Miag-ao Church

MIAG-AO CHURCH

The Miagao Roman Catholic Church in Miagao Town about 35 kilometers west of Iloilo City is one of the major highlights in going to Iloilo City and Province. The Church is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Unique Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993. On the front facade of the Church, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences like the Coconut Tree and a bas relief of Saint Christopher. The church was made from limestone and local corals quarried from the sea. The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church.

While waiting for hubby who was busy with his photography, I explored the compound of the church and discovered the side gate that led to the town Plaza. The Plaza had a statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, our National hero. There are flowering plants around the Plaza, giving it a lively character. I saw some locals strolling, perhaps to have a dose of the morning sun. There are concrete benches where one can sit while resting and looking at the flowers. I loved the whiff of the wind that swept my hair while I sat on one of the benches.

From my bench, I saw the waiting shed where locals patiently waited for the jeepney/bus going to Iloilo City. I noticed that jeepneys left only after being filled to capacity, while buses left immediately after a passenger went down/up.

The Miagao Church was such a sight to behold from the Plaza. You will have a different appreciation of the architectural details of the church from that perspective. The massive buttresses that supported the church and the belfry that once served as watch tower were really awesome.

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Dinagyang Festival

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

The Dinagyang Festival is celebrated every fourth weekend of January to commemorate the Christianization of the natives and to honor the Holy Child Jesus. It is a very colorful parade coupled with a dramatization in honor of the patron Saint Sto. Niño as the object of dramatized offerings and prayers amidst the cracking of drums and shouts of "Viva Señor Santo Niño."   The thundering of "Hala Bira" by the tribe members makes the celebration a lively one.

The Iloilo Dinagyang Festival is a showcase of the rich heritage, colorful history, passionate devotion, and fun-loving spirit of the Ilonggo people. The festival traces its roots as a thanksgiving celebration in honor of Senyor Santo Niño, the child Jesus. Today, it has grown to be one of the Philippines’ most spectacular religious and cultural festivals.

The highlights of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival are scheduled on the fourth weekend of January in addition to many exciting activities happening all throughout the month. The religious highlights of the Dinagyang include the fluvial procession along the Iloilo River and the Dinagyang Ati cultural parade and competition.

The Dinagyang Festival is one of the most photographed festivals in the country. Thousands of professional photographers and hobbyists go on a pilgrimage to Iloilo for the chance to capture the perfect postcard photo of the Dinagyang warriors and other scenes during the festivities. The annual “Iloilo Dinagyang Photo Contest” organized by the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. (IDFI) gives recognition to the best photos and photographers. There are spaces allocated for photographers, bloggers, and the media in each performance stage. Interested parties should coordinate with the Dinagyang Foundation  to secure a media pass.

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Gigantes Island

GIGANTES ISLAND

Islas de Gigantes or the “islands of giants” is a group of islands located off the coast of Carles and Estancia towns in Northern Iloilo. The main islands, which includes Isla Gigantes Sur and Isla Gigantes Norte are situated 18 kilometers from the mainland. From Iloilo City, Islas de Gigantes can be reached after a three-hour bus ride to Estancia Port and then a two-hour boat ride.

Islas de Gigantes boasts of pristine white sand beaches, bountiful fresh seafood, mystical rock formations, and laid back island lifestyle. Tourist facilities are largely undeveloped in these areas. Travelers who are willing to go the “extra mile” can look forward to enjoying the beautiful sights and mystifying experiences that Islas de Gigantes has to offer.

From Iloilo,Backpacking to Isla de Gigantes there are direct buses bound for Estancia. However, we took 3 day rest as we headed to Conception, Iloilo first. We did a homestay for 3 days to rest from nonstop hitting the road for more than a week. Bus rides, ferries, long jeepney rides, etc. We needed to chill out.

It was sunny when we got to Estancia port. From Conception, Iloilo, the bus leaves as early as 7am.. Actually from the jump off area, we walked down to the port. Bought some food and lunch then jumped into the 2pm boat bound for the Isla de Gigantes. Be sure not to miss the once a day boat. St. Micheal was the name of the boat.

Backpacking Isla de Gigantes sounded like “expensive”. When you need some reservations on a resort and arrange some boats for. But neither of the above mentioned. We just crashed in. So we took a boat ride to the island. Too perfectly fine weather and our eyes were satisfied by beautiful mountain islands view en route.

