Guimaras – Mango Country of the Visayas

Guimaras is well-known for its agricultural crops, particularly mangoes, where some 50,000 of these trees are planted. The Guimaras Island is famous for producing the sweetest mangoes in the world, the golden carabao mango.

This sweet treat is not the only thing this island province has to offer. Its capital, Jordan, has become a pilgrimage site because of the popular Holy Week presentation called Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras, a re-enactment of the Passion of Christ. It also has an array of white sand beaches and small coral islands, most of which are still to be discovered by the world, making them a great place to commune with nature

Demographics

1. Population – 151, 238 (as of 2007 Census)
2. Land Area – 604.6 sq. km
3. Capital – Jordan
4. Language/Dialect – Hiligaynon, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions

Cities (0)

Municipalities (5)

• Buenavista
• Jordan
• Nueva Valencia
• San Lorenzo
• Sibunag

Mangoes
The province is home of the famous and the best export-quality mangoes in the Philippines. Mango plantations are scattered throughout the island.

McArthur’s Wharf
The wharf was named in honor of its builder, Gen. Douglas McArthur. It connected four barangays of Buenavista together and promoted migration from Iloilo.

Trappist Monastery
It is the sole monastery in the Philippines run by the order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance

Pagtaltal sa Guimaras
This is a Lenten activity by the locals which re-enacts the Passion of Christ.

Paraw Regatta
A race among native outriggers in the strait between the island province of Guimaras and Iloilo City. Called “paraw’ in the local dialect, these native outriggers faithfully copy in materials and design sailboats which were carried to Panay in 1212 A.D. by the first settlers from Borneo.

Historical

McArthur Wharf (Buenavista Wharf)
Location: Brgy. Sto. Rosario, Buenavista, Guimaras
Formerly known as “Buenavista Wharf”, it was built by the US Corps of Engineers led by then 2nd lieutenant Douglas McArthur in 1903. They were able to develop a port and a road stretching to a mountain at the right side of Sto. Rosario linking it to Ambulong, Calingao and up to Punta Blanco (San Roque)

Camp Jossman Headquarters
Location: Brgy. Supang, Buenavista, Guimaras
Camp Jossman was a US reservation camp established during the American occupation. In 1912, an order from the US high command came to vacate Camp Jossman and return to the US. With this, all the structures then that were established during the stay of the American soldiers were all demolished. Now, it is being used by Water District of Buenavista as water reservoir.

Punta Blanco Target Range
Location: Camp Jossman, Brgy. Supang, Buenavista, Guimaras
The range was composed of three trails, one in Tinadtaran, in Nazaret and in the Supang located in Camp Jossman. The center of Punta Blanco is located in Mount Sulangon. The construction of Punta Blanco shooting range was started in 1909.

Faro de Punta Luzaran
Location: Brgy. Guisi – Brgy. Dolores, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
It was built by the Spanish government in 1894 -1896 as part of the Master Plan for the lighting of the Maritime Coasts of the Philippine Archipelago. The plan was aimed at lighting the Philippine Seas and channels to guide ships in and through the most important sea channels to the ports of Manila, Iloilo, and Cebu. The lighthouse served as a navigational aid to the fishermen and sailors cruising Panay Gulf. While the original lighthouse is no longer operational a new one has been built by the Philippine Coast Guard.

Man-Made

Roca Encantada
Location: Brgy. San Miguel, Buenavista, Guimaras
A summerhouse owned by Lopez family built in 1910 on top of a huge rock. It overlooked the legendary islets of the seven sins or the Siete Pecados. An ancient 18th century lighthouse was built on one of the islet. On the other side is the two-mile beach area of El Retiro Beach Park. The National Historical Institute declared it as a historical house on August 14, 2002.

