WESTERN VISAYAS

Historical Background of the Region

It was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan of
President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos.
LANGUAGES OR DIALECTS

 HILIGAYNON -spoken in: -Iloilo - Negros Occidental - Guimaras - Capiz

 KINIRAY-A -spoken in: - Antique - some parts of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan
 AKEANON -spoken in Aklan
 MALAYNON - spoken in Aklan
 CEBUANO - spoken in the northern part of Negros Occidental
ECONOMY

 MAJOR INDUSTRIES  Agriculture  Tourism  Milling  Food Processing

 MAJOR CROPS  Banana  Palay Corn  Coconut  Jackfruit

AKLAN – Home of the Piña Fiber and Rambutan Center of Asia

 It is said to be the oldest province in the Philippines organized in 1213 by settlers from
Borneo.
 It was inaugurated as an independent province on November 8, 1956.
 It was originally known as “Minuro it Akean”
 The capital is Kalibo
ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL (Kalibo, Aklan)

 Every 3rd Sunday of January

 Revelers in colorful costumes and bodies painted black and their faces made up of
grotesquely
 A celebration of the treaty between the Ati and Malayan tribes who settled in the island.
When the Spaniards settled in the region and converted the Malays to Christian religion.
 The festivity was celebrated in honor of the Holy Child- Sto. Ninñ o.

Freedom Shrine - dedicated to the 19 martyrs of Aklan who started the revolt against Spain.
Kalantiaw Shrine, Batan - once the seat of government of Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw,
promulgator of the famous Code of Kalantiaw.
Museo It Akean, Kalibo - A repository of Antiques dug up in Aklan which trace the province’s rich
cultural and historical past; also houses famous works of arts.
Boracay Island, Malay -

 “Paradise Island of the Philippines

 It is world-famous for its fine lovely palm fringed sugarfine white sand beaches, azure
waters, coral reefs and rare shells.
 Its area is 1,083 hectares
 Consisting of 3 barangays (Balabag, Manok-manok and Yapak)
Ignito Cave, Buruanga -

 Locally known as “elephant cave” due to its appearance

 Beautiful limestone formation of stalagmites, stalactites and other crystalline structures
abound.
 It has a “skylight” in one of its chambers that lets in a soft glow of light at noontime.
Jawili Falls, Tangalan -

 It has 7 basins tiered about 20 feet apart

 The highest basin is about 100 feet high, ovalshaped, around 240 sq. ft. in area and 12 feet
deep clear water almost like a small lake.

ANTIQUE – GEMSTONE COUNTRY

 The population is largely Malay, immigrants from Borneo centuries before the Spanish
arrived.
 Antiquenos are very hospitable
 They have developed their own distinct language called Kinaray-a. This dialect is of
Austronesian origins characterized by the predominance of r’s and schwa sounds spoken
with a lilting gentle intonation.
 The capital is San Jose de Buenavista
BINIRAYAN FESTIVAL

 Celebrated every December 27 to 29

 It was started in San Jose 34 years ago by the late Gov. Evelio Javier, brother of former
Congressman now Gov. Exequiel B.
 A week of festivities of colorful street parades, beach shows, plaza concerts and beauty
concerts.
 “Binirayan” biray or “sailboat in Kinaray-a.

ANINI-Y CHURCH
A massive white coral building located in Poblacion, Anini-y, and South of San Jose de Buenavista.
BUGTONG BATO WATERFALLS, Tibiao

 Ideal for excursions/picnics with excellent opportunities for bathing, swimming and picture
taking.
 The first 3 waterfalls with a height up to 150 ft. is accessible.
BUGANG RIVER, PANDAN, ANTIQUE

 Bugang River has been getting a lot of attention, both national and international.
 “Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran” as the cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines.
 2006, Gold Winner in the International Green Apple Environment Awards for
Environmental Best Practice, Local Authorities and Ecotourism category in London.
 1st runner-up during the “Hiyas ng Turismo 2006″ Nationwide Search.
 2005, Bugang River was the winner of the “Dangal Ng Ilog” Award during the 1st National
Summit on the State of Philippine Rivers.
 Was eventually elevated to the Hall of Fame as the “Cleanest Inland Body of Water” in the
Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran.
CALUYA, A HIDDEN GEM IN ANTIQUE
The absence of high-rises further makes the islands a perfect getaway for nature trippers who want
a respite from the pains of city life. There, they can go snorkeling, diving, boating or swimming
alongside playful dolphins.

