MTC

The 5-minute read that explains why Dumaguete is the smartest base for a Visayas dive trip. University town energy, Apo Island, and the Siquijor gateway combined. Quick housekeeping: Dumaguete punches well above its weight. It's a university town with the best food per capita in the Visayas, the launching point for Apo Island (one of the country's premier dive sites and marine sanctuaries), and the ferry hub for Siquijor. The forum-level "why Dumaguete makes sense, and how to plan it" is below. Why Dumaguete is worth your time Dumaguete is the capital of Negros Oriental, a relaxed coastal city of about 130,000 anchored by Silliman University — the oldest American-founded university in Asia. The result is a city that's compact, walkable, surprisingly cosmopolitan for its size, and unusually pleasant. Add Apo Island (a volcanic sanctuary island offshore with sea turtle encounters and some of the country's best shore-accessible diving) and the city becomes the natural multi-base for a Negros + Siquijor + Apo Island trip. When to go Dry season November to May. April–May is hot but excellent for diving (best visibility). Avoid June–November for typhoons. Getting there Fly into Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport (DGT) — direct from Manila on Cebu Pacific and PAL. ~1 hour 30 minutes from Manila. Airport is 15 minutes from the city center by taxi. Where to stay Rizal Boulevard / waterfront — Walking distance to restaurants, university, Boulevard sunset strip. Default choice for first-timers. In-city mid-range — Several reliable options on Boulevard, EJ Blanco, and near the airport. Ask members for current favorites. Atmosphere Resorts (Dauin, 30 minutes south) — Premium dive resort if Apo Island and Dauin diving is your priority. Apo Island itself — A few resorts/lodges on the island plus homestays. Stay here if you want morning dives without the boat transfer. What to do — the must-not-miss list Apo Island Marine Sanctuary — Sea turtles in numbers that surprise people who've snorkeled elsewhere. The shore-accessible turtle area is genuinely world-class. Day trip from Dauin (Malatapay port) — confirm current boat/fee rates with members. Rizal Boulevard sunset walk — Classic Dumaguete experience. The promenade fills up with locals every evening. Free. Silvanas at Sans Rival — The legendary Dumaguete dessert. Mandatory stop. Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao — 30 minutes inland. Crater lakes, kayaking, hiking. Half-day trip. Casaroro Falls (Valencia) — Waterfall hike, 45 minutes from town. Manjuyod Sandbar (Bais) — 1.5 hours north. White sandbar visible at low tide; dolphin-watching tours run from Bais. Day trip from Dumaguete. Diving — the Dumaguete specialty The Dumaguete coast is a serious diver's destination: Apo Island — wall and reef dives, turtles, schools, current. World-renowned. Dauin — muck diving, macro photography. Different but equally world-class. Dive resorts in Dauin specialize in 2–3 dives per day packages. Atmosphere Resorts is the legacy premium option. Confirm current operator favorites with members. What to skip Renting your own car. Tricycles, Grab, and resort transfers cover everything. You don't need it. Insider tips Stay one night on Apo Island if you can. Dawn snorkel before day-trippers arrive is unforgettable. Combine with Siquijor. 45-minute fast ferry from Dumaguete port. Most trips do 3 nights Dumaguete + 2–3 nights Siquijor. Manjuyod sandbar is tidal. Check tide tables — it disappears at high tide. Book operators who know the timing. Food per capita is excellent. Sans Rival, Lab-as Seafood, Gabby's Bistro, Casablanca for European, and the public market for cheap eats. A clean 4-day Dumaguete + Apo itinerary Day 1: Arrive AM. Boulevard sunset. Silvanas at Sans Rival. Day 2: Apo Island day trip (or overnight if dive-focused). Day 3: Twin Lakes + Casaroro Falls. Day 4: Manjuyod Sandbar (early start) or Siquijor ferry departure. Your turn. Post your specific questions below — dive operator current status, Apo Island accommodation, ferry timing to Siquijor. Regulars know the specifics. — MTC Mods

The 5-minute read that explains why Siquijor is the destination everyone's adding to their Visayas trip. Agoda's fastest-growing PH destination — here's the primer. Quick housekeeping: Siquijor is having a moment. Agoda named it the Philippines' fastest-growing emerging destination in 2025, staying tourists hit 273,000, and the island is on every "underrated Philippines" list this year. The forum-level version of "is the hype justified, and how do you actually plan it" is below. Why Siquijor is on everyone's list right now Siquijor is a small island province in the Central Visayas, sitting between Cebu, Bohol, and Negros. What it has that other Visayas islands don't: a folkloric reputation. For decades, Siquijor was the "Island of Fire," associated in mainland Philippine imagination with healers, sorcery, and