Mt. Aliwliw Trek

 

Sometime in November 2002 (?), we hiked from Poblacion, Anini-y to Mt. Aliwliw. At the peak of the mountain is the former airbase of the Philippine Air Force hence the asphalt road in the picture. The road has a steep incline. My knees and chin literally met. The hike up was hard as you are working against gravity. Going down was even harder. My muscles and bones ached. You have to run or jog to keep yourself from tumbling down.

From the top San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier (Dao), Sibalom are visible. One could see Guimaras and tip of Negros Occidental when the horizon is clear. Tiolas, San Joaquin, Iloilo is also visible.

There were bunks, office, 5 watchtowers and heliport lying in ruin.

Locals say that there is a dam/ water impounding structure somewhere near. We were not able to go there since it was getting dark. They said its nice to take a dip there.

Our route was Poblacion, Timbubog, San Ramon, Tagaytay, Mt. Aliwliw and Brgy. Fatima, Tobias Fornier. In Brgy. Fatima a jeep came to take us back to Poblacion.

Inside Simbahan ng Anini-y

The pictures were taken before the burial mass of my grandmother (sister of the lolo) way back in 2008. Shown are only some of the features of the church. I have observed that the masonry on the altar is not consistent with the construction of the other parts of the church. This must be due to various reconstructions done in the past.

The alter of the Simbahan ng Anini-y (San Juan de Nepumuceno Church)

Ornate door carving of the Simbahan ng Anini-y (San Juan de Nepumuceno Church).

Inside of the Simbahan ng Anini-y (San Juan de Nepumuceno Church).

Baptism chamber of Simbahan ng Anini-y (San Juan de Nepumuceno Church).

Poblacion and Nogas Island - The BEST Thing AVP

This is the AVP last 2008 that I made for Poblacion, Anini-y, Antique. This was originally intended for my multiply account, hence the qin for multiply at the end.

Things To Do and See while in Poblacion, Anini-y, Antique

1. Magpanghinhas ( Gathering shell foods)
People in Poblacion would gather "sihi" or "bulalo" during the low tide. "Sihi" is an ingredient for a tinola with saluyot, okra and malunggay, served during lunch. You need to use a safety pin to pry out the meaty part out of the shell. The best time to do this is during 5-7 am to avoid sunburn. The best place is at the back of the Simbahan ng Anini-y up to Brgy. Sagua.

2. Maglantaw sa mga naga pasikad manok (Roosters "sparring")
Many of the men in Poblacion are into cockfighting and most are keeping their own winner. To ensure the best performance, men would do "pasikad" of their roosters in the morning at around 7-9 o'clock. In this, they would pit their rooster with other roosters. This is like "sparring" practice for the chickens.

3. Go swimming
If you get phobic when water reaches up to your chest then Poblacion has the beach for you. The swimming area does not go into a sudden plunge so there is plenty of space to swim. It is safe for children too.

4. Explore Nogas Island
After breakfast head to Nogas Island and picnic for lunch. If you own a snorkel, you could bring one. Don't forget sunscreen and if you are planning an overnight stay don't forget insect repellant. Also bring lots of water. There is no fresh water source in the island.

5. Visit the Anini-y Church
Visit at around 9 am or 3 pm if you want to tour inside. Don't forget to arrange first your visit with the local priest. Ask for permission. Don't forget to catch a glimpse of its old bronze bell. Nonetheless, you could go there anytime and stand outside and be awed.

6. Manabo kang isda (Source fresh fish)
Every afternoon at around 3 - 4 pm fishermen would come in with their catch. To get the freshest choice go to the beach and met up with them.

7. Drink tuba
Coconut sap when fermented it turns into coconut toddy (aka tuba) and eventually vinegar. Drinking sessions usually starts at around 4 in the afternoon. Many prefer to drink by the beach so head to the barangay hall because along the way there are tubaan. Tubaan are small huts, it could just be a table, where tuba are sold. This is also where people gather to socialize over tuba. Tuba costs around P5.00 per 1 glass (nescafe glass which is about 500 ml).

8. Mag pamalaran (Go Fishing)
Starting 5 in the afternoon fishermen would head out to sea. If you are brave and willing to endure the hardship, boredom and bitter cold then go ahead and ask some local fisher folks if you could join them.

