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.

Fiesta Urukay 2009

Above the proposed activity for the Fiesta Urukay 2009. The highlight of this celebration is on May 17, declared by the Local Government of Barangay Poblacion as the Barangay Day. May 17 is also the Fiest Day of Nogas Island. If the weather is good, a mass is usually being held at the Island and people would go there to attend the mass and then have a picnic.

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

Theories on Origin of Nogas Island

One American who had visited the island described the island as mostly made up of old coral, shells and volcanic pumice. This came as a surprise for seldom have I encountered materials which discuss geology of the island and it really sparked my interest on probing the origin of the island.

Pumice is solidified frothy lava. It can be formed when lava mixes with water. Its porous nature is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid cooling and rapid depressurization.

According to experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs), the southern tip of Panay Island is composed of marine and pyroclastic (volcanic) rocks that are older than two million years. The age of the “volcanic pumice” in Nogas Island could not be ascertained at this point due to lack of information. It is not easy to conclude for no reference mentioned whether the island formed together with the Panay mainland or later.

The southern part of Panay is located in a known active “collision zone” of tectonic plates. An evidence of this collision is the presence of the Negros Trench running along the southern tip of Panay. This area is where the Sulu Sea basin subducts or the plate moves beneath another which at this case is the Negors Trench. (Source: GeoScience Journal Vol. 10 No. 3, p. 305-320, Sept 2006).

The subducted plate (read: the Sulu Sea basin plate) is dragged downwards into the earths mantle until it reaches a depth where high temperatures melt the rocks. The resulting magma then rising along vertical fissures and reaches through the surface through a volcanic vent. When fissures open up in the sea floor, volcanic islands formed as a result. There is no known volcano in Anini-y, Antique but the existence of Sira-an Hot Spring and the Negros Arc in Negros Island are the evidence of this tectonic activity. Earthquakes usually occur at these zones and is said to be able to shift the plates by up to 5m or about 15ft at once.

It could possibly be that that along this area magma might have risen along a fissure. However, the percent composition of pumice in Nogas Island is unknown that its presence in the sland might have been caused by other processes. Pumice is said to be a common product of explosive eruptions. Could it possibly be that in the past, Kanlaon, the nearest volcano is the area had erupted explosively and volcanic materials have reached this point? (Picture from: http://www.platetectonics.com/)

Another view is that there might be pumice in tahe surface but the base composition of the island might not be igneous in nature. Some studies have found that pumice being buoyant have the capacity to float across great distances of water. This phenomenon is called pumice rafting. There is also a possibility that the rock was misidentified as pumice. I am not certain about this as I am no geologist and during my last visit on the island the rocks caught least of my interest.

Nogas Island may have formed through organosedimentary buildup. Notice that mapping of the island revealed reef(s) surrounding it.

The reef flat may have formed through combination of abiotic process such as deposition of sand, wave erosion other natural process and biotic process through formation and build-up of coral and other calcerous algae. Sand may have collected then compressed, and maybe turned to rock through lithificatition and on this compressed sand corals and coralline algae thrived. It could be that corals and calcerous algae have grown on top of one another and formed a three dimensional framework that is modified in various ways by other organisms and inorganic processes.


The events described above may have led to the formation of the island. It could be that either of the processes explains the birth of the island or it could be interaction of events. It is important to probe the origin and to understand the island formation for geologic history is an important influence on an island’s natural resources especially its flora and fauna.

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

Tabon Bird Spotted at Nogas Island

A pair of Tabon bird was spotted during a visit in Nogas Island, a naval reserve and marine sanctuary off the coast of Poblacion, Anini-y, Antique.

The tabon scrubfowl (Megapodius cumingii), to the bird watchers, is found throughout the Philippines. They inhabit beach type and mangrove forests which is very Nogas Island. It is known as a megapode, meaning big feet. It is said that in Anini-y they were called tabon birds for they cover their nests with leaves, sand, etc. "Tabon" means cover in kinray-a, the language in Antique.

According to an article from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the tabon is frequent in the nesting area during the early morning than in the late afternoon of the day. Most of the time, they were sighted to approach the nest singly, in pairs and seldom in threes.

The Tabon bird looked like this:

*The picture was not from that visit.

The tabon bird was declared an endangered species in 1993 in the province of Palawan.

Corals in Nogas Island under COTS Threat

The coral reefs in various areas of Nogas Island are now threatened due to the outbreak of COTS (crown-of-thorns starfish) observed in January 2008.

Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) has thorn-like venomous spines sprouting all over its body. It could grow to more than 1 m in diameter and could have at least 12 arms up to 21 arms. It is considered the second largest starfish in the world after the giant sunstar.