Holy Week pilgrimages to consult folk medicine practitioners. The mystique is real but undersold — today's tourists come for the beaches, waterfalls, and a calmer pace than Cebu or Bohol. When to go Dry season March to May is peak (calmest seas, dependable boat connections). November to February is also good (cooler, sometimes windy). Avoid July to October for typhoons. Getting there Siquijor doesn't have a major airport (construction is in progress as of 2025). The standard route: Fly to Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport (DGT) — direct from Manila or Cebu. Tricycle or taxi to Dumaguete port — 20 minutes from the airport. Fast ferry to Siquijor port or Larena port — 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Operators include Ocean Jet, Aleson Shipping, and GL Shipping; confirm current schedules with members. Tricycle or van to your accommodation. Total Manila-to-bed time: about 6–7 hours. Plan accordingly. Where to stay The island has no high-rise resorts. Accommodations cluster in San Juan (the main beach town on the western side), with secondary clusters in Larena, Siquijor town, and Maria. San Juan — Most accommodations, sunset side, food scene, beach. The default choice. Coco Grove Beach Resort — Long-established beachfront resort with several class tiers. Bahura Resort & Spa — Premium pick on the island. Boutique villas and homestays — Many; names change with new openings. Ask members for current favorites. What to do — the must-not-miss list Cambugahay Falls (Lazi) — Multi-tier limestone waterfall with jumping platforms and a rope swing. The most photographed spot on the island. Salagdoong Beach (Maria) — White beach with cliff-jumping platforms at 8m and 5m. Bring waterproof gear. Enchanted Balete Tree (Lazi) — 400+ year old balete tree with a natural fish foot-spa stream at its base. Atmospheric, weird, brief. San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent (Lazi) — Largest convent in Asia, 19th-century. Heritage stop. Capilay Spring Park (San Juan) — Public spring-fed pool. Local life. Mt. Bandilaan — Highest point, drive-up, decent viewpoint. Tubod or Coral Marine Sanctuary — Snorkel from shore. Surprisingly good. A circuit-the-island day Rent a scooter or hire a tricycle for the day. The whole island can be circumnavigated in about 4 hours including stops. Single best way to see Siquijor. What to skip The "Holy Week witchcraft tourism" tours that pop up online. They're folklore stops at most; if that's what you came for, ask the regulars about how to engage with local healing tradition respectfully — there are real practitioners but it's not a tourist show. Insider tips Scooter is mandatory. The island has no Uber/Grab, and tricycles are slow and add up. The ferry schedule controls your trip. Check it twice — boats get cancelled in bad weather and you'll be stranded. Combine with Dumaguete + Apo Island. Siquijor pairs naturally with a few nights in Negros Oriental. Most trips do both. See Dumaguete thread. Smaller crowds than Bohol or Cebu — that's the whole pitch. A clean 3-day Siquijor itinerary Day 1: Ferry in AM. Settle San Juan. Sunset on Paliton Beach. Day 2: Scooter loop — Cambugahay Falls, Lazi convent, Balete Tree, Salagdoong Beach. Day 3: Slow morning. Coral/Tubod Marine Sanctuary snorkel. Ferry out PM. Your turn. Post your specific questions below — current resort recs, ferry timing, scooter rental honesty. Regulars will fill in. — MTC Mods

The 5-minute read that saves you a season of guesswork. Siargao distilled — Cloud 9 surf timing, the right hotel zone, and the day trips that justify the flight. Siargao has gone from sleepy surfing outpost to top-tier Philippine destination in five years. Arrivals to Surigao del Norte rose 112% between 2022 and 2023, and Condé Nast Traveler placed Siargao in its 2025 Top 10 Islands in Asia. The forum-level version of "what you wish you'd known before going" is below. Save the page, come back with specifics, and the thread will fill in the rest. Why Siargao is the trip everyone's planning right now A teardrop-shaped island in the Pacific corner of Mindanao, Siargao is the Philippines' surfing capital and the country's fastest-rising beach destination. Cloud 9 — the right-hand reef break off General Luna — was named one of the world's top ten waves by Surfer Magazine decades ago, and the island has spent the past five years quietly becoming the country's most fashionable beach destination. The 2025 Siargao International Surfing Cup at Cloud 9 was the largest WSL qualifier ever held in the Philippines. The crowd has changed accordingly. Five years ago it was surfers and backpackers. Now it's surfers, backpackers, designers, remote workers, weekenders from Manila, and a steady stream of international honeymooners who've grown out of Bali. When to go (depends entirely on what you want) Surfing peak: September to November. Consistent NE swells, 6–10 foot Cloud 