9. Mag pamanlo (Using light torches to comb the reef for fishes and crustaceans)
This involves combing the reefs during lowtide for trapped fishes and other crustaceans exposed. This usually happens at night or very early in the morning before sunrise. You bring petromax or flashlight.

10. Mag panalum (Go diving)
If you want adventure, you are a great swimmer, can hold you breath for a long period of time under water, has good eye and hand coordination and not afraid of depth then ask for a local to bring you along. You need goggles (samong) and spears (pana) for this.

11. Get a view
Hike to Tuno (also known as Bugtong as there is one tree up there) to see Nogas Island, the church and the span of Poblacion. On your way there, pass by the Simburyon (ruins of a muscovado mill) at Sabudan.

12. Magpadalayday or magpahilot (Get a massage)
After a long, bumpy journey to Anini-y get a massage. There are good masseurs in Poblacion. Most of them are not ordinary masseurs. They are also maarams or manugbulong (healers). They could do more than relieving your physical pains. Some of them could perform rituals like batak dungan and pang luy-a.

The ritual of batak dungan is usally performed for children/ babies to protect their dungan (an ancient concept of soul) from evil spirits that could bring illness and harm the children. This also protects the dungan from wandering away from the physical body which could cause exhibition of madness-like behavior (nawawala sa sarili, pagkatulala, depress-like) or even death.

Pa(ng)luy-a on the other hand is a healing process using ginger. This is used to cure illness such as fever, pains in the stomach, rashes or any other illness thought to be caused by evil spirits or elemental creatures one might have displeased or harmed.

Hilot is different from dalayday. Dalayday is the spa-ish massage for muscle aches while hilot refers to a therapeutic massage to realign bones when you have fractures (bari), dislocation (hawod), or sprain (kibit).

13. Magpanggutok (Gather bangus fry)
This is very challenging especially when the water gets choppy. An implement called "boldoz", made of bamboo with fine mesh, is used to gather the bangus fry.

14. Mangulabo
Drink lots of buko juice and eat lots of coco-meat.

15. Lay back and relax
When you are in Poblacion time slows down and you have the day to yourself. No need to hurry. No need to rush.

Fiesta Urukay turned One

Fiesta Urukay in Multiply.com turned 1 year old last June 3, 2009. I forgot to repost it here. I have not been actively posting for quite sometime for I am very busy with work. I sometimes miss being a bum for I have time to think of fresh articles and have a free schedule to do some traveling or research to post something new here.

I was hoping to do something to celebrate the thing with a bang but with the prospect of changing work and preparation for upcoming big event in my current work I was not able to do anything. Maybe next year.

Simbahan ng Anini-y, A Philippine Heritage Site

The Simbahan ng Anini-y (Anini-y Church) is the only preserved colonial church in the province of Antique according to the Heritage Conservation Society. It is also considered as one of the oldest landmark in the province and was awarded by the National Historical Institute (NHI) as one of the Philippines heritage site.

The church belongs to the the 19th century revivalist style with traditional Baroque elements like the triangular pediment with niche flanked with blind occuli supported by a single storey and divided into three sections by engaged pilaster. It also features an arched entrace adorened with rosettes, stout pilasters with finials and a three-storey bell tower.

It was first built by Fray Hipolito Casiono between 1630 and 1638. Its foundation, which still exists, measured 33m x 13m. A second church of 48m x 12.5m was constructed close to the earlier church around 1845.

Fray Vaquerin was responsible for the completion of the present complex, the convent in 1879 and the church, except for the arco toral - an architectonic element for reinforcement . Vaquerin's church measured 65m x 16m and had a height of 10m. The convent was almost totally demolished during the World War. The Mill Hill priest Fr. William Erickweld preserved the ruins and built a modern convent beside it. in 1973, the roof and the backwall were damaged by a typhoon.

Photo by energystream from Flickr

Nogas Island Great Potential for Macro Diving

Scuba diving is swimming under underwater or taking part in another activity, while using a scuba set. Under scuba diving are different classifications describing various diving activities. There are commercial, professional, rescue and recovery, scientific, recreational, and technical diving which includes cave diving, cavern diving, deep diving, ice diving and wreck diving.

Specifically, recreational diving a.k.a. sport diving is a type of diving that uses scuba equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. This is usually viewed as the opposite of technical diving which requires greater level of training, experience and equipment.

