The rise of local identity

Aklan

The province is situated in the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique to
the southwest, and Capiz to the southeast. Aklan faces the Sibuyan Sea and Romblon province to
the north.

Aklan is most well-known for Boracay, a resort island 0.8 kilometer north of the tip of
Panay. It is known for its white sand beaches and is considered one of the more prominent
destinations in the country. The Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo has also been known worldwide,
hence declared "The Mother of all Philippine Festivals." It is an annual celebration held on the
third Sunday of January to honor the Sto. Niño (Infant Jesus). The festival showcases tribal
dancing through the town's main streets to the tune of ethnic music, with participants in
indigenous costumes and gear.

Aklan occupies the northern third of the island of Panay and is bordered by the provinces
of Capiz from the southeast and Antique from the southwest. It also faces the Sibuyan Sea from
the north. The province covers a total area of 1,821.42 square kilometres (703.25 sq mi)[9], and
includes the island of Boracay which is located at its northwestern tip.

Mount Nausang, is formerly the highest peak in Aklan, standing at 5,190 ft (1,580 m),
the discovery of Mount Timbaban is much higher, with an elevation of 5,830.1 ft (1,777.0 m)
above sea level, Mount Timbaban is not considered as independent mountain, it is still part of
Mount Madja-as sub-summit with only Topographic prominence peak of 30 m (98 ft) above the
isolation from the Parent peak. Located 6 km northwest of Mount Nausang and 4.8 km northeast
of Mount Madja-as in Antique. Aklan River, is the longest river in the province with a total length
of 91 km (57 mi) long.

The province features high geographic diversity, ranging from white sandy beaches,
mangroves and mountainous landscapes. Situated within the province is the river Akean, which
appears unique due to its "boiling or frothing" appearance.

1
 Natural Heritage in the locality

Aklan depends on agriculture, with palay being the top produce in the province. Rice
plantations had an area of 42,218 hectares (104,320 acres) (0.39 percent of the total provincial
agricultural area).[20]

With the implementation of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) umaru rice production
program using the Hybrid rice, production is expected to increase by 15 percent or an average of
10 metric tons per hectare in the succeeding years. However, the problem of low price support
for rice still continues to affect the production sector.

In general, Aklan is sufficient in meat and other livestock and poultry products,[20]
though in the inventory of livestock and poultry in the year 2000, hog and chicken had a
decrease in population from 114,890 heads of hogs and 886,597 heads of chickens in 1999 to
95,950 heads of hogs and 782,820 heads of chicken in the 2000. The decrease in production
were attributed to the following factors: high cost of feeds, feed supplements and biologics;
livestock and poultry diseases; increasing price of chicks; and, high cost of labor.

Coconut still occupies the largest area planted among major permanent agriculture crops.
The total area planted with coconut is 32,276 hectares (79,760 acres).[20] Ibajay ranks the
largest with 4,317 hectares (10,670 acres); followed by Balete with 2,611 hectares (6,450 acres);
Banga with umaru 2,314 hectares (5,720 acres); Makato with 2,089 hectares (5,160 acres); and,
Altavas with 2,054 hectares (5,080 acres). All the rest of the municipalities have areas below
2,000 hectares (4,900 acres). However, in terms of copra production, Makato ranks number one
with 2,770 metric tons per year; next is Balete with 2,669; and Libacao with 2,399. The rest
produce less than 2000 metric tons. Total production is 25,375 metric tons annually.

Other crops produced include banana (Lakatan), mango, rambutan, and lanzones; and
fiber crops such as piña fiber and abaca.

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 Fishpond areas had a total area of 7,807.14 hectares (19,291.9 acres).[20] Of the total
fishpond areas, 4,512.04162 hectares (11,149.4977 acres) are with Fishpond Lease Agreement
(FLA); 138.85672 hectares (343.1224 acres) are with permits; 2,729.02636 hectares (6,743.5710
acres) are on process/application; and, 370.0 hectares (914 acres) are titled.

Aklan is a top producer of abaca,[21] which are dyed and made into cloths or place
mats, bags, wall decors and fans.The piña cloth, considered the "Queen of the Philippine
Fabrics", is a prime produce of Kalibo, weaved from its unique crude wooden or bamboo
handloom. Lezo is known for its red clay, used by the natives to make pots, vases and various
novelty items.

1. Boracay Island

Boracay Island is located 0.8 kilometers (0.50 mi) off the northwest corner of Panay
Island and belongs to the Western Visayas region, or Region VI, of the Philippines. It is 50
kilometers (31 mi) northwest of Kalibo, 150 kilometres (93 mi) northwest of Iloilo City, and 200
nautical miles (370 km) southeast of Manila. The island is approximately seven kilometers long,
dog-bone shaped, with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total
land area of 10.32 square kilometers (3.98 sq mi).

3
 South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan
on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during
most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as
an alternative entry and exit point.[48] Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and
Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach
faces westward and Bulabog Beach faces eastward. The island also has several other beaches.

White Beach, the main tourism beach, is about 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) long and is lined
with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the
central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path
separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the
Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. Several roads
and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs
the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the
headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

Bulabog Beach, across the island from White Beach, is the second most popular tourism
beach on the island and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

Boracay is divided for land use and conservation purposes into 400 hectares (990 acres)
of preserved forestland and 628.96 hectares (1,554.2 acres) of agricultural land.

With its palm-fringed shoreline that stretches up to 4km, Boracay’s White Beach has a
reputation for being one of the best white sand beaches in the Philippines and tourist spots in
Visayas. Local and international travelers frequent the island to dip in its crystal waters and
capture the breathtaking Boracay sunset.

2. Hinugtan Beach

Hinugtan Beach is a secluded, white sand beach fringed by coconut trees, is said to be a
replica of Boracay’s, only it is a smaller version.Buruanga, being an out-of-the-way destination,
does not only offer Hinugtan’s cerulean waters. It is also home to the famed Ariel’s
Point( formerly called Batason Point) which is a a cliff diving spot most Boracay tourists visit. And
after an entire day swimming, snorkelling or just lazing along the area, get ready to feed your
eyes with an awe-inspiring sunset.

Situated just 20km away from White Beach, Boracay, Hinugtan is a private enclave in
Buruanga with soft and powdery white sand just as stunning as the famed Boracay island.

4
Surrounding the secluded beach are towering coconut trees amid a postcard-worthy scenery.
Unlike Boracay, there are no fancy hotels, but there are nipa huts here available for rent.

