This book, THE PUERTO PRINCESA STORY, was conceived with the thought to present an enlightened knowledge of how the City of Puerto Princesa became what it is today. How it developed from a plateau of virgin forest to a City Paradise and achieved an image of par excellence in the eyes of the nation and the world at large, when considered from the difficulties it underwent during the Japanese occupation; its reconstruction from the ravages of war; and the subsequent destruction of its once rich natural resources, particularly its fishing grounds which supply sixty percent of the fish consumed in Metro Manila. More significant is how Puerto Princesa City overcame the impression that it is a place inhabited by the Muslims, prisoners, lepers and the prevalence of malignant malaria. The presence of the Iwahig Prison and Penal farm has been considered, at the start of the century, as deterrent to its development, but future events proved to the contrary

Puerto Princesa City was thought to be remote, far away, that nobody cared to know about. In fact to a few knowledgeable, Puerto Princesa, in particular and Palawan, in general, was one foreign country “somewhere”. Thanks to the intrepid immigrants who settled down, making Puerto Princesa their home. It is the migrants within Palawan and other places in the Philippines and foreign countries who blazed the hazardous trails to progress. Puerto Princesa, like many progressive areas has a mixed population but with one vision of making a better life for their children and children’s children. This is best exemplified by the leaders of Puerto Princesa City, particularly by City Mayor Edward Solon Hagedorn