There are different factors which makes a destination attractive for diving:
1. Wildlife present in the site. The more diverse the flora and fauna the more attractive it is. Also, unique or endemic creatures also attract divers.
2. Topography of the site such as reefs, caves, gullies and underwater cliffs are interesting features.
3. Historical or cultural items like shipwrecks.
4. Underwater visibility.
5. Temperature.
6. Currents.

Nogas Island is a 24-heactare government naval reserve about a mile from Poblacion, Anini-y, Antique. According to an article in the internet, in the Visayas, Nogas Island is an undiscovered site (www.angelfire.com/divesite/other.html) and may be considered as Philippine’s best kept secret (Chris Ng of Diverone Inc., a dive resort operator) .

If you are one of those divers who are not awed with large sea creatures then Nogas Island is your macro heaven. The term macro heaven is related to macro diving, dives that do not focus on the big stuff (http://www.dive-the-world.com/). One might be wondering why the term macro when it does not focus on the large creatures. Macro is used as underwater divers cum photographer uses macro lenses to be able to take big and close up pictures of the tiny creatures.

According to the site mentioned above, areas suitable for macro diving is tend to be shallow water, close to shore in areas where coral, if present, is not particularly vibrant or may be dead, in seagrass beds, and/or black sand or silty conditions. These are diving environments where there are less likely anything bigger than an octopus.

A dive site in Nogas Island frequented by people booked in Boracay is located between the Nogas Point, Nogas Island and Anini-y, Antique (?). It is said (http://www.diving.navius.com/) that there is a large rock at the drop off which serves as a mark entrance to the descending wall. The depth is said to be 20 to 100 ft with slow current and the level of diffuclty is advanced.

Nogas Island is also for bird lovers and botany enthusiast as it holds diverse variety of bird species and variety of vines, wild tress and shrubs.

Fishes in Anini-y, Antique, Philippines

Here is a list of commercial fishes being caught in Anini-y with English name, scientific name and local name.

Blue Marlin (Makaira mazaral) - Sibingan
Black Marlin (Makaira indica) - Malasugi
Swordfish (Xipias gladius) - Malasugi
Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) - Sibingan
Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) - Bansa
Giant Trevally or Jack (Caranx ignobilis) - Baulo
Trevally (Caranx melampygus) - Mamsa
Lattice Monocle Bream (Scolopsis taeniopterus) - Silayan
Silver Sillago (Sillago sihama) - Asuhos
Java Parrotfish (Scarus javanicus) - Molmol
Short-bodied Mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma) - Hasa-hasa
Common parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Molmol
Moonfish (Mene maculate) - Bilong-bilong
Little Spinefoot (Siganus spinus) - Danggit
Goldband Goatfish (Upenus moluccensis) - Timbungan
Yellowstrip Scad (Silariodes leptolepsis) - Salay-salay
Frigate Tuna (Auxis thazard) - Aloy
Shortfin Scad (Decapterus macrosoma) - Samilog
Japanese Scad (Decapterus maruadsi) - Galunggong
Goldstripe Sardine (Sardinella gibbosa) - Tamban
Bali Sardinella (Sardinella lemuru) - Tabagak
Leopars Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) - Lapu-lapu
Yellow-fin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Bantalaan
Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Panit/ Kantorayan
Wahoo (Acathocybium solandri) - Daloso / Tanguige
Common Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) - Dorado
Red Big-eye (Priacanthus macracanthus) - Bukaw-bukaw
Redtail Scad (Decapterus kurroides) - Olandes
Bigeye Scad (Selar crumenopthalmus) - Marut / Bulaw
Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri Val.) - Kumay/ Ilak
Rainbow Runner (Eligatis bipinnulata) - Sulig
Buccaneer Anchovy (Stolephorus punctifer) - Gurayan
Flying Fish (Cypselurus heterus) - Bansi
Silverbiddy (Cerres filamentosus) - Latab
Bogmouth Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) - Hasahasa
Ornate Threadfin Bream (Nemipterus hexodon) - Bisugo
Indian Anchovy (Stolephorus indicus) - Dilis
Splended Ponyfish (Leignatus splendens) - Sapsap
Fringescale Sardinella (Sardinella fimbriata) - Tunsoy
Commerson’s Anchovy (Stoleporus commersonii) - Dilis
Silverside (Atherina spp.) - Gono

LTO ASec. Suansing, First patubas it Poblacion Awardee

Asec. Alberto Suansing lived in Poblacion, Anini-y before his family moved to Manila. In Manila, his summers were spent working in the famous area of Tondo, Pier and North Harbor where he watched his kababayans from Anini-y come and go home to Anini-y.