With its rich marine life, Hinugtan Beach is perfect for diving, snorkeling, and fishing.
Rugged cliffs surround the area, where you can go cliff-diving if you’re feeling adventurous.
Hinugtan Beach is one of the most serene Aklan beaches away from the maddening crowd of
Boracay.

3. Ariel’s Point

Ariel’s point garnered popularity being one of the best diving spots near Boracay. What
people don’t know is that it belongs to the town of Buruanga, which also boasts some of the
most beautiful beaches in Aklan.

Ariel’s Point has three diving planks: five-meter level, eight-meter level, and the highest
level is 15 meters high. Lifeguards are ready to assist divers so you’ll be in good hands. Other
activities you can try include snorkeling and kayaking.

Discover Boracay's famous diving spot, Ariel's Point. Jump from as high as 15 meters up
and plunge in the refreshing sea below. Enjoy a hearty BBQ lunch, then explore the scenic
surroundings by kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling.

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4. Nabas Wind Farm

Nabas Aklan tourist spot, is around 25km away from the famous Boracay White Beach.
Nabas Wind Farm is perched on the foothills of Baranggay Pawa, Nabas, Aklan. The next time
you visit Boracay, be on the lookout for the gigantic wind turbines visible from the White Beach
area.

Nabas Wind Farm is part of the sustainable development projects in the province. With the help
of Petro Wind Energy Inc. (PWEI), it continues to supply renewable energy to the Visayas Grid
and provides electricity to remote households in Aklan since 2015.

The Nabas Wind Farm is the first project in Aklan to utilize wind energy for electricity.
Currently, there are 18 wind turbines that supply clean and renewable energy to the Visayas grid.
The turbines supply 36-megawatt (MW) of power to the town's 20 barangays which includes the
households of Brgy. Pawa.

5. Nabaoy River

Head to Nabaoy River for a change of scenery away from the crowd in Boracay. This
natural attraction is known to be the cleanest river in Malay, Aklan. Take a cold, refreshing dip in
its crystal clear waters or go river tubing, one of the must-try adventures here if you want to
pump up your adrenaline.

The Nabaoy Camp comes with relaxing amenities such as soothing kawa or hot pot
jacuzzis and cozy nipa huts.

6
 Building Heritage

1. Museo it Aklan (Kalibo)

The Museum of Akean (Aklan) located at Martelino St., Kalibo, Aklan is housed in the
“Eskuylahan it Hari” or School of the King. This one story structure of mortar is designed along
neoclassical lines with its arched openings and the straight lines of what is fundamentally a large
box. The school buildings one of a number dating from the Spanish era, when public education
was first introduced in the 19th century. The museum houses artifacts reflecting Aklan’s history
and legacy.

2. Kalibo Cathedral

In 1581, the Augustinians established a mission in Kalibo. In 1680, the Kalibo was
erected a parish under the advocacy of the San Juan Bautista Then, the town site was at Barrio
Laguinbanwa in Numancia, some two kilometers distant from the present site of Kalibo.

Here at Laguinbanwa, a church was erected but when town transferred site to its present
location, another church was constructed at the new site (1804). Both church and convento were
completed completed in 1826. But tragedy struck the complex when on 24 May 1885 however, a
big fire razed the town including the convento. The convento was reconstructed the following
year (1886).

After the World War II, in 1947, Gabriel M. Reyes, Archbishop of Cebu and later Manila,
personally took a hand reconstructing and remodeling the church. The church “On 14 June 1990,
an earthquake measuring 7.1 in the Richter Scale hit Panay Island at 3:41 P.M., “The epicenter
was located at 11.34 North latitude; 122.10 East longitude, in the vicinity of Culasi, Antique. The
depth was computed to be 15 kilometers,” reported Philvocs. Damage to property included “The
Catholic Church of Kalibo that is made of bricks (which) suffered cracks on its walls.” During the
incumbency as bishop of Gabriel V. Reyes, a nephew of the former archbishop of Manila restored
and improved the church to accommodate the many pilgrims who come to celebrate the feast of
the Santo Niño.

The church of Kalibo is of modern construction but retains some of the lines characteristic of the
post war church, which in turn alludes to earlier church styles. The center of attention in this
church is the image of the Santo Niño, in whose honor the annual Ati-atihan is celebrated.
(Panublion)

7
3. Aklan Freedom Shrine

The shrine is dedicated to the 19 brave martyrs of the province who cooperated with
Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. The martyrs were: Roman Aguirre,
Tomas Briones, Valeriano Dalida, Domingo dela Cruz, Claro Delgado, Angelo Fernandez, Benito
Iban, Candido Iban, Simeon Inocencio, Isidro Jimenez, Catalino Mangat, Lamberto Mangat,
Valeriano Masinda, Maximo Mationg, Simplicio Reyes, Canuto Segovia, Gavino Sucgang Francisco
Villorente and Gavino Yunsal. They were executed on March 23, 1897. Thus, March 23 is a
special public holiday in Aklan Province in commemoration of their death anniversary. Marking
the shrine is a statue of Aklan’s Katipunan leader, Gen. Francisco Del Castillo.

The Aklan Freedom Shrine where the 19 martyrs and WWII martyred soldiers were
buried is located along D. Maagma and Veterans’ Avenues. While, the 19 Martyrs is located at
Acevedo Bldg., XIX Martyrs St., Kalibo, Aklan.

4. Aklan Provincial Capitol

The seat of the Provincial government of province of Aklan. These government center
host the national and Provincial offices. A newly built Provincial Capitol overlooking the open
Ramos Park, the trade center and the covered auditorium where most events are held. The
statue of Ramos, a local political leader who founded the independent province. The place is
about 15 minutes from the airport. You will pass this place before coming in from South of
Kalibo.

Kalibo, Aklan serves as an alternative entry point, catering to both local and international
flights, to the world class tourist destination known as Boracay. Sometimes, this gateway leaves
Kalibo on the shadows of Boracay Island‘s limelight.

8
5. Pastrana Park

Pastrana Park is the epicenter of activities during the festival but on regular days, it’s a
hub for recreation and sports.

Kalibo’s tourist influx densely multiply during the loud and vibrant celebration called Ati-
atihan Festival. Local and foreign travelers join the festivities to commemorate the conversion of
the primary settlers, the Ati tribe, into Catholics, and of course, to party. However, Ati-atihan
Festival is held on January and unfortunately I came a bit too early. Nonetheless, the daily grind
of Kalibonhons keep the streets bustling with liveliness and activity.