9, the proper waves people travel for. Family-friendly / non-surfer peak: March to May. Smaller waves, calm island-hopping conditions, hot weather. Best for first-timers who don't surf. Surf-and-tour mixed: late August or early December. Shoulder weeks where both work. Avoid: mid-June to late July (typhoon risk + onshore winds). Getting there Sayak Airport (IAO) in Del Carmen — direct from Manila or Cebu. ~1 hour from Manila on Cebu Pacific, PAL, or Sunlight Air. Land transfer to General Luna (GL), the main hub, takes 45–60 minutes by van. Most accommodations arrange this — confirm at booking. Where to stay — General Luna is the only real answer The vast majority of Siargao's accommodations cluster in General Luna, a single coastal town that's compact enough to scooter end-to-end in 15 minutes. Within GL: Tourism Road / Cloud 9 strip — Walking distance to bars and surf shops. Backpacker to mid-range. Malinao Beach area — Quieter, beachfront, mid-range to boutique. Pacifico / Burgos — A 30-minute drive north. Quieter, surf-focused, less nightlife. Members of this thread can recommend specific resorts in the replies — names change as new properties open and others change hands. The legitimately premium options exist (a few private-villa resorts on Malinao and Burgos), but the heart of Siargao is mid-range boutique. Don't expect Aman-tier; that's not what the island sells. What to do — the must-not-miss list Cloud 9 Boardwalk and Sunset — Walk the boardwalk at golden hour, watch the surfers, drink at the pier-end bar. Free. Magpupungko Rock Pools — Tidal pools at Pilar (1-hour drive), accessible only at low tide. Crystal pools cut into rock at the ocean's edge. Check tide tables before you go. Three Islands Tour — Naked, Daku, Guyam. Half-day boat tour. Naked is a sandbar, Daku is for lunch, Guyam is a 5-minute walk around a tiny island. Photogenic, easy, mandatory. Sugba Lagoon (Del Carmen) — Mangrove lagoon with a diving platform. Half-day tour. The water is famously blue. Surf — even if you don't surf. Cloud 9 is the famous wave but advanced-only. Beginners go to Jacking Horse or Stimpy's / Quiksilver. Lessons are widely available; ask for current operator names below. The story you'll tell about Siargao. Tak Tak Falls — Small jungle waterfall near Pilar. Combine with Magpupungko. What to skip The "Sohoton Cove jellyfish swim" day trip during off-permit weeks — operators have been suspended periodically and crowds during permitted weeks are unmanageable. Confirm with members below before booking. The "everything in one day" island-hopping packages. Pacing matters on Siargao. Insider tips Rent a scooter, day 1. Siargao without a scooter is half-Siargao. International license technically required. Book accommodations in advance during Surfing Cup week (late October). Prices double and inventory disappears. Tourism Road in GL is the food strip. Kermit Pizza, Mama's Grill, Lampara, and a rotating cast of new openings. Ask members for current favorites. Cash matters. ATMs in GL exist but break. Bring more than you'd plan elsewhere. Internet has improved but isn't great. Plan if you're working remote. A 4-day Siargao itinerary Day 1: Arrive AM. Settle GL. Cloud 9 boardwalk sunset. Dinner Tourism Road. Day 2: Three Islands tour (Naked, Daku, Guyam). Day 3: Magpupungko + Tak Tak Falls combo (early start for low tide). Day 4: Surf lesson at Jacking Horse OR Sugba Lagoon day trip. Fly out PM or next AM. Cross-thread links Pair this thread with: Davao City: Mt. Apo & Samal Island Beach — the urban Mindanao base, gateway to Mt. Apo Camiguin: White Island Sandbar & Mt. Hibok-Hibok Beach — the small volcano island, paired easily with Siargao on a Mindanao-island circuit Cagayan de Oro (Misamis Oriental): Whitewater Rafting & Macahambus Cave — adventure capital and gateway to Camiguin Bukidnon: Dahilayan Adventure & Mt. Kitanglad — pineapple country and mountain adventure General Santos: Tuna Capital & Sarangani Bay — southern Mindanao tuna capital Sarangani & SOCSKSARGEN: Gumasa & Maitum Beach — Gumasa Beach and Lake Sebu T'boli heritage Lake Holon (South Cotabato): Crater Lake & T'boli Culture — sacred crater lake on Mt. Parker For broader Mindanao trip planning, see the Mindanao Travel Guide parent thread. Your turn. Post your specific questions below — surf operator recs, current accommodation choices, Surfing Cup booking timing. Regulars will fill in. — MTC Mods

