Like puff pastry, the layered rocks looks like giant sliced strudels!

Unusual rocks in the area

The first time I saw the waverock formation at a beach in Barangay Afga, Tangalan, Aklan, I was thinking of layers of crisp and sweet puff pastry baked into perfection.

But instead of the flaky dough, these are limestone, soft rocks, which, for millenia have been shaped and molded by the forces of wind, water and continental drift to become what it is now, a beautiful rocky landscape so uncommon!

But wait, scanning the area, its not all layers upon layers of flat rocks. there are still other formations that just surprises: rotund and sponge but with bigger holes like that quizzes the mind on how on earth it got its form; grid like structure neatly laid out on the ground; and beautiful flowing and rounded rocks that attest to the action of seawater.

The old church of Tangalan, one of a few Spanish colonial era structures in Aklan, built in 1889

Tangalan seems to be just like other municipalities along the route from Kalibo to Caticlan. But entering the municipality, one is rewarded with a sight of a simple but beautiful church, one of the oldest in the province which was built in 1889.

For the adventurer, one might visit Jawili Falls, a few kilometers from the town center. However, as I lacked time during this visit, this will be for another visit.

Tangalan is just 30 minutes from Kalibo. One can ride the Ceres bus from the Ceres terminal (all buses bound for Caticlan or Antique or even Iloilo via Antique) or jeepneys from the Oyo Torong Terminal. Vhires also pass this town enroute to Caticlan.

Ang Langyaw’s Panay Island trip courtesy of Airphilexpress, the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines that made this trip possible!

Dressed as an Ati with a Sto. Nino icon

Succulent mud crabs!

It’s just a small festival, colors are more subdued and less contingents than Cebu’s Sinulog but the Ibajaynons surely takes centerstage and knows how to have fun!

It was already 9 AM and the road infront of the municipal hall was already crowded with festival participants. Their skin blackened with soot and their costumes made from native materials adroitly fashioned into feathers, headresses and vests.

A couple of meters were simple floats decorated with palm fronds, cooked fish and crabs and an image of the Sto. Nino, the town’s patron saint. As the clock ticks to the start, in a few minutes, the participants are rushing last minute fixes.

The whistle blows and the drumbeats start, the dancer open with a few sways and stops, sways and stops and motions of their hands and feet. Stomp, stomp, stomp and quick pushes and pulls with their arms, head sway to the beat of the drums. Shouts of Viva Sto. Nino fill the air.

Another sooted and costumed dancer. CLICK TO ENLARGE.

Revelry participant in a woman's clothes

The crowd mill around, taking photos, craning necks and laughing. Some curious about what’s happening while others just stood there, ejoying the beat and the performance as the parade passed, with a bottle of beer in one hand. In my case, since it was my first Ati-ati festival, I was busy taking photos, stopping for a few minutes to look then shoot again.

After the dancers, groups of people pass in their festive march coupled with short dances. Step forward, gyrate and sway. Some in women costumes, men holding baby dolls, and the now ubiquitous seafood and grilled chicken on stakes being paraded. On floats are fruits, vegetables and meat. One even had several lechons (roasted pigs) paraded.

In the next few hours until lunch, the parade will wind through town, from the municipal hall to the main highway and back to the town center ending with an entrance to the church for a blessing.

Live moro-moro, a play-fight between Christians and Muslims at an open space near the church

The Ati-ati Festival of Ibajay follows the same storyline as that of Kalibo’s Ati-atihan Festival, Makato’s and Altavas’s and even Boracay which according to some historians, commemorate the barter of Panay and later, during the Spanish colonial period, the religious part was incorporated. While many contest this one, even putting forward a legend, what is important is that the celebration is meaningful to the townspeople.

At the church, people queue to have themselves blessed with the image of the Sto. Nino

While the Sinulog is very colorful, well choreographed and long, Ibajay’s Ati-ati Festival, personally, is better. There’s no big cash prize and contests for the best float or costume or dancing but its more of participation by the different barangays and the visitors who just come here for the festivities.

Ibajay’s Ati-ati Festival still retain that authentic festival flavor that is, sadly, lacking in most major festivals in the country.

Ang Langyaw’s Panay Island trip courtesy of Airphilexpress, the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines that made this trip possible!

A windsurfing tyro tries on one

Boracay is not just a sun worshiper’s paradise, with its fine, powdery white sand and azure waters, but for thrill seekers, its also one of the best places for windsurfing.

Beachside, colorful, breezy and fun

Boracay’s Bulabog Beach, the side opposite White Beach is ideal for this sport. Especially during the northeastern monsoon, the wind is especially strong. That’s why during this time of the year, the Boracay International Funboard Cup is being held. During this event, lots of players, both local and international come and compete.