COTS is a coral reef predator or a corallivor. It preys on the coral climbing onto them, extruding its stomach over them, and releasing digestive enzymes to then absorb the liquefied tissue. It is said that COTS can consume about 5-6 square meter of coral tissue per year.

According to the initial result of a study being conducted by UP Visayas Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology and COASTHAVEN, Inc., if densities above 100 individuals per hectare are considered outbreaks, then the COTS densities counted at the island indicate an outbreak.

In their survey of the island, an estimated total of 297 COTS were counted and the occurrence of COTS around the island ranges between 1 and 122 individuals. High densities of 11-30 and 31-122 individuals were observed at the Northern and Southwestern part of the island, respectively.

This outbreak could be due to natural fluctuations in temperature, salinity and availability of planktonic food that are favorable to high survival rates of COTS larvae. It could also likely be due to the decline of COTS natural predators through overharvesting and pollution. Another factor could be an increase of agricultural runoff which causes increase algal blooms. The more algal bloom there is for the coral polyps, which eat the eggs of the COTS, predation on the starfish's eggs are reduced.

As of now, cause of the outbreak is unknown.

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Thank you to Dr. Marielle C. van Riel of COASTHAVEN, Inc., San Jose, Antique for the information and data.

The Tale of Nogas and Anini

Along long time ago in the place called Tinigbasan, there was a datu (Village Chief) named Datu Oyong who has a daughter named Anini. Anini is always lonely because of her predicament that her parents, by tradition, are the ones who choose someone she would marry. She is troubled that her parents' choice would not be her liking.

Anini is a beautiful lass that she has many admirers. One of them was a handsome ordinary man named Nogas. Commoners were not allowed to court her according to their custom.

The fated lovers were however brought together one day while Anini was strolling along the beach alone. The two instantly took an instant liking of each other. After that day, Nogas and Anini secretly met at the beach whenever they had the opportunity but Datu Oyong eventually discovered their relationship.

Datu Oyong was against their relationship. He does not want Anini to marry Nogas, a mere simpleton...unless... unless Nogas gives him whatever he would ask for. He asked for a spring on the rocky shoreline of Tinagbasan that could cure skin diseases.

Nogas walked towards the sea with his boggling mind until he reached the rocky shoreline. He has no power to let the water flow from the rocks. Out of the water a giant emerged. Touched by Nogas love for Anini the gaint helped Nogas fulfill the Datu's wish. The giant said, "Only your sincere love for Anini would surely let the water flow. The water will continue to flow for as long as you love Anini."

Nogas felt warm water flowing at his feet. His joy was immeasurable when he saw the water sprouting from the rocks where he stands. When he turned to thank the giant, the giant was already gone.

Datu Oyong was still not satisfied, and to be able to avert the marriage of his daughter to Nogas he thought of another impossible thing for Nogas to accomplish. He asked for an island that he could see from the window of his house that could prevent the waves from destroying the houses near the shoreline.

Nogas immediately left, boarded his boat and sailed out to the sea without knowing where to go. He hopelessly hit the water with his paddle. The wind suddenly picked up and waves harshly bellowed. From a big wave a mermaid appeared before him. The mermaid helped him but with conditions. She made him promise that he would invite her to his wedding and that he would take care of the island, the trees, animals and the waters around. Nogas agreed and the earth shook and and the waves swelled again. When the sea calmed, an island with white beaches, teeming with green tress and birds was in front of him.

Nogas has fulfilled the datu's wish. Now the datu has no other choice but be true to his words and to prepare for the wedding of Nogas and Anini.

On the wedding day held on the island , Nogas forgot about his promise to the mermaid that he would invite her. The mermaid was insulted and was very angry. In the midst of the revelry the whole island suddenly shook. The sea receded from the shoreline and the waves swell. Atop the wave appeared the mermaid. Nogas asked for forgiveness for breaking his promise. The mermaid said, "For the sake of Anini, I will not punish you because her love for you knows no bound. for the second time, promise me that you would take care of this island, the animals, the birds, the mangroves and the trees."

As years passed by, Nogas became a changed man. He became greedy. He wanted to amass more wealth and become more powerful. He started to cut trees at Tinigbasan and the mangroves on the island and sold them off. All that could be turned to wealth he exchanged for gold.

The mermaid got angry because Nogas did not keep his promise again.. Nogas asked for forgiveness but the mermaid did not heed him . She said, " I have done everything to help you because I have seen goodness in you. The giant on the rocks and I are one and the same. I did not remiss in reminding. Because of your disobedience, I will separate you and Anini. I will give her back to the lands of her father. You, Nogas, will remian in this island. you are no longer worthy to be with her. But if you really love her, you will have to build a bridge of rocks, in order that the island and the mainland meet. When this shall be done, then you shall cross this bridge to reclaim Anini - that is, if she will wait for you."

The winds howled and the waves swelled and swept the lovers apart.

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