This was not a DIY nor a packaged tour. We went to see Puerto Princesa (its attractions in and around the city) with only flights and hotel bookings firmed! We did not do any prior tour arrangements, but all just fell into place smoothly! Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either. This was what I can probably call as a tour that was filled with a series of accidental luxuries!
Here’s the story…
To celebrate something, a friend invited me for a go-around of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Ahuh, without even checking my calendar, I said "yes, let’s go" - even if that invitation was just 5 days before intended departure. Why? Because the last time I was there was probably in the late 80s or early 90s!
I did not know he meant I was being invited with free tickets and accommodations! And I did not also know there were six of us – all friends – traveling together on this tour. Wow! This friend, the host, the inviter, isn't well versed on travel things. But he didn't ask for any help, so I didn't meddle in his affairs!
Thus, on departure date, all met at the Centennial Airport and that was first time I saw my ticket!
Fun and banter during check-in and in no time, we found ourselves roaming the waiting areas near the gates. I saw an acquaintance flying to Cebu, so went to say hello. I thought it took only a few seconds, but next I looked, four of my companions were already huddled at a table front of the Delifrance kiosk!
They already ordered coffee and was about to order for me and our other companion who went to the comfort rooms. I was of course wide-eyed surprised, so I asked why they were there. The answer was a very confident “its just coffee, and its on me, so sige na, get what you want, samahan mo ng bread”!
Mimicking the pompousness, standing in front of them, I told the group I wanted to have "arroz-caldo", croissants, fruit juice, fresh fruits, hors de voires, or I may even opt for champorado, Coke-in-cans too!
While they were all sitting silently stunned at what I said, I quickly hopped to the Delifrance counter to cancel everything they ordered. Oh, two have already been prepared so I said we’ll take that but cancel all others. Delifrance acceded! And I declared to my companions “stand up now, and follow me” haha!
At the Mabuhay Lounge, all 5 of my companions were huddled at a table, amazed and bewildered why we were there. So I told them: that we did not enter the lounge due to favors from airline people that I know - wala nang ganyan ngayon; that even my being a Mabuhay Club Member had nothing to do with it; that everyone of us were traveling on business class, therefore ew were entitled to be in this lounge!
All, including our host, the one who bought our tickets, were surprised! He even asked me how I knew we were on Business Class! To make it short, I said "because our boarding passes are colored blue"!
I already knew all were first-timers in this lounge so I told them, every food or drink you see anywhere inside this Mabuhay Lounge is for free, so dig in now before our flight starts boarding. And so we did!
While we all enjoyed the food (yeah, they too liked my favorite in this lounge – arroz-caldo) I reminded them that real breakfast food would also be served during the flight. That surprised everyone too, and jokes started flying around such as “pwede bang ibalot ito?”, “busog na ako, pwede cash nalang?”, “ay, now I will really have to use the airplane toilet for the first time” and so on!
We talked (I pried) about how/why this "unexpected luxury" happened! And the story went like this..,
Our host called up the owner of his favorite travel agency (a common friend of all six of us) just about 5-days before we flew. He just said "ilagay mo kami sama-sama sa bandang harapan"! He is not used to domestic flights having business class, which, travel agency mistook as what he meant "harapan"!
My dear fellow roamers.., this is what happens when a traveler does not care about money!
Actually, when I delved deeper, I found out that these friends I was traveling with, all did not even have any idea how much is the estimated cost of an airplane ticket to anywhere. They just pay!! Something like "I don't know, I don't care how much is the FX fare from Fairview to Philcoa, basta, I have enough"!
There are (many) people like them hehehe! But ask them about "cost of money" or "overnight floats" at this and that "counterparty", they can spend whole day lecturing hanggang dumugo tenga mo. Ganun!
Anyway, everything was going fantastically splendid with this group. And what a good start to visiting Puerto Princesa, everyone felt really special! One even said 'we are like traveling royalties'. But another one retorted saying we were like Princes and Princesses since we were going to Puerto Princesa. Da!
Arrival at Puerto Princesa was no different. We were still a happy bunch!
Just outside the arrival hall, the representative of Hotel Fleuris awaited for us with a clean and orderly van. Emphasis on “orderly” as many hotel vehicles in other cities, including Metro Manila, do conk out on arriving passengers hehe!
But what caught our undivided attention was that big wide “billboard” just by the airport’s parking area where tricycle fares from whichever point in the city to wherever they can reach are clearly stipulated!
From the airport to the hotel, all our necks could not stop from turning, with "ohs" and "ahs" frequently heard as we passed this and that. The airport is after all just within city center, and not far to anything. Sus, there is even a hotel and some of the well-known restaurants just a few steps away! I knew about that, as I have observed so, last time I was here. But my friends were more amazed that the city (from the airport to Hotel Fleuris anyway) looked still a bit rural, yet shops, restaurants and hotels abound!
All I could say was, "wait till we start roaming and you’ll see how lovely green a city this place is"! I told them of course, that the last time I was here, the runway strip also served as a “road” to the other side when no flights are arriving or departing. Yep, to the ex-Vietnamese camp and other places of the city.
"But we’ll get to them later", I said that as we arrived at the hotel. I continued that with "as for now, be happy to have arrived at Puerto Princesa City – commonly referred to by locals as PPC! And you will really feel you are Princes and Princesses when we visit a place named "Iwahig". Humalakhak na ako!
I knew this was gonna be fun.
But let’s hear more about this wonderfully luxurious trip in my next entries, okay?!
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