But for the novice, its not really difficult. First, there are several windsurfing (and kiteboarding) schools located along the Bulabog Beach strip with different price ranges and accommodations depending on one’s budget. One can even arrange with the different windsurf training providers via their website as they offer sweat free packages like these all inclusive Ski Holidays that simplifies the booking process via their websites.

Second, there are several competent and certified trainers that ensure you get the proper training that is recognized worldwide. Third, these windsurfing schools have world class equipment to boot. One can even chose to rent these out while learning at prices that are affordable.

Best of all, nothing beats learning to windsurf in one of the world’s best beaches, with great food, nightlife and very hospitable people that will make your stay enjoyable.

A man waving a palm frond with cooked mud crabs dangling from it

It was rather weird. Something that struck me as unusual that caught me off guard. People were holding skewered and grilled chicken or parts of it. Some with steamed crabs dangling from sticks. Whole fish tied to another and, even strange, raw meat stuck to a man’s body or raised up on wooden sticks, waved and being agitated to the loud shouts of Viva! Senor Sto. Nino!

A boy holding grilled chicken wrapped in plastic to protect it from the rain

A few meters away, beautifully clad gay men in fairy costumes were holding icons of the Sto. Nino, posing from time to time for amused people. But another lady was walking to the church with a nude baby doll strapped to her front.

In the first place, it was a Catholic celebration in Ibajay, one of the municipalities of Aklan that marks the 4th Sunday of January as the feast of the Sto. Nino, the Holy Child that is quite popular in the Philippines.

Second, people say that the Ati-ati celebration is more authentic. Third, hinting from the Ati-ati (from the word Ati, referring to the nomadic indigenous group who are short, dark skinned and got curly hair), I wasn’t just prepared for the ritualistic part that may have paganistic roots syncretized into Catholicism. People say that the food, both raw or cooked, is an offering to the Sto. Nino.

Bow and arrow with mud crabs and fish

Deafeningly loud!

The town is just one of a series of municipalities in the northwestern part of the province that celebrates the Ati-atihan. Foremost is the one in Kalibo, held every 3rd Sunday of January and now, allegedly, into its 800th plus year. Makato is another town with an ati-atihan event, every 15th of January while Boracay, every 2nd Sunday of the same month.

But in Ibajay, people just get into the mood. The feast is a given and both young and old soot themselves black and gather either outside the convent beside the church or inside the latter to await the short procession of the image.

I wasn't spared with the sooting

If you’re clean, even a visitor, you won’t be spared and people will place soot on your face, in the spirit of fun, of course! It’s even normal to see both men and women holding bottles of beer before, during or after the procession, even at church! Drunkards also abound.

Here, everyone just go with the beat of drums, and not just by one group, but two, three, five or even seven drum corps inside the church trying to outdo each other in loudness! And it can be DEAFENINGLY LOUD! As the clock approaches 11 AM, the drums get louder and louder as people start to get excited.

The image bourne on the shoulders of these men is transported to the church

People waiting outside the convent

As the image of the Sto. Nino is transported outside of the convento and into the church, just a few meters distance, the crowd start to be agitated.

The sticks, palms and branches either laden with seafood, grilled chicken, raw meat or even, succulent crispy pata is swung from side to side. People shout Viva! Sto. Nino and the pushing and pulling starts as the image passes.

Once inside, the drumbeats gets even louder and people are trying to go in one direction: to the image at the center of the presbytery to touch it.

The doll like image of the Sto. Nino bourne as it arrives inside the church. Devotees try to squeeze in to the crowd to touch it.

The sea of people down below. CLICK TO ENLARGE

The Ibajay Sto. Nino festivities is small compared to the one in Cebu, but the ardent fervor of the devotees coupled with the seeming paganistic/ritualistic practices makes it unique.

After this event, which falls on a Saturday, Sunday morning is the Ati-ati Festival and at around 3 PM, people again gather at the church and lead the image via a short procession back to the convent.

Ang Langyaw’s Panay Island trip courtesy of Airphilexpress, the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines that made this trip possible!

Scantily clad survivors? Nope, they were just having fun in Bulabog Beach, Boracay

A tyro learning windsurfing

When I woke up at around 0630H this morning, it was raining outside my hotel room in Kalibo. Bad, I said to myself as I was trying to get a few more minutes of sleep before preparing for the day’s trips.

I arrived in this city yesterday, trying to catch up with the Boracay International Funboard Cup, even for a few hours and eventually go down Panay Island for Iloilo’s Dinagyang. But that wasn’t meant to be that I instead decided to witness this Sunday the Ati-Ati Festival of Ibajay, a town located between Caticlan and Kalibo.