Every affluent Palawan trip begins here. Puerto Princesa, the Palawan provincial capital and the archipelago's primary international gateway, is the arrival point for El Nido, for Coron via the mainland-to-Busuanga circuit, for Balabac via the southern overland route, and for the Tubbataha Reefs liveaboards that depart from the city's port. But the affluent traveller who dismisses Puerto Princesa as merely transit misses what the city itself offers: the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1999; one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature), the Honda Bay island-hopping programme, the Iwahig Firefly Watching river tour, and the city's own quiet colonial-heritage core layered along Rizal Avenue. Palawan's marquee destinations sit farther north — but the province's cultural, ecological, and logistical foundation sits here. Why Puerto Princesa Matters Beyond the Airport The city's affluent-visitor programme organises around four established experiences, each substantive enough to justify a full day, and together delivering the strongest single-city Palawan mainland programme. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park — the 8.2-kilometre navigable underground river cutting through the St. Paul Mountain karst formation, opening directly into the West Philippine Sea. UNESCO inscribed the park in 1999; the New 7 Wonders of Nature vote (2011) elevated it to global recognition. Access is calibrated: daily visitor quotas, mandatory permits, guided boat tours through the lit and unlit river sections. For most first-time Palawan visitors, this is the day-trip that anchors the Puerto Princesa portion. Honda Bay island-hopping — a boat-tour programme across the bay's protected marine sanctuary, integrating three or four islands per trip: Cowrie, Pandan, Starfish, Luli, Snake Island. Calibrated for the affluent day-visitor programme; premium tours run private-charter options. Iwahig Firefly Watching — the evening paddle-boat river programme along the Iwahig River tributary, calibrated for the country's most-developed firefly-observation experience. Quiet, atmospheric, unlike anything else on the standard Philippine circuit. The city itself — the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the Palawan Provincial Capitol, the Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial (Plaza Cuartel), and the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (formerly the Crocodile Farm) deliver the surface-heritage programme. Where to Stay Puerto Princesa's hospitality landscape covers three tiers: Premium properties — a growing set of resort-standard beachfront properties along Puerto Princesa Bay and the surrounding coast. Best paired with the city day-programmes. Serviced heritage boutiques — several boutique operators in the city core, calibrated for the affluent culturally-attentive traveller. Transit-standard hotels — for travellers using Puerto Princesa as a one-night gateway before continuing to El Nido or Coron. For the affluent visitor building a longer Palawan mainland circuit (Puerto Princesa 2-3 nights + Sabang for the Underground River 1-2 nights + onward transit north), the premium properties along Puerto Princesa Bay carry the recommended base register. Getting There By air, Manila to Puerto Princesa — Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia operate direct flights (~1h20m). The airport sits inside the city, five minutes from Rizal Avenue. By air, Cebu to Puerto Princesa — several daily flights (~1h). International connections — limited direct international flights; most affluent international visitors arrive via Manila or Cebu. Onward from Puerto Princesa — El Nido via van (~5-6 hours) or AirSWIFT flight to Lio Airport (~1h15m); Coron via ferry or connecting flight; Sabang (for the Underground River) via van (~2 hours); Balabac via van + boat (Rio Tuba, ~5-6h + boat). When to Visit Palawan's dry season runs November through May. Peak affluent-visitor season December through February — expect premium-property advance booking essential. June through October brings the rainy season; the Underground River and Honda Bay programmes can be weather-affected. Compensating: fewer visitors, meaningfully lower rates, occasional weather windows that deliver excellent conditions. How Puerto Princesa Compares Within Palawan Where El Nido and Coron deliver the country's marquee island-hopping experiences, Puerto Princesa delivers the mainland cultural-and-natural programme — the Underground River, Honda Bay, Iwahig, and the city's colonial heritage. For the affluent traveller building the full Palawan circuit, Puerto Princesa serves as the calibrated 2-4-day mainland stop bracketing the northern-Palawan (El Nido / Coron) programme. For visitors on a shorter window, Puerto Princesa + Underground River as a standalone 3-4-day programme delivers a substantive first Palawan experience. Related — All Properties Under Palawan Travel Guide Parent thread: Palawan Travel Guide: El Nido–Coron Itineraries & Trip Planning Palawan mainland siblings — San Vicente (Palawan): Long Beach & Eco Lodges Beach · Port Barton (Palawan): Snorkeling Tours & Quiet White Beach · Balabac (Palawan): Pink Beach & Onuk Island Beach Northern Palawan marquee — El Nido (Palawan): Bacuit Lagoons & Island Hopping Beach · Coron (Palawan): Wreck Diving & Kayangan Lake Beach · Pangulasian Island (El Nido) · Entalula Beach (El Nido) · Qi Palawan (El Nido) Related Pinned Parents — Best Philippine Beaches: Most Beautiful · Metro Manila Hotels: Luxurious · Philippine Casinos and Integrated Resorts · Philippine Wellness & Spa Retreats Your turn. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River tour reports — early-morning vs. midday quotas. Honda Bay favourite island stops. Iwahig Firefly Watching evening reports. Bay-front dining recommendations. Puerto Princesa as full-programme destination vs. transit gateway — what changed your mind. Rio Tuba route to Balabac reports. Multi-generation Palawan mainland circuits. Share your visits. — Bizman

