is the Underground River located in Sabang, northwest of Puerto Princesa. Hundreds of tourists visit and see the unique stalactite and stalagmite formations inside a cave where a river flows. Boat guides say that 9 of the 36 species of bats reported to occur in Palawan can be found inside the cave. Only 600 tourists are allowed to visit the underground river daily, as there is a heavy traffic of tourists, both local and foreign, visiting the place. This is a significant revenue source of the City Government of Puerto Princesa aside from the benefits that hotel and tourist van operators gain from the vigorous campaign by the City Tourism Office to bring the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park to the top 7 Wonders of the World contest. But many people do not know that 250 kilometers away south of Puerto Princesa, another interesting cave is worth visiting when someone happens to pass by the area. It is a cave of worship because the Adventists use the cave for their worship service every Saturday.

Cave of Worship

There are so many environmentally concerned government and non-government organizations in Palawan that help keep the integrity of the island's ecosystems from unnecessary exploitation. The people themselves have a very high level of environmental awareness and consciousness. Nobody throws trash along the streets in Puerto Princesa, not because of an existing ordinance that penalizes those who indiscriminately dispose of their garbage but because this has become part of the City's culture. Scavengers looking for recyclables in garbage bins, however, are difficult to control as they have found the garbage bins their means of survival. They are the informal "recyclers".

Palawan is also known for its many groups of indigenous people like the Tagbanua, the Palaw'ans, the Bataks, the Tau't Bato, and the Molbogs. The culture of the indigenous people, however, is gradually merging with the ways of the lowlanders. Some of the current generation of indigenous peoples no longer practice age-old herbal remedies to illness. Change in the indigenous people's preferences and values is evident in their behavior, such as the construction of a makeshift hydroelectric dam by a resourceful native Palaw'an in Sitio Bohoy, Bataraza. On the other hand, the people of the municipality of Quezon, while largely composed of non-indigenous group of migrants, still believe in enchanted places. They believe that one risks his limbs if he sets foot on the enchanted Marangas Island just in front of the poblacion.

One of the earliest known fossils of the first settlers of Palawan, the Tabon man, can be found in Quezon, 200 kilometers south of Palawan.

Palawan has rich mineral and oil deposits. This further spurred development in many parts of the island as more people flock in to take advantage of the many opportunities for work offered by the mining industry. Small-scale gold mining in the municipality of Roxas, however, appears to be a problem that needs to be addressed.

Palawan has become a hub for many people ranging from tourists to businessmen, fishers, fish traders, farmers, miners and many more. As a result, malls start to sprout in many places in Puerto Princesa. NCCC, the pioneer mall in the heart of the city is no longer alone when a new mall, Unitop, opened services to the public in the last part of 2010 in downtown Puerto Princesa. Another mall, Palawan 168 is finished and Robinson's Galleria has started construction of their mall in Barangay San Manuel.

Palawan 168

A lot of banks are available in Puerto Princesa including the Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO, Allied Bank, RCBC, Land Bank of the Philippines, DBP, PNB, recently Union Bank and cooperative banks.

Fastfoods are also found in various strategic locations in the city. Among well known food chains in the country are Jollibee, Chowking, Dunkin' Donuts, Pizza Hut, and Inasal. Of course, local operators of home grown restaurants like Balinsasayaw, Kinabuch, Ka Lui, Inato, De Loro, Badjao Restaurant, Nokinocs appeal to the taste of visitors. Plus, the numerous bars lining the length of Rizal Avenue.