Allow yourself some enchantment and adventure. Visit Antique, historic land of the Binirayan Festival, majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, white beaches, rich fishing grounds and white water kayaking.
Experience pure hospitality in Antique's pension houses, and Kayak Inn (Tibiao). Relish the simple joy of local host family by getting an accommodation in the homestay. Where you stay, your meals can be arranged with your host in advance. Natural, fresh foods are bountiful so you can have a fill of vegetables, fruits and seafoods.
Activities are many and exciting. Go trekking, boating, swimming, shell hunting, snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing. nogas Island and Sira-an hot Springs are "must-see." Or you may time your visit during the Binirayan festival (December 27-30) and experience not only the festival itself but many other related events.
How To Get There
Antique is accessible from major cities of the country through Iloilo City from where buses leave for San Jose, the province's capital town. Travel time is approximately 2 hours.
For more Information on Antique, write or call:
Department of Tourism Region VI
Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
Antique Tourism Office
Provincial Capitol, San jose, Antique
Tourist Information Center (Iloilo)
Tel.: (033)337-8874
Fax: (033)335-0245
DOT Information Center (Manila)
Tel.: (632)524-1703
Antique is one of the provinces comprising the island of Panay in Western Visayas. It has a total land area of approximately 2,522 sq. km. It is bounded on the north and northeast by Aklan, on the east by Capiz, and on the southwest by Iloilo. On the west is the Cuyo East Pass of the Sulu Sea, part of the vast China Sea. Eighteen municipalities make up the province: fourteen along the coast, three inland, and one on six islets. Coastal towns are Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Belison, Patnongon, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste, Pandan, and Libertad. The inland towns are Sibalom, San Remigio, and Valderrama.
Geography
Profiled like a seahorse, Antique is an oversized serrated hemline on the western border of the three-cornered scarf-like land mass that is Panay. It lies between the China Sea to the west and a tall mountain range, 155 kilometers long and 33 kilometers at its widest, to the east, separating it from the rest of Panay.
Political Subdivision
The province is composed of 18 municipalities, 3 of which are inland, 14 coastal and 1 island municipality. Antique was classified as a 2nd class province as of January, 2002.
Climate
Antique has a pleasant tropical climate.
Population
Per 2000 NCSO Survey, population is placed at 472,822 of which 50.57% are males and 49.43% females.
Language / Dialect
Antiqueños speak Hiniray-a with Indo-Malayan origin. English is widely spoken and understood.
Major Industries
Major products shipped out of the province are palay, rice, copra, muscovado sugar, legumes, fruits and vegetables, livestock, fish and fish preparations, and seaweeds. Manufactured items like native gifts, toys, and housewares have found their way in major cities of the country and abroad. Principal mined products exported include coal, marble, silica, copper, and gemstone.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Source: www.antique.ph
Antique passed through several historic periods namely. Pre-Spanish Period, Spanish Occupation, Philippine Revolutionary Government, American Occupation, Commonwealth (transition period), Japanese Occupation, and Philippine Independence.
History reveals that in the early time, ten datus from Borneo with their families, followers and slaves landed in Panay at a place called Sinogbuhan near the present site of the town of Miag-ao, Iloilo. The Borneans found the place inhabited by Negretos living under the rule of Merikudo from whom the Borneans under Datu Sumakwel purchased the island for one gold sadok and one gold necklace. The island was later divided into three "sakops" namely. Hamtik, Aklan and Irong-Irong. In later times, Hamtik became Antique, Aklan became Capiz and Irong-lrong became lIoilo Hamtik was placed under the superior datu named Sumakwel, who found a place known as Malandog, the first Malay settlement in the Philippines.
The Pre-Spanish natives of Antique had tribal government ruled by chieftains. They traded with neighboring countries like China and Malaya. They had their civilization blended with Negrito, Indonesian and Malay cultures enriched by cultural influence from India, China and Japan.
It is believed that the Spaniards found their way to Antique immediately after they established themselves in Oton, Iloilo. The Antiqueños resisted the invasion but in the end accepted Spanish rule, Christianity, the Spanish Colonial System and at the same time absorbed the social, cultural and educational system of the Spaniards. Antique then was created into a politico-military province in 1780 with the town of Hamtik as its first capital. In 1796, Antique, then known as Provincia de Bugason was given an independent status as a province. Later, the provincial government was established in Bugasong but was transferred to San Jose de Buenavista where it has remained since then.
Later on, the Antiqueños became tired of Spanish rule. They joined other Filipinos in their determination to have national independence which was established in Malolos, Bulacan on January 23, 1899 when Spanish rule in the Philippines was overthrown by the Americans. But this revolutionary government ended on April 19, 1901, with the capture of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and his taking oath of allegiance to the United States of America.
The Antiqueños enjoyed the noble policy of American occupation because self-government was given to them. During this period of our history, our political leaders joined in the achievement of Philippine Independence as promised by the Jones Law. The Tydings-McDuffie Law was passed by the United States Congress which provided for a ten-year transition period under the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Hence, a constitutional convention was called to draft the constitution of the Philippines. Antiqueños elected the late Ramon Maza and the late Angel Salazar Sr. as their Con-con delegate in 1934. The Commonwealth lived until the Japanese Occupation.
Antique experienced many untold hardships during the Japanese Occupation. Many Antiqueños evacuated to the mountains and joined the guerilla movement. The Japanese stayed nearly four years.
Out of the ashes of the Pacific War emerged the Republic of the Philippines. Manuel Roxas was the last President of the Commonwealth and the first President of the Republic. Atty. Emigdio Nietes was Antique's first Congressman under the Republic. Antique was able to produce the most powerful congressman in the Philippines in the name of Tobias A. Fornier who held the position of the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriations.
From this time on, a lot of things occurred and changed in the province.
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