The province of Capiz offers many natural beauties for people to explore and experience from their fresh bounties of the sea to cold springs hidden in lush forests. And if you want to dip in cold water and have some exploration, head to the caves of Capiz.

While on a road trip in Capiz, we dropped by in Suhot Cold Spring in the municipality of Dumalag.  Another place  that attracted the freelance writer spirit in me. The place was rather simple yet unspoiled.There were many people when we went there ( it was a Holy Week and the height of summer) but sans the crowd and vendors, the whole place was rather untouched by modernity.

But we were more attracted to its natural cave formation. I can imagine how these caves were used as a temporary shelter during the Second World War or as a secret meeting place to lovers..wink! wink!

Since it was Holy Week, we saw a man ( I think a babaylan ) dressed in long robes with his white candle entered one of the small chambers of the cave. If I remember my Anthropology class in college, some people believe that they can gain supernatural powers during the Holy Week. Sadly, my husband ( my official photographer) failed to take a shot of him.

If you are not interested to take a dip in Suhot Cold Spring, the whole place is a nice venue for trekking either inside the cave or outside. The whole place is very natural and with its hilly and mountainous terrain, it is really a nice adventure to do while in Capiz.

Any schoolchild in the Philippines would be familiar with the Negritos, the dark-skinned people with kinky hair and short stature who were the first to live in the Philippines. With all those lessons in my Sibika at Kultura, I have never seen one until I moved to Iloilo for college.

My first encounter with them was not as pleasant or totally opposite of what I have learned in school. I saw many Atis as they are called in Panay island in streets usually beggars with little children tagging along. Still, my interest with them gradually came back as I learned more about their culture as I hang in my ropes to pass my Anthropology classes.

Atis keeping up with modernity

Known by many names in places where they live from Aetas to Agtas, the Atis are one of the keepers of our own history and heritage. Prior to the coming of the Malays and even the Spaniards, they lived in the lowlands especially in the Visayas. The Visayan island of Negros was named as such by the Spaniards due to the Negros or “black skinned” people that lived in the area.

In the island of Panay which that is consists of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Aklan,  most of them live in the mountainous areas  along with the hilly areas of Boracay Island with some lived along with non-Atis. Some intermarried with other groups but most of them prefer to marry their own kin.

The Atis survived through simple agriculture working in their fields. Though most of them are marginalized some have educated themselves and improved their way of living.

In general, Panay Island takes pride with the Atis, one of the indigenous peoples of the country. As seen in their festivals like the Ati-Atihan of Aklan and the Dinagyang, Panay pays homage to the Atis.

During the Dungog Festival, the Atis performed one of their traditional dances:

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Held every October since 2007, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts partners with local governments to hold the Indigenous Peoples Festival. First hosted in Davao City and then last year in Isabela, the Provincial Government of Capiz hosted this year’s festival entitled, “Dungog: Indigenous Peoples Festival”.

The word “dungog” means, “honor” in Visayan and through this festival, different indigenous peoples all over the country showcased their unique and culture and heritage. It was a five-day celebration with different activities starting with their parade, forums, exhibits, performances and the interactive demonstration of their daily lives along with their natural houses.

Some of the indigenous peoples who participated in that memorable affair were the Tausug, the Ati (from different parts of the country), the Mangyans, The Bagobos, the Subanen ( Zamboanga) and the Ifugaos.

Along with my toddler, he had fun visiting each houses starting with climbing their stairs made of bamboo. He might not be truly aware of what the fuzz was all about but it was a start for him to be cognizant of some social issues.

Here are some pics from Dungog: Indigenous Peoples Festival 2009

The festival was held at the Villareal Stadium in Roxas City

The main attraction to the festival were the 15 traditional houses from the different Indigenous Peoples with participants performing some dances, songs and even their local crafts and livelihood.

My Aki exploring the house of the Subanen tribe;that man behind him was waiting to take his shot of my sweetie

Ifugao house

It was educational as well with large banners providing the profile of the group.

We saw many students painstakingly copying...exams eh?

Here are some photos of the participants..