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Quipot Cave

QUIPOT CAVE

The Quipot Cave is found in Bo, Burias, Mambusao. It is about 3 kms. from the Mambusao Agricultural and Technical College, or 8 kms. from the town proper or a 30-minute ride over rough roads. It is accessible by jeepneys, cars and tricycles. Wild birds, deer and wild duck abound in the place. Near the cave is a stream. The cave consists of many chambers each at a level of different from those of other chambers. In certain sections one has to crawl because the space between the roof and the floor is just two to three feet. There are also sections looking like dead-ends, except for small holes through which only one person can crawl. These holes lead to a chamber as big as a ballroom of a hotel which is why some tourists call it the Quipot Hilton. There are plenty of stalactites and stalagmites. The Quipot Cave is cool inside.

30 minute ride over rough roads, it is about 3 km. from the Mambusao Agricultural and Technical College or around 9 km. from the town proper. Wild birds, deer, and wild ducks abound in the place. Near the cave is a stream. The cave consists of many chambers, each at a level different from other chambers. In certain sections, one has to crawl because the space between the roof and cave floor is just two or three feet. There are also sections that seem like a dead end, except for small openings through which only one person can crawl. These holes lead to a chamber as big as a hotel ballroom, which is why it is dubbed as the “Quipot Hilton”. There are plenty of stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is cool inside.

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The Roxas City Museum

THE ROXAS CITY MUSEUM

The Museum Features the memorabilia of illustrious sons and daughters of Roxas City; collections of religious icons, artifacts and artwork.

As the steadfast keeper of local history, the Panublion or the Roxas City Museum tirelessly collects and displays the wealth of lore and memories of its citizens.  Located just across the City Hall, this impressive circular piece of architecture offers every visitor a comprehensive view of what Roxas City was then, what it is now and its vision for the future – a complete record of those who have given their share in making Roxas City what it is today. Constructed in 1910, the museum used to be a water tank that served the local residents for more than three decades.

From Manila, the Super Ferry or ships from Negros Navigation can take you to Roxas City in around eighteen hours. There is also a Roll on-Roll off (RORO) that passes by Roxas City straight from Cubao in Manila. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have flights to Roxas daily every morning, taking about 40-45 minutes.  Jeepneys and tricycles are available for touring around the city. Jeepneys and tricycles are available for touring the city or the province.

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Guimbal Moro Watchtower

GUIMBAL MORO WATCHTOWER

The watchtowers are locally known as “bantayan.” The term is rooted to the word bantay, which means “to guard”. One of these bantayans is conveniently situated beside a beach resort thus its name, “Bantayan Beach Resort”.

Bantayan Beach Resort can be accessed by road via Southern Iloilo Jeepney Routes (Guimbal, Miagao, San Joaquin). It is located right in front of RACSOS Woodland Resort and is just a few kilometers from the town proper of Guimbal.

To date, only three of these bantayans survived and were restored through a funding coming from First District Congressman Oscar Garin, Sr with the help of the Department of Tourism.

The watchmen posted at the bantayans used drums then to alarm the people of the coming Moro vintas. The watchtowers stand as a symbol of the bravery and heroism of the people of Guimbal.

Constant attacks from Moro pirates in the southern coast of Iloilo persisted even during the pre-hispanic era. In response, the people of Guimbal built 5 watchtowers located in different sites along the shoreline area in the poblacion in the 17th century.

The Moro Towers have witnessed several upheavals in the history and politics of Roxas City. It withstood the Philippine Revolution and the Fil-Am War that ensued afterwards. However, the towers nearly met their fate during the World War II. Today, these towers stand half-torn, almost obscure from the eyes of the public. They are constantly eroding, thus, calling the attention of the local government to salvage one of Roxas City's oldest existing historical structures. I hope that decades from now, the Moro Towers are still standing so that the next generation can relish the rich history and culture of Roxas City.

The Moro Towers continue to be a living landmark of the rich and awesome history of Capiz. They are here to remind us that despite the change of time, the richness and glory of the past are still here to remain, ready to stay with us no matter how hard we partake from them.

The Moro Towers are here. And they are here to stay. They are here to provide us the glimpse of the awe and wonder of our history, culture, and locale. Let us not forget to preserve them for they are treasured gems to no material wealth of today could ever surpass.

With its array of natural and man-made wealth, Roxas City is indeed a piece of heaven here on Earth that's worth cherishing, protecting, loving, and keeping in our heart.