The 5-minute read that saves you a season of bad bookings. El Nido distilled — from members who've been three times and made the mistakes already. A few of us regulars have done El Nido enough times to know the patterns — which tour to skip in peak season, which beach to actually stay near, why the joiner boats ruin Tour A. If you're planning your first El Nido trip and want to skip the trial-and-error, the next thousand words are the shortcut. Save the page, come back with your specific questions, and the thread will fill in the rest. Why El Nido is worth the trip El Nido sits at the northern tip of mainland Palawan, fronting Bacuit Bay — the postcard-perfect archipelago of limestone karst cliffs, hidden lagoons, and beaches you've seen on every Philippines travel feed for the past decade. The photos don't lie, but the trip you build matters enormously. Done well, El Nido is the most spectacular beach destination in Asia. Done as a joiner-tour-blur in peak season, it's crowded chaos. This post is about doing it well. When to go Dry season: November to May. December–February is peak (calm seas, perfect weather, but crowded). March–May is hot but the boat tours run smoothly and visibility is best. Avoid June through October — typhoon corridor, half your boat tours get cancelled, no negotiating with the sky. If you can swing it, March or November are the sweet spots: weather is reliable and crowds are thinner than peak. Getting there — three options, ranked AirSWIFT to Lio Airport (ENL). Direct from Manila or Cebu, lands ~5 km from El Nido town. The premium option — 1 hour 15 minutes, costs more, saves a day. This is the option if your time is worth more than the savings. PAL/Cebu Pacific to Puerto Princesa (PPS), then 5–6 hour van. The budget-and-time-trade option. Buy the van transfer in advance — confirm current operator names with members. Plan to lose most of a travel day each way. Combined with Coron via private boat (Tao Philippines). Multi-day expedition that sleeps you on uninhabited islands between the two. The trip everyone tells their friends about for years. Book 3–6 months ahead. Where to stay — five zones worth knowing El Nido Town (Calle Hama, Real Street area) — Walking distance to restaurants, dive shops, tour operators. Best for first-timers and budget-flexible travelers who want to be in the center. Corong-Corong — South of town, quieter, sunset-facing. Mid-range to upscale. Best for couples who want town access without the noise. Lio Beach Estate — Boutique, planned-community feel, near Lio Airport. Quiet, polished, no nightlife. Las Cabanas Beach — Famous sunset bar strip. Cabins and small resorts on a long beach south of town. Private island resorts — El Nido Resorts (Pangulasian, Lagen, Miniloc, Apulit) are the legacy luxury option, one per island, accessed only by boat. Honeymoon-and-anniversary tier. Book direct months in advance. The four classic island-hopping tours (memorize these) El Nido tour operators run four standard packages. Pick based on what's open the days you're there — some tours rotate closed for marine sanctuary rotation. Tour A — Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Shimizu Island, 7 Commandos Beach. The headline tour. The lagoons are why you came. Book this first. Tour B — Snake Island, Pinagbuyutan Island, Cudugnon Cave, Cathedral Cave, Pangulasian Island. Solid second tour. Good snorkeling at Pinagbuyutan. Tour C — Helicopter Island, Matinloc Shrine, Secret Beach, Hidden Beach, Star Beach. Often ranked second-best. Hidden Beach lives up to its name. Tour D — Cadlao Lagoon, Pasandigan Cove, Paradise Beach, Natnat Beach, Bukal Beach. The quieter, closer tour. Good if you're tired or on your last day. Tour strategy: charter privately, not joiner The single biggest upgrade you can make: book a private boat instead of joiner tours. For groups of 3+, the math works out and the experience is incomparable — you set the pace, skip overcrowded stops, and eat lunch where no one else is. Members below can share current operator names and rates. Don't-skip experiences Sunset at Las Cabanas Beach. Walk the strip, grab a beachfront cocktail, watch the bangka boats silhouette into the sun. Free. Marimegmeg Beach sunset alternative if Cabanas is crowded. Taraw Cliff sunrise hike — guided, 1.5 hours up, dramatic views over El Nido town and Bacuit Bay. Not for the unfit. Nacpan Beach — a 45-minute van/trike ride north. 