HERE IN AKLAN

WELCOME TO AKLAN

                                 

                                     

     Aklan is the oldest province in the Philippines, organized in 1213 by settlers from Borneo, as the Minuro it Akean to include what is now Capiz. It became an independent province when President Magsaysay signed into law on April 25, 1956, Republic Act 1414 separating  Aklan from Capiz.
Aklan (Inakeanon) Aklan is a member of the Western Visayan branch of Philippine languages, a part of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken mainly in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines by about 460,000 people.

Aklan is very famous for having one of the best white beaches in the planet. This province is not just all about Boracay, it also has other interesting tourism spots that tourists can explore.

             
        HOW TO GET THERE

Aklan is 450 kilometers from Manila and is a popular jump-off point for

travelers going to the island paradise of Boracay. , Once you’re there,

you can get around by renting a van. You can also take a tricycle to most

destinations for P8 to P15

By Air 

Aklan has two airports: the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan and the Kalibo International Airport. Both airports receive flights from Manila and Cebu and the one in Kalibo caters to international flights. Manila is 45 minutes away from Aklan.

By Land 

The best way to reach Aklan by land is to travel from Iloilo City. Board a bus or van from the Tagbak Terminal in Jaro District. The trip will take around two to three hours of travel.

Alternatively, this can also be done through San Jose, Antique (three to five hours) or Roxas City, Capiz (one and a half hours).

By Sea 

There is no major port or wharf in Aklan, but the four ports that is has are very accessible. Shipping lines such as MBRS, Moreta Shipping Lines and Negros Navigation bring passengers to Aklan from Manila, Capiz and Romblon.

Travel time from Manila to Aklan will take around 14 to 18 hours of travel.

 WHAT TO EAT  

           

        Ramboy’s Manukan  
   
Toting Reyes St., Kalibo, Aklan

Ramboy’s doesn’t look like much, but this simple shop sells the best

roast chicken and liempo in town.         


Lorraine’s Tapsi and Catering Services

Mabini Extension, Kalibo, Aklan

Apart from their Tapsilog (P70), this small eatery has a unique specialty:

Pansit Shanglan This noodle dish costs P70 and is made with Mongolian

sauce and has an egg on top.The owner made up the name by mixing

the words Shanghai&Alan,which is the name of her friend who

suggested the recipe.Because Lorraine’s does catering, their menu is

very wide. Another favorite here is the Sicilian Beef Caponata (P120,

good for two), and there’s also Filipino food like Ginataang Bulalo (P320,

good for four) and the Aklanon dish Chicken Inubaran (P420, good for

four).

        

Analyn Valencia Residence

Sitio Valencia, Bayanihan Road, Pook, Kalibo, Aklan

Analyn Valencia makes the best Suman sa Latik in Kalibo, Aklan. Drop by

for a snack or to buy pasalubong.

       
Rosa Food

Linabwan Norte, Kalibo, Aklan

A taste of native longganisa, head to Rosa Food. One pack costs P132,

and they also offer other pasalubong items from Aklan.

       

Niño’sIhaw-Ihaw

 Maagma St., Kalibo, Aklan

This restaurant was recommended to us by Kuya Odong, our local driver.

Order the grilled tanigue, squid, and lapu-lapu. Price range is P150 to

P300 per person.
         

 Saylo Cuisine

Quezon Avenue, Kalibo,

Saylo specializes in Aklanon food. Try the Chicken Binakul (P290),

Seafood Special (P190), the veggie-based Linapay (P70) and the

spareribs (P190). For dessert, try Inday-Inday,  which is similar to Suman

sa Latik.


               
        WHAT TO DO AND SEE                                   

                         
        Bakhawan Mangrove Ecopark  

                                            
                  For nature lovers, there’s one-kilometer-long bamboo

boardwalk that runs through the mangrove forest. At the end,
there’s a great view of the sea! Entrance fee is P20 per person. 

