Cashews, Pearls & a Leap Day Goodbye
February 29. The calendar only offers it every four years, which gave the departure a slightly absurd quality — we would leave on a date that most years simply does not exist. Someone made a joke about returning before the next one. Nobody disagreed, which felt significant. The JY van was booked for 10 AM, which left the entire morning free, and we used it entirely and efficiently for the business of buying things.
Coron’s pasalubong economy is built on two things above all others: cashews and pearls. The Palawan cashew — roasted whole, slightly sweet, the texture firm and the flavour cleaner than anything found at a supermarket in Manila — is the best argument for a heavier baggage allowance anyone has ever made. We had done the scouting run the day before, so the actual buying was brisk: two shops near the market for the cashews (vacuum-packed, three varieties — plain salted, garlic, honey-glazed), one shop near the pier for South Sea pearl trinkets whose quality we had already vetted, and the dried fish section of the public market for pusit sealed in plastic. The Cashew Factory, which we had visited on Day 1 and returned to again now, had a new batch roasting and the smell alone justified the detour. We bought more than we needed. That is always the correct amount.
Mountain View Garden Inn had been good to us — clean rooms, efficient staff, perfectly positioned for everything in Coron town. We checked out, loaded into the JY van, and began the forty-five-minute drive north to Busuanga. The road was familiar by now: the limestone hills, the nipa palm clusters, the occasional school bus on its early-morning run. The airport at Busuanga — Francisco B. Reyes Airport — was quiet and small, one terminal building, no airbridge, boarding by walk-on. Cebu Pacific boarded on time. The plane was small enough that you could see both wingtips from the middle seats. We lifted off over the Calamian group and for a moment the whole geography of the trip was visible below: the bay, the karst formations, the dark shapes of the islands in blue water — Kayangan somewhere in there, and Calauit, and Black Island, the whole improbable five-day world of it — and then the cloud closed over and we were on our way home.
Coron Cashew Factory — Final Buy
Palawan cashews are considered the finest in the Philippines — the island’s growing conditions produce a nut with a cleaner, less bitter flavour and better texture than commercial exports. The Coron Cashew Factory sells freshly roasted varieties by weight and in vacuum-sealed packs: plain salted, garlic, honey-glazed. Buy vacuum-packed for longevity and airline compliance. Prices are ₱250–350 per 250g — significantly cheaper than Manila airport. The factory also sells other Palawan products: cashew wine, cashew butter, and local honey. Budget ₱1,000–2,000 for a serious cashew haul for the whole group.
South Sea Pearls
Palawan is one of the world’s primary South Sea pearl farming regions, and Coron has several small shops selling pearl earrings, pendants, bracelets, and loose pearls at source prices. Quality varies: ask specifically about lustre and nacre thickness and handle each piece before buying. The best shops are away from the pier — wander one street back from the main waterfront road for better prices and less tourist markup. Budget ₱300–2,000 per piece depending on size and grade. Pearls travel well in carry-on and make excellent pasalubong for family members who won’t appreciate cashews.
Busuanga Airport (USU) on Departure Day
Francisco B. Reyes Airport has a single terminal with limited food options — eat a proper breakfast in Coron town before the 45-minute drive north. Cebu Pacific operates MNL–USU–MNL regularly; check-in is efficient and the process is straightforward. Baggage policy is strictly enforced — weigh your cashew bags before leaving the hotel. Arrive at the airport 90 minutes before departure. The boarding is walk-on with no airbridge; the flight to Manila takes just over an hour. Note: Cebu Pacific does use the date February 29 correctly in its booking system, but verify your ticket shows the correct date before departure day.
💡 Day 5 Tips
- Eat a full breakfast in Coron town before the drive to Busuanga. The airport has minimal food options and the 45-minute drive is more comfortable on a full stomach.
- Vacuum-sealed cashews are carry-on compliant. Loose dried fish (danggit, pusit) must go in checked baggage — double-sealed. The smell of unsealed dried fish in a carry-on bag will make you unpopular.
- Pearl jewellery should be in carry-on regardless of volume. It is irreplaceable and lost luggage happens.
- Weigh all bags at the hotel before checking out. Cebu Pacific’s baggage fees for overweight are steep; it’s cheaper to post a box home via JRS or LBC from the town before you leave.
- The drive from Coron town to Busuanga airport passes through some of the most beautiful road scenery in Palawan. Sit on the right side of the van for the better mountain views.