Historic Capiz

Capiz is a blend of rich history and natural God-given beauty. After Cebu, Capiz became the second Spanish settlement. During the second world war, the region was occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces and in 1945, liberation came to the province through the joint effort of American troops and Filipino guerrillas. 

Mystic and Mysterious

Capiznons, as the locals are called, are known to be gentle, affectionate, and hospitable. This is reflected through their artistic creations, soothing music, colorful artworks, and even their oral lore and beliefs, which have been handed down through generations. Myths and legends add to the mystic beauty that is Capiz.

The Land of Ethnic Fusion

Commune with nature and get to know more about the Capiznon heritage at the Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village. The Cultural Village boasts of several ethnic houses from the indigenous tribes that have lived in Capiz such as the Aetas, the Tumandoks, and the Panay-Bukidnons. Each house showcases the day-to-day lives and traditions of these indigenous people including mat weaving, cooking, songs and dances.

One of the more exotic dishes demonstrated here is how to make Binakol sa Pasok, where a whole chicken is prepared with libas leaves, a souring agent, and other spices and then pressed into a bamboo tube that is placed over a grill. 

The Eco-Park is a blend of lush vegetation with its own vermin-composting site, especially created for the care of various plants and herbs. It is also a perfect venue for picnics, retreats, seminars, team-building activities and camping.

Preserving Traditions

Within the Capiz Eco-Park and Cultural Village is a structure known as the Institute of Living Traditions. This serves as a cultural education facility intended to preserve and promote the province’s cultural heritage, such as basket-weaving and the preparation of local rice cakes such as baye-baye and ibus.

Fishing – the Capiznon Way

The Palina River Cruise takes you along the stretch of a fishing community where you may also find several native fishing contraptions such as the surambaw, a metal and bamboo apparatus designed to catch huge batches of fish at nighttime. Along the way, you will find mangroves and fish ponds dotting the river where fisherfolk grow fish and shells. If you get there before dusk, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Sunken Galleon, a memento from the Spanish era.

A Seafood Fare to Remember

If you take the cabana, a bamboo raft with a nipa hut atop it, you can get the chance to enjoy an unforgettable seafood feast. Forget the utensils and feel free to eat with your hands — this is the traditional way to enjoy a seafood meal while enjoying the sights along the river.

The Capiz Legacy

In the heart of Roxas City lies the Roxas City Heritage Zone, the historic district that is made up of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral, the Roxas City Fountain, the Capiz Provincial Capitol, the Roxas City Bridge (formerly known as the Capiz Bridge), the Panublion Museum, and the Roxas City Bandstand.

If you take the Heritage Walk Tour, you will be introduced to the historic structures such as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral which dates back to 1698, considered as one of the oldest churches in Panay Island. This is where one of the major festivals of Capiz, the Sinadya sa Halaran (“Joy in Sharing and Thanksgiving”) is held every December.

Just in front of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral and the Capiz Provincial Capitol lies the Roxas City Fountain, a rotunda situated right in the middle of a busy intersection. Built in 1925, it is considered to be the heart of the city plaza. Its focal center marks Kilometer 0, the point in determining the road kilometer distance from Roxas City to the different locations within the city or outlying municipalities. Colored lights surrounding the fountain add to the beauty of playful water spouts at night time.

The Capiz Provincial Capitol is a well-preserved structure in the city plaza built in 1911. Designed in the neoclassical style, the Capitol is one of the 31 provincial capitols that followed the plans of American architect William Parsons.

The old and imposing Roxas City Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Built in 1910, it crosses the Panay River with one end facing the Roxas City Water Fountain. It connects the commercial center of the city to the main thoroughfare. 

What was once a circular water tank built in 1910 was repurposed in 1993 as the Panublion Museum. Panublion is a Hiligaynon term that translates to “guardian of precious things.” The museum displays artifacts from one of Capiz’ indigenous tribes, the Panay-anon Bukidnon, photo exhibits, antique furniture, collections of stamps, currencies, and shells.

The Roxas City Bandstand was built by the first Filipino principal of the Capiz Trade School, Jose S. Roldan, in the early 1920s. The bandstand became the venue for political rallies and launches of government programs for the city and the province. 

The Famous Pan-ay Bell

Built in 1774, the Sta. Monica Church is considered to be an excellent example of the Filipino colonial baroque style architecture. In 1997, it was declared a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines. It houses the biggest Catholic church bell in Asia, known as the Pan-ay Bell, which was cast in 1878 using 70 sacks of coins. It measures about 7-feet in height and 5-feet in diameter, weighing 10.4 tons.

