Aklan Province, Philippines

By James Barcelona

Tourist Attractions/ Festivals

Boracay Island

Boracay Island is situated at the northwestern tip of Panay, a large Island in Western Visayas. It is part of the town of Malay in Aklan

Province. It is only compose of three barangays namely: the "Yapak" in the north portion; "Balabag" in the Center and "Manoc-Manoc" in the south. The tropical climate makes it ideal to visit Boracay all year round.

Boracay Island

The mystic of Boracay is that it was gifted with sugary-white and powder fine sand, considered one of the nature's wonders that makes Boracay's white beach famous to the world. Walking barefoot in an almost magical white sand is a fad, for the sand seems to have a therapeutic effects on the senses. What's amazing is that the sand never burns your feet, no matter how hot the day gets. With the white sand, comes the crystalline, azure water where the ocean floors can be seen sloping steeply.

During the day, the color of the sky blends with that of the sea while at night, the sands glow to give its magical splendor. The shoreline is lined with coconut palms and in the inner, higher places, the tropical forest remains. There are bat caves with bats hanging on the ceilings during the day.

Ati-Atihan Festival

Ati-Atihan Festival. Celebrated all over the towns of Aklan, this is a weeklong celebration in honor of the Patron Saint Sto. Nino, which culminates on the 3rd Sunday of January. It is the ultimate jubilating, titillating, stimulating, riotous, and frenetic aboriginal street dancing to the early primitive tempo and pulse of drums, participated in by different tribes in their full battle regalia as they crowd the principal streets of Kalibo rejoicing breathlessly to their religious vows.

Bakhawan Eco-Park. A multi-awarded and recipient of the Golden Eagle Award mangrove reforestation project boasts of an exceptional nature thrill for eco tourists and visitors. The 80+ hectare eco-park features a small park and recreational area and a 15-mintue eco-walk built from bamboos stretching through the mangrov3es and out to a beach where one can enjoy a picnic with nature.

Bakhawan Eco-Park

Nature's bounties of scenic attractions are found in Aklan. Boracay Island, the province's top tourist destination, is known throughout the world for its fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.

Explore exciting caves, cascading waterfalls and natural pools. Ascend the seven-basin waterfalls in Jawili. Plunge into the natural cold spring of Nabas. Conquer the five caves of Buruanga town, the biggest of which is Ignito Cave, known for its cathedral-like chambers. 

Immerse in the province's man-made attractions. Heed the call of the Ati-atihan festival (every third weekend of January) and join the rythmic dancing of participants who darken their bodies with soot and don colorful tribal finery. 

Bakhawan Eco-Park

Pleasant stay is guaranteed in Kalibo's pensions, inns and lodging establishments. Meals are served in these places or nearby restaurants. Boracay has an array of accommodation facilities that range from luxury class to budget ones. Enjoy discos, bars and video KTVs. Savor International and local cuisine in the island's numerous restaurants. 

Take home for souvenir items native handicrafts made of nito (local vine), abaca (hemp), handmade paper and piña (pineapple fiber). 

How to get there 

Travel to Aklan by air or sea from Manila and Cebu. By jet, it takes 45 minutes from Manila five times daily. From Cebu, there is a flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. By sea, it takes 14 to 18 hours from Manila. Asian Spirit flies to Caticlan twice daily. 

Brief Description 

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 was inaugurated as an independent province on November 8, 1956. 

Geography
Aklan encompasses the northwestern portion of Panay Island and nearby Boracay Island, both situated within the Visayas island group and having an estimated land area of 181, 789 hectares. Cadastrally located between 12°N, 11°19' S and between 121°50' W, 122°35' E, the province is bordered by the Sulu Sea on the northwest, the Sibuyan Sea on the northeast and the east, by the province of Antique on the west, and by the province of Capiz on the south. The northernmost limit of Aklan is Lapuz-Lapuz point on Boracay Island (Malay), while the southernmost limit is that point in the municipality of Libacao where the borders of Aklan, Antique, Capiz meet. The easternmost part of the province is the eastern shoreline of Mambuquiao Bay in the municipality of Batan; the westernmost location is Pucio Point (Buruanga). 

Language / Dialect 

The Aklanons primarily speak Akeanon. The people also speak English, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano.

Major Industries 

Most Akeanons derive livelihood from rice, corn, coconut, abaca, and pottery making. Fishponds and offshore fishing employ many persons in the province. What thrive in Aklan are small-scale industries like piña cloth weaving, abaca and bamboo handicraft.

Pottery making and pop rice (ampaw) making are local industries that have augmented the people's livelihood in this province. Residents living near the banks of the river make clay pots and jar the old-fashioned way, as others engage in pop rice making. Popularly known as "ampaw" in the local dialect, it is processed from cooked rice, dried, deep fried with oil and sugar, and then molded into the same sizes and dried slowly.