Good Shepherd’s Fold Academy
Location: Brgy. Salvacion, Buenavista, Guimaras
It was built on July 8, 1946 by Philip Irabon, with the financial assistance from Fil-Chinese Mr. Edward Tan. The farmland was bought from the Adventist Mission in Buenavista, Guimaras where the Fold now stands. It offers elementary, secondary, vocational training, practical arts, & science courses and serves as the home for orphaned and destitute children.

Natural

Costa Aguada Island Resort
Location: Inampulugan Island, Sibunag, Guimaras
The 1,067 hectares island resort of crocodile-shaped Inampulugan is inhabited by a wealth of wild life such as wild monkeys, deer, wild ducks, and different species of rare birds. Its shores are lined with pockets of coves that are abundant with marine life.

Isla Naburot Resort
Location: Brgy. Sinapsapan, Jordan, Guimaras
The island has rich colorful marine life, visible and exotic sea life.Yhis divine abode is a completely different world from the sphere of commotion and jet set lifestyle one is constantly exposed to. It has 8 native styled cottages made of wood, nipa, and stones. It is ideal for fishing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, island hopping, and scuba diving.

Jesa Mar Island Resort
Location: Brgy. Nauway, Sibunag, Guimaras
It is a white sand beach with native cottages and picnic huts. Aside from swimming and snorkeling, anyone could hire a boat for island hopping on the nearby islets.

Naragao Island Resort
Location: San Isidro, Sibunag, Guimaras
It is a small tropical island with an area of about 100,000 square meters. Nagarao has everything – beaches with fine white sand, coral reefs, natural marine life, trees, flowers, clusters of rainforest, birds and butterflies. As well as boating, there is native sailing. Island hopping is an alternative activity.

Higante Cave
Location: Brgy. Espinosa, Jordan, Guimaras
It has 3 entrances, 3x4 ft. wide, 2x3 ft. wide, and 2x3 ft. wide. It is 200 meters long more or less and could be found on top of the hill. Nipa huts are available with a good glimpse of Iloilo Strait. The cave is abundant with stalagmites and stalactites.

Buho Ramirez Cave
Location: Brgy. Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras
It is a small cave but the entire entrance is going down more or less about 40-50 ft. deep. It has 3 openings with gushing water. Studies show that it could be a good source of spring water that can supply 2 barangays with 429 households.

Religious

Trappist Monastery
Location: Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras
It is the only trappist monastery in the Philippines run by the order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. The Monastery, established in 1972, has an abbey and a favorite retreat venue.

Church of the Parish of Saint Isidor (Navalas Church)
Location: Brgy. Navalas, Buenavista, Guimaras
It is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Guimaras, established by Spanish priests in 1885.

Manggahan sa Guimaras Festival
Place: Guimaras Province
Date: April 16 - 20
Varied activities are being showcased depicting the cultural and historical heritage, livelihood, myth and legendary stories portrayed in a cultural showcase, street dancing and Sinadya (merrymaking). Spread over a weeklong schedule, promoting its products, services and milestones in an agri – trade fair/exhibits, food festival, special events, nightly shows and entertainments and Search for Mutya Ng Guimaras. Manggahan culminates in a grand showcase of cultural festivals in a bid to show the world that there is more to Guimaras than its sweet, fiber and pest-free mangoes.

Ang Pagtaltal sa Jordan
Place: Jordan, Guimaras
Date: Good Friday
This Lenten presentation staged by the townspeople of Jordan was patterned to Oberammergau in South Bavaria, Germany. It is the final act of play when Jesus was taken off from the cross and laid on his mother’s lap.

Layag Festival
Place: Hoskyn, Jordan, Guimaras
Date: Every first week of May
For the past few years riding in “Layag de Bela” or “Paraw” is the only means of transportation in the area. To commemorate and to preserve the use of “Layag”, the barangay organized “Layag Festival”. Various activities were implemented by the people to feel the spirit of the festivity such as Paraw Regatta, mini Paraw Regatta, Pinta de Layag, Street dancing and the highlights of the festivity is the coronation of “Layag Queen”.

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