4 km of empty white sand. Day trip from town if you have a slow day. What to skip (saves you a day) The "island hopping + zip line + ATV combo" package some operators sell. The zip line is a tourist trap. Booking all four tours back-to-back. You'll be sunburnt and waterlogged. Two tours + one rest/Nacpan day is the right pace for 4 nights. Insider tips members keep sharing Reserve Big Lagoon kayaking in advance. Daily entry caps apply — operators can hit limits by mid-morning in peak. Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Several tour sites enforce it. Cash only at most boat operators and beach bars. ATMs in town exist but lines and reliability are issues. Internet in El Nido is mediocre. Plan accordingly if you need to work. Lio Airport flights have strict baggage limits. Pack light or expect overweight fees. A clean 4-day El Nido itinerary Day 1: Arrive Lio AM. Lunch in town. Sunset Las Cabanas. Day 2: Tour A (private boat). Dinner at Trattoria Altrove or a sunset bar. Day 3: Tour C (private boat). Sunset on hotel balcony. Day 4: Nacpan Beach day trip OR Tour B. Fly out next morning. Cross-thread links Pair this thread with: Coron (Palawan): Wreck Diving & Kayangan Lake Beach — the WWII shipwreck dives and Kayangan Lake, ferry or flight away Puerto Princesa (Palawan): Underground River & Honda Bay Beach — the regional capital and Underground River San Vicente (Palawan): Long Beach & Eco Lodges Beach — the 14 km Long Beach quieter alternative Balabac (Palawan): Pink Beach & Onuk Island Beach — southernmost Palawan frontier Port Barton (Palawan): Snorkeling Tours & Quiet White Beach — quieter alternative to El Nido For broader Palawan trip planning, see the Palawan Travel Guide parent thread. Your turn. Post your specific questions below — current boat operator names, which resort to choose, restaurant recommendations, anything. Regulars here will fill in details that don't make sense to pre-write. If you've just come back, share what worked and what didn't. If this post saved you research time, drop a "thanks" and bookmark the thread. — MTC Mods

A 5-minute read that saves you a month of trip planning. Everything members of this thread have learned about Coron — distilled, with the rookie mistakes already absorbed for you. A few of us regulars pooled what we know about Coron — booking mistakes, weather misfires, the boat tour that wasn't worth it. If you're planning a Coron trip and want to skip the trial and error, the next thousand words are the entire shortcut. Save the page, come back with your specific question, and the thread will fill in the rest. Why Coron is worth your time Coron Island sits in the northern half of Palawan, an hour by air from Manila, and it's the rare destination where the photos don't lie. Limestone karst cliffs falling straight into water so clear you can read a watch face at thirty feet. Kayangan Lake — yes, the one Condé Nast keeps calling the cleanest lake in the Philippines — actually delivers on the hype. Underneath all of it, twelve Japanese WWII shipwrecks form what serious divers consistently rank as one of the top wreck-diving sites in Asia. If you've already done El Nido, Coron is the sibling trip everyone says they'll get to "next time." This post is your invitation to make next time, now. When to go (the only weather advice that matters) Dry season: November to May. That's it. Calmer water, doubled diving visibility, and the boat tours actually run without weather cancellations eating half your trip. December–February is peak — busier, slightly cooler, perfect. March–May is hot but quieter, with excellent marine life. Avoid June–October. Typhoon corridor. Hotels are cheaper for a reason. Getting there without wasting a day Fly into Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga, code: USU) from Manila — about 1 hour 15 minutes on PAL, Cebu Pacific, or AirSWIFT. Land transfer to Coron Town takes another 30–45 minutes by van; most resorts arrange this, otherwise it's a shared ride. The Manila–Coron ferry is 12–14 hours and saves money, not time. If your time is worth more than the savings, fly. Where to stay — by traveler type Three options members of this thread have actually stayed at and would book again: Two Seasons Coron Island Resort & Spa — private island, beach club, quiet-luxury option. ~45 minutes by boat from Coron Town. Couples and honeymooners. Club Paradise Palawan — older, larger, also a private island. Groups and families who want activities baked in. The Funny Lion — in town, mid-range, surprisingly excellent service. First-timers who want to be near restaurants and tour operators. If you want to do this properly, charter a private boat through Tao Philippines for a 3–5 day expedition that sleeps you on uninhabited islands between El Nido and Coron. The trip everyone tells their friends about for the rest of