BAGOBO

I love this guy! He was so friendly and patient with people taking his photos

PANAY BUKIDNON

My Anthropology teacher was one of the key players in preserving the culture of the Panay Bukidnon who are noted for their epics..

ATI

The Ati of Panay Island

I can’t count the number of times that I have been to Roxas City, the only and capital city of Capiz in the island of Panay.  This city is known for two things; the hometown of the affluent Roxas family and for seafoods.

Nonetheless, it was only recently that I explored Roxas and the rest of Capiz for its heritage touch like the famous Pan-ay Church. And as an old and ancestral home fanatic, I tried to find any ancestral houses in Roxas and I stumbled upon what else but the Acuña-Roxas Ancestral House better known as the birthplace of President Manuel Roxas.

I was a little bit ashame that I missed this house or just the fact, that I didn’t know that it exists. I crossed waters to visit ancestral houses in Silay and I was completely ignorant about the ancestral house of Manuel Roxas.

The Acuña-Roxas Ancestral House is located in Cor. Rizal-Zamora Sts., and just a short walk from the plaza and capitol. The house is not as extraordinary as other old house but this house heard the first cry of a Philippine president and the scion of the Roxas clan.

It is a typical “bahay na bato”, a two-story structure with the ground floor made of stone while the upper part is made of wood.  Just like any other Bahay na Bato, the gourd floor is like the storage room and garage in the olden days while the upper part is where the living quarters, kitchen and living room is located.

Sadly, I haven’ entered the house coz it was close when I last visited the place. I’m not expecting too much from any memorabilia that the house might have but what is important is the real significance of this abode that nurtured a young child into one of the leaders of the country.

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The term “diwal” means ” to stick out or poke out one’s tongue out” in our dialect and in the world of gastronomy, this shell is one of the most elite kind.  Called by the locals due to how its membrane would stick out from the shell when while alive, it’s English name is sort of too romanticized – “angel wings” which is in reference to its shells when spread out.

Sought after in expensive and posh seafood restaurants in Manila, this seafood is bountiful in the Visayas specifically in Capiz and in Negros. Though it suffered over-harvesting that lead to its banning, harvesting diwal or Angel Wings shell is not regulated by authorities.Now, it is common to see this shell in seafood retaurants in Roxas City or in the streets of some towns in Negros.

I am not a fond of the shell family and with my many years of staying in Western Visayas and my countless trips in Roxas City, I only dared to taste diwal just recently.  For my trial tasting of diwal, I asked to have 3 of them grilled for only 15 pesos per piece.

When I tasted them..it was heaven. Now, I regard angel wings not due to its shell but to how its tastes like. Now, I know why many people go bananas with this shell, it is really tasty. I can’t find the words worthy to describe how it tastes like but one thing is sure, it is a must try!

So, if you happen to see diwal in Negros or in Roxas City, try it and have a taste of heaven here on earth.

Check out diwal in seafood restaurants in Roxas City. Take a tricycle and tell them you want to go to “Baybay” or “beach”. there, there are many small seafood restaurants…

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The island of Panay specifically the city of Iloilo is home to centuries-old churches with the famous church in Miag-ao among others. But on the northern part of the island in the province of Capiz is another heritage church that everyone should drop by if you happen to be in Roxas City or from Boracay Island.

Built in 1774, it is one of the oldest in the Philippines with its signature Baroque architecture ( common during those times). At present, Sta. Monica Parish Church is famous for its bell. Yes, the bell of Pan-ay Church is its main attraction.

Weighing a total of more than 10 tons, this bell was constructed way back in the early 19th century. From the 70 sacks of coins collected from the locals ( imagine the agony and so-called “Spanish cruelties), this bell is the biggest in the country, in Asia and the third in the world. The great bell is surrounded with 8 smaller bells which are also dated as early as 1822. What is more impressive is that these bells are still used until today .

The rest of the church is very striking with its designs courtesy of the Baroque architecture that it adheres.

The entrance door of Pan-ay Church has a floral designs sculptured with complexity.

I’m not sure who this persona is but my guess is that he is the Pope/ Bishop or any high church official during the construction of Pan-ay Church.

The belfry of the Church with clocks sourrounding the 4th tier.

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