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A short stop in Pontevedra, Capiz

Men gather at the waiting shed to ogle at our party, a group of bloggers and our host.

Men gather at the waiting shed to ogle at our party, a group of bloggers and our host.

People from the surrounding villages around the river board these motorized pumpboats to cross to the other side.

People from the surrounding villages around the river board these motorized pumpboats to cross to the other side.

Our party, a van full of bloggers and two tour guides from the Capiz Provincial Tourism arrived in Pontevedra, our first stop for the day during our Capiz familiarization tour.

Pontevedra, which, at first, I confused with another municipality in Negros Occidental, is actually just the next town to Roxas City, the bustling capital and thus, is one of the more populated municipalities of the province. Because of its distance, many workers in the capital city usually base here because of the cheaper rent.

I was quite shocked to see this one, at first. Its not always that one see a pig's head being roasted. But there you are.

I was quite shocked to see this one, at first. Its not always that one see a pig’s head being roasted. But there you are.

But Pontevedra is not just known for that. It is, popularly known as the mud crab capital of the province where these crustaceans from different parts, and usually, along the river that cuts through are brought, sold and traded. I was told that on market day, several sellers line the streets for several hundred meters near the market and along the road beside the river.

This place has always been a popular trading post because of the ease with which goods and people are continuously delivered and brought to and from the town center because of the river. Because of the place teeming with people come market day that they look like ants converging at their nest. And this was even the theme of their festival dance that the town presented during the Sinadya sa Halaran Festival every December.

Motorized pumpboats awaiting passengers to ferry them acros or into the nearby surrounding villages

Motorized pumpboats awaiting passengers to ferry them acros or into the nearby surrounding villages

Pontevedra is the mud crab capital of Capiz. Here, on market day, expect to see buyers and sellers haggling for the best price.

Pontevedra is the mud crab capital of Capiz. Here, on market day, expect to see buyers and sellers haggling for the best price.

A really big crab tipping the scales at 1 kilo! It's worth almost a thousand pesos.

A really big crab tipping the scales at 1 kilo! It’s worth almost a thousand pesos.

A pile of suman, a type of native rice cakes. I really stopped and bought one to taste and eat.

A pile of suman, a type of native rice cakes. I really stopped and bought one to taste and eat.

I've always loved native rice cakes or kakanin. Here, one is opened so that I can taste it. It's being sold at P5 per piece.

I’ve always loved native rice cakes or kakanin. Here, one is opened so that I can taste it. It’s being sold at P5 per piece.

Sweet surrender! Moscovado sugar syrup, or latik, pairs well with the bland but aromatic suman, a kind of rice cake packed in babana leaves and steamed.

Sweet surrender! Moscovado sugar syrup, or latik, pairs well with the bland but aromatic suman, a kind of rice cake packed in babana leaves and steamed.

Thanx to the Capiz Provincial Tourism for making this possible.

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