Despite having second thoughts of going to Boracay, I dragged my feet to Caticlan later after lunch, ate at D’ Mall and walked to Bulabog Beach where the water sports tilt was held.

A lazy afternoon in Bulabog Beach

Unfortunately, it was a bad day. Despite the sunshine and blue skies, the wind was kind of erratic and the windsurfing and kiteboarding participants were just at the beach, lying in wait for the wind to pick up.

For almost an hour, I just preoccupied myself with taking photos of a few people in the waters: a man practicing how to windsurf, a pair of sexy ladies paddling atop a surf board, and greeted and chatted with friends like Nenette, the organizer of the event as well as those from Sports Unlimited who I have caught up in several sporting events across the country.

Bored with no action in the waters, I left Boracay and returned to Kalibo.

Ruins of the old church in Ibajay, Aklan

Beautiful 1930's Rizal monument

Earlier in the day, I went to Ibajay, to Barangay Naisud for its Mangroves Eco Park that is the pride of the municipality. Despite drizzling when I went down the jeep at the waiting shed, I still proceeded to hire a tricycle.

Unfortunately, the office at the eco park was closed when I reach the place. Padlocked and chained. The driver told me that the people might be at the town plaza as there was a parade, part of the fiesta activities.

With no other recourse, I decided to proceed to the town proper of Ibajay and look at the place, scouting it for tomorrow’s and Sunday’s shoot.

The town is quite lovely with huge open spaces, a park with a 1930′s monument of Jose Rizal, the national hero, a 19th century church and convent. Except for a tacky structure, everything would’ve been beautiful with the municipal building at one side, imposing.

But what really made me happy was the discovery of the ruins of the old church perpendicular to the current one. From the remaining shell of a building, probably the presbytery and nave walls, it looked to be huge and imposing. I don’t have much information, however, about the structure and will just leave it as it is.

As it was fiesta time, leading up to the big event on Sunday, people were everywhere and every kind of shops were set up along the open spaces selling from used clothes, imitation shoes, and food. With the festive spirit, I just hope that tomorrow and Sunday’s visit for the Ati-ati festival will be fruitful with wonderful images.

Ang Langyaw is in Panay Island courtesy of Airphilexpress, the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines that made this trip possible!

Dipping sun, yellow sky, boat silhouettes

Frisbee catcher

Ah, Boracay. I’m back probably a year after covering the Boracay Funboard Cup the same month last year and, what you expect is just more of the same. Crowded, lots of tourists in a babel of tongues with Russian becoming commonplace, even with Cyrillic, the Russian alphabet written hand in hand with Hangeul (Korean).

But I am here to shoot a client just after the New Year’s revelry with many tourists going back only to be replaced with others lugging their wheeled luggage or huge backpacks adding to the foot traffic in the white beach strips of Station 1 to 3. Many are wielding DSLR, probably hoping to capture eye candies in various states of undress.

Coming dusk, sailboats coming in from the sea

But that moment, that late afternoon when I went down the stairs of the Treehouse in Station 3 and I was just greeted with the said beautiful sunset. Arresting. Never had I stopped and scrambled to take a photo all these years just for a sunset but the result can’t just give justice to what I saw. And then it was gone as dusk came sweeping in.

A Sinulog dancer during a break in the street dancing

These three are the major festivals of January and it’s only Sinulog that I’ve been able to witness as well as shoot. But it’s becoming more and more stale for me.

Year on year, the dances are just becoming the same, the costumes, while elaborate and well conceptualized, are really not original with the festival queen morphing to designs being worn in Rio’s Carnival.

Or am I just having Sinulog fatigue, having covered it three times in a row a few years ago. Besides, the Sinulog Foundation is already asking P750 pesos for every wannabe photographer who want to cover the event for the photo contest.

On my part, signing up was important so that I can get hold of the ID and have instant access within the parade route. It affords one to be in the middle of the action but I always prefer to steer clear of other photographers. Swarming, or as photojourns call, wolf packing, is not just my cup.

Joyous revelry a few nights before the Ati-atihan

A young dancer during the Sinulog.

Dinagyang on the other hand is purported to be one of the best. Colorful and probably interesting. With these two coming in the heels of each other will, if I will eventually cover these two, afford me to go around Panay island.

Very tempting considering that I still have lots to explore this big place, from Antique, to Iloilo, from Aklan to Roxas and interesting outlying islands like Gigantes and Caluya. Will I ever make it? I just hope so and now, I’m crossing my fingers that my schedule will permit me.

Lovers having their sweet private time with a view at Cebu's Tops

Circular path at the covered structure

Situated at 2,000 feet above sea level in the cool hills of Busay, Cebu City, Tops has been there as far as I can remember. It’s the perfect place to just view the city and surrounding islands of Olango and, even Bohol on a clear day.

