| Aklan
Wedding Destinations
Aklan – Oldest
Province and Paradise Island of the Philippines
Aklan, one of the
provinces in the Panay Island, was originally known
as "Minuro it Akean". It is considered as
the oldest province in the country and is believed to
have been established as early as 1213 by settlers from
Borneo. No matter how old the province is, its beauty
never fades.
Aklan's beauty comes
in the form of Boracay Island and Ati-atihan Festival.
Boracay has become one of the premier destination in
the Philippines due to the captivating beauty of the
island and its fine white sand beach. Ati-atihan Festival,
on the other hand is dubbed as the “Queen of Philippine
Festival”. Celebrated every January, local and
foreign tourist head out to Kalibo to witness this colorful
and lively event
Demographics
1.Population –
495,122 (as of 2007 Census)
2.Land Area – 1,821.4 sq. km
3.Capital – Kalibo
4.Language/Dialect – Aklanon/Akeanon, Hiligaynon,
Cebuano, English, and Filipino
5. Divisions
Municipalities
(17)
- Altavas
- Balete
- Banga
- Batan
- Buruanga
- Ibajay
- Kalibo
- Lezo
- Libacao
- Madalag
- Makato
- Malay
- Malinao
- Nabas
- New Washington
- Numancia
- Tangalan
Famous For ...
Boracay Island
Boracay is a tropical island and is one of the country's
most popular tourist destinations. It is famous for
its world’s finest palm-fringed white sand beaches,
azure waters, coral reefs, and rare shells.
Ati-atihan
Festival
The Ati-atihan Festival is the most famous celebration
in honor of the Santo Nino (Infant Jesus). Every year,
tourists from all over the country and around the world
visit Kalibo to witness this colorful Mardi Gra-like
event.
Kalantiaw
Shrine
Once the seat of government of Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw
III, the third chief of Panay and promulgator of the
famous Code of Kalantiaw.
Chicken Binakol
Savor the taste of this tasty chicken recipe cooked
in a pot or bamboo node, and mixed with potatoes,ginger,onions,tomatoes,lemon
grass,bay leaf and peppercorns.
Places of Interest
Cultural
Museo it
Akean
Location: Corner Martelino and Burgos Sts., Kalibo,
Aklan
The museum is a repository of antiques all dug up in
Aklan. Famous works of arts are likewise displayed.
This traces the province’s rich cultural and historical
past.
Historical
Freedom Shrine
Location: Kalibo, Aklan
The shrine is a tribute to Aklanon revolutionaries of
Katipunan who gave their lives to the altar of patriotism.
The 19 steps adorning the monument contain the mortal
remains of the 19 Martyrs of Aklan and atop is the effigy
of Gen. Francisco Del Castillo, the leader of Katipunan
in Aklan.
Kalantiaw
Shrine
Location: Batan, Aklan
The shrine was built in 1957 to honor Datu Kalantiaw,
the promulgator of the Code of Kalantiaw – a collection
of 17 laws used during the time of the Datu. It displays
a copy of the “original manuscript” of the
Code. IN 1998, after years of investigation and historical
findings, the National Historical Institute concluded
that the Code of Kalantiaw was a hoax.
Ingus-Ingus
Hill
Location: Buruanga, Aklan
In Spanish time, it served as a lookout for approaching
Moro pirates that used to maraud coastal villages. Underneath
the hill is a cave, which according to folktales, was
used as an ambuscade of English pirates, buccaneers,
and other plunderers of Spanish galleons carrying precious
cargoes.
Agtawagon
Hill
Location: Balete, Aklan
Served as the last line of defense of the Filipino patriots
during the Spanish-Filipino conflict and during World
War II.
Cross at
Sitio Agbunsud
Location: Malinao, Aklan
Served as the last line of defense of the Filipino patriots
during the Spanish-Filipino conflict and during World
War II.
Man-Made
Campo Verde
Location: Tangalan and Ibajay, Aklan
Its 3,700 feet altitude makes it a perfect retreat in
the hot summer months. Green pines, mahogany, acacia,
ipil-ipil, and butterfly trees draw visitors deeper
into the woods - a hiker's paradise.
Bakhawan
Eco-Park
Location: Kalibo, Aklan
The eco-park features 75-hectare mangrove reforestation.
Visitors can take an “eco-walk" made of bamboos
that serves as pathway to the mangrove plantation. It
has been awarded the Golden Eagle Award for Excellence
in environmental preservation.
D'Mall
Location: Kalibo, Aklan
It is a mini-mall with a beach setting, complete with
sand and wind ambiance. Stores located here offer a
variety of beachwear, jewelry, antique furniture, lamps,
and native woodcarvings.
