Antique // is a
province of the
Philippines located in the
region of
Western Visayas. The province's capital,
San Jose, is located in the western
Panay Island and borders
Aklan,
Capiz and
Iloilo to the east, whilst facing the
Sulu Sea to the west.
portion of
Antique was one of the three
sakups (districts) of
Panay before
Spanish colonizers
arrived on the islands. The province was known at that time as
"Hantik", which was the name of the large red ants found on the island. The Spanish
chroniclers,
however, were influenced by the French when they recorded the name as
"Hantique," and later established the formal name "Antique" after
removing the "h."
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| The mountainous view of Antique |
Historians believe that the earliest people who settled on the island of Panay were tribal
Negritos or
Atis.
Oral history, relayed as the "
Legend of
Maragtas", states that in 1212, ten "
datus" from
Malay escaped persecution from
Sri-Vishaya, a Hindu-Malay empire in
Borneo and
Sumatra.
The ten datus, led by Datu Puti, sailed northward with their families
and communities, landing on Panay after departing Borneo.
Upon arrival, the Malay datus met the Ati chieftain King Marikudo and
his wife Maniwantiwan. They offered the chieftain a golden
salakot (wide-brimmed headgear)
and golden necklace, among other gifts, as a display of respect. King
Marikudo responded to the datus' generosity by moving to the mountains
with his Ati tribe, allowing the Malayans to settle in the lowlands. The
legacy of this landing is commemorated annually in Antique during the
Binirayan festival.
The island of Panay was then divided into three
sakups: Hantik, Aklan and Irong-Irong. Aklan became the present-day
Aklan and Capiz, Irong-Irong became
Iloilo,
and Hantik (also called Hamtik or Hamtic) became Antique. Hantik was
named for the large red ants found on the island called "lantik-lantik".
The sakup of Hantik was given to Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten datus,
and who, according to tradition, was the oldest and wisest of them. The
three sakups were later governed as a political unit called the
Confederation of Madyaas,
also under Datu Sumakwel. Datu Sumakwel founded the town of Malandog,
considered to be the first Malay settlement in the country. Malandog is
now a
barangay in the present-day municipality of
Hamtic, which was named after the historic
sakup.
During the
Spanish colonial period, the coastal province was vulnerable to attacks by
Moro raiders. Under the direction of the Spanish friars, a series of
watchtowers, like the 'Old Watchtower' in
Libertad and Estaca Hill in
Bugasong, were built to guard Antique.
In 1942, the
Imperial Japanese Army landed in Antique and occupied the province during the
Second World War.
During the Japanese Insurgencies and Occupation (1942-1944), the
military general headquarters and camp bases of the 6th and 62nd
Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was active from
1942 to 1946 and the military general headquarters and camp bases of the
6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was re-activated
between 1944 and 1946. Additionally, during the implementation of the
anti-imperial Japanese military operations on Panay Island between 1942
and 1945 in the Antique province, Filipino military forces aided the
local guerrilla resistance against the Imperial Japanese Army.
Between 1944 and 1945,
Philippine Commonwealth forces
of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the 6th
and 62nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army defeated
the Japanese troops and liberated the province. The liberation was
achieved with the active support of recognized local guerrillas.
Awesomepanay?
Visit Iloilo City?
Geography
The province of Antique is one of the six provinces comprising
Western Visayas or Region VI and one of the four provinces in the island
of
Panay.
The Province of Antique is an elongated stretch of land occupying the
entire western side of the island. It is bounded by the rugged central
mountains of Panay, bordering on the provinces of Aklan in the
northeast, Capiz on the east, Iloilo in the southeast and the
Sulu Sea on the west. Its western-most and northernmost point is
Semirara Island at
12°07′10″N 121°21′10″E, while its easternmost point is approximately
11°01′N 122°19.5′E.
Anini-y is the province's most southerly point at
10°24′24″N 121°57′38″E. Resembling a seahorse in shape, it is 155 kilometres (96 mi) long and 35 kilometres (22 mi) at its widest point.
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| A sunset view from the top of mountain |
Antique has rugged and varied land. Nogas Island, Hurao-Hurao Island
and Mararison Island have long stretches of white sand beaches that are
ideal for shell-hunting. Batbatan Island on the other hand, appeals to
scuba divers because of the well-preserved coral reefs. Mount Madia-as
(or Madjaas), on the border with Aklan, is the highest peak on Panay.
This 2,113 metres (6,932 ft) high mountain
is a dormant volcano with lakes and 14 waterfalls. It is said to be the
legendary home of Bulalakaw, the supreme god of the ancients, and
beckons as a challenge for hikers and trekkers.