6. Bakhawan Eco-Park & Research Center

About 170 hectares of land in New Buswang is home to a mangrove reforestation project
called Bakhawan Eco-Park & Research Center. The park features different species of mangroves
and swamp animals which can be seen by trekking a series of bamboo bridges.

9
 Movable Heritage

1. Paintings

Aklan: Paintings at the Museo it Akean- These are some of the lovely paintings on display
at the Museo it Akean (Aklan Museum) made by popular Aklanon visual artists the likes of Sumra
I. dela Cruz-Rojo. The museum is located at the corner of Martelino and Archbishop Reyes
Streets in the Ati-Atihan town of Kalibo, the capital province of Aklan, Philippines.

It is housed in a one-storey building then known as “Eskuylahan it Hari” or School of the

King. It was constructed during the Spanish occupation. The museum showcases artifacts
reflecting Aklan’s history and legacy.

However, for some reasons – like for instance, these have been purchased already -,
these paintings may have been removed from the wall of the museum and transferred to
somewhere else so I suggest you better ask the museum curator if you are interested to
purchase.

10
2. Artworks

Visual Arts and Crafts: Aklan Province Islands Philippines

The traditional weaving method of piña is called pili or sinuksuk. This is a floating weft
technique accomplished after the cloth weaving. An intricate process for embellishing piña fabric
before it is cut and sewn into a gown. A typical design is a cluster of five-petalled flowers
surrounding a butterfly. This is repeated in a series along the borders of the cloth.

The pili or sinuksuk tradition continues to live because of weavers like Magdalena Marte
and her niece Sosima de la Cruz. Marte was conferred the Manlilikha ng Bayan Award in 1990.

An Aklanon visual artist who became prominent was Telesforo Sucgang, painter and
sculptor, and a contemporary of Jose Rizal, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, and Juan Luna. Born in
Banga, Sucgang was sent to Manila to study at the Colegio de San Jose and Colegio de San Juan
de Letran. He then studied art at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura. In 1879, in the literary-
artistic contest sponsored by the Liceo Artistico-Literario, Sucgang won in the sculpture category
an award for his entry of Cardinal Cisneros’ bust, while Rizal won in the poetry category for "A la
juventud Filipina." In 1884, Sucgang won an art scholarship to Madrid, where he did El
desembarco de Magallanes (The Disembarcation of Magallanes), 1888, also called the First Mass
in the Philippines, and La llegada de Legazpi y Urdaneta. (The arrival of Legaspi and Urdaneta),
which was used as the model for the Legazpi monument at the Luneta.

11
3. Memorabilia

Museo It Akean located at the town proper showcases memorabilia of Archbishop Gabriel
M. Reyes.

It also displays piña textiles, jars, potteries, religious relics, furniture, crafts, tools and
artifacts from the Spanish time. Deposits of antiques that are dug up in Aklan and famous art
works are also exhibited here.

4. Photographs

12
5. Costumes

Native pre-Spanish costume and dresses from the Spanish era

6. Weapony

When used in combat the Bakutan sword is primarily a slashing weapon with a dynamic
thrusting power. The Ginunting Swords is perfect for close quarter attacks. The fighting swords
of Akean locally known as “Talibong.”

The Talibongs of Akean were used and carried by different generation of Akeanon
warriors and freedom fighters who defied several foreign intruders.

13
7. Religious items and other valuable items

14
 Local Technology

The Aklan piña cloth is woven from the finest mature leaves of native pineapples.
Pineapple silk is considered the queen of Philippine fabrics and is considered the fabric of choice
of the Philippine elite. Today, piña cloth is being exported to various parts of the world most
particularly North America and Europe.

The two attires made from the finest and the best piña fibers are worn by presidents,
politicians, celebrities, and the likes. Products like bags, mats, and shawls made of piña
fiber are also on the rise today, they are as authentic as you can think of and are in demand
locally, nationally, and internationally.

Dance or Festival

The Ati-Atihan festival is a Philippine festival held annually in January in honor of the
Santo Niño in several towns of the province of Aklan, Panay Island. The biggest celebration is
held during the third Sunday of January in the town of Kalibo, the province's capital.

Ati atihan Festival is a festival dance that originated in Cebu and usually celebrated by
the month of January. Learn more about this Aklan Festival by reading this guide. The local
government of Aklan, in cooperation with the NCCA, is given the right to nominate the Ati-atihan
Festival in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

The Ati-Atihan Opening Salvo every October was introduced in the year 2012 for the
2013 Kalibo Santo Nino Ati-Atihan Festival by the organizer Kalibo Santo Nino Ati-Atihan
Foundation, Inc. (KASAFI). Prior to this, the opening salvo is set just a week before the 3rd
Sunday of January.The festival consists of religious processions and street-parades, showcasing
themed floats, dancing groups wearing colorful costumes, marching bands, and people sporting
face and body paintsThe Ati-Atihan movement is easy to dance. It's only single-forward, step-tap
sequence & nothing more. And they've been doing this mincing step for hundreds of years.
“Sadsad” means dance in Aklanon.

15
 Song or Music

Ati-Atihan Folk Songs

The word Aklanon has two meanings. It may refer to the natives of Aklan and to their
language.Aklanon literature refers to all kinds of literary works in any languages written by
Aklanons, either published or unpublished.But it can also refer to the kind of literature written by
Aklanons in their native language.In this paper, unless stated, Aklanon literature refers to the
kind of literature written by Aklanons in their own language.

For several decades now Aklanons have been writing literary pieces in Spanish, Tagalog,
Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a. Surprisingly, this writer has discovered that Aklanons have been writing
poems in Aklanon since 1568.

HALA BIRA, AKEAN!

(Official Aklan March)
Composed by Dr. Jesse M. Gomez, CESO V
Intro
Akean, maabante ta!
Akean, masulong ta!
Maadto ta sa kabuganaan
Hala bira! Bira, Akean!
Chorus
Dasig, Akean, para sa aton nga kauswagan
Isip, Akean, para sa aton nga kamaeayran
Ugyon, Akean, kita mabueoligan
Salig, Akean, sa Dios nga gamhanan
Ana kita nga pagabantayan!
Repeat Chorus
Verse
Kon kita ginamingaw
May Akeang ginamahae
Ro Boracay handumon
Ati-atihan, manggad naton.

