On our second day in El Nido, Palawan, something happened that got me thinking whether I should write about it here or not. I realized that I need to take the bad moments along with the good ones, knowing the ripe fruits far outweigh the rotten ones. This is one of those events you hope will never happen again—a short burst of terror that disrupted paradise. Momentarily.
El Nido: Paradise Momentarily Disturbed
My friend Pam and I had just finished our Tour A island hopping together with the new friends we met the night before. On our way back to El Nido Plaza Inn, I stopped by a local store to buy a pair of slippers. It was then that we heard a loud thud. We initially shrugged it off as lightning striking the peak of the towering limestone cliff that cradles this scenic town. Unknown to us at the time, it was an explosion that occurred right in front of Entalula Resort, located just across from where we were staying.
An Unexpected Disturbance in Town
When we realized something serious had occurred, we walked slowly toward our inn and saw people pointing at a particular spot. A few people came running toward us and away from the site of the explosion. A brief moment of panic swept over the area, and soon a tricycle passed by carrying a bloodied passenger—who later turned out to be a staff member at Entalula Resort. She had been struck by fragments when an explosive device, planted inside a trash bin she was using, detonated.
It was a startling scene that momentarily disrupted the peaceful, idyllic rhythm of El Nido. As we walked further, we noticed a Western couple comforting each other, with the man reassuring his girlfriend that it was an isolated incident. Indeed it was—a sobering reminder that events beyond our control can happen anywhere, even in a sanctuary like El Nido.
While we were over a hundred meters away when it happened, we later learned that my friend Josiah was near the site of the blast when it occurred. Just minutes earlier, after Tour A concluded, I had texted Josiah to meet us at El Nido Plaza Inn, and he was on his way when the explosion happened. Fortunately, no one else was injured aside from the resort staff member, who recovered well afterward.
Resilience & Perspective in Paradise
It was my first time witnessing such an event, and we naturally worried about its implications—whether tensions would escalate and how it might impact the perception of the town. We soon realized that everyone in El Nido that day understood that an isolated incident does not reflect the true peace and safety of Palawan. Aside from the infamous Dos Palmas incident years ago, Palawan has remained extraordinarily peaceful. As a neighbor at our inn nonchalantly remarked later, "I'm from Israel, this is nothing."
While perhaps a bit blunt, it offered perspective on how unexpected events can happen anywhere in the world. Whatever temporary tension the incident caused dissipated quickly by the time we went out for dinner. Although locals and tourists discussed the event, the calm atmosphere of the town held firm.
As Pam, Josiah, and I walked back to our inn later that evening, we lightheartedly joked about walking down the middle of the road to avoid parked motorcycles and trash bins. We used humor to process the shock, but beneath the jokes, we felt deeply for what had transpired. Before going to sleep that night, I offered a silent prayer for peace to continuously reign over the beautiful town of El Nido.
More El Nido Travel Chronicles:
- El Nido: 0–24 Hours
- El Nido: 25th–48th Hour
- El Nido: Tour B–Hop a Dope
- A Piece of C in El Nido, Palawan
Planning a bigger trip across the island? Check out our complete Palawan Travel Guide for itineraries, transport tips, and island-hopping insights.