   

Have your own Face Paint 
              

Fully embrace the Ati-atihan Festival and have your face paint.

Well, you do not have to put black soot all over your face like I

did, simple designs are available just like the one above.

Prices vary according to the design.

 


 Hear mass at the Kalibo Parish Church                               


The Kalibo Parish Church or Cathedral Parish of St John the

Baptist is the oldest place of worship in Aklan. The

construction of the church started in 1804 and was finished in

1826. However, just like any other old structure, it also

suffered some calamities. The first one happened when a fire

hit the town in 1885 and destroyed the convent. The convent

was reconstructed the following year. 

The last ordeal took in 1990 when an earthquake measuring

7.1 on the Richter scale struck the island of Panay causing

cracks on the church's brick walls. Restoration and

improvement was done while retaining some features of the

old church. The Kalibo Cathedral houses the image of the

Santo Niño, to which the Ati-atihan festival is honored.
           

         

    Visit the Museo it Akean
             

Located just across the Kalibo Cathedral is the Museo it Akean. This museum showcases the attractions and colorful traditions of Aklan. It also has the memorabilia of Archbishop Gabriel Reyes aside from the piña textiles and old jars dug up in Aklan.

     

         DESTINATIONS IN AKLAN

         

                  BORACAY
                                     
        Boracay! of course, this wouldn't be a top destinations in Aklan,

without mentioning this famous island. Over the past years, Boracay

has transformed itself from this quiet getaway with a lovely beach

into a bustling and very commercialized place.

          
                Jawili Falls
                                
Jawili Falls, Located in tangalan, Aklan, this seven basin waterfall is 

a sight to be hold. Tangalan itself is so tranquil and gives off a sense 

of timelessness. The municipality of Tangalan can be reached via

jeepney, and there you get on a tricycle to take you the falls.

        Tigayon hills

                        

Tigayon hills, a solitary mountain of solid rock stretches of flat lands. One of the side is a shallow caves with an arched entrance.
              


Altavas Underground Cave

                                    
  Altavas  is a fourth class municipality  in the province of Aklan Philippines.  According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 24,619 people. It is 41 kilometres  (25 mi) from Kalibo   and 45 kilometres (28 mi)  from Roxas City.

 Buruanga Point
         

Another must dive spot while on a day trip is Buruanga Point

otherwise known as Batason Point. More recently this has

become famous as ‘Ariel’s Point’ which is set up as a picnic

place on the rocks where cliff jumping is the main attraction.

In fact the dive commences directly beneath those cliffs with a

plateau at 4m depth leading onto a vertical wall don to 30m+.

The wall is blanketed by colourful soft corals playing host to

groupers, trumpet fish, flute mouths, anemones with their

resident anemone fish plus the ubiquitous flatworms,

nudibranchs and lionfish. There are numerous swim throughs

in the deeper parts and the highlight of the dive is the resident

group of horse eye trevally schooling at the corner where the

current is strongest.  On a day trip we will rest between dives

in the spectacular Batason Bay and enjoy a BBQ lunch on the

boat or the beach.



Agnaga Falls
          

AGNAGA Falls is one of the seven wonders of Malay, Aklan, with Boracay Island topping the list. Agnaga Falls are located in Malay, Aklan. A scenic view awaits visitors as they swim in its clear waters. It is a perfect hideaway specially during summer as its cool water beats the heat To get to Agnaga Falls from Boracay, take a pump boat from Cagban (or Tambisaan) to the Caticlan jetty port. You may then take a tricycle straight to Agnanga Falls. It’s best to wear sneakers and don’t forget to bring your drinking water and a snack if you would like to picnic there.

   
      Aklan Freedom Shrine

           It is a monument to early Aklanons. Here you’ll find the remains of 19 Aklanon martyrs as well as an effigy of Francisco del Castillo – the leader of the Katipunan in Aklan

 Kalibo Cathedral

                           

                         It houses the said-to-be-miraculous image of the Child Jesus. It was originally built in 1581 and was renovated in 1993.