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Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery

BACOLOD WESTERN VISAYAS CLONAL NURSERY

The nursery features different kinds of plants that are important and part of the reforestation program of Negros Occidental. Contact the city hall for more information because it requires permission in visiting the nursery as most of the plants are of high importance.

The Bacolod Western Visayas Clonal Nursery lies on a one-hectare flat and gently rolling grassland terrain located 2.5 kms. away from Barangay Alangilan which is about 17 kms. from the city proper of Bacolod. The only one of its kind in the Province of Negros Occidental, this nursery has been put up in order to provide continuous supply of quality planting stocks for the reforestation and greening program of the city. It has an orchard of hedge plants for vegetative propagation, a nursery for seeds and planting stocks; a hardening shed and a potting area for rooted cuttings to pots. 

Recuerdos de Bacolod "Recuerdos" (souvenirs) is known for its collection of excavated items and heirlooms, wooden saints, furniture and pottery pieces as early as the 7th and 9th century. These antique items were taken mostly from Bohol and Panay.

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Negros Museum

NEGROS MUSEUM

Houses an eclectic collection, from a room dedicated to the sugar industry to one containing toys from around the world. Don't miss the fake cannons used to scare the Spanish, including coconut cannonballs. It also has a small art gallery, a gift shop and a popular outdoor cafe.

It is actually a workshop where kids can learn various crafts such as painting, sculpting, as well as reading and making various forms of pottery. Other exhibits highlight the importance of the sugar industry, the Iron Dinosaurs, a 50 boat and more.

There is also a gallery featuring the past governors and administrators of the province and some information on how they helped shape and change the history of the city. There is also an exhibit about Nicolas Loney, who almost single handedly created the sugar enterprise and industry.

The Negros Museum can be found at Gatuslao St in Bacolod City. It is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening. There is an entry fee of Php 30 for each adult. For students it is Php 20. Getting there is simple enough as the place has become a virtual landmark in the city. Any of the jeepneys or tricycles can take you there. The cost of the transport will be about Php 20.

The history of Bacolod City and the province is fascinating, something that will interest even those that usually are not keen students of the past. At the Negros Museum, you can not only read about it, but see the relics that make up the lands history and culture.

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San Sebastian Cathedral

SAN SEBASTIAN CATHEDRAL

A small village inhabited by Malayans called Magsungay was placed under the protection of St. Sebastian by early Christian missionaries during the 1700s. This village was later came to be known as San Sebastian de Magsungay and was put under the governance of Bernardo de los Santos, the village’s first gobernadorcillo. Due to widespread Moro pirate attacks, the people of Magsungay moved to a new settlement upon the hilly terrain called bakólod, the precursor of the modern-day city of Bacolod. In 1806, Fr. Leon Pedro was appointed as its first parish priest. Years later, Fr. Gonzaga, a young priest from Barcelona, would envision the construction of the San Sebastian Church.

The present structure was constructed and inaugurated on January 20, 1882. It became a cathedral in 1933 and is one of the century-old churches found in Negros Occidental. During the 100th year anniversary of the cathedral, the centennial bells of San Sebastian Cathedral were brought down from the belfry and mounted on the right side of the church ground. You will also find the Palacio Episcopal, the bishop's palace and the seat of the diocese of the province, inside the grounds.

From Manila, you can fly to Bacolod (Php2500++, round trip, 45 minutes). From Bacolod-Silay Airport, you can take a shuttle (Php75-100 per head), or a cab (minimum of Php400) and ask to be dropped off at your destination.

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Malumpati Cold Spring

MALUMPATI COLD SPRING

When in Pandan, Antique, don't miss the chance to visit the Malumpati Cold Spring. It's just about a fifteen-minute ride from the town proper. Enjoy a refreshing dip in its cool, clear waters.  Don't worry if you don't know how to swim.  For only P40.00 a piece, you can rent rubber tubes that you can use for the entire day. Take the plunge like these happy kids. If you are brave enough, you may also opt to climb up the trees and jump from there.  I've seen a couple of kids do the said daring act. The natural pool is about 20 meters deep so you don't have to worry about hurting yourself when you enter the water.If you get tired of swimming and jumping off the diving platforms, you may just hop on the bamboo raft and enjoy the cruise. If you want to spend the night, just ask the locals about the cottages they rent out to tourists. I believe the rate ranges from P500.00 to P1000.00.

How to go to Malumpati Cold Spring:

From Caticlan, ride a Ceres Bus bound for Antique.  Get off at the Pandan town proper.  Hop on a tricyle or a motorbike to get to the cold spring.   The bus ride from Caticlan will take about half an hour and the ride from the town proper to the cold spring will take about 15 to 20 minutes.   

