Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan (

Akeanon Aklanon (''Akeanon''), also known as Bisaya/Binisaya nga Aklanon/Inaklanon or simply Aklan, is an Austronesian language of the Bisayan subgroup spoken by the Aklanon people in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines. I ...

: ''Probinsya it Akean'' k'ɣan hil, Kapuoran sang Aklan; tl, Lalawigan ng Aklan), is a

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...

in the

Western Visayas Western Visayas ( hil, Kabisay-an Nakatundan; tl, Kanlurang Kabisayaan or ''Kanlurang Visayas'') is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimara ...

region of the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. Its capital is

Kalibo Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; tgl, Bayan ng Kalibo), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the Province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...

. The province is situated in the northwest portion of

Panay Island Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City o ...

, bordering

Antique An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...

to the southwest, and

Capiz Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; tl, Lalawigan ng Capiz), is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Roxas. It is ...

to the southeast. Aklan faces the

Sibuyan Sea The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines that separates the Visayas from the northern Philippine island of Luzon. It is bounded by the island of Panay to the south, Mindoro to the west, Masbate to the east, and to the north Marinduque a ...

and

Romblon Romblon ( , ), officially the Province of Romblon, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main islands include Tablas, the largest, which covers nine municipalities; Sibuyan with its three towns; as ...

province to the north. Aklan is most well-known for

Boracay Boracay (; often locally shortened to Bora) is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located off the northwest coast of Panay. It has a total land area of , under the jurisdiction of three barangays in Malay, Aklan ...

, 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.

History

Aklan is believed to have been settled in the 13th century by settlers from

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java Isl ...

, ruled by the chieftain

Datu ''Datu'' is a title which denotes the rulers (variously described in historical accounts as chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs) of numerous indigenous peoples throughout the Philippine archipelago. The title is still used today, especia ...

Dinagandan which traded with its neighbouring islands. Aklan then became a part of the Kedatuan of Madja-as. Towards the end of the 13th century, Datu Dinagandan moved the capital from what is now Batan. In 1433, Datu Kalantiaw's grandson and successor, Datu Kalantiaw III, was said by Jose Marcos to have formulated a set of laws known today as the

Code of Kalantiaw The Code of Rajah Kalantiaw was a supposed legal code in the epic history Maragtas that is said to have been written in 1433 by Datu Kalantiaw, a chief on the island of Negros in the Philippines. It is now generally accepted by historians that ...

. Well-respected scholarly long-term Philippine resident historian William Henry Scott proved these "laws" to be a total fabrication. In 1437, the short-lived dynasty of Datu Kalantiaw ended when Datu Kalantiaw III was killed in battle with the tribes of Datu Manduyog, the legitimate successor of Datu Dinagandan. When Datu Manduyog became the new chieftain, he moved the capital to Bakan (now known as Banga). Several

datu ''Datu'' is a title which denotes the rulers (variously described in historical accounts as chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs) of numerous indigenous peoples throughout the Philippine archipelago. The title is still used today, especia ...

s succeeded Datu Manduyog until the Spanish explorer

Miguel López de Legazpi Miguel López de Legazpi (12 June 1502 – 20 August 1572), also known as ''Adelantado, El Adelantado'' and ''El Viejo'' (The Elder), was a Spaniard who, from the age of 26, lived and built a career in Mexico (then the Viceroyalty of New Sp ...

landed in Batan in 1565 and claimed the island for

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

, in early Spanish accounts it was called ''El Río de Aclán''. Datu Kabanyag was the chieftain at that period and had his capital in Libacao. In 1942, the

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

invaded An invasion is a military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory owned by another such entity, generally with the objective of either: conquering; liberating or re-establishing co ...

Aklan during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. In 1945, combined Filipino and American army along with Aklanon guerrillas

liberated Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

Aklan during the

war in the Pacific The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the Theater (warfare), theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, ...

. Aklan (Akean) became an independent province through ''

Republic Act This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Sources of Philippine laws ;Notes : *Customs may be considered as supplementary source of law, however, customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be ...