Pagatpat Mangrove Park 
                       
Pagatpat Mangrove Park is a fish sanctuary located in Barangay

Panilongan, Buruanga Aklan. Facing the crystal clear water of

Sibuyan Sea, a refuge to various species of marine life.

The park offers a stroll with its elevated pathways connecting the

mangroves. It offer a function room which can accommodate up to

100 guests ideal for meetings, retreats, weddings, birthdays and

baptismal. It is famous for its serenity where you can hear are

only the splashes of school of fish, the waves striking the natural

limestone encircling the park and the trunks of the mangrove.


FESTIVAL AND EVENTS 



KALIBO STO. NIÑO ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL
                        
 


         This festival dates back when the peace agreement

between early Negrito settlers and the Maraynons that came over 

   
from Borneo was being commemorated. Therefore, participants

willingly blacken themselves with soot and put on colorful tribal

costumes. Nowadays, it is one of the most vibrant celebrations

honoring the Holy Child Jesus, Sto. Niño. Hence, it is considered

as the Filipino Mardis Gras. Known to be “The Mother of all

Philippine Festivals,” there are many activities and events that

people are looking forward to during the week-long celebration.

Some activities include the Search for Mutya ag Lakan it Kalibo

Ati-atihan, Aklan Festivals Parade, Higante Contest and concluded

every 3rd Sunday of January with a High Mass to kick off the final

day of merrymaking and procession. The key activity and one of

the main reasons tourist travel many miles to Kalibo is the native

dance competitions of participating tribes in full gear

accompanied by primitive rhythm of drumbeats. More so, what

makes this festival more exciting is that everyone, not only the

competing groups, is allowed to crowd the principal streets of

Kalibo to dance nonstop for several days rejoicing zealously to

their religious vows.



AKLAN PIÑA AND FIBER FESTIVAL
                    

 A week-long festival simultaneously held during the province’s founding anniversary celebration on the 25th of April each year. It is a product showcase of world class craftsmanship and ingenuity using indigenous raw materials such as abaca, piña fiber, raffia. The festival aims to promote, preserve and develop the loom-weaving industry in the province, hoping to establish Aklan as the handloom-weaving destination in the country.



KALIBO FOOD FESTIVAL

                
A yearly event commemorating the Feast of St. John the

Baptist from June 12 to 23 under one venue and various

kiosks offer a variety of either local or foreign dishes in the

manner of local tradition of the town’s local constituents and

usually accompanied by live musical bands to entertain

guests and visitors and the locals alike.

  

      

                When To Go

If you would like to see the Ati-Atihan Festival, the best time to go to Aklan is on the 3^rd week of January.

If you would like to explore the beaches and falls, go island hopping and enjoy your stay in the province, the best time would be on the months of November to May when there’s little to no rainfall.

         Where To Stay                     

There are lots of hotels/resorts/guest houses where tourists can stay. 

Kalibo: La Eperanza Hotel, Kalibo Queen’s Inn, Garcia Legazpi Mansion, Ambito Pension House, Kalibo Hotel, Marson Hotel and many more.

Boracay: Boracay Coco Huts, Blue Bamboo Hostel, Ralph’s Place, Nigi

Nigi Nu Noos Beach Resort, Boracay Victory Beach Resort,

Ambassador in Paradise, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, Two

Seasons Boracay Resort and more.


           
              Where To Eat

To take a sumptuous meal, you may try the following

restaurants:

Kalibo: La Eperanza Hotel, Kalibo Queen’s Inn, Garcia Legazpi

Mansion, Ambito Pension House, Kalibo Hotel, Marson Hotel and many

more.

Boracay: Boracay Coco Huts, Blue Bamboo Hostel, Ralph’s Place, Nigi

Nigi Nu Noos Beach Resort, Boracay Victory Beach Resort,

Ambassador in Paradise, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and

Spa,Two Seasons Boracay Resort and more.




Gallery