Severe Tropical Storm "Crising"
Hi everyone, just like to post up our experience with Severe Tropical Storm "Crising" here in Palawan.
We left Araceli on the passenger ferry on Thursday at 9am, we had a massive rain storm for most of the way, the trip took 5.5 hours to Roxas.
We arrived in Roxas to then get the alert about the impending Tropical Storm coming in from Mindanao, and the severe rain that we had been getting on Thursday was the beginning of our horrid stay in Port Barton.
We had a private car take us to Port Barton from Roxas, took about 45 minutes in a very bad rain storm, we arrived at 4.40pm at out horrible hotel (La Lola) only to find the hotel in darkness, no power, no water, and nobody at the desk.
We finally got our rooms upstairs, only to find them full of water, and smelling very musty and mold on the curtains and walls, so we left and went over to Ausan Cottages and thankfully they had rooms for us until Tuesday, however the "Crising" storm front started moving over Palawan and it put a complete stop to all transportation in Palawan until this morning (Sat)
There was no access on the Highway between PPS and El Nido due to many landslides blocking the road, here in Port Barton there are many foreign tourists (to my surprise) and a lot of them could not get to El Nido or PPS until this morning.
Here in Port Barton all boats licensed to carry passengers have been stopped from operating by the coast guard, so basically we are just sitting here in a water logged town with nothing to do.
We had a driver booked to collect us on tuesday to take us to PPS for our flight to Cebu on Wednesday, but we have decided to just leave Port Barton tomorrow while the highway is still open, at least we will be back in PPS 3 days before our flight, and we can hopefully get some clothes washed and dried as well, before heading to Cebu.
This was our very first time to travel here in July, but we did so because it was the only month that our Son could get off work, so we took the chance, and the past 4 days at least have been totally lost.
I called Danny Noy today to ask what the weather is like in Cebu, he reported overcast shy but no rain in the past 24 hours, and a reasonable weather outlook is expectedfor the next week or 2 while we are in Malapascua and Bantayan.
Moral of the story is to Never Ever come to this country in July, August, or September.
Just want to add that they claim that there is a severe water shortage here in Port BNarton, but as yet nobody seems to be able to tell me why, if it is due to not much water in the underground wells/springs, or if it has something to do with no power during the day to operate the pumps to bring the water to the storage tanks.
Hotels are not allowed to collect rain water for use in their hotels, especially for use in kitchens, they must get their water from these springs or wells, but when i asked why they can't use rain water for using in the bathroom and toilets, i have been told that too is no longer allowed.
Unfortunately here at Ausan Cottages they have had to place big water storage bins aroundthe restaurant to collect rain water for use in the hotel rooms, otherwise there would be a big water problem.
Once upon a time all hotels collected rain water for everything, but several hotel owners, including over in Araceli have told me it is no longer allowed, so i am confused at why.
Anyway, i hope things will be better over in Cebu.
Sorry to hear about your disastrous stay, Greg. These things happen.
I could say this about November. My wife flew to the Philippines a week earlier than I was scheduled for a class reunion near Guiuan. While she was in Salcedo, Yolanda plowed Eastern Samar about 15 km south of Guiuan, completely wiping out most infrastructure. I didn't even know if she was unharmed/alive for 10 days. I searched for her from my base in Mactan, finally meeting up with her ins Cebu after her evacuation via an Australian AF C-130 2 1/2 weeks after Yolanda.
Chin up. It will get better. :}
Stay safe Greg. At least it adds to 'travellers tales'. A rainy day in paradise is still better than a sunny day at work.
I agree with Whip, both October and November can be equally as bad weather wise. Its been gloomy, grey and rainy here in Manila over the last week too.
Stay safe Greg and hopefully things will improve when you move further south.
Edited: 8:14 pm, July 19, 2025Just an update after Palawan.
Got the SBE share van from Port Barton to PPS at 10am, got to say it was a very good trip, 9 passengers on board, and it was the best van ride we have had for a while.
We rebooked our flights to Cebu from Wed to Tues lunchtime, we arrived at 2pm, Danny Noy picked us up and we drove 3.5 hours to Maya Port and stayed over night at a small lodging place next to the pier.
Got the 8am ferry to Malapascua yesterday, arrived at 8.45am, pretty rough trip but it was a big bangka, with about 15 passengers.
Malapascua has changed a lot from our last trip here 6 years ago, and after spending all day yesterday, and again this morning, i am left very sad to be honest, and reminded me a lot of how bad Port Barton has become over the past several years, compared to what they were like 5 to 6 years ago.
Very unclean, so much plastic and litter just laying about all over the place, yet nobody appears to be making any attempt to clean it up, and because it is very quiet here in Malapascua, we are hounded by so many motorbike drivers all the time, wanting to take us places on the island, and boat captains trying to sell us island tours etc.
Leaving here on July 29 and going over to Bantayan Island for 6 nights, but we are still unsure if we should still go to Carnaza island for our planned 3 night stay there, mostly due to the weather and sea conditions, as it is a 3 hour boat trip in a not so big Bangka, and we don't want to risk being stranded over there.
Anyway, least the weather over in Cebu has been pretty good.
Cheers
I found it clean enough. Think it could be the weather? Having said that nowhere was pristine in Philippines but I still loved it
Hi again, just popped back for a quick update.
My take on cleanliness in various locations will no doubt be different than others, i just noticed a big change here in Malapascua from 2019, and with Port Barton i guess my issue is more with the condition of the main beach in front of the town, which has taken a real beating over the past 5 or so years, and the sand has been eroded along the top of the beach causing big gouges in the sand and making it hard to walk along, especially with the boats tied up as well.
Malapascua only has motorbikes as transport, so there are many young guys sitting out on Logon Beach waiting for tourists to grab a ride, the fare is P50, and this will get you a 1 way ride from the pier up to north beach.
90% of tourists here at the moment are French and Spanish tourists here for the diving courses, so they tend to stay at the diving hotels and resorts on the island.
Heading to Bantayan next Tuesday for 6 nights, but so far here on Malapascua the weather has been great.