The municipality of
San Jose de Buenavista
serves as the provincial capital, the center of commerce and trade, and
the seat of the provincial government and national government agencies.
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| Antique Provincial Capitol |
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Trade, commerce, and industry
Major products shipped out of the province are palay, rice, copra,
muscovado sugar, legumes, fruits and vegetables, livestock, fish and
fish preparations, and seaweeds. Manufacture items like native gifts,
toys, and housewares are sold in major cities of the country and abroad.
Principal mined products exported include
coal,
marble,
silica,
copper and
gemstones.
The main goods entering the province are construction materials, dry
goods, groceries, canned and bottled products, fertilizers and others.
The capital town of
San Jose de Buenavista is the center of business in the area. Potential growth areas include the towns of
Culasi,
Pandan and
Sibalom. Investment opportunities with good prospects in the province are:
- Champorado sugar industry
- Seaweed processing
- Marble processing
- Gemstone and semi-precious stone processing
- Coco oil mill
- Livestock and poultry processing
- Food Processing
- Marine products processing
- Furniture, handicraft, metalcraft
- Fiber extraction/processing/weaving
- High value crop production
- Feed/Feed Milling
Banks and other financial institutions
As of 1998, Antique has a total of eleven rural banks, five private
commercial banks and three government banks: the Development Bank of the
Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines have branches at San Jose
de Buenavista and Pandan, Antique. There are also 51 multi-purpose
cooperatives and four credit cooperatives.
Establishments
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| Gaisano Grand Antique |
An establishment is an economic unit which engages under a single
ownership or control. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
classifies establishments as manufacturing, trade and service. For 1998,
fourteen manufacturing establishments were reported. Such manufacturing
establishments are making hollowblocks, wood furniture, steel/wood,
packed foods, metal craft, threshers, soap and sidecars. Service
establishments totaled 117 and a total of 294 trade establishments.
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| Evelio B. Javier Freedom park |
Tourism
The province has many tourist attractions, activities, points of
interest, facilities and services to offer. There are tourism areas that
are developing and many are still to be developed. Tourists traveling
from
Iloilo to
Boracay
can stop by Antique's tourism areas. The whole stretch of coastal areas
in Antique is suited for scuba diving. Starting from the southern town
of Antique tourists can drop by Sira-an Hot Spring, claimed to be a
medical spring. The next destination is the capital town San Jose de
Buenavista passing by Malandog Marker, site of the first Malayan
Settlement. Tourism amenities like restaurants, shopping malls,
pasalubong centers, accommodations and beach resorts are present.
Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, can be found in
Sibalom Natural Park.
In the municipalities of Patnongon and Laua-an, tourists interested in
traditional methods can visit muscovado mills and watch how muscovado
sugar is processed. Products made with muscovado are also available;
Laua-an is noted for its long
butong-butong (a candy made with
muscovado sugar). Tibiao has the Bugtong Bato Falls and the Fish SPA.
From Culasi Mount Madia-as can be seen, the Mount Olympus of Antique.
Sebaste has the Igpasungaw Falls, the Sebaste Inland Resort and the most
visited Saint Blaise Church, where devotees of St. Blaise make a
pilgrimage every year during the annual fiesta. Pandan has Malumpati
Health Spring and Bugang River—declared the cleanest body of water in
the whole country—where
rafting and river boating can be experienced. This is the most
developed tourism area with a tour package. Libertad is famous for its
bariw mat and bag weaving.
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| Entrance of Sira-an hot spring |
Sira-an Hot Spring entrance fee is P20 only and P600 overnight ordinary room accommodation good for 4 to 6 persons.
The Picturesque view of Nogas Island that will surely makes you enjoy with its beautiful beach and crystal clear water.
From Siraan hotspring you can rent a pump boat to nogas island for only P500 which is good for a maximum of 10 persons.
Awesome panay
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_%28province%29
The history of Iloilo City dates back to the Spanish colonial period,
starting out as a small and incoherent grouping of fishermen's hamlets
from the Iloilo River by a large swamp which after 1855 became the
second most important port of call in the colony due to transshipment of
sugar products from the neighboring Negros Island. It was later given
the honorific title of "La Muy Noble Ciudad" (English: "The Most Noble City") by the Queen Regent of Spain .
At the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was second to the primate
city of Manila, with stores along Calle Real selling luxury products
from all over the world, an agricultural experimental station
established at La Paz in 1888, a school of arts and trades which opened
in 1891, and a telephone network system operating in 1894.
