The Season for Sea and Seafood*

Beyond the sea-to-table cuisine that Capiz is famous for, the province serves a plateful of surprises to feed your wanderlust.

Gugma Beach

Aptly named Gugma (Love), this off the grid stretch of warm grey sand in Sapian ticks all the right boxes for a splashing good time with its expansive views of the coastline and striking rock formations by the shore.

The White Sand Beaches of Ivisan

Speaking of beaches, the town of Ivisan has fine white sand beaches bordered by palm trees. The laid-back vibe of Basiao, Ayagao and Patio beaches will please the consummate beachgoer. Pumpboats are available to explore the tiny shoreline of Maba-ay Island, just minutes from Basiao beach.

Ruins of Railway Bridge

Once upon a time, there was a railroad connecting Capiz and Iloilo. Buses eventually replaced the trains which were finally put to bed in 1985. There are remnants of the supporting approach to a railway bridge in Dao, about thirty minutes from Roxas City. Hardwood pylons cut dramatically across the fertile landscape like silent sentinels of a bygone era.

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves

Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of Snows) in Dumarao was razed by fire in 2009. Luckily, the façade and belfry were spared. The Church, with its pink hued exterior covered by an overgrowth of foliage, is one of the most picturesque spots in Capiz. Here’s one for the Instagram museum!

Marugo Lake

Set against a backdrop of verdant green hills, Marugo Lake is a bucolic vision. The lake is a reservoir that provides irrigation to neighboring farms in San Antonio, Tapaz. It is also an ideal place to escape from the daily grind. Rent one of the floating cottages and stay a while in the middle of the lake. You’ll return to reality both refreshed and rejuvenated.
Image by RG Castillon Gadian

Palina River Cruise

Cruising the river on a bamboo raft is both a relaxing and learning experience. Your guide can tell you all about the rehabilitation of Palina river while you get a massage or a manicure. You can also pre-order a delicious lunch of laswa and lapu-lapu.

Malinamon Falls

Within the vast confines of Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan is a forested garrison with waterfalls, hiking and mountain biking trails, a golf course, a swimming pool and grotto overlooking the 33,000-hectare camp, the second largest in the country. The multiple tiered Malinamon Falls is drawing a lot of visitors to the Camp.

Image by Bernadette Barrientos

Sunset on Baybay Beach

Capizeños certainly know how to kiss the day goodbye. They stroll with friends and family at sunset on Baybay Beach to gaze at the spectacular colors of the sky. They linger till the last ray of light has exited the horizon. Then they retreat to one of the beachfront eateries for succulent seafood.

Seafood is always in season in Capiz. And the sea beckons. Come soon.

*****

Images by Charie Albar

___________
* This article was recently published in The Daily Guardian. Read it here:
https://thedailyguardian.net/community-news/the-season-for-sea-and-seafood/

**All these sites are accessible using a combination of bus or Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) and tricycle. The bus terminal in Roxas City is in Punta Dulog. The Capiz Tourism office has a wealth of recommendations for sightseeing and adventures in Capiz and is located at the Provincial Capitol building in Roxas City.

Brașov was once called Stalin City

White Tower Brașov is a city nestled in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. Remnants of its medieval fortifications and bastions are added attractions to this buzzing city. The White Tower along with the Black Tower are two of the remaining watchtowers still visible today. During the Communist period, Brașov was called Orasul Stalin or Stalin City after the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin. Black Church This is such a storied Gothic church which was originally the Catholic Church of St. Mary before it was converted to a Lutheran Church. It was believed to have been affected by fire in 1689 which blackened its exterior walls and roof. But a new 21st century study reveals that this wasn’t the case at all. The only reason for its blackened state according to the study is environmental pollution caused by the industrialization of Brasov in the 19th century. The walls have since been cleaned but there are traces of black spots on the roof. Republicii Street This long pede...

The Gold of Ancestors: Pre-Colonial Philippine Treasures

Openwork basket, Surigao, 10th-13th century What a wonderful surprise this exhibition is! These gold objects, about a thousand of them, add a rich layer to Philippine history. This collection which was found in various sites in the Philippines, date back to the 10th-13th centuries. It demonstrates the well developed culture of pre colonial Philippines which the Spaniard, Antonio Pigafetta, recorded in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan landed in the islands. A thriving interchange between the Philippines and its Asian neighbors existed prior to the arrival of Magellan as attested by some of these gold accouterments which show for example, images from Hindu mythology. The motifs and curvilinear ornamentation of the openwork basket (shown above) intimate Chinese designs found in their ceramics and textiles. Torso ornament, 10th-13th century Weighing four kilos of gold, this sash is worn across the chest similar to the upavita (sacred thread) style in Hindu culture. This sash w...

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...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog