Palawan (El Nido and Villapaz)

The Philippines was so great! A really fast paced, yet relaxing adventure. We flew over 7000 miles to Hong Kong from Chicago, another couple hundred to Manilla (where we settled for a couple days), and just under 60 to get to the beautiful island of Palawan where my Father was born.

When we landed we were greeted by these wonderful Filipino singers who were beautiful, and even let us get into line with them :D They even had a native Filipino Carabao there for us to pet in the back! :D 

We got to the cottage we were staying at (owned by family of course!) and were breath-taken by this view on our front porch. We breakfasted 2 days looking at this beauty and, my oh my was it wonderful! Mountains and beach! Right up next to each other :D

The day after we arrived (as we arrived late in the afternoon) we went island hopping around El Nido, and this was the wonderful spot where we ate lunch and the sun worked its cruel rays upon my unsuspecting snorkeling back. We swam out to that rock a couple times (which is quite safe, as there is no current in the northern part of Palawan) and I later got leprosy skin for that.

Carrying my sunburn on my back and my backpack in my hand; I headed West with the rest of our party on a short(ish) car ride to Villapaz, a small rural (even for the Philippines) village that my father grew up in. Our experience there was amazing, although it was for barely a day, I learned much about the goodness of my father and the children of his village.

I met one of my nephews, a student in 2nd grade there.

This school had over 270 children attending grades 1-6.

And there were construction projects to build small shelters for the kids to be able to read in the shade. 

My father started his work here in 1995, and has seen many good things happen. The new head teacher of the school presented him with an award.

It was a beautiful day that ended with us on one of the smallest piers I've ever seen, on our way to Batas, a small island not ten minutes away from this amazing village.