PANAY ISLAND SCUBA DIVING SPORT DIVING RECREATION
The province Antique, profiled like a seahorse, 155 km long and 33 km at it’s widest, is an oversized hem-line on the western border of the three cornered scarf-like land mass, called Panay. The hidden natural heritage with it’s capital town San Jose Buenavista, lies between the China Sea to the west and tall mountain ranges to the east. The Cordilleras ranges seperate Antique from the rest of Panay. 18 municipalities make up the province: 14 along the coast, 3 inland and 1 on the island Caluya. Hiniray-a and Hiligaynon are the two major dialects. These are everyday languages of the Antiquenos, although they are also proficient in Tagalog, English and some other dialects of the Visayas. Some of the Antiquenos could also comprehend Spanish and there are some who could even speak Castillan.
The climate changes two times a year. from December till May the dry months make holidays excellent convenient. Rainy season is from July till October.
The economy is predominantly agricultural with rice and sugarcane as principal products, although there is also a textile industry in IloIlo City. Fabric made from pina, the fibres of the pineapple leaf, is used to make barong tagalog shirts. Fishing is the second largest industry. Cuyo East Pass along Antique coast is reputedly the richest fishing ground in the country.
Famous for the endearing and hospitable nature of it’s people, your visit will surely be a most pleasant and memorable experience. Beautifully decorated with ancient Hispano-Filipino churches, old watchtowers, ornate ancestral homes and monuments, it’s rich spanish heritage will definitely be felt. Scattered all around are some of the most beautiful white sand beaches of the Philippines and even of the world. A famous one is Boracay with it’s crystal clear blue waters, rich marine life, and powder-like white sand. Commune with nature as you bath among the seven cascading waterfalls of Jawili or take to the trails of Madja-as. The 2.100 meters high secret mountain keeps its forest and vegetation evergreen with fourteen waterfalls around its base. A journey to the mountains of Madja-as is an experience, a wonderful mountain scenery, different species of flora, rare orchids, pitcher plants, wild herbs, wild deer and boar, a bonsai forest, a lagoon, and a rainforest that provides his own micro-climate. For the more daring venture into the 20 km Tulingon Cave or into the clear swimming basin of Basin Cave. At Batabat Coral Reef various tropical color can be seen through clear water. Sunken Garden at Punta Pucio near Libertad is a garden of rock and corals around 500 square meters with its own fantastic microscopic sea. Nogas Island in the south has a blended white sandy beach with lots of corals and shells. Drop-offs at Hurao-Hurao Island, Caluya, Semirara, Maniguin, Mararison or Batbatan Island - islands which belongs to the caribbean category - are an explosion of colorful underwater scenery.
Panay is really a tropical, natural and hidden island-paradise with a wide range of mountains, caves, rivers, waterfalls, tropical islands, lonesome beaches, coral reefs, .... and friendly people they welcome you by their hearts.
