Lets Plant Grapes In The Philippines (Palawan Adventure): Going Back To The Basics (Beach House Preparation)

To Berong

Upon Arrival , we stayed at Dads Inn for two days to equip ourselves for the trip , on the 3rd day with kuya Percy (A Palawan Resident friend) , took us to Berong with his trusty pick up

Travelling to Berong is not easy , but it was fun we have to go through road constructions , ,beautifully cemented roads and terribly rough terrain that shakes the car as if you are riding a wild horse.

The ride was a little bit tiring but fun, having stayed in the city for so long experiencing all those greeneries was both relaxing and exhilarating. To say that this is an exciting experience would be a childish description. The feeling of freedom is overwhelming, breathing that clean air , experiencing that unending expanses of forested area. Seeing all those birds and monkeys crossing your path. gives you an incomparable feeling of freedom (sorry I was so overwhelmed I forgot to take pictures) . The monkeys are so quick , the birds very tamed. I told myself that once I am settled Ill try to document all of the wild things I see here.

It will be sad if man succeed in destroying this last frontier , I admire the Government officials of Palwan for their dedication in preserving this natural wild habitats, for us to see and experience. I know i will never get over this . Im hook and will never be able to leave.

If Palawan is a woman , she is wild, exotic and beautiful. A Fae of her own right no man can resist. I am in love , and like a crossed eyed lover I am doomed. I know I will always go back , and would like to spend my last days here. A paradise, near heaven. Only when you experience such grandeur will you understand what I mean.

Berong At a Distance

Two Hours of travel and we have a glimpse of our destination from the highest peak of the highway, it was exciting to see the grandeur of my Paradise. A place I fell in love with and hopes to conquer.

But first we need to find a house to stay and get acquainted not only with the local residents but also with the Palawaan and Bilaan people who are the native residents of the Area, also we need a place to stay on the area. Up until the beach resort is finish

After our courtesy call with the barangay captain and the tribal chieftain and upon learning that Sadam is an Aeta from the mountains of Pinatubo we are excitedly welcomed. The Chieftain even tried to convince me to bring more Katutubo on the Area. It seems Aetas relocated to Palawan have the reputation of being good hunters, and they are look up to by the local tribesmen and residents.

Sadam was registered as an IP , he will have a very good privilege here if he stays for six months or get married with the local tribe he gets a monthly stipend from the IP share on BNC Mning, a land grant from the government. .

So much for luck , my 22 year old Aeta friend was smiling all the way to our new resident. He was happy to be here , being treated as a celebrity is a rare experience for a simple Aeta from Tarlac who have been discriminated for too long. It seems IP’s in Palawan are treated differently. They are treated with respect and taken cared of by the local NCIP. My friend may be able to get a land grant in the future , who knows.? , but for now our mission is to build a beach house

Edong a local resident with Bilaan and ilongo blood whom we befriended lent us this house until we have built our own Beach house. So much for convenience , but at least we have a place to stay, by the way although cell phone signals are available in the area electricity is not yet available and water comes from deep wells.

It was like going back to the basics but we enjoy it. I bought a solar charger from Puerto Princessa for our cell phones so we will have communications and internet (I still need to run a business in manila , even if Im working here). . Looking around the area , most houses have solar panels for their electricity need. This was very surprising and solar panels are sold cheap in the area. But for now Sadam and I will have to make do with the basics meaning kerosene lamp in the evening.

This Lamp , It keeps the kubo bright the whole evening

Our kubo to my surprise has no windows , at first I find this funny and ridiculous but later on I learned the reason, when the sun goes down the cold sea breeze will start to blow , having no windows keeps you warm and cozy at night (So much for the stupidity of this city boy)

Now we go to the most difficult part of my stay , providing my basic needs meaning a toilet. Well you have to make do on what is available after having a shock for 3 days my poor spoiled butt got use to dealing with this or it will be in great dilemma for the rest of our stay.

Taking a bath was the best , we have the whole beach for that and a fresh water well to remove the salt. The sweet thing is my complexion starts to turn local , meaning ? Im getting dark and I love it.