CAPIZ
The capital is Roxas City.
There are two main versions of how Capiz got this name:

1. AKEAN and KAPID

-meaning “twins” which Balingangan, Datu Bangkaya’s eldest son, names his territories in honor of
his twin daughters;
2. When the Spaniards established a settlement, the found an abundance of a mollusk called pios or
kapid, the old native name which has also come to known as Capiz.
It is known for its mother-of-pearl shells that have the same name are used for decoration, making
lampshades, trays, and window doors.
ASWANG FESTIVAL (CANCELLED)

 The town people celebrate their Annual Festival or called it the Aswang Festival is
celebrated every 29th and 30th day on the month of October.
 This includes the parade of participants donning the foremost dreadful costumes like
“kapre”, “wak-wak”, and “tikbalang”.
STA. MONICA CHURCH

 This ancient and historic monument represents the founding of Christianity on the island of
Panay.
 It is also the home of the largest Church bell in the Philippines and Asia.
PILAR CAVE

 Years ago, townspeople discovered earthen pots with intricately incised designs.
 The caves must have been burial sites of pre-Spanish Filipinos.
 The Balisong Cave where the Capiz revolucionarios routed Spanish soldiers is also found
hereabouts.

GUIMARAS – THE MANGO COUNTRY

 An island province of the Philippines.

 The youngest and smallest of the 6 provinces on Region 6.
 Located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros.

MANGGAHAN SA GUIMARAS FESTIVAL

 An identity festival of the province

 Celebrated every May for the sustained promotion of mango Industry.
 Manggahan culminates in a grand showcase of cultural festivals to show the world that there
is more to Guimaras than its sweet, fiber and pest-free mangoes.
GUISI LIGHTHOUSE

 An 18th-century lighthouse built during the Spanish colonial era,

 It is considered as the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines, next only to the one found
in Aparri, Cagayan.

ILOILO – FOOD BASKET AND RICE GRANARY OF WESTERN VISAYAS

 The commercial and trade center of Western Visayas

 Agiculture- main source of livelihood
 Fishing-second best industry.
 It’s the site of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center which conducts researches
on the spawning of milkfish and prawns; and the University of Philippines (Miag-ao) which
is the center of marine and aquatic studies in the Philippines
 The Iloilo Commercial Port Complex – the first island pier in the country
 The capital is Jordan

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL

 A religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City

  Held on the 4th weekend of January held to honor the Santo Nino and to celebrate the
arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the
Atis
CARABAO CARROZA FESTIVAL
Celebrated every 3rd of May and since 1973 consists of three (3) main attractions namely:

 Carabao Carroza Parade

 Carabao Carroza Race and
 Search for Carabao Carroza Queen
MOLO CHURCH

 “Church of Women” because of the statues of women saints that decorate its pillars
 A Gothic renaissance church made of coral rock
 Located 3 km from the city proper
 It was completed in 19th century
 It was visited by Dr. Jose Rizal on his way to exile in Dapitan, Mindanao.

JARO CATHEDRAL

 “Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria”

 The seat of Archbishop
 It is dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary
 Famous for its Shrine of Our Lady of Candles which according to pious tradition has been
miraculously growing.
 The only sacred icon in the Philippines ever crowned personally by a Pope.
THE MIAG-AO CHURCH

 This impressive 221 year old architectural treasure, constructed in 1786 and finished in
1797
 A UNESCO World Heritage Site (Baroque Churches of the Philippines)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – SUGARLANDIA

 Western side of Negros Island (4 th largest island in the Philippines with a total land area of
972,607 hectares or 9, 726.06 sq. km
 Negros is basically volcanic, making its soil ideal for agriculture.
 The capital is Bacolod City
MASSKARA FESTIVAL

 It gives the people of Negros, as well as local foreign visitors, a chance to drink and be merry
for 20 days.
 Originally designed to show the hardships of the people of Negros
 Has become a tool of escapism and a way to generate revenues for big business.
 Celebrated during third Sunday of October.

MT. KANLAON

 One of the mountains found in the north-central portion of the island of Negros.
 It is the highest peak in Central Philippines, the most dominant and attractive feature of
which is the active summit/crater of a volcano.
THE RUINS OF TALISAY CITY

 The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma
Lacson.
 The mansion was the largest residential structure ever built at that time and had in it one of
the finest furniture, chinaware, and decorative items, as the father of Maria Braga was a
captain of a ship that sailed across Europe and Asia and would cart with him these items.
 4-tiered fountain fronting the mansion, all brought in from abroad