Palawan

posted on Friday, January 3, 2020

Most of my visits to Palawan have been for leisure---travel with friends and dive trips with Ling. In 2019, two of my most memorable out of town shoots were also at this very paradise. And it was during these fast-paced trips that I appreciated Palawan all the more.

One of the two stories I did last June 2019 for Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie was all about the breakthrough win of Gerandy Danao, a farmer against the political dynasty of the Demaalas. It was a David versus Goliath victory as Danao toppled the 30-year rule of the Demaalas in Narra, Palawan. Danao’s filing of his Certificate of Candidacy was one for the books. He filed last minute as he got frustrated that no one had the guts to go against the Demaala’s political clan. Danao did so despite knowing he didn’t have the means to mount an extensive Mayoral campaign. His platform revolved around change and the rest they say is history. “Hindi biro ang inabot...yung hirap na talagang hirap talaga. Baon kamote, saging...ayos lang. Pero ano lang siyempre, pasalamat na ganun, kahit paano, natapos din,” a tearful Danao said of his electoral win.

Our team did a profile of Danao’s background. We visited his farm with 36 goats. Their ancestral home where he now lives with his family. We met his mother, wife, children and some relatives. Danao’s wife Marifi had this to say, “Parang na-feel din namin na parang kalooban din ng Diyos na tumakbo siya kaya kahit anumang sinasabi nilang mga threat sa amin, balewala lang sa aming mag-asawa ‘yun.” As the Danaos are relatively close to the Demaalas before the election, the win entirely changed the status quo. I certainly hope, this time, for the better.

After a week, our team was back to shoot another episode about the planned division of Palawan into three provinces. We were able to visit Quezon, the fourth poorest municipality in the province. And though I’ve been to several white sand beaches in the region, our destination called Tataran Island was totally breathtaking. But behind the pristine beauty of the place lies the difficulties the locals face everyday. Below minimum wage earned from their main livelihood of fishing. No supply of electricity and water. The same dilemma goes in Barangay San Miguel dubbed as the cashew crop village in Roxas, Palawan. Some locals rely on generators mostly bought second-hand. Another common practice in the area is to rent out electricity. Some pay P200 per month to light a house’s fluorescent. Another P200 to use the television. Residents are hopeful that the division of Palawan into three provinces can help resolve their age-old problems.