No. 1414'' signed by Philippine President

Ramon Magsaysay Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay Sr. (August 31, 1907 – March 17, 1957) was a Filipino statesman who served as the seventh president of the Philippines, from December 30, 1953, until his death in an aircraft disaster on March 17, 1957. An automo ...

on April 25, 1956, separating Aklan from

. The original towns were

Altavas Altavas, officially the Municipality of Altavas ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Altavas''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Altavas''; tl, Bayan ng Altavas), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a ...

, Balete, Batan, Banga,

Buruanga Buruanga, officially the Municipality of Buruanga ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Buruanga''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Buruanga''; tl, Bayan ng Buruanga), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the farthest town of Akla ...

, Ibajay,

, Lezo, Libacao,

Madalag Madalag, officially the Municipality of Madalag ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Madalag''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Madalag''; tl, Bayan ng Madalag), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is Aklan's largest municipality b ...

, Malay,

Makato Makato, officially the Municipality of Makato ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Makato''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Makato''; tl, Bayan ng Makato), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a pop ...

, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, and

Tangalan Tangalan, officially the Municipality of Tangalan ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Tangalan''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Tangalan''; tl, Bayan ng Tangalan), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...

, then all part of the province of

. The province was inaugurated on November 8, 1956. Jose Raz Menez was appointed the first governor of Aklan by President Magsaysay and he served until December 30, 1959. In 1960, Godofredo P. Ramos became the first elected governor but upon resigning to run for Congress he was succeeded by the vice governor, Virgilio S. Patricio. In 1964, José B. Legaspi succeeded Patricio and he held office for two consecutive terms from 1964 to 1971.

Geography

Aklan occupies the northern third of the island of

Panay Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City o ...

and is bordered by the provinces of

from the southeast and

from the southwest. It also faces the

from the north. The province covers a total area of , and includes the island of

which is located at its northwestern tip. Mount Nausang, is formerly the highest peak in Aklan, standing at , the discovery of

Mount Timbaban Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, ...

is much higher, with an elevation of 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 In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest cont ...

peak of above the isolation from

Parent peak In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...

. Located 6 km northwest of Mount Nausang and 4.8 km northeast of Mount Madja-as in Antique.

Aklan River The Aklan River is the longest river in the province of Aklan, Philippines, and third-longest river on Panay island (after the Panay River in Capiz and Jalaur River in Iloilo). Its drainage basin is the third largest in Panay. The river source is ...

, is the longest

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the ...

in the province with a total length of long. The province features high geographic diversity, ranging from white sandy beaches,

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves are taxonomically diverse, as a result of convergent evolution in several ...

s and mountainous landscapes. Situated within the province is the river Akean, which appears unique due to its "boiling or frothing" appearance.

Topography

List of highest peaks in the province of Aklan by elevation. *

- 5,830 ft (1,777 m) * Mount Nausang -

Administrative divisions

Aklan comprises 17

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

. The province is divided into two legislative districts for congressional representation. Ph_fil_aklan

Demographics

The population of Aklan in the 2020 census was 615,475 people, with a density of .

Ethnic groups

The main inhabitants of the province are the Aklanon, who are part of the

Visayan Visayans ( Visayan: ''mga Bisaya''; ) or Visayan people are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and a significant portion of Mindanao. When taken as a single ethnic group, ...

ethnic group. Other inhabitants include the

Negrito The term Negrito () refers to several diverse ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia and the Andaman Islands. Populations often described as Negrito include: the Andamanese peoples (including the Great Andamanese, the On ...

, locally known as the Ati and the Sulod, a lesser known tribal group living in the hinterlands of Panay. Other

Visayans Visayans ( Visayan: ''mga Bisaya''; ) or Visayan people are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and a significant portion of Mindanao. When taken as a single ethnic group, ...

also present are the Hiligaynon, Karay-a, and

Capiznon Capiznon or Capiceño () is an Austronesian regional language spoken in Western Visayas in the Philippines. Capiznon is concentrated in the province of Capiz in the northeast of Panay Island. It is a member of the Bisayan language family and th ...

. Based on the 2000 census survