Choose Philippines, Choose Coron, Palawan

Coron, Palawan is one of the most geographically rich sub-group of islands in the Philippines. It is situated in the Calamian archipelago consisting of the eastern part of Busuanga Island, the Coron island itself and fifty two other smaller islands covering a total of six hundred eighty nine square kilometers. Coron has towering mountains and impressive limestone cliffs, lush green forests as well as dense mangrove forests home to a variety of indigenous species of flora and fauna. Being an archipelago, Coron is surrounded by huge bodies of water with its main island facing the Sulu sea, forming the eastern side of Coron bay thus results to the formation of beautiful beaches to wrap up it's majestic entirety.

There are a lot of places to visit in Coron, Palawan that will satisfy the individual's craving for natural wonders. First is the Kayangan lake, this iconic and well known lake is one of Coron’s primary attractions. Currently number one on TripAdvisor’s list of “things to do in Coron”, the Kayangan Lake is a brackish body of water which makes it unique. It is dubbed as one of the cleanest lake in Asia. The magnificent lake boasts turquoise waters, stunning limestone formations and rich underwater marine life. It is accessible by a steep 10-minute hike.

Next is the Twin Lagoon, One of the many beautiful lagoons in Coron is the Twin Lagoon, where you can experience the amazing merging of fresh and salty water. This favourite tourist destination has two lagoons, the first one is where the boats docks, and the second one is hidden. Access to the second lagoon is by swimming through a narrow opening and under the rocks. This masterpiece of nature will leave you in awe with its crystal clear water and towering limestone formations..

Third is the Malcapuya island, it is a tropical getaway is never complete without sparkling white beaches. Malcapuya Island is one of the many pristine beaches Coron boasts. Soak up the sun and laze all day on the fine white powdery sand of the island. Coron Bay has gained popularity for its rich diving sites. One prominent diving site in Coron is the Sunken Japanese Wreck. This Coron diving site made it to Forbes Travel Magazine’s list of Top 10 scuba diving sites in the world. There are a total of twelve sunken Japanese ships from the 1944 World War II. Explore the wrecks as they speak a moment of history and be prepared to be blown away by a wonderful underwater discovery.

Last but definitely not the least, for those likes animals and its different species, then Calauit Safari Park is then best. It might be a long shot from the real thing but the Calauit Safari Park offers a piece of Africa to tourists. The park is located in Calauit, where you can take a walk in the wilderness and have close encounters with the different wildlife.

My Academic Journey

Knowledge is a fascinating thing to have, it is limitless and timeless - an absolute thing in fact. Learning had always been my past time ever since I was a kid, and if I were to choose between playing or studying, I'd probably would have chosen to study. I do play with my cousins and friends but I really do prefer reading books and watching documentaries regarding science - astronomy, biology, botany and etc. I always wonder about the space, the stars, the planets and the mere possibility of extraterrestrial life forms. I liked to gaze in clear sky after playing in the field while laying in the grass and feeling the warm breeze of the summer time air. I think of how vast the ocean is, as I feed my curiosity with its secrets deep below. I love learning, but that doesn't mean I was exceptional at it, I'm not an intellectual person, I just enjoyed knowing about the things that surrounds me.

When I was in elementary, I was never really aiming for a top spot. In the early years, I am just a mediocre student who likes to learn but were not exceptional at it. I cannot handle mathematics very well and had a problem comprehending and memorizing equations and laws. I am not proficient in reading and writing as well having having difficulties in speaking in a public setting. I remembered when I was chosen to attend a regional story telling competition, it didn't go so well. We were given five books to memorize but only one of those will be presented on stage. I panicked and became anxious until it's time for me to speak, I got intimidated by the crowd and was left frozen at the stage for a good moment of time. I was disappointed at myself for all that I've said was the title of the story and more importantly, I failed to equate the responsibility given to me.

That scenario greatly impacted my self-esteem as I entered the middle school. I became that type of student who were shy and unexpressive. Fortunately, some of my teachers, classmates and friends helped me rebuilt my confidence through cognitive development. My knowledge prior to mathematics elevated noticeably in comparison to previous years and my skills on public speaking also also improved for I can handle my social anxiety a little bit better. Middle school was fun, and although I didn't excel still on academics, I can say it was improved to a greater distance and I am proud of that. I joined multiple jingle competions, speech choirs as well as christmas cantatas to help me improve my self confidence even more.

My academic journey peaked when I attended highschool. With the help of my alma mater Calayan Educational Foundation Inc., as well as its excellent professors, I had achieve greater knowledge and skills that were previously limited. Back in middle school, I struggled to write an academic research paper, but in highschool - although it was shaky at first, I had successfully written a two-year research endeavor entitled, "The Quality of Life among Hemodialysis Patients". I also developed some skills and confidence during my research journey, I became better at speaking in a public setting through the interview proper of the research as well as through the presentation of our paper. Prior to academics, my understanding of mathematics and sciences such as chemistry and general biology was enhanced and broadened. I myself was surprised of my own progress looking back to what I was before, achieving high numeric grade is one thing I wouldn't expect from me. I have realized through my academic journey that there's no such thing that is impossible, all you need is the dedication and passion to achieve your goals. Surround yourself with people who inspires you to be the best as you can be instead of those who only spreads negativity which will be a huge hindrance to your road to success.