16
 Abong mga taean-awon
Kabueakan ag mga tanum
Kaugalian ag mga tradisyon
Daya gapalipay katon.
Repeat Chorus
Coda

Salig, Akean, sa Dios nga gamhanan

Hala bira! Hala bira, Akean

TUBA

Rong tuba kilaea eon it tanan

Sa probinsyat Akean
Ag eiemnon gid nga kinahang-ean
Kon may ona nga sumsuman

Masadya rong barkada

Kon may baso sa lamisa
Ag kon tuba imaw rong bida
Ro eiemnon nga mapuea

May matam-is ag may makisum-kisom

May maapeod, may maaslom
Ag kon ro gusto hay medyo mapait
Bahae abaw kanamit

Rituals/Ceremonies

Healing rituals and beliefs of Ati (Indigenous People) traditional healers in Aklan,
Philippines. It seeks to comprehend and interpret human activity and participants' experiences. .
This included six (6) participants; the Sorhana (traditional healer) was the main participant, while
the chieftain, two elders of the community, and the two Ati members served as validators to the
answers of the Sorhana (traditional healer).

An interview guide, observation notes and audio–visual materials (photography, video

and audio recordings) were used to gather data. The result revealed that the Ati (Indigenous
People) continues to believe in Sorhana as their traditional healer who was guided by the
tamawo (spirits that guide) and kalag (spirits of the dead) and has the power to diagnose illness
and fight mystical invisible elements. The Sorhana (traditional healer) has the ability and
authority to perform healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community.

The healing rituals in the Ati (Indigenous People) community were; Pagbagting (beating
of the agong), pag – orunungon (paying in exchange for healing, pagpatupad (appointing of the
traditional healer), pagpalupad (releasing of chicken), pag – anagas (renaming of the sick),
pagbutbot (eliminating diseases), and pagtabog (expelling the evil spirits).

The Ati (Indigenous People) are animistic while also believing in a supreme being.
Acculturation happened in the culture of Ati (Indigenous People) by adopting the Roman Catholic
celebration like Semana Santa (holy week) and believing in the resurrection offered by Jesus
Christ.

17
 Language/Poetry/Literature/Documents

The word Aklanon has two meanings. It may refer to the natives of Aklan and to their
language. Aklanon literature refers to all kinds of literary works in any languages written by
Aklanons, either published or unpublished. But it can also refer to the kind of literature written by
Aklanons in their native language. In this paper, unless stated, Aklanon literature refers to the
kind of literature written by Aklanons in their own language. For several decades now Aklanons
have been writing literary pieces in Spanish, Tagalog, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a. Surprisingly, this
writer has discovered that Aklanons have been writing poems in Aklanon since 1568. In 1925,
Gabriel M. Reyes published a novel, Toning. This 35-page novel in Akeanon was published by La
Panayana. In 1926, Peping Tansinko Manyas published a short novel entitled Tagiposuon nga
Hueowaran; Baeasahon Nga May Mataeupangdan. Included in this work are the following poems
by Manyas “Sa Adlaw Nga Kinamatyan nay Doctor Jose Rizal”, dated December 1, 1913; “Haead
Sa Adlaw Nga Kinamatyan Ku Napueo Ag Siyam Sa Akean”, 1913; “Kaeantahon nga Pilipinhon”
(Marcha Nacional Filipina), Sinueat nay G. Jose Palma; Gin Inakeanon nay G. Peping Tansinko
Manyas, Musika nay G. Julian Felipe. “Haead Sa Pahayagang “Ro Akeanon”, April 26, 1913; “Sa
Manga Kadaeagahan; Mga Tubo Sa Akean”, April, 1914; Also in this book is Manyas’ translation
of the Spanish poem by Manuel Laseran entitled: Eugta’ng Nahamut-an (Sinueat nay Manuel
Laserna.) Its original Spanish version is also found in this book.

In 1991, the AKEANON LITERARY CIRCLE (ALC) was created in Kalibo by U.P.
Visayas teachers and students to give dignity to the Aklanon language by using it in writing their
poetry and stories.

People from Aklan - Aklanon Writers, Melchor F. Cichon, Jaime Sin, Isabelle
Abiera, Kalantiaw, Florencio Miraflores, Alejandro Melchor (Paperback)

18
 Local Cuisine

1. BINAKOE/BINAKUL

Traditional binakoe is cooked inside a fresh node of bamboo. Native chicken plus onions
and lemongrass are added. For the souring agent, aeabihig leaves complete the mix. Think of
this dish as similar to the sinigang and might appeal to Tagalog palates.

A hot plate of rice plus steamig binakoe then paired with an ice cold soda would be the
perfect lunch!

Binakul as decanted from its bamboo vessel

2. INUBARANG MANOK

I didn’t expect that core of banana stalk (ubad) when cooked in coconut milk can be so
good! Native chicken cooked with the said ingredient, gata and lemongrass results in a stew like
dish that has a thickish soup. I just love the gata taste, the tenderness of the chicken and the
hint of tanglad (lemongrass).

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3. LINAPAY OR TINAMUK

When this was served on the table, I blurted, looks familiar!, because it is. If you’ve been
to Camalig in Albay, you will associate it with the pinangat or the inolukan, both tasty dishes and
differs only in the filling.

Ueang (pounded freshwater shrimps and gawud (young coconut meat) are wrapped in
gutaw (taro) leaves and cooked in coconut milk. Like the Bicol Equivalent, its a heavenly dish
because of the gata and taro leaves. Slice in peppers and it can be a very flavorful and spicy
dish!

LINAPAY: pounded freshwater shrimp, young coconut meat and wrapped in taro leaves
then cooked in gata

4. INDAY INDAY

This is a simple dessert made from sticky rice flour (malagkit) cooked in hot water, just
like the palitaw and topped with bucayo, gelatinous coconut meat simmered in water, muscovado
sugar and coconut milk.

Its a beautiful play of texture and taste, blandness of the sticky rice flour patty and the
sweetness of the topping.

20
 A dessert made from ground rice flour ala palitaw base topped with bukayo.

5. Latik

LATIK
This native delicacy is another play of texture and taste which I love. Suman, cooked
glutinous rice, which is bland is topped with grated coconut and latik, watery caramelized sugar,
then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

Unlike the traditional suman which is elongated, this one is just around three inches long
and bite sized. These are sold in the local markets or at the pasalubong center of Kalibo airport.