Stop and Rest a While

In the town of Panay lies an enchanting Spanish-inspired structure called the Istorya Forest Garden. This is a romantic venue for weddings and other special occasions, surrounded by various varieties of plants and a swimming pool. This is a quiet place to enjoy culinary treats prepared by the kitchen staff and comfortable rooms overlooking the garden for overnight stays.

A Must-Do for First Timers

Proudly the only one in Western Visayas, the Capiz Tourist Information Center and Specialty Shops houses the different products and tourism services from the city and the other municipalities of Capiz. This is the best place for you to find out more information about where to go, what to eat and activities to try when in Capiz. 

The next time you decide to take a trip, make sure you capture Capiz!

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The Philippines Department of Tourism partners with the Department of Trade and Industry to support the local handicrafts businesses all over the country. Through this partnership, many local producers have been able to reach a wider customer base. Projects include seminars, trade fairs and expositions, along with souvenir stops at popular destinations. Together with creating travel circuits that are based on attractions in each region, the DOT also highlights artisanal products that can showcase the local talent and culture. 

There are many native materials that are transformed into beautiful works of art by Filipino craftsmen.  Here are some of the cool souvenirs that travelers can bring home from the Philippines. 

Baguio’s woodcrafts

Woodworking in the uplands of the Cordillera Region ranges from utilitarian items used at home or in the fields, to ceremonial items used in community celebrations, and spiritual figures called Bulul that serve as house guardians that are passed on from generation to generation. Baguio’s public market and roadside stalls offer many choices of hand-carved wood items to fit your fancy and your luggage space – such as the infamous ‘barrel man’, or larger statues of warriors and animals such as eagles that can serve as a conversation piece in your home.     

The Inabel of Ilocos

The practice of weaving cotton thread into fabric on a wooden loom used to be one of the household duties of many Ilocano women. The hardy Inabel or Abel Iloco, is a soft, simple, pliable fabric with varied unique patterns and designs that can be woven to be big enough for use as blankets, table runners, and even dress material. Some Inabel items that are available at souvenir shops such as the ones in Vigan, Ilocos Sur or even online are tea towels, blankets, shawls, bags, and even made-to-order apparel from young designers who are keen to use this sustainably made and sourced fabric.   

Vigan’s Pagburnayan Clay Jars

Burnay is the Ilocano word for the brown clay pot used by Filipinos even before the Spanish arrived in the country. These earthen pottery pieces were used by early Filipinos as water containers because they help keep the water cool even on a hot day. They were also important household items as containers for salt and rice, or for vinegar, fermented fish paste, and they were vessels for items that were sold to the Chinese in the days of the sea trade. In Vigan, one can visit a pottery shop and learn how Burnay is made using carabao power to mix the mud, and have your own photo opportunity on the potter’s wheel. You can also purchase these thick and hardy jars to use as decorative pieces or planters at home.     

Cebu’s Guitars and Capiz Shells

Guitars that are handmade in Cebu are famous throughout the Philippines because they are durable, affordable, and of high-quality compared to the mass-produced ones in the market. The art of making guitars, which was introduced in the Spanish era, has been passed on through generations of local masters who make these musical instruments by painstakingly shaping the wood into the familiar hourglass shape. These are available at souvenir shops or at family-owned guitar stores, particularly in Lapu-Lapu City, have become local attractions for music lovers of all ages.  

The Visayas is also where dainty Capiz shell art is a traditional handicraft industry. The translucent Capiz, which can still be found adorning windows of heritage homes or painted in the stained glass windows of churches, comes from the shell of a mollusk called the Windowpane Oyster. After the meat has been eaten, the shells are gathered to be used in handicrafts. Local artists use the shells to create magnificent décors such as complicated chandeliers, pretty wind chimes, beautiful floor lamps, or smaller stationery items that can be given away to friends and family back home.  

Barako Coffee from Batangas 

Barako is a Tagalog word that means ‘strong’ and that is a good descriptor for the brew that comes from the coffee beans grown particularly in Batangas and some parts of Cavite. The farmers take pride in their coffee plants, which have been cultivated in their region since the 1800s. Coffee experts describe the taste as woody and smoky with a hint of sweetness from its floral, fruity aroma. Its bold, intense flavor from Liberica beans has been translated into local coffeehouse favorites and even into cakes and pastries. A cup of coffee made from your souvenir bag of ground beans is a great way to perk up on a cold day.

