Dalaag Beach Resort, Antique

          Antique is one of the four provinces of Panay Island which includes Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo. The province of Antique boasts a unique geography characterized by mountains in the east hugging the narrow coastal plains which is bounded by the turquoise Sulu Sea in the west. This interplay of mountains and sea gives Antique its spectacular sunset that other Panay Island provinces can only dream of [having only pockets of coasts that can view the setting sun unhindered be tall mountains in the western horizon].
          The northern coast of Antique is dotted by a few outlying islands and numerous coastal reefs which makes this area the new mecca for beach tourism in Panay Island after Boracay in Malay, Aklan and Concepcion (Pan de Azucar/Mt. Manaphag) and Carles (Isla Gigantes, Sicogon Island) in Iloilo. The southern coast, however, doesn't have that much islands with Nogas Island being the only island in the south. However having such a scenic coastal topography, the southern coast of Antique is gaining momentum.
          The most notable coastal landmark in southern Antique is the Punta Hagdan Rock Formation which can be seen as far as San Jose de Buenavista (the provincial capital) abouth 30 km. away. The municipalities of Tobias Fornier (formerly called Dao) and Anini-y has a wide array of black/gray sand beach resorts ranging from simple beachside resorts to resorts complete with amenities such as pools and slides and a hot spring resort in Anini-y (Sira-an Hot Spring). Nogas Island also offers white sand beach and coral reefs around the island accessible through several drop-off points in Anini-y town and Sira-an Hot Spring Resort.
          This post focuses on a newly established beach resort a little further north of Anini-y. It's name is Dalaag Beach Resort in Tobias Fornier. The resort is less than a kilometer north of the town proper. This newly built resort offers amenities from pools for kids and adults, a slide which will lead you straight to the pool after spiraling downwards, rooms for rent with climate control functionality, beach side cottages and a small stage for presentations (i.e. reunions or team-building activities).
         Done with the writing part here, the pictures will speak for themselves. :)

Facing south, Punta Hagdan Rock Formation as seen from the beach. Punta Hagdan Resort is found near the geologic formation.

The beach and the cottages inside.

Facing north, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique is barely visible at the tip of the faint piece of land jutting out into the sea. The mountains belong to the municipality of Hamtic, just north of Tobias Fornier.

The bamboo bridge connecting the beach-side cottages in the background to the pool area in the foreground.

"The Overview". The pool area as seen from the top of the 'water slide tower'.

The water slide tower.

The beach-side cottages as viewed from the top of the tower.

The more secluded part of the pool.

          Dalaag Beach Resort is more than 100 km. from Iloilo City or just about 30 km. from San Jose, Antique. Buses and passenger vans are available at the San Pedro, Molo Bus Terminal in Iloilo City or at the Antique Bus Terminal in Funda Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista (it is more commonly called as San Jose).

Coastal Miagao

Miagao is one of the more scenic municipalities in southern Iloilo. This post will tell you why. =)

Nogas Island Marine Reserve

          Nogas Island is the only island in the municipality of Anini-y in the southern tip of the province of Antique. It is, in fact, the only island in the southern part Antique although locals would usually tell you that the neighboring Jurao-jurao islet, now fully connected to the mainland, used to be a separate island, and is even larger than Nogas Is.
          Nogas Island is an established marine reserve by Philippine law. This island is a sanctuary for a diverse array of wildlife living in its healthy reefs, forests, seagrass beds, and mangrove strands. This island is approximately a kilometer from the nearest shore. The lighthouse situated in the middle of the island is one of the most visible landmarks of this island.
          Siraan Hot Spring resort was developed from a hot spring discovered from the huge rock near the water's edge. The locals channeled this hot sulfur-smelling water into constructed pools. Later on, the area was further developed and cottages and boats-for-hire going to Nogas Island were added to the resort's amenities. The resort is about 2-2 1/2 hours from Iloilo City and an hour from Miagao, Iloilo.
          This island is accessible through passenger motor boats docked in Siraan Hot Spring Resort in the mainland. As of May 2014, the motor boats (max. cap. of 10 pax) cost 500 pesos. The entrance fee in Siraan Hot Spring ranges from 30 to 100 pesos.

Entrance to Siraan Hot Spring.

Rocks surrounding the hot spring offer great views of the seas around the resort. They are also great vantage points to view Nogas Island.

One of the pools in the hot spring resort that's gradually being filled with hot spring water after being emptied and cleaned.

