More discoveries in Capiz

Just when I thought I've explored Capiz enough, I'm finding captivating places off the beaten track. Some of these sites hit me with nostalgia like the ruins of the approach to a railway bridge while others took me completely by surprise (La Playa Beach and Marugo Lake). These new discoveries inspire me to wander down dusty roads and hunt for more local color.

Ruins of Railway Bridge

These hardwood pylons supported the approach to a railway bridge in Duyoc, Dao. This was constructed in 1910 and the railway extended for 117 kilometers from Capiz to Iloilo. Passenger service operations ended in 1985. Buses and private utility vehicles (PUV) now ply the highway between these two provinces. These ruins are on McKinley Street in Duyoc, Dao.

La Playa Beach

There are so many beaches in Capiz but La Playa stands out for its serene surroundings. It's far from the noise and crowds of the city. If you appreciate a quiet time and a beach to yourself, this is the place to go.

Pilar is an hour by private car from Roxas City and La Playa is in San Ramon, Pilar. Ceres buses pass by Pilar on its way to Carles and Estancia, Iloilo.

Marugo Lake*

Marugo Lake is in the hills above San Julian in Tapaz. These bamboo huts on the water are for rent for P500. The lake does not get crowded as there are only a few huts available for rent.

Tapaz is an hour and a half from Roxas City by private vehicle.There are buses and PUVs that go to Tapaz from the Roxas City Bus Terminal in Punta Dulog. Get off at San Julian and take a tricycle to the lake.

*Image by RG Castillon Gadian

Maba-ay Island

The best time to go to Maba-ay Island is before sunset. Motorized outriggers can be rented from Basiao Beach in Ivisan for P500. Your best bet to enjoy this little stretch of white sand without day trippers is to visit on a weekday.

There's more to love about Ivisan: https://travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2016/10/ivisan.html

Mantalinga Island

I love the tidal pools on Mantalinga Island and the unobstructed views of Olotayan Island and Baybay Beach from its rocky shores. Look closely and you'll see a skull shaped rock protruding from its craggy walls.

There are pumpboats leaving from Bitoy's that can be hired for the 20-minute trip to Mantalinga Island. The price depends on the number of people going to the island. It's also possible to hire a boat for private use. Click here for more images of Mantalinga island: https://travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2017/04/let-go-to-mantalinga-island.html

Boodle fight

Roxas City is the seafood capital of the Philippines. What better way to savor its sea-to-table delicacies than with a boodle fight? Bitoy's on Baybay Beach can prepare a sumptuous table for you and your friends. This banana leaf covered table is for 10 people but can easily accommodate more people with the dizzying array of dishes. What a great way to share bread than at a communal table! And your hands are your utensils. Bon appetit!

Link to boodle fight: https://travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2017/12/celebrating-thanksgiving-in-philippines.html

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Images by TravelswithCharie unless otherwise noted

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and

8 Heritage Houses of Iloilo

Lizares Mansion The province of Iloilo on the island of Panay has a rich trove of heritage houses, left over from the sugar industry boom in the 19th century. Iloilo also had the largest port in the Philippines at that time which facilitated the export of sugar to foreign shores and deposited money in the hands of the sugar barons. The barons dropped their earnings into the acquisition of properties in Negros and the construction of beautiful homes in Iloilo, many of which are located in the vicinity of the Jaro Cathedral. The Lizares Mansion was built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife, Concepcion Gamboa and five children. The family fled to safety when World War II broke out and the house was occupied by the Japanese military. The family returned to the house after the war but left once again after the demise of Don Emiliano. It was sold to the Dominican order in the 1960s and was converted in 1978 to a private school, Angelicum School. The mansion now houses the

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