His ability to face and overcome adversities and his fire-tested will to survive and succeed is a testament of his long, hard working years in those places.

Encouraged and pressured by his father during his young days, his after- school hobby is to use the screwdriver and a pair of pliers than have fun with his friends.

A mechanical engineer, he learned much about transport-related concerns both from school and from actual experience, as a jeepney, taxi and bus driver plying some routes in Manila.
Prior to his appointment as the new LTO Chief, Asec. Suansing served as a Director of the Road Board, representing the private sector, and concurrent consultant of the DOTC on transport related concerns.

He was also Chairman of the Transport Organizations for Clean Air and is very much involved in the formulation of the policies governing the implementation of the Clean Air Act (RA 8749).

Asec. Suansing was one of the major resource persons in the formulation of the Anti-Overloading Law, RA 7984, meant to promote safety on the road and to preserve our roads from costly deterioration.

Their family owned an Arrastre and Stevedoring Service and a Cargo Distribution Service. He served as Vice Chairman of the Arrastre and Stevedoring Operators, Vice President of Asia Pacific International Federation of Port Cargo Distributors and the President of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines.

Profile of Poblacion, Anini-y, Antique, Philippines

The total land area of Poblacion is 77.5407 Hectares composed of 50.3258 Ha. of the main land and 27.2149 of the Noas Island. This land area however increases to almost double its size at the lowest of the tides when all its coral reefs surrounding the island and its southern peripheries at the coastlines.

Nogas Island is 1.5 kilometers from the mainlaind.

The barangay is generally flat land from zero at the coast level to less than 8% slope at its northern flanks. Nogas Island has no mountain and is the only coral-ringed island in Panay.

Barangay Poblacion is bounded by Sagua and Butuan in the north; by Cuyo East Pass at the south; by Butuan in the west; and, Sagua in the East. The Simsim Creek clearly delineates Poblacion from Butuan.

The barangay experiences rainy season from the month of June to the month of October. It has the rainiest month in July. Dry season starts in November and ends around May. The driest month is April. Average rainfall is 20.32 cm.

Only 883 residents lives at the Poblacion.

Fiesta Urukay 2008 with Typhoon Cosme

The shots were from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Antique  last May 17, 2008 (fiesta in Nogas Island, Anini-y, Antique) with Typhoon Cosme churning the sea.

Fiesta Urukay 2008 Finale Night

Opening Message from Punong Barangay Bernie Salcedo

Accoustic Jamming (Free OKM Concert at the Covered Gym)

Artists from San Jose and Anini-y serenaded the crowd with Original Kinaray-a Music (OKM).

SP Dante Beriong with Banig Band

Edmund Infante, grandson of founding Vice-Mayor Osorio of Anini-y

Kalagoma Chorus singing "Mamingaw nga mga Mata (in English: Lonely Eyes)"

Kalagoma Chorus singing "Anini-y Ko nga Matahum"

Patubas it Poblacion Award
Poblacion Barangay Council awarded Asec. Alberto Suansing the Patubas it Poblacion Award in recognition of his achievements worthy of emulation by the younger generation.

The Council also declared that night Vice Governor Rhodora "Dodod" Cadiao as "Adopted Daughter of Barangay Poblacion, Anini-y."

Awarding of Patubas it Poblacio to LTO ASEC Alberto Suansing

Karaoke Idol
Patubas it Poblacion Awardee Asec. Suansing performed the opening song for the Karaoke Idol Championship.

Eight competed in the Karaoke Idol Bulilit Category (14 years and below) and ten were in the Sikat Run Kami Category (15 years old and above).

Asec. Suansing opens Karaoke Idol with "The Way You Look Tonight"

Karaoke Idol judges - Haribing, Randy Tacogdoy and Rev. Fr. Noel Baguna

Karaoke Idol contestant

Fiesta Urukay 2008 Schedule of Activities

Fiesta Urukay is the celebration of the barangay's annual fiesta and the fiesta of the Nogas Island.