The rocky shore at the back side of the resort where motor bancas going to Nogas Island dock.

Nogas Island from afar.

View of mainland Anini-y while on a boat to the island. The mountains shown form the southern tip of the Madja-as Range.

Panoramic view of Anini-y from the island.

The most famous landmark of Nogas Island, the lighthouse located in the center of the island. The path going to the structure is lined by fragrant kalachuchi trees (Plumeria rubra).

A closer look of the lighthouse.

Mangrove forests around the island.

A young Rhizophora mangrove.

A developing mangrove forest gradually taking over a seagrass bed.

Seagrass beds form a boundary between the coral reef and the rocky shore.

Natural dwarf trees (bonsai) growing on rocks near the water's edge.

The island's rocky shore.

A grazing cowrie (Cypraea sp.).

The coral reef under the turquoise water.

A pink coral and a yellow soft coral beside it.

Fanworms and a feather star living in tubes inside the coral

An indigo-colored coral.

TINMR Escapade (Taklong Island National Marine Reserve)

               The Province of Guimaras is one of the provinces that comprise Western Visayas or Region 6 in central Philippines. The island province is the smallest of the six provinces of the region both in population and land area. Before becoming a full pledged province on May 22, 1992, Guimaras was considered as a sub-province of Iloilo. Presently, the island province consists of five towns from the three original towns. These are Jordan (the administrative center), Buenavista (the oldest town among the five), San Lorenzo, Sibunag, and Nueva Valencia. San Lorenzo and Sibunag are the latest addition to the three original towns. The seat of the government which used to be located in Barangay Poblacion and Hoskyn along with one of the province's principal port is currently situated in Barangay San Miguel, all in Jordan town.

               Guimaras island is known to most Filipinos because of their mangoes which are famed to be the sweetest in the Philippines or even in the world. In fact their main festival showcases primarily mangoes - the Manggahan Festival. That could be one reason why Guimaras is always visited by tourists both local and foreign. Actually, the province of Guimaras has a lot more to offer than that. Guimaras is now gaining wide acceptance as a popular sun-worshipper's paradise because of the fact that this limestone island province has numerous white sand beaches and even more numerous islands dotting its coasts. One of the most famous beaches of Guimaras is Raymen's Beach Resort or more popularly known as Alubihod beach. Most of the islands are found in the municipalities of Nueva Valencia and Sibunag while the beaches are scattered all along its breathtaking coast. Aside form the beaches, the province is also famous for their Trappist Monastery producing delicious take-home foods such as dried mangoes, mango-flavored barquillos, biscocho, and many other mango-flavored stuff. Due to the rich marine ecosystem of the island, several institutions have helped hands in preserving and protecting several areas along its coast.

               The TINMR is under the protection of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) along with the neighboring islets and Tandog island. One hectare of land in Taklong island was donated to the University of the Philippines - Visayas. This piece of land was used to build a research station for students and professors of the said university. Last April 30, 2013, I (with my classmates) went to TINMR (Taklong Island National Marine Reserve) to spend two weeks of field work in the protected island. We travelled from Iloilo City to Jordan using a pumpboat then rode a jeepney from Jordan to Sitio Luzaran, Barangay Lapaz, Nueva Valencia for about an hour. From there we hired a pumpboat that would take us to the island. The journey from sitio Luzaran to Taklong island is only about 10 minutes.

Riding a pumpboat (motorized banca/boat) in Ortiz wharf in Iloilo City heading to the port of Jordan in Guimaras island.

While riding the pumpboat...

After arriving in Jordan port, we rode a jeepney through the spectacular Guimaras roadside scenery.

One of the best stretches of the road from Jordan to Sitio Luzaran. Feels like the US wild west.

Now in Barangay Lapaz, it's only about 0.90 km to Sitio Luzaran.

Sitio Luzaran, Lapaz, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

This is the front/main dock of Taklong Island where most bancas and pumpboats load/unload the passengers.

Another view of the place.

This building is the UPV Research Station in TINMR.

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This is the view from the back dock ideal for smaller bancas.

This islet is really cute, it doesn't have any visible plants growing on it but is the nesting site of numerous black birds.

A different islet.

A view of one the sandbars (tombolo) found in TINMR. This particular one is named Calaparan.

In the Calaparan sandbar (tombolo).

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Taklong island at dawn.

          Guimaras is really a wonderful place to explore. There are a lot of other must-see places in the island. So next time you travel to Western Visayas, don't forget to stop by Guimaras island.