their lives. What to do — the must-not-miss shortlist Kayangan Lake. Climb the 300+ steps, swim, take the photo, leave. Ninety minutes total. Worth every step. Twin Lagoon. Kayak (rent on-site) into the hidden second lagoon. Don't skip the kayak — the snorkel-through option leaves you scraping limestone. Siete Pecados Marine Park. Snorkel only. Best coral within easy reach of town. WWII Wreck Diving — Akitsushima and Olympia Maru are the headliners. Two or three dives is enough for non-specialists; serious divers want four days minimum. Maquinit Hot Springs — 5 PM onward. Saltwater hot springs in a mangrove setting. Bring rum. Mt. Tapyas at sunset — 700+ steps, 20-minute climb, panoramic view of Coron Town and the bay. Free. What to skip (saves you a day) The "joiner" group boat tours that visit seven stops in one day. You'll see everything and remember nothing. Charter a private boat and do half as much, twice as well. The Calauit Safari Park day trip unless you have small kids — three hours of boat each way for ninety minutes of zebras and giraffes that aren't quite where they belong. Insider tips the blogs miss Book your private boat at the dock the morning of, not online in advance. You'll pay 30–50% less and the operators know which stops are crowded that day. Climb Mt. Tapyas at 4:45 PM, not 5:30. You get sunset and descend before it's pitch dark on those steps. Cash is king. ATMs in Coron Town are unreliable, most boat operators don't take cards. Bring more pesos than you think you need. Tip your guide ₱300–500/day. They earn it and remember you. A clean 3-day itinerary Day 1: Arrive AM. Lunch at Lolo Nonoy's (the lechon). Maquinit Hot Springs at sunset. Day 2: Private boat — Kayangan Lake → Twin Lagoon → Siete Pecados → Banol Beach lunch → Skeleton Wreck snorkel. Day 3: Another private boat day (Malcapuya & Banana Island), OR two wreck dives if certified. Sunset at Mt. Tapyas. Fly home next morning. Cross-thread links Pair this thread with: El Nido (Palawan): Bacuit Lagoons & Island Hopping Beach — the limestone karst lagoons, ferry or flight away Puerto Princesa (Palawan): Underground River & Honda Bay Beach — the regional capital and Underground River San Vicente (Palawan): Long Beach & Eco Lodges Beach — the 14 km Long Beach quieter alternative Balabac (Palawan): Pink Beach & Onuk Island Beach — southernmost Palawan frontier Port Barton (Palawan): Snorkeling Tours & Quiet White Beach — quieter alternative to El Nido For broader Palawan trip planning, see the Palawan Travel Guide parent thread. Your turn. Post your specific questions below — boat operator names, dive shop recommendations, late-arrival hotel pickups, dietary spots, anything. Regulars here will fill in the details that don't make sense to pre-write. If you've just come back from Coron, share what worked and what didn't. If this post saved you research time, drop a "thanks" and bookmark the thread — we update it as members report back. — MTC Mods

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If you're waiting for the time to enter the crypto market, now is a good time to buy Bitcoin. Currently, bitcoin is at a low price of 55,000. Wait for a few days and it will bounce back to 65,000. It's a 16% increase in just a few days. Compare that to a banks interest rate of less than 2% for a year. (bank interest rates are estimates only) To demonstrate: if you buy P1,000 of worth Bitcoin, will become P1,160 (profit P160) * if you buy P10,000 worth of Bitcoin, it will become P11,600 (profit P1,600) * How to buy Bitcoin? GCash Credit Card Where to buy Bitcoin? BINANCE - Just click this link to get an account What is Binance? Binance is the #1 crypto trading platform trusted by everyone. Install the app on your smartphone * profit depends on the current bitcoin market price, 65K in the next few days is only a mathematical prediction

Dear Bong, The other week I was discussing your marketing position with my wife, and I agree with her. You just might win next year. But in order for you to win, the other side must accept defeat. There might be another EDSA next year when the yellows do not get what they want. Since you are now aligned with the incumbent, it will be convenient for the opposition to cry "cheating". When that time comes, will you give way?

Dear Sara, I am willing to sit as consultant in any part of your government that has something to do with science ang engineering, or the misrepresented Night Entertainment sector. Here are my features: I will work for free I speak your dialect I'm experienced in dealing with all sorts of problem (technical and social) Best of luck in the coming elections.

The internet is full of articles discussing Covid-19. Can you link your favorite source of information? Why do you think your source is persecuted by mainstream media? Is the whole internet censored?

So, what did you get? From what city? Do you think this pandemic could have been managed better?

