Tourist Attractions
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| Ati-Atihan Festival |
Farming is the basic livelihood in the interior while fishing is the basic livelihood in the coasts. Poorer inhabitants also migrate seasonly to other provinces and islands, particularly Negros, to work mostly in plantations. Some of these migrants include minors.
Despite its vibrant tourism industry and substantial agriculture, the province is still considered as one of the poorer provinces in the country with more than 30% of the population living below the national poverty line.
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| Bariw Festival |
Farming is the basic livelihood in the interior while fishing is the basic livelihood in the coasts. Poorer inhabitants also migrate seasonly to other provinces and islands, particularly Negros, to work mostly in plantations. Some of these migrants include minors.
Despite its vibrant tourism industry and substantial agriculture, the province is still considered as one of the poorer provinces in the country with more than 30% of the population living below the national poverty line.
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| Malumpati Cold Spring in Pandan, Antique |
Geography
Profiled like a
seahorse, Antique is an oversized serrated hemline on the western border of the
three-cornered scarf-like land mass that is Panay. It lies between the China
Sea to the west and a tall mountain range, 155 kilometers long and 33 kilometers
at its widest, to the east, separating it from the rest of Panay.
Political Subdivision
The province is
composed of 18 municipalities, 3 of which are inland, 14 coastal and 1 island
municipality. Antique was classified as a 2nd class province as of January,
2002.
Climate
Antique has a
pleasant tropical climate.
Population
Per 2000 NCSO
Survey, population is placed at 472,822 of which 50.57% are males and 49.43%
females.
Language / Dialect
Antiqueas peak
Hiniray-a with Indo-Malayan origin. English is widely spoken and understood.
Major Industries
Major products
shipped out of the province are palay, rice, copra, muscovado sugar, legumes,
fruits and vegetables, livestock, fish and fish preparations, and seaweeds.
Manufactured items like native gifts, toys, and housewares have found their way
in major cities of the country and abroad. Principal mined products exported
include coal, marble, silica, copper, and gemstone.
Background
Antique passed
through several historic periods namely. Pre-Spanish Period, Spanish
Occupation, Philippine Revolutionary Government, American Occupation,
Commonwealth (transition period), Japanese Occupation, and Philippine Independence.
History reveals
that in the early time, ten datus from Borneo with their families, followers
and slaves landed in Panay at a place called Sinogbuhan near the present site
of the town of Miag-ao, Iloilo. The Borneans found the place inhabited by
Negretos living under the rule of Merikudo from whom the Borneans under Datu
Sumakwel purchased the island for one gold sadok and one gold necklace. The
island was later divided into three "sakops" namely. Hamtik, Aklan
and Irong-Irong. In later times, Hamtik became Antique, Aklan became Capiz and
Irong-lrong became lIoilo Hamtik was placed under the superior datu named
Sumakwel, who found a place known as Malandog, the first Malay settlement in
the Philippines.
The Pre-Spanish
natives of Antique had tribal government ruled by chieftains. They traded with
neighboring countries like China and Malaya. They had their civilization
blended with Negrito, Indonesian and Malay cultures enriched by cultural
influence from India, China and Japan.
It is believed
that the Spaniards found their way to Antique immediately after they
established themselves in Oton, Iloilo. The Antiqueños resisted the invasion
but in the end accepted Spanish rule, Christianity, the Spanish Colonial System
and at the same time absorbed the social, cultural and educational system of
the Spaniards. Antique then was created into a politico-military province in
1780 with the town of Hamtik as its first capital. In 1796, Antique, then known
as Provincia de Bugason was given an independent status as a province. Later,
the provincial government was established in Bugasong but was transferred to
San Jose de Buenavista where it has remained since then.
Later on, the
Antiqueaos became tired of Spanish rule. They joined other Filipinos in their
determination to have national independence which was established in Malolos,
Bulacan on January 23, 1899 when Spanish rule in the Philippines was overthrown
by the Americans. But this revolutionary government ended on April 19, 1901,
with the capture of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and his taking oath of allegiance to
the United States of America.
The Antiqueños
enjoyed the noble policy of American occupation because self-government was
given to them. During this period of our history, our political leaders joined
in the achievement of Philippine Independence as promised by the Jones Law. The
Tydings-McDuffie Law was passed by the United States Congress which provided
for a ten-year transition period under the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Hence, a constitutional convention was called to draft the constitution of the
Philippines. Antiqueños elected the late Ramon Maza and the late Angel Salazar
Sr. as their Con-con delegate in 1934. The Commonwealth lived until the
Japanese Occupation.
Antique
experienced many untold hardships during the Japanese Occupation. Many
Antiqueaos evacuated to the mountains and joined the guerilla movement. The
Japanese stayed nearly four years.
Out of the ashes
of the Pacific War emerged the Republic of the Philippines. Manuel Roxas was
the last President of the Commonwealth and the first President of the Republic.
Atty. Emigdio Nietes was Antique's first Congressman under the Republic.
Antique was able to produce the most powerful congressman in the Philippines in
the name of Tobias A. Fornier who held the position of the Chairman of House
Committee on Appropriations.
From this time
on, a lot of things occurred and changed in the province.
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