Next month I'm going to the Philippines alone for the first time, and I'm so excited!

Either one is fine. Palawan is really great, and you can do a 2-night, 3-day island hopping trip all the way to Coron, which is very good. El Nido is lively but it's quite touristy now. Still, if you're a woman traveling alone, there are plenty of chances to make friends. Moalboal is nice too, but it can get boring after a few days. The sardine run is really amazing, and diving at Pescador Island is good too. If I had to pick just one, I'd go to Palawan. Port Barton is also worth a visit. It's unspoiled and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Going from El Nido to Port Barton to Puerto Princesa is easy. (Puerto Princesa is only for the airport, not really a place to sightsee. I don't think it's great.)

If you go to Moalboal, make a quick trip over the mountain to Argao. Stop by Kingfisher and have burgers, tacos, or pizza on the weekend, and stay at Bamboo Paradise. The people there are a bit older, but they're nice.

Go to Coron. El Nido is way too crowded. It's 10 years too late. You could spend a few days each in Coron and El Nido and visit some lagoons on boat tours. Coron's Seven Commando Beach is beautiful too.

These are two completely different experiences, so choose based on your taste: El Nido is worth visiting for its limestone landscapes, beautiful lagoons, and white sand beaches, but the snorkeling isn't the best. You can still see pretty tropical fish. Moalboal beach isn't special, but nearby you can swim with whale sharks, snorkel among sardine runs, and go canyoneering at Kawasan Falls. Can't you do both? The Moalboal experience only takes two days.