Coron and The Calamianes 101

Coron has been a tourist destination for the past twenty-five to thirty years (since the late 80's/early 90's). Many will find this hard to believe because Coron became popular to many starting only in late 2008 (when PAL and Cebu Pacific started flying to Coron after the airport was finally updgraded). But we have several accomodation establishments that have been around for more than 20 years. Among these are Club Paradise, Kokusnuss, El Rio y Mar, Sangat Island Resort, Coron Village Lodge, and our very own Darayonan Lodge. I hope I did not forget any (I am doing this from memory).

Location

Coron is part of the Calamianes Group of Islands, located in Northern Palawan. It has more than 200 islands and islets but its four major islands are Busuanga, Culion, Coron, and Linapacan. These are also the four municipalities that make up the Calamian archipelago. To make this a bit confusing, the island of Busuanga (the largest in the group), is divided into the municipalities of Busuanga (northwestern half) and Coron (southeastern half of Busuanga island). The whole of Coron island (which used to be called Calis, when we were kids), is also part of the municipality of Coron. To make it even more confusing to the non-Calamianens, Coron town, is not located at Coron Island but on the southeastern portion of Busuanga Island. Here is a map of the Calamianes (courtesy of Al Linsangan and Calamianes eXpeditions).

Coron is the economic center of the Calamianes. It is where the main seaport and airport, banks, major stores, and offices of National Government agencies are located. On the other hand, the major hospital in the region is located at Culion.

Economy

Traditionally, the main industries are Fishing and Agriculture although the Calamianes does not produce enough rice and vegetables for its population. These are still imported from Manila, Mindoro and a few other places. In the 50's and 60's, there was some Manganese mining but this did not pan out. In the 70's and 80's, handicraft (baskets) production for the international export market was a major cottage industry but this petered out due to competition from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Sharing a photo of our booth at the Manila FAME 1985. All products exhibited in this booth were made in Coron.

The booth of Cane & Bamboo Arts & Crafts, Inc., at the Manila FAME 1985 at PICC. (Cane & Bamboo was the name of our export company. The production company in Coron was called Calamian Handicrafts).

Tourism

By the late 80's and early 90's, divers and backpackers were starting to trickle in. A few dive shops operated by foreigners opened. At about this time, Coronians started to discover the many natural wonders in their municipality. Before this time, when Coronians went on a picnic (as we called all sea-going excursions then), we went to a small island called CYC (which stands for Coron Youth Club). All major events were celebrated with a picnic. Big picnics included either bringing a cooked lechon or even cooking the lechon at CYC. We would ride a motor banca which were mainly used for fishing so it had not seats like those that you find on tour boats today. Going to the banca and disembarking used to terrify me because I had this fear that i will slip and fall to the water (and I did not know how to swim).

During one picnic with Mama's office mates from the Coron School of Fisheries, we went to a beach in Coron island. Recalling that experience, I think it was either Caliwantay or Atuayan. All other picnics were at CYC which had a very long white sand bar (which is now gone) and a very wide swimming area with white sand and no rocks underneath (still there up to now).

My late mother, Letty Fernandez, in a photo taken at CYC, most probably sometime in the 60's. Before sheboom and Sabado Nights, my mom was modelling for SMB (hehehe)

My Fernandez cousins, Toti (middle), and the late Willot (right), and I (left), at a picnic in CYC. Judging from how we look, this must have been in the late 60's.

CYC today

CYC as viewed from the Coron Helicopter Tours - photo taken Nov 2018

I first saw Kayangan Lake in 1987 during a vacation (I was already Manila-based by then). We climbed the trail which had no steps and definitely no handrails. There was no pier on the lake side (or outside for that matter). The lake was so quiet and eerie and lots of big mosquitoes. Looking at its still dark blue green waters, one could imagine the Loch Ness monster to suddenly emerge. Oh, there were no entrance fees either.

Guess who? Photo taken at Kayangan Lake, August 1987

TOURISM TODAY

As mentioned above, the Coron tourism boom started in late 2008, with another growth spurt in early 2017. According to data from Coron LGU, as of late 2018, there were:

Accomodation Establishments 122

Rooms 1768

Capacity 5068

Tour Operators (licensed) 63

Restaurants (licensed) 53

Dive Shops 29

Tour Boats 350

Tourist Vans 150

Tour Guides plenty :-)

*data was cited by then Mayor Ajerico Barracoso during his State of the Municipality speech.

I am sure that these numbers have increased by 2019 and have decreased by 2021.

As we prepare for the reopening of tourism for 2021, major tourist destinations include the following:

Sites within and around Coron Island.

Kayangan Lake
Luluyuan Lake (also known as Barracuda Lake)
Twin Lagoon
Banol Beach
Atuayan Beach
Caliwantay Beach (also known as Beach 91)
Smith's Point Beach
Malwawey Island (site of Skeleton Wreck, and no that is not a Japanese WWII wreck)
Bulungan Beach (also known as Kalachuchi beach)
Maynuno Beach (also known as Beach 69)
Siete Pecados Marine Park
Twin Peak
CYC Island/beach

There are a few other sites but these are the more popular ones. The Coron Island tour is usually a combination of 5 to 6 sites among these.

Sites within and around Malcapuya - this is an area due south of Coron town, about 2 hours by banca - near Bgy Bulalacao and the island of Culion. The Fun and Sun Tour is usually a combination of two to three of these sites.

Malcapuya Island
Diacalabuan Island (also known as Banana Island
Bulog Uno
Bulog Dos
Ditaytayan Island (another 30 minutes away)

Sites within the Bintuan and Concepcion areas. The Reefs and Wrecks tour is usually a combination of two to four of these spots. This is tour heavy on snorkeling.