21st CENTURY PHILIPPINE AND WORLD LITERATURE

REGION 6: THE WESTERN VISAYAS REGION

Provinces Capital

Aklan Kalibo
Antique San Jose
Capiz Roxas City
Guimaras Jordan
IloIlo IloIlo City
Negros Occidental Bacolod City

FACTS AND FIGURES OF REGION 6

1. Western Visayas is located in Central Philippines and lies between two large bodies of water namely; the Sibuyan
Sea and the Visayas Sea.

2. The regional center is IloIlo City.

3. The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan languages: Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, Aklanon and
Capiznon.

4. It is the most populous region in the Visayas.

FACTS AND FIGURES

A. AKLAN

1. Aklan is believed to have been settled in the 12 th century by settlers from Borneo, ruled by chieftain Datu
Dinagandan.

2. The main inhabitants of the province are the Aklanon. Other inhabitants include the Negrito locally known as the Ati
and the Sulod.

3. Kalibo, the capital of Aklan is one of the oldest towns in the country.

4. Ati-Atihan Festival celebrated every January honouring the feast of senior St. Nino. The name Ati-atihan means “to
be like Atis” or “to make believe Atis”, the local name for the Aeta aborgies who first settled in the region. It is “the
Mother of All Festivals.”

5. Aklan is the “Home of the Pina Fiber and the Rambutan Center of Asia.”

DELICACY

Kinilaw is a raw seafood dish native to the Philippines, similar to ceviche.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Boracay Island
 It is one of the world’s top tourist destinations.
 It is the “Paradise Island of the Philippines.”

2. Ignito Cave
 Locally known as “elephant cave” due to its appearance.

B. ANTIQUE

1. The pronvince’s name was a derivative of the native word “hantique” or “hantik” which means “large red ants.”

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2. The province capital is San Jose de Buenavista, the most populous town in Antique.

3. The province is home to the indigenous Iraynun-Bukidnon, speakers of a dialect of the Kiniray-a language.

4. It is dubbed as the “Gemstone Country.”

FESTIVAL

Biniyaran Festival literary means “where they sailed to.” Binaray, biray or sailboat in Kinaray-a.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Anini-y Church
 A massive white coral building located in Poblacion Anini-y.

2. Bugang River
 “Gawad Pangulo ng Kapaligiran” as the cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines.

C. CAPIZ

1. It is known for the Placuna placenta oyster shell that has the same name locally and used for decoration and making
lampshades, trays, window and doors.

2. It is known as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

3. Its capital is Roxas City.

DELICACY

Lumpiang Ubod also known as heart of palm spring rolls, is a Filipino appetizer consisting of julienned ubod with various
meat and vegetables in a thin egg crepe. It is commonly served fresh, but it can only deep-fried.

FESTIVALS

1. Halaran Festival is in celebration of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Concepcion. The features of the festival
are the dancing parade, higantes, fluvial parade, fireworks show and agri-aqua trade fair.

2. Talahong Festival derived from two words “talaba” and “tahong.”

3. Aswang Festival is celebrated every 29th and 30th day of October. This includes the parade of participants donning the
foremost dreadful costumes like kapre, wak-wak, and tikbalang.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Moro Tower
 Built in 1814 in order to repel the invading Moors and Portuguese colonizers.
 These towers are made of black pebbles.

2. Sta. Monica Church

 This ancient and historic monument represents the founding of Christianity on the island of Panay.
 It is also the home of the largest church bell in the Philippines and Asia.
D. GUIMARAS

1. It is known as the “Mango Capital of Philippines.”

2. The youngest and the smallest province in region 6.

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3. Its capital is Jordan.

FESTIVAL

Manggahan sa Guimaras Festival is an identity festival of the province. Manggahan culminates in a grand showcase of
cultural festivals in bits to show the world that there is more to Guimaras than its sweet, fiber and pest-free mangos.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Guisi Lighthouse
 It is considered as the second oldest lighthouse in the Philippines.

2. Navalas Church
 It is considered to be the oldest structure in this island.
 It is made of coral rocks abundant in the area during the construction of the edifice.

E. ILOILO

1. Its capital is Iloilo City.

2. It is known as the “Food Basket and Rice Granary of the Western Visayas.”

DELICACY

Pancit Molo/Filipino Pork Dumpling Soup is a type of soup using wanton wrappers which originated from Molo district
of IloIlo City. It is consists of a mixture of ground pork wrapped in molo or wonton wrapper, shredded chicken meat and
vegetables.

FESTIVALS

1. Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City held on the 4 th weekend of January. It is to honor the
Sto. Nino and to celebrate the arrival of Malay settlers.

2. Carabao Carroza Festival is celebrated every 3rd of May and since 1973. It consists of three main attractions namely;
carabao carroza parade, carabao carroza race and search for carabao carroza queen.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Molo Church
 It is known as “church of women” because of the statues of women saints that decorate its pillars.
 A Gothic renaissance church made of coral rock.
 It was visited by Dr. Jose Rizal on his way to exile in Dapitan.

2. Jaro Cathedral
 It is dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
 Famous for its Shrine of Our Lasy of Candle which according to pious tradition has been miraculously growing.

F. NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

1. It is the 4th largest island in the Philippines.

2. It is known as the “Sugar bowl of the Philippines.”

3. Negros is basically volcanic, making its soil ideal for agriculture.

4. The primary spoken language is Hiligaynon.

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5. Its capital is Bacolod City.

FESTIVAL

Maskara Festival gives the people of Negros, as well as the local foreign visitors, a chance to drink and be merry in 20
days. It is originally designed to show the hardships of the people of Negros and celebrated during October 1-20.

TOURIST SPOTS

1. Mt. Kanlaon
 One of the mountains found in the North-central portion of the island of Negros.
 It is the highest peak in Central Philippines, the most dominant and attractive feature of which is the active
summit crater of a volcano.

2. Revolutionary Markers
 Commemorate the spots where local revolutionaries fought against Spanish authorities during the Negros
revolution in 1898.

3. The Ruins in Bacolod City Philippines

 The mansion was the largest residential structure ever built at that time and had in it one of the finest furniture.,
chinaware, and decorative items.

REPRESENTATIVE LITERARY TEXTS

Hinilawod (A Panay Epic)

 It is an epic poem orally transmitted from early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay.
 The term “Hinilawod” generally translates to “Tales From the Mouth of the Halawod River.”

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