From Iloilo and Aklan, ride a van or bus bound for Northern Antique. Tell the driver that you'd get off in Pandan.  From the town proper, rent a tricycle or a motorbike to reach the cold spring.

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Malalison Island

MALALISON ISLAND

The small island is beautiful.. White sand remote beach is perfect for my German companion. She said it looks like Scotland from afar.

The village living there however, needs vast improvement.. so visitors that I encourage to stay there should be health and community aid workers.. it will feel so weird if tourists go there to play on the white sand while dirt poor villagers are trying to get by.. right?

Well, we’re supposed to go check out far flung communities and see how they were doing after devastating typhoons.. and look around to promote homestays too.

And one of the places we went is a small island that you can see once you arrive in Culasi town in Antique. And this island is Malalison or Mararison for locals.

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Batabat Coral Reef

BATABAT CORAL REEF

Batabat Coral Reef is located in Barbaza in the Province of Antique.

 

Batabat Coral Reef is one kilometer offshore, or a 20-minute pump boat ride. The beautiful composition of corals, fishes, and other marine life are among the best in the county.The natural attraction is perfect for divers, photographers, and the usual nature tripper.

 

How to Get to Batabat Coral Reef, San Jose de Buenavista(the capital town) is accessible via passenger plane, Asian Spirit, three times a week from Manila, and from the major cities of the country through Iloilo City.  From Iloilo, it's a two-hour ride by bus or van. If you are coming from Boracay Island, the province can be reached through RORO buses from Boracay terminal in Malay, Aklan and regular buses plying Nabas, Aklan to the northern part of the province down to the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista.  

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Bakhawan EcoPark

BAKHAWAN ECOPARK

Five minutes from town in New Buswang (P40 by tricycle), this 120-hectare park is the base for a mangrove reforestation project begun in the late 1980s. Visitors can check out intertidal ecology from an 850m boardwalk while enjoying birdsong and mud critters. It’s a welcome green escape from the polluted city.

The Bakhawan Eco-Park is a 220-hectare mangrove forest located in in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines. The mangrove reforestation project started in 1990 when the local government and several non-government organizations transformed the muddy shoreline of Barangay New Buswang into a mangrove reforestation site to prevent flood and storm surges in the community. The park is dubbed as the Philippines' most successful mangrove reforestation project. The Eco-park is operated by the Kalibo Save the Mangroves Association (KASAMA). The word "bakhawan", in the local dialect, means "mangrove"

Today, the Bakhawan Eco-Park is considered as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kalibo.[8] The centerpiece of the Eco-Park is a 1.3-kilometer bamboo trail that takes visitors deep into the mangrove forest. The park is an ideal destination for Eco-Tourism, it is home to different species of mangrove trees and it serves as a sanctuary for various types of birds and marine species. Other features in the park includes a watchtower, souvenir shop, canteen, massage area, charcoal briquetting, picnic huts and a Center for International Mangrove Studies.

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Ati-atihan Festival

ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL

A 13th century (c.1200 A.D.) event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called Datus, fleeing from the island of Borneo settled in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of Panay Island. The Ati-Atihan was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their anito god. Spanish missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival.

Ati-Atihan is celebrated every third weekend of January, the entire town center erupts in frenzied, non-choreographed dancing and shouting “Hala Bira! Puwera Pasma!” to the beats of snare drums, bass drums, trumpets, xylophones and a cacophony of other instruments seemingly playing from all the corners of this sleepy little boomtown of Kalibo.

Thus the Bornean settlers, in camaraderie with the Atis, daubed their faces with soot and black paint, and danced to the beat of the drums to celebrate the arrival in their new home. What began as a feast of friendship and reconciliation evolved into the most decadent, the most colorful and the wildest Philippine festival ever.

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Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND

Boracay Island is a small island located in the Philippines located approximately 300 km south of Manila. Boracay Island and the beaches of the island has gained so much fame and even awards from many numerous travel publications and agencies. The island comprises 3 barangays, namely, Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak in the municipality of Malay, in Aklan. Apart from its white sand beaches, Boracay is also famous for being one of the world's top destinations for relaxation. It is also emerging among the top destinations for tranquility and nightlife. 

During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

he well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.

Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May. The 2012 Boracay Edition of the PDBF International Club Crew Challenge to is scheduled for April 26–28, 2012.

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