I'm really excited with this discovery! I can't wait to see the outcomes! I hope I will still be around to experience the results. Here's an excerpt... There's a lot of reading material on the internet, I'll just share this link for easier read. https://www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/science/summary/crispr Here's the Juicy part... Application The CRISPR/Cas 9 system was first exploited by Danisco in 2008. The company used it to improve the immunity of bacterial cultures against viruses and many food manufacturers now use the technology to produce cheese and yoghurt. Since then the technology has been used to delete, insert and modify DNA in human cells and other animal cells grown in petri dishes. Scientists are also using it to create transgenic animals such as mice, rats, zebrafish, pigs and primates. Between 2014 and 2015 scientists reported the successful use of CRISPR/Cas 9 in mice to eliminate muscular dystrophy and cure a rare liver disease, and to make human cells immune to HIV. It is also being investigated in conjunction with pluripotent stem cells to provide human organs from transgenic pigs. Such work is directed towards helping solve some of the shortage of human organs for transplant operations and overcome some of the side-effects caused by organ transplantation such as graft-versus host disease. The technology is also being investigated as a means to genetically engineer insects so as to wipe out insect-borne diseases such as malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, and lyme disease, transmitted by ticks. Issues In April 2015 a Chinese group reported the first application of CRISPR/Cas9 to (non-viable) human embryos. This development, together with the decreasing costs of the technology have triggered a major bioethical debate about how far the technology should be used. The technology faces two major issues. The first issue is a philosophical dilemma. It centres on the extent to which CRISPR/Cas9 should be used to alter 'germ-line' cells - eggs and sperm - which are responsible for passing genes on to the next generation. While it will take many more years before the technology will be viable to use to create designer babies, a public debate has already begun on this issue. So great is the fear that some scientists, including some who helped pioneer CRISPR/Cas9, have called for a moratorium on its use in germ-line cells. The second issue is one of safety. One of the major problems is that the technology is still in its infancy and knowledge about the genome remains very limited. Many scientists caution that the technology still needs a lot of work to increase its accuracy and make sure that changes made in one part of the genome do not introduce changes elsewhere which could have unforeseen consequences. This is a particularly important issue when it comes to the use of the technology for applications directed towards human health. Another critical issue is that once an organism, such as a plant or insect, is modified they are difficult to distinguish from the wild-type and once released into the environment could endanger biodiversity. Policy-makers are still debating about what limitations to put on the technology. In April 2015 the US National Institutes of Health issued a statement indicating that it will not fund any research that uses genome editing tools such as CRISPR in human embryos. Meanwhile, the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, under whose remit such research would fall, has indicated that the CRISPR/Cas9 technology can be used on human-animal hybrid embryos under 14 days old. Any researcher working in this area would need to first get a license from the Authority. Other leading UK research councils have indicated that they support the continued use of CRISPR/Cas9 and other genome editing tools in preclinical research. As regulators debate what restrictions to enforce with CRISPR/Cas9, the technology has become the subject of a major patent dispute. The first application to patent the technology was filed by DuPont in March 2007 (WO/2007/025097). This covers the use of the technology to develop phage resistant bacterial strains for food production, feeds, cosmetics, personal care products and veterinary products. Since then three heavily financed start-up biotechnology companies and half a dozen universities have filed patents. Two major competing patent claims have been filed in the US. The first, filed on 25 May 2015, is grounded in the work led by Jennifer Doudna at the University of California, Berkeley, and Emmanuelle Charpentier, originally at the University of Vienna and now at the Helmholz Centre for Infectious Research in Germany. The application has 155 claims and covers numerous applications for a variety of cell types (US Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/032589). The second, was filed by MIT-Harvard Broad Institute on 12 December 2012 for the work of Feng Zhang which focused on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing in eukaryotic cells. It was given fast-track status and was granted on 15 April 2014 (US Patent No. 8,697,359). In April 2015 Charpentier and the Universities of California and Vienna filed a challenge to the patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office. It will take several years for the patent dispute to be settled. The legal wranglings over patents is unlikely to affect the use of CRISPR for basic research because the technology is available through an open-source repository. However, it could have an impact on clinical applications using the technique. This scientific profile was written by Lara Marks in June 2016 with generous input from Silvia Camporesi, Xiofan Zeng and Jonathan Lind. The piece was updated by Lara Marks in October 2020.

If you were to select 5 Males and 5 Females to populate Mars, who will they be? What will your ground rules be regarding multiplication? What will be your selection criteria? Let's see how many posts this thread remains scientific :-) Take it away! (JQ)

Would you volunteer to live on Mars, knowing that you will not be able to return to Earth?