Our Toilet Bowl

Hahahahaha , I know I have the same reaction but the thing is sanitary and clean with plenty of water from the nearby balon , well what can you wish for. If the foreigner back packers can handle this a spoiled Pinoy can do the same.

It was part of the fun and adventure. I think a toilet with complete facilities of a flush and all the nice stuff will spoil the fun. But dont worry , those convenience will be installed at the beach house once it is finish, but I may keep this thing as a memento later . Hahahaha

My Piece of Paradise.

Our place in Berong that my brother acquired using his lifelong savings in working his butt dry in Dubai , is a 1(one) hectare Beach front boasting several mango trees, 100 coconut trees and a 35 meter beach from facing the West Philippine Sea.

It is a cove area very rich with varieties of fishes. You can not imagine the abundance of the Area when it comes to fishes. It would be safe to say that most of Dagupan Bangus Fry are imported from this area, so are the lapu lapu and other fry they use to grow on cages.

Some part of the area are controlled by BFAR , meaning no fishing during the breeding season this will be on the corral reef covered area.

Our Beach front is sand with clear water . You can stand on a waist deep water and still see your feet at the bottom

On our first day experiencing the abundance of the area , this is what we saw. Our Fisherman friend , on his excitement to show how abundant is the sea left the net far too long (30 Minutes) and we end up with this.

I was eating Tuyo, paksiw, prito and pangat for a week, the tuyo ? , we are still eating them until today.(Feb 7)

I have to suffer keeping on hearing Sadam complaining that he can not find Kankong, Kulitis , Kamatis,galumbang and all those stuff for his sinigang. We ended up using those tiny wild puso ng saging (the monkeys hated us) hahahaha.

True to his kapampangan heart my Aeta friend needs all those leaves to cook a good sinigang. Anyway I promised to provide him seedlings for all the things he is seeking just to prevent him going into the foresteverytime he wishes to cook his sinigang

Another abundant fish is Blue Marlin and Pusit ,we grill them fresh or we do kinilaw. The next time I go back to Puerto prinsesa I promise myself to find some kikoman and wasabe. Sushi, sashimi will be my next project.

Before I forget Berong is the source of the best lapu lapu for export , every morning at a private airport at the back of my brothers propert a 6 sitter plane arrives to pick up live fishes to be supplied to hotels in manila , Singapore and Hongkong

This is just to give you an Idea on how rich is the area for potential investment. The place is not just a good retirement area but also a place for good business. The Area boast of a local port operated by Berong Nickle Corp. and a huge private Airport owned by Don Andress Soriano Clan that can accommodate an Airbus Plane.

Roads are currently being cemented, on my estimation is 5 years the area will already be accessible by Plane, Sea and Land. It will be an economic area to reckoned with competing with Puerto Prinsesa.. By that time properties here will accelerate their values.

Aside from all of this , Berong is the area where you can find the famous tabon Cave , which is now considered a UNESCO heritage area.. Currently Berong is a barangay , part of Quezon town Palawan but once it gains the required population it will definitely become a town of its own.

Materials For Cosntruction

As of today Feb 07,2015 we already have gathered most of the needed local materials for the beach house , and we are planning to start construction by next week. Initially we will build a 3 bedroom beach house for the family

To follow will be a Twenty rooms guest lodge with a common dining , bar and lounge area for future guest, The area will be fenced with local buho to provide privacy. Solar Electricity will be provided to promote convenience. A deep well and water Filtration will be installed to provide clean drinking water in the area. A planned 100 Vines vineyard and Guapple Mini Farm. An aquarium area to grow Lapu Lapu Fish for export.

This will be tedious work but I hope to be able to do all of this in a years time , and we can already accommodate Visitors by next year. The area will provide a holistic spa and wellness service to guest aside from assisted Palawan tours.

Dead Round Timbers bought Locally (Fallen Timbers From Farm Areas), the locals have them on stock , usually used for building kubo and structures