Jojo's Christmas
Cottage
Location: Sampaguita Gardens, Kalibo, Aklan
It is a 3-storey Victorian mansion that celebrates Christmas
365 days a year—the first of its kind in the Philippines
and even in the Asian region. Inside are various dolls,
figurinnes, and decors for Christmas as well as Precious
Moments collection.
Natural
Boracay Island
Location: Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan
The 1,083-hectare island consist of three barangays
namely Balabag, Manok-manok, and Yapak. Its shores are
covered with its famous palm-fringed white sand. There
are three primary tourism beaches in the island:
- Bulabog Beach – main windsurfing and kiteboarding
area. During windsurfing and kiteboarding off-season,
it is often deserted, allowing you to feel the "Other
side" of Boracay
- Puka Shell Beach – It is the second longest
in the island, covers half of the northern tip of
the island. The beach is 800 meters long and has an
abundance of small shells and tiny, white coral amulets,
called Puka shells, which are suitable for necklace
pendants.
- White Beach - It is 4 kilometers long and up to
100 meters wide. This famous stretch of white sand
is the premier beauty and tourist attraction of the
island. Skimboarding, banana boat ride, glass bottom
boat, sailing, wading and snorkeling are popular activities
here
Tigwati-an
Island (Crystal Cove)
Location: Tigwati-an Island, Malay, Aklan
Located near Boracay Island, shells of varying sizes
and kinds lie on its predominantly white sand beach.
Caves with interesting crystalline formations can be
found in the area.
Ob-Ob Hill
Location: Batan, Aklan
It stands like a lighthouse facing the Sibuyan Sea with
an altitude of 200 meters. At the foot of the rocky
hill is the beach of Ob-ob.
Jawili Falls
Location:Tangalan, Aklan
It has seven basins tiered about 20 feet apart. The
highest basin is about 100 feet high, oval-shaped, around
240 sq. ft. in area, and 12 feet deep with clear water
Tindog Falls
Location: Madalag, Aklan
It is a unique falls with its basin above instead of
having it below the falls. Water cascades on a stair-like,carved
stones.
Basang and
Hurom-Hurom Cold Springs
Location: Brgy. Laserna, Nabas, Aklan
These alternative summer destinations offer the beauty
of fresh water gushing from nature-hewn rocks and exhilarating
adventure down from Gibon river in a kayak.
Tulingon
Cave
Location: Bgy. Libertad, Nabas, Aklan - Bgy. Patria,
Pandan, Antique
It is believed to be one of the longest caves in the
Philippines. Survey indicates an enormous deposit of
guano. Cave entrance is at Nabas.
Ignito Cave
Location:Buruanga, Aklan
Locally known as Elephant Cave due to its appearance.
Beautiful limestone formations 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.
Religious
Immaculata
Adoration Chapel & Convent (Pink Sisters Convent)
Location: Brgy. Polo, New Washington, Aklan
It is the only contemporary nunnery in Aklan and in
the whole island of Panay. Everything in the convent
is pink – from its facade down to the nun's habit.
Fatima Hill
Location: Brgy. Rosario, Malinao, Aklan
It serves as the home of the Monastery of Our Lady of
Fatima and the Congregation of the Penitent Sisters.
it is noted for its stations of the cross on the hillside
culminating in a chapel made of marble on top of the
hill.
St. John the
Baptist Cathedral
Location:Kalibo, Aklan
Originally built in 1581 and stands as the oldest church
in the province and in the country. It was renovated
in 1993 through the spiritual and monetary help of the
Aklanons. The church's renovation designs are one of
the last works of the renowned national artist Leandro
V. Locsin.
Festivals
Ati-atihan
Festival
Place: Kalibo, Aklan
Date: Second Sunday After Epiphany -
It is considered as the Mardi Gra of the Philippines.
Celebrants paint their faces with black soot and wear
bright, outlandish costumes as they dance in revelry
during the last three days of this two week-long festival.
Costumes, including the headdress, are made of abaca
fibers, shells, feathers, bamboo, plant leaves, cogon,
sugar cane flowers, beads, trinkets and an assortment
of pieces of glass, metals and plastics
Bariw Festival
Place: Nabas, Aklan
Date: May 12- 15
The festival commemorates the feast day of St. Isidore
the Farmer, the patron saint of Nabas, and celebrates
the productive used of the bariw leaves, an indigenous
plant used to make hat, bags,and mats. Highlight of
the event is the street dancing competition where local
wear costumes made of bariw leaves |