LATIK: glutinuos rice suman topped with latik

21
 Beliefs/healing arts/secret knowledge

Aklanons show great respect for the dead. Out of these, various beliefs and practices
have developed which has become a tradition. This tradition has been handed down to them
from their great grandparents. The Spaniards must have reinforced this tradition through the
introduction of Catholicism in the country as well as the Chinese through their commerce. It may
be difficult to discern which beliefs and practices are of Spanish or Chinese origins. However, we
can surmise that those beliefs and practices related to money like placing the first given alms to
the palm of the dead must have been influenced by the Chinese, When a person is dying, his
immediate relatives call a parish priest or a pastor to give the last sacrament. It is also the time
when the dying person could ask for blessings or forgiveness. Dying people should ask for a
confession from a priest. The Aklanons believe that there is life after death. In this critical
moment, a cantor or a member of the church choir is asked to sing religious songs to make his
final journey pleasant and perhaps to ease whatever pain the dying person is suffering.

If a person dies, his immediate family would inform all his relatives of the incident as well
as the parish priest. Upon the priest’s instruction the sacristan would toll the bells. The purpose
of this is to inform people in the community that somebody had died. The townspeople who
would hear the tolling of the bells are expected to pray for the repose of the soul of the dead.
The intervals between strokes of the bell’s tolls would determine the age of the deceased. If the
strokes are done briskly, the deceased is a child. If the intervals are long, the dead is an adult.

Before the 1960s, burial was usually done twenty-four hours after the person has died.
But with the popularity of embalming, burial is done within weeks especially when a member of
the family is away and is expected to come home.

It is believed that with shoes on, the journey of the dead will be difficult and he will be
damned in hell so the deceased is not allowed to wear shoes, only socks.

During the wake, people in the community and members of the family from far away
would come home to pay their last respects. Usually they would give alms. Others would give
food. Another distinct practice is the holding of the feast on the third day after death. The usual
food being served is ubod ng niyog mixed with pork. Vegetables that are vine-like are however a
taboo. Usual games being played are bordon, card games like paris-paris, karga buro, etc. Other
gives being played are konggit and mahjong. One popular game is the bordon. Participants are
often teenagers. They form a circle and one participant would be in the middle to be the
“manakaw” or “it”. Other participants would hold hands and sing “bordon de las bordon, singsing
papanawa…”

Dalia sa pagpalakat
Singsing sa pagpadapat
Basi kon malipat
Isa ka makawat.
Andar de las singsing
Singsing de los andar
Andar de los singsing
Singsing de los andar.
Singsing papanawa
Palibot-libota
Mentras makadangat
Sa Hari kag Reyna.

While this song is being sung, the hands of the participants are moved back and forth,
bluffling the person in the middle as to who is holding the singsing. The singsing here is anything
from stone to marble. From time to time, the participant at the middle would grasp the hands of
the participants to catch the singsing. Whoever is caught holding the singsing will be punished by
making him recite a ditso or a luwa. Here is an example of a luwa:

Ay abaw Inday nagapakatig-a

Daw bato bantiling ro anang kaha;

22
 Indi ka pagdutlan gunting ag labaha,
Dutlan ka gid Inday ku akong paghigugma.

Like the bordon, konggit is played only during the wake. The game is played with small
stones, as big as marbles. The number of players range from two to five. Before the start of the
game, the participants would first decide via a jack en poy. Those stones which were not caught
could still be taken by the player if he is able to strike two stones, which were previously pared
by putting an imaginary line between them. If he fails to strike the other stone, the next player
continues the game until all the stones are taken. Each player then counts all the stones he/she
has taken. Whoever has the most number of stones is declared the winner. Another round of
konggit is played.

These games are rarely played now during the wake. What are popular these days are
mahjong, tumbo, and card games like pusoy dos and lucky nine.

The early Panayanon believed in many gods. Bululakaw lived in the island’s sacred
mountain called Madya-as. A chief goddess was believed to reside in the mountain of the nearby
island of Negros Occidental. She was called Laon, after whom Mount Kanlaon is named. There
were mediators to the gods, also said to be the first priests: Bangutbanwa, who prayed for good
harvest and an orderly universe; Mangindalon, who interceded for sick persons and prayed for
the punishment of enemies; and Soliran and Solian, who performed marriage ceremonies.
Manunubo was the good spirit of the sea. Although the majority of the Aklanon population is now
Christian, belief in the power of the babaylan has not completely disappeared in spite of their
dwindling numbers.

In pre-Christian times, the babaylan played an important political, social, religious, and
cultural role. They advised the datu and were the spiritual and physical healers of the
community. They officiated in ceremonies that marked the life cycle of each villager. The
babaylan were most resistant to Spanish rule. They tried to maintain their influence over the
Christianized villagers, sometimes succeeding in winning them back to the worship of their anito,
and at times leading popular revolts.

23
 Distinguished Personalities in the locality

Aklanon refers to the people of Aklan province, their language, and culture. The Aklanon
pronounce the name of their province as “Akean,” which derives from akaean, a place that boils
and bubbles, referring to the river that appears to boil or bubble (akae-akae) in the summer (Ilio
1999, 126; de la Cruz 1993, 7).

Local History

Early Inhabitants

Archaeological findings indicate extensive trade with other Asians from the 10th to 15th
centuries. Shipbuilding was an established industry, for the Aklanon engaged in interisland trade.
Textiles were being woven out of the fibers of piña (pineapple), sinamay (coarse abaca), cotton,
and jusi (abaca silk). Abaca materials were among the primary commodities traded.

According to Maragtas (1907), the historico-mythical account by Pedro Monteclaro, 10

Bornean datus or chieftains purchased Panay from the Aeta, cultivated the land, and renamed
the island Madya-as. They divided it into three sakup (districts): Aklan (including Capiz), Irong-
irong (now Iloilo), and Hamtik (Antique). These were loosely united under a government called
the Confederation of Madya-as, initially headed by Datu Sumakwel of Hamtik. He was succeeded
by Datu Bangkaya of Aklan, credited with having adopted the syllabaric form of writing and
spreading it to the other provinces.