Davao’s Malagos Chocolates

While growing cacao is an agricultural practice in many parts of the Philippines, Davao is hailed as the country’s Chocolate Capital and the entire Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines. One of the frontrunners of the industry in the region is the award-winning Malagos Chocolates brand which uses high-quality beans from a sustainable source for a “tree to bar” chocolate journey. Its latest award was for its 100% Premium Unsweetened Chocolate that won four Golds and one Bronze at the 2020 World Drinking Chocolate Competition organized by the International Chocolate Awards. The products offer a rich, velvety, melt-in the-mouth chocolate experience that makes it a perfect gift for the chocoholics in your circle. 

Manila’s South Sea Pearls Shops

There are many high-end jewelry stores located at the malls selling a sundry of pearls and other gems. But for those who want to have the element of a bargain when they shop for their jewelry and accessories can visit the bazaars of Manila, where one can find an assortment of South Sea Pearls from Palawan and some parts of Mindanao sold at stalls beside cellphone accessories and rubber shoes. There, one can browse through their collections of luminous necklaces and dainty earrings while asking for the “final price” that the vendor can offer.     

Davao Oriental’s Virgin Coconut Oil 

Touted to have many health benefits, virgin coconut oil is produced from fresh or mature coconuts, without undergoing chemical refining, bleaching or deodorizing. VCO products that are available in the Philippines come in oil and capsule form or even as cosmetics. While coconuts grow abundantly all over the country, Davao Oriental is poised to become a big exporter of coconut products overseas, with 18 Virgin Coconut Oil processing centers set to rise within the year. Modern production at the processing plants such as the one of Oriental Golden Coco Inc., ensure high quality through multiple microfiltration processes for additional purity to result in products with that wonderful fresh coconut aroma and flavor in what is called the “purest and healthiest” form of coconut oil. 

Cordillera’s Heirloom Rice

Heirloom rice varieties have been grown in the Cordillera Mountains for centuries, and studies have found that there could be about 500 traditional varieties of rice that are indigenous in the region and are mostly being planted for personal or family consumption through generations. So far, there have been 88 varieties that have been identified and studies have shown these to have higher nutritional content. Try this heirloom rice with your next meal and have it the Filipino way by eating with your hands for a more authentic experience. 

The Philippines’ Alcoholic Drinks

Imbibe the spirit of the Philippines through its choice of alcoholic concoctions. A short story by the late Don Alejandro Roces who is a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, cheekily says, “We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers”. This is offset by the local distilled drinks such as Don Papa Rum, a premium aged single-island rum from the sugar cane fields at the foot of Mt. Kanglaon in the Visayas. Coconut Wine called Lambanog is another potent brew obtained from the distillation of naturally fermented coconut sap. Modern version of this celebratory drink now has added flavors. Travelers can bring this home to European countries if they are for personal consumption while restrictions in Muslim countries may apply. 

Liliw, Laguna’s Native Slippers 

The town of Liliw in Laguna is known for its slipper industry, with local artisans crafting the footwear from abaca which grows abundantly in the area. These comfortable and colorful house slippers are perfect for keeping your feet warm while relaxing at home and they make great handcrafted gifts – just make sure that the recipient gives you a coin in return as Philippine superstition says that if you don’t get one, you might get into a quarrel. 

Filipino Designer’s Modern Filipiniana

Young Filipino designers are rediscovering local woven fabrics and reimagining them for use as modern apparel in order to support traditional industries and local communities. While the National Dress of Barong Tagalog (long-sleeved embroidered formal shirts) for men and Baro’t Saya (that literally translates to blouse and skirt, made from fine pina cloth) for women are still worn on important occasions, designers such as the ones at Filip + Inna are coming up with stunning garments that make use of handmade woven material, beading, and embroidery that can be worn at the office or even at the beach.  Bring home something old, something new with gorgeous designs that will make you stand out in a crowd. 

More Treasures to Unbox

The Philippines is a haven for those who want to enjoy local culture through tangible items. Rattan is one of the indigenous materials that are used for traditional packaging, the leaves are dexterously woven into shopping bags called bayong and boxes that are used to store items in the home. Banig, or woven mats are another Filipino woven product, used for sleeping or as bags and home accents, while abaca bags are fashionable and summery all year long. Wooden utensils are utilitarian and decorative items, which can be found both on the dining table or if in their supersized form, hanging from the walls of the dining room.  For those who want to try their hand at a little Filipino cooking, local brand Mama Sita offers condiments and sauces to help capture that local palette. 

Travel safely!

All these tourist destinations have health and safety protocols in place to protect locals and visitors alike. Everyone is expected to comply by wearing face masks, regularly washing their hands, and practicing physical distancing.

To check out up-to-date information regarding local destinations that are open and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel, Apple Store, or Google Playstore.

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