Roxas City, Capiz One-Day Tour

          The province of Capiz in the island of Panay in Western Visayas, Philippines boasts its capital city of Roxas for being the Philippine's seafood capital. There is indeed truth to what they claim.
          Roxas City is the provincial capital of Capiz, the seat of the Archdiocese of Capiz which includes the provinces of Aklan and Romblon, and the only city and the commercial capital of northern Panay Island. A functional domestic airport is serving the city and nearby municipalities while the port of Culasi is one of the busiest ports in Panay after the ports of Iloilo, Dumangas [in Iloilo], Caticlan [in Aklan], and Dumaguit [also in Aklan]. The city is connected to other provinces of Panay by the Iloilo-Capiz New Route to Passi City and Iloilo City in Iloilo down south, Iloilo-Capiz Coastal Road to Estancia in Iloilo to the east, and by the continuation of the Iloilo-Capiz New Route to Kalibo and Caticlan in Aklan to the northwest.
          The city lies near the mouth of the Panay River which empties into the Sibuyan Sea in the neighboring Pan-ay town. The geography of the city itself is a mixture of random hills and swamps from the distributaries of the Panay River traversing through the city which forms northern delta of the river.
          The fare rates (as of July 2014) for buses going to Roxas City are as follows. Airconditioned vans are also available.

     Iloilo [Tagbak Terminal] To Roxas City [Pueblo de Panay Terminal] vv. - 3 hours travel +/- 30 minutes

Bus (Regular): Adult - Php 136.00, Senior Citizens - Php 113.00

Bus (Airconditioned): Adult - Php 161.00, Senior Citizens - Php 131.00

Airconditioned Vans: Php 150.00

     Also available are buses to and from Roxas City and Kalibo, Aklan, and Estancia, Iloilo.

A major tributary of the Jalaur River System passing through Passi City, Iloilo

The transport terminal in Passi City, a major stopover station for buses and vans plying the Iloilo - Roxas, Iloilo - Kalibo, and the Iloilo - Caticlan/Buruanga route and the final station of the Iloilo - Passi route. Passi city is the only component city of the province of Iloilo and is the economic center of central Panay. This is also the last town/city of Iloilo before reaching the province of Capiz.

Vast rice fields and sugarcane fields run along the length of the highway.

Evidence of the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda [Haiyan] in the province of Capiz. These coconut trees still bear the wrath of the storm.

From Iloilo City, the municipality of Dumarao is the first town of Capiz after passing by the Iloilo-Capiz border after Passi City.

The provincial capitol building of the province of Capiz.

Roxas City Administrative Building

The seal of the city of Roxas at the base of their flagpole in front of the city hall.

The Capiz [Roxas] Metropolitan Cathedral, the center of the Archdiocese of Roxas.

The interior of the cathedral

The People's Park Baywalk showin Mantalinga Island

Some of the food we ordered... :)

What's left after eating... :)

Panublion Museum just across the street from the city hall

Inside the museum

Ancestral House of the Roxas Family (inc. the late Philippine President Manuel A. Roxas)

Robinson's Place Roxas, the city's newest and biggest supermall.

Roxas City is a worthy place to visit when you're planning to roam around Panay Island.

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.

Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique

Guys check this out! This was taken in Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique, Philippines. =)