The Visayan inhabitants that the Spaniards first came upon were beautifully tattooed.
Thus, the Spaniards called these islands “Islas de los Pintados” (Islands of the Painted Ones),
though the inhabitants already had names for their own islands when the Spaniards arrived, such
as Panay, Cuyo, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Ibabao (southeastern Samar), Samar, Bohol, and the
Calamianes (de Morga 1904, 129).

24
Pre-Spanish Political organization and Political Transition

In 1569, four years after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi had established a Spanish settlement
in Cebu, native resistance, instigated by the people of Mactan and of a village named Gavi, and
intermittent Portuguese blockades forced him to transfer to the island of Panay for want of food.
Three years before, his maestre del campo Mateo del Saz had conquered villages on the island of
Panay, from which the Spaniards had been collecting tributes. Now the tributes could not get
through to the Spaniards. Legazpi sent two advance parties, one led by his grandson Felipe del
Salcedo to the village of Panay in Capiz, and the other led by Sergeant-Major Luis de la Haya to
Araut, now Dumangas, Iloilo. Shortly thereafter, Legazpi’s other grandson, Juan del Salcedo,
replaced his brother Felipe to command the new Spanish settlement in Panay. The datus
Mariclong and Macabug received Legazpi in Panay (San Agustin 1998, 425, 524-529).

In January 1570, when Legazpi had settled in Ogtong (now Oton in Iloilo), two datus of
the villages of Aklan and Ibajay asked him for help against the pirates of Mindoro, who regularly
subjected their villages to slave raids. Legazpi sent another grandson, Juan del Salcedo, 19-year-
old brother of Felipe, to lead a company of 30 Spanish soldiers to join forces with Aklan and
Ibajay. On his way to Aklan, Salcedo, upon Legazpi’s instructions, subjugated every native village
he came upon. Salcedo’s combined force of 30 Spanish soldiers and 500 Aklan and Ibajay
warriors then attacked and dispersed the pirate settlement of Mamburao in Mindoro (San Agustin
1998, 531).

Legazpi, as governor general of the archipelago, subsumed the Pintados islands under
one province and distributed encomiendas (land grants) to his men. Aklan’s first encomienda was
granted on 3 November 1571 to Antonio Flores, one of Legazpi’s officers. This consisted of the
six villages of Banga, Polo, Hinsonogan, Anangui, Macato, Tangalan; and the town of Calivo, now
Kalibo, meaning “a thousand,” named after the thousand tributes Flores was collecting from his
whole encomienda. Each tribute was collected from a household of three to four members (de
Loarca 1903, 110; Fernandez [1899] 2006, 178; San Agustin 1998, 839).

National Cultural Hegemony Against Local Cultural Identity

Decolonization or Recolonization

In the subsequent centuries of Spanish colonization, chroniclers would attest to the

whole archipelago’s dependence on Panay’s wealth of resources. In 1572, it had a “great
abundance of rice, swine, fowl, wax, and honey.” In 1618, it “yielded more rice and other
provisions than any other province except Manila.” In 1630, it was “the granary of all the islands
of the archipelago.” In 1759, Manila’s supply of “rice and other provisions were mainly furnished
from the province of Iloilo and Pan-ay [also known as Capiz and Aklan] on account of their
fertility.” By 1842, the Aklanon from the island’s north end called Potol Point (presently part of
Malay) were cultivating mainly indigo and sugarcane as cash crops, the earnings of which they
were each being taxed seven silver reales yearly (San Agustin 1998, 399; Blair & Robertson
1903).

Within five years of the establishment of the encomienda system in Panay, the provincial
superior of the Augustinian order, Fray Martin de Rada, would lament that it was nothing more
than a means of “injustice, oppression, and extortion.” Although each household could spare only
70 gantas of rice and a piece of cloth, the encomenderos were collecting three times this
amount. When thwarted, they would massacre whole village populations, whose houses they
razed to the ground. When the datus and timaguas (freemen) failed to collect the required
amount of tribute from their subjects, the encomenderos would lock them in stocks (de Rada
1903).

By 1591, a total of 60,000 colonized Panayanon were paying 25,890 tributes. These were
in gold, beeswax, cotton and abaca cloth, rice, and chickens. In Aklan, Antonio Flores had passed
on his encomienda to his son, whose tribute collection had swelled to 1,300 from 3,200
inhabitants. In Batan, encomendero Miguel Rodriguez was receiving 1,200 tributes from 4,800
inhabitants. Ibajay, Potol Point, Boracay, and its surrounding islets were subsumed under one

25
encomienda, with 8,000 persons paying Captain Pedro Sarmiento 2,000 tributes. Each tribute
was coerced from a household of three to four members (Dasmariñas 1903, 129; de la Costa
2014, 142).

Barely 20 years after Spanish colonization, another radical change in the Aklanon’s way
of life was manifested in the emergence of a new disease—syphilis. In the 1590s, people stricken
with the disease went to Ibajay to bathe in one of its rivers called Panacuya—possibly deriving
from “panacea”—because of its curative effect (San Agustin 1998, 930).

Of particular pride among the Aklanon is their involvement in the Katipunan and the
Philippine Revolution against Spain. Aklanon Candido Iban of Malinao and Cebuano Francisco del
Castillo were inseparable friends who became members of the Katipunan in 1895. They had been
plantation workers in Negros and then pearl divers in Australia before settling in Tondo. Here,
Andres Bonifacio’s brother, Procopio, recruited them into the Katipunan. A major assignment for
Iban and del Castillo was to scour Mount Tapusi in San Mateo, Rizal to identify places of refuge
and for initiation rites. Iban and del Castillo donated 400 pesos of their winnings from a Manila
lottery for the purchase of a printing press, thus making possible the publication of Kalayaan, the
Katipunan’s official newspaper. Tasked by Bonifacio to organize a Katipunan chapter in Panay,
Iban and del Castillo arrived in Lagatic, now New Washington, in Aklan, in January 1897. Iban
covered the area east of Aklan River, and del Castillo, west. In less than three months, they had
recruited a thousand members, initially from the barrios of Kuntang, which is now Ochando;
Kawayan; Tambak in Lagatic; and from the municipality of Batan. Membership quickly spread to
the rest of the province (Sonza 2001; Presidential Museum 2016).