At night, the unfolding panorama of the citylights become an attraction in itself with locals trying to figure out buildings, structures and places within the city.

A series of strong street lights marks Osmena Blvd; a glowing blue structure, Harold’s Hotel; and of course, who can miss the beautifully lighted structure of Waterfront? At the far end, the twin bridges connecting Mactan to Cebu is evident while the cool light beams of Crown Regency with its multicolored top easily seen.

Open area and structure

For many Cebuanos, Tops is one of the top and reliable tourist attraction. For many of us, it holds many beautiful memories: visits with school friends, of family and visitors, or romantic rendezvous where a trip at night can guarantee a warming embrace or a kiss… or more than that.

Its a no frills area where you just go there to watch or drink at the covered structure tastefully done where the pathway is through a series of circular openings. To talk or just reminisce. Getting there is also an adventure and, for the driver, a challenge.

Tops is accessed through Transcentral Highway that goes up from near JY Square in Lahug and is situated in Busay Hills. There are no existing signage but the forking road to the place is just around a hundred meters from the ascent to Mountain View. Do ask around for directions. Entrance fee as of this writing is P100.

A swim to life, a baby turtle struggles to wade into the sea, waiting for the waves to come and bring it out to the world

Mindanao, the Philippines’s second largest island has a veil of mystery draped around her. Feared by the uninformed but loved by those who know her true worth and beauty. This series is my tribute for Mindanao, where I’ve been crisscrossing over the years and where a part of me also comes from. The baby turtles were just at the holding pen, about three inches long, 15-20 individuals. Some were sleeping with their front flappers conveniently resting atop the carapace while some biting on a blanched but definitely dead fish floating on the surface.

The first time I saw these animals, I was just beaming with joy, smiling in between taking photographs, shooting like crazy. But who wouldn’t be drawn to such cute animals? Looking at these will definitely melt your heart, much more when you learn their facts of life: only 1% in a clutch of a 100 eggs make it to adults, or return to the same beach where they were laid.

Danilo Dequina, the pawikan man, started the sanctuary by gathering eggs, the size and shape of ping pong balls, in the beach and transferring them to guarded nesting sites

Nesting sites 'fenced' with plastic netting

According to Danilo, the beach is home to around five species of marine turtles, almost all are endangered: olive ridley, hawksbill, green turtle, loggerhead and the leatherback, the biggest of its kind but one that was last seen ten years ago.

The sanctuary is just a few meters by the beach area and at any given time, there are baby turtles at the holding pen. At a small sandy clearing, fenced and protected from animals, are plastic netting encircling a tiny patch of ground. Here, turtle eggs wait it out until hatched.

Baby pawikans swimming at the holding pen

The sanctuary shack

My unforgettable moment? Setting free a few baby turtles out into the open and praying that they will brave the harsh conditions of the sea and be able to evade predators to live to adulthood and, for the females, to eventually come back to Maitum and lay their eggs after a journey around the oceans of the world.

To reach the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary, ride a habalhabal from the town proper, if you don’t have your own private vehicle, to Old Poblacion, Maitum. Drivers know where this place is. A donation is very much appreciated at the sanctuary.

Visit Maitum now and explore this wonderful municipality rich with natural, cultural, historical and natural wonders that will surely make your visit worthwhile. Contact the municipal tourism office via tourism officer Arlex at +63 919 373 8007.

Turbulent waters good for water tubing in Pangi River, New La Union, Maitum

Mindanao, the Philippines’s second largest island has a veil of mystery draped around her. Feared by the uninformed but loved by those who know her true worth and beauty. This series is my tribute for Mindanao, where I’ve been crisscrossing over the years and where a part of me also comes from. From a distance, the river looks calm except for a few patches of white. Water foams as it hits submerged rocks and boulders. A closer look, however, reveals that it is fast flowing, even turbulent at some parts and ripe for a wild and wet adventure that is water tubing in Maitum’s Pangi River system.

One of the guides with the water tube

A deceptively calm looking river

For the next 10-15 minutes, roughly over a kilometer distance (or more, but arrange it first) it was a rough and smooth ride, alternating, until just before reaching the irrigation control gates where I finally was guided to the side and stopped, still trembling but exhilarated with excitement.

Visit Maitum now and explore this wonderful municipality rich with natural, cultural, historical and natural wonders that will surely make your visit worthwhile. Contact the municipal tourism office via tourism officer Arlex at +63 919 373 8007.

To reach the water tubing site, ride a habalhabal from the town proper, if you don’t have your own private vehicle, to New La Union, Maitum. Drivers know where this place is. Water tubing is offered by the only resort at the site. Fee is already inclusive of a guide. Please, wear safety gear.