I honestly knew little of Coron, except that it was in Palawan, until I actually visited the place with Eric, Ferdz, Nina, and my husband Marc. We only stayed there for three days and two nights, and yet we could not help but become so enamored with the simple and quiet town.

Coron is popularly known for its dive and snorkeling sites, limestone cliffs and coral reefs. But little is said of its charming town, and friendly townsfolk—which, I believe, is as notable for a city girl like me.

Walking around the “bayan” of Coron is so unlike walking in Manila. The air is as fresh as it can be, with all the surrounding virgin forests and the clear blue sea. We spent the first day of our trip walking around town.

Nina and I were in search of lobsters (a kilo costs about Php350-400 in Coron), so our first stop in town was the market (besides, the market was nearest to the lodge we were staying in). My first thought of the place was that I had never seen a market so clean. The market is literally by the port, the seafood sold is as fresh as it can be (you might even see fishermen unloading their catch if you’re lucky). Since the wide, open fields are ideal conditions for raising cattle, fresh meat is also abundant—even a cooking illiterate can’t mess up nilaga baka with the kind of meat they’re selling.

Beside the market is a waterfront currently under construction. However, your mode of transportation around the town (and its islands) is usually parked or anchored here—not to mention giving you a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and the sea. There aren’t too many cars in Coron (I think I only saw about one or two 4×4’s parked there), no taxis, and very few jeepneys (I’m not sure if I even saw a jeepney)—riding a tricycle is the only way for you to go around town if commuting. You probably won’t even need to hire a guide—even tricycle drivers are more than willing to answer your questions about their town, its history and natural resources. And don’t worry, the tricycles in Coron can comfortably seat about five people, unlike the small ones we have here in Manila.

We had our lunch at a nearby carinderia. Another thing that you should note about Coron is that there aren’t any fast food chains or fine dining. Simple eateries are found at almost every corner, and even occupy an entire strip a few meters from the market. The food they offer is good, and very, very cheap. A meal for one can cost less than Php50.

If dining like a backpacker doesn’t really suit you, you can try La Sirenetta along Barangay 5 of Coron (it’s just a few houses away from Crystal Lodge, where we stayed). Food is a bit pricey, but it’s the closest you can get to fine dining in Coron. But then again, you can always purchase your own meat and seafood at the market and have it cooked at the lodge you’re staying in. That’s what we did for dinner. The shrimps were so fresh that my allergies didn’t act up—I usually get itchy eyes and lips when the shellfish I eat are not so fresh.

After lunch, we walked a bit more and took note of the souvenir shops we’ll visit towards the end of our trip (traveling just isn’t complete for me without taking home something that would remind me of the place). From there, we came upon the Coron City Hall, which had a basketball court on the other side of the street where we had the chance to meet and greet Mayor Marjo Reyes who playing basketball with the townsfolk. Only in Coron did I ever meet a mayor at such a regular setting—that really tells you a lot about how down-to-earth the people are. The townsfolk are very friendly, not once did I meet a Coronian who didn’t smile or talk to me. I was seeing, for the first time, the old-fashioned, unpretentious, Filipino hospitality.

A little farther along our walk we saw the town’s old public elementary school. According to the locals, Paaralang Elementary ng Claudio Sandoval sits on top of treasure—gold hidden there by the Japanese when they invaded the island. They say that a lot of foreign researchers have already surveyed the area and found out with their metal detectors that there was something under the school.

The school had been renovated many times throughout the years and it still stands today serving as a venue for Coronian children to get their elementary education, and as a vanguard for Coron’s colorful history. Across the school is an old convent rumored to be one of the country’s oldest… And, as rumor goes (as it usually does with old houses), the convent’s residents are more than just the religious folk who live there—but also of beings commonly heard of in rural Filipino folklore.

True or not, these stories just go to show that Coron is not only rich in natural resources, but also of culture and history.

Of course, a walk in Coron’s town proper wouldn’t be complete without a climb atop of Mt. Tapias. The 726-step climb is a real challenge for a non-climber like me (I honestly walk better and longer on a flat road… There aren’t really many slopes in the mall or within our subdivision to practice, you know), but the scene that awaits you is well worth it: you get a perfect view of Coron and its beautiful islands.

There might be more exciting things you can do in Coron (like snorkeling or diving), but exploring the town proper also has its merit. A day of walking through the town proper will give you a glimpse of Coron’s rich culture, history, and natural resources. Its small-town charm is hard to resist—you just want to keep coming back. I know I do.