Local Issues and Concerns

In precolonial times, the Aklanon cultivated rice and corn, and the women wove abaca
and cotton. They fished and panned for gold in the tributaries of the Aklan River. Amber was
collected along the shoreline of the northern villages of Ibajay and Potol Point. By 1844, the
Aklanon were cultivating tobacco, coffee, cacao, indigo, and sugarcane as cash crops, out of
which the Aklanon paid the Spanish colonial government a tax of seven silver reales. The
handloom remained a ubiquitous item of industry in every home, and some women had begun to
specialize in beautiful embroidery. The mountain forests had abounded in beeswax before all of it
was shipped to Spain, depriving the Aklanon and “leaving the altars without the vigil light”
(Fernandez [1899] 2006, 177; Wilkes 1906).

Today, agriculture is still the main occupation, with rice and corn produced in abundance.
Root crops are planted primarily for self-subsistence and for some supplementary income. Poultry
and swine are raised for commercial purposes. The topography favors the development of the
fishpond industry and coconut plantations. Aklan’s 11 coastline municipalities engage in offshore
fishing and aquaculture. Fish of various species, seaweed, and oysters abound. Besides milkfish
for the local market, prawns and crabs are cultured as major export products. Coconut
plantations yield copra, which is another major export commodity. Fruits such as banana, melon,
and pineapple are produced and the surplus shipped to Manila. Abaca, also abundant, is used to
make slippers, mats, and bags. Other cottage industries are weaving, rattan furniture, woodcraft,
and hat making. Kalibo is known for the production of pineapple fiber, which is woven into the
cloth called piña, a fabric used for gowns, table cloths, curtains, and the barong tagalog (a
collared, long-sleeved shirt, worn untucked). The interlocking relationship among farming,
fishing, and upland communities is defined by the weaving industry, especially the mass
production of pandan mats and hats, and, to a lesser degree, the making of abaca products and
the weaving of piña cloth.

26
Political/Economic

Late 16th-century accounts, such as Miguel de Loarca’s, and an anonymous manuscript now
referred to as the Boxer Codex say that traditional Panayanon government was headed by the
datu, who, as head of a sakup, was the judge in matters of dispute, the protector and defender,
and a feudal lord. His subjects were called sinakpan, whose property he appropriated when they
died. Any of the datu’s sons could claim succession; hence, warfare could erupt among brothers
competing for his position. An alternative for a disgruntled brother of a newly installed datu was
to start his own sakup.

The towns of Aklan survived the changes by specializing in the different aspects of the
industry. The women and children of Tangalan, Banga, New Washington, and Batan were the
knotters, tying the abaca and the piña fibers into long threads. Out of the abaca threads, the
Ibajay and Makato weavers made coarse sinamay fabric, which was used in Kalibo and Manila as
the raw material for utility, decorative, and export gift items. Course sinamay fabric was exported
to Japan for two kinds of obi sash: macramé and woven. There was also a Japanese market for
jusi. Numancia produced abaca mosquito nets and fishnets. Batan women wove strips of buri
(raffia) into bags, baskets, hats, and fans for both the local and export market. Pineapple was
cultivated in Banga for its leaves, from which piña fiber was processed. The villages of Kalibo
wove sheets of sheer piña cloth, which were shipped to Manila and sewn into articles of clothing
for the affluent (Rutten 1993, 46; Lunn 2013).

In the 1950s, another drastic slump in the industry occurred when plastic and synthetic
fiber replaced natural-grown raw material. Abaca slippers, rope, and fishnets were replaced by
plastic slippers and nylon rope; buri bags and sacks were replaced by plastic grocery bags; the
piña and jusi gowns as status symbols were replaced by Western fashion. Each town coped by
specializing in the manufacture of utility goods for the local market: Nabas had the largest
community of hat and mat weavers; Ibajay and Lezo’s red clay made them a pottery center;
Banga’s metalsmiths produced machetes; New Washington produced buri sacks and bags; and
Malinao made abaca rope, winnowing trays, and famer’s hats (Rutten 1993, 45).

Among major natural catastrophes besetting the economy of Aklan, typhoons have been
the most devastating. All within just the 21st century, the destruction wrought by Typhoons
Seniang in 2006, Frank in 2008, and Yolanda in 2013 have caused losses amounting to trillions of
pesos. Typhoon Frank alone cost Aklan 2,012,461,435.75 pesos, with agriculture bearing the
brunt of it at almost 500 million pesos, not to speak of the lives lost, injured, and rendered
homeless (Villanueva 2008).

27
Socio-cultural

The traditional social hierarchy consisted of five classes: datu, timawa, oripun, Aeta, and
outsiders from across the seas. An origin myth claims these were the classes that made up all of
humankind.

The term “datu” referred to both the social class and the headman who belonged to this
class. He had a retinue of personal vassals called timawa. The datu class was also called
manggaranon (rich), halangdon (held in high respect), and dungganon (honorable). Among the
other halangdon and dungganon were the sabiosar (wise) and the babaylan (shaman).

The two upper classes were economically supported by the commoner class called
oripun, which was further divided into 12 subclasses, ranging from the bihag (captive slaves) to
the tumataban (the most respected) commoner, serving only five days of labor per month. The
datu was also the feudal lord and agalon (master) of the timawa and the oripun. Because the
present agricultural system remains feudal, these terms are still in current use.

Vertical mobility was possible within this social structure. Slaves could become free after
paying off their debts, which might have been the cause of their slavery; or they could be freed
by a grateful master. Slaves could also go up the ladder of the 12 subclasses within their class.
However, the datu kept the noble line unbroken by marrying only princesses of other sakup,
whether by proper arrangement or by abduction. The princesses were binukot, literally “caged”
or “wrapped up,” meaning they were reserved for the appropriate marriage. The illegitimate sons
of a captive binukot princess and the datu became the timawa. Upon their father’s death, they
were set free and called ginoo .

By the 17th century, the noble classes—datu and timawa alike—had been absorbed into
the Spanish colonial structure. The timawa, now subjugated by Spanish military might, had to
make a living by farming or fabric weaving. “Timawa” currently means “poor” or “destitute.”

The traditional Aklanon kinship system followed the general Philippine pattern, with
relationships traced along both paternal and maternal lines, and terms of address for each
member of the family. Marriage arrangements were traditional: Parental approval and
arrangement were requisite to a ceremony called pamaeayi or pabaeayon. The marriage
celebration itself was festive and costly. The newlyweds could stay with the bride’s family for a
few days, then moved in with the groom’s family for a longer period until the couple set up
residence, usually as decided on by the husband, with his wife’s concurrence. In the past, the
groom was expected to serve the bride’s family for the first few months.

Then and now, the father is the head of the family, although household matters—
preparing the meals, buying clothing for the family, entertaining visitors and relatives, attending
to the children’s needs—are the mother’s responsibilities. Grandparents are respected and cared
for, their opinions sought and advice followed. Children inherit property equally.

A favorite occupation of the Panayanon, it would seem, is bathing. Chroniclers over the
centuries have marveled at the people’s propensity for washing. A Spanish missionary in the
1600s observes that a jar of water is always placed outside near the door so that anyone who
enters the house can pour water over their feet, “rubbing one foot with the other.” A French
traveler in the 1840s describes the Filipinos’ daily bathing ritual as “indispensable,” and done with
“the greatest care.” Bathing in the river is done everyday, besides twice weekly at home (Chirino
1904; Mallat [1846] 1983, 289, 302-303).

28
Environmental and local Initiatives/Movements National/Global linkagaes

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Aklan recently
engaged the Indigenous People (IP) youths in Boracay Island and the young Kalibonhons in
Environmental Summits with activities like tree planting, clean ups and learning events for them
to better understand the importance of environmental protection and conservation.

Two batches of Environmental Summit were facilitated by PENRO Aklan with Batch 1
dubbed as “Youth and Indigenous People’s Summit for Better Boracay: Action Towards
Innovation (ATI) for Environmental Sustainability of Boracay Island.”

Thirty six (36) youth members of the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) attended
the event and actively participated in various activities, namely: Upcycling Contest using plastic
wastes and the Eco-Draw contest that highlights the importance of various ecosystems. In each
activity, the assigned leaders of the group make a presentation of their outputs. Winners were
awarded with certificates and tokens and other non-winning groups received consolation prizes.

The IP youths along with personnel from Department of Environment and Natural
Resources PENRO Aklan (DENR-PENRO), Lawin Patrollers of Community ENR Office in Boracay
Island and some members from the Ati community also joined the beach clean-up near the Ati
Village in Brgy. Manocmanoc, which was part of the Summit activities.

The IP youths understanding on the need to sustain the gains of Boracay Island
rehabilitation was reinforced with the things they have learned from the Summit.

Meanwhile, Batch 2 of the youth summit was dubbed as “Youth of Aklan for a Better
Environment Today and Tomorrow” was conducted at the Ati-atihan County Inn in the capital
town of Kalibo, Aklan.

A total of forty-eight (48) Aklanon youths attended Batch 2 of the summit with invites
from the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Ambassadors, Youth Artists, Future Leaders
of the Philippines Officers ASU – Banga, Regional Science High School for Region VI (RSHSVI)
YES-O Officers, Sanggunian ng Kabataan (SK) Chairpersons and Members from different
municipalities including Balete, Banga, Batan and New Washington.

The one-day activity included lectures on the following: Challenges of various ecosystems
in Aklan; Understanding Geohazard’s Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Maps; Youth
Empowerment for Better Aklan; Digital Literacy 101: An Introduction to Graphic Design as Tool
for an Effective Communication Link Toward Environmental Education with logo making contest;
Bamboo and Clonal Propagation for Forest Rehabilitation with video making on the procedures by
the participants; Knowledge and Practices of Akeanon Bukidnon Tribe in Harmony and Nature;
and, the signing of Pledge of Commitment.

“Engaging the youths and the Indigenous People community in our environmental
activities and thrusts achieves a win-win situation. The Indigenous People are keepers of
traditional practices that work in harmony with nature while the modern youths can be our
information multipliers, even influencers, to expand our reach. Both groups of young people can
work to further promote understanding and appreciation for environmental protection and
conservation,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran. (DENR-6)

29
 Bibliography

“Aklan” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 January 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aklan

“Aklan depends on agriculture.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 January 2023,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aklan

“Boracay.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 January 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aklan

https://leovelgaspar.weebly.com/tourist-spots-in-the-philippines

“Museo it Aklan (Kalibo)”, https://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/museo-it-aklan-

kalibo/

“Kalibo cathedral” Wikipedia,

Wikimedia Foundation, 6 January 2023,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalibo_Cathedral

“the river that appears to boil or bubble (akae-akae) in the summer”, (Ilio 1999, 126; de la Cruz
1993, 7).

“Islas de los Pintados” (Islands of the Painted Ones), though the inhabitants already had
names for their own islands when the Spaniards arrived, such as Panay, Cuyo, Negros, Cebu,
Leyte, Ibabao (southeastern Samar), Samar, Bohol, and the Calamianes (de Morga 1904, 129).

“The datus Mariclong and Macabug received Legazpi in Panay” (San Agustin 1998, 425,
524-529).

“Salcedo’s combined force of 30 Spanish soldiers and 500 Aklan and Ibajay warriors then
attacked and dispersed the pirate settlement of Mamburao in Mindoro” (San Agustin 1998, 531).

Each tribute was collected from a household of three to four members (de Loarca 1903,
110; Fernandez [1899] 2006, 178; San Agustin 1998, 839).

“By 1842, the Aklanon from the island’s north end called Potol Point (presently part of
Malay) were cultivating mainly indigo and sugarcane as cash crops, the earnings of which they
were each being taxed seven silver reales yearly (San Agustin 1998, 399; Blair & Robertson
1903).

“When the datus and timaguas (freemen) failed to collect the required amount of tribute
from their subjects, the encomenderos would lock them in stocks (de Rada 1903).

“Each tribute was coerced from a household of three to four members (Dasmariñas
1903, 129; de la Costa 2014, 142).

“In the 1590s, people stricken with the disease went to Ibajay to bathe in one of its
rivers called Panacuya” (San Agustin 1998, 930).

“Membership quickly spread to the rest of the province (Sonza 2001; Presidential
Museum 2016).

“leaving the altars without the vigil light” (Fernandez [1899] 2006, 177; Wilkes 1906).

“The villages of Kalibo wove sheets of sheer piña cloth, which were shipped to Manila
and sewn into articles of clothing for the affluent (Rutten 1993, 46; Lunn 2013).

“New Washington produced buri sacks and bags; and Malinao made abaca rope,
winnowing trays, and famer’s hats (Rutten 1993, 45).

“not to speak of the lives lost, injured, and rendered homeless (Villanueva 2008).

30
 “the greatest care.” Bathing in the river is done everyday, besides twice weekly at home
(Chirino 1904; Mallat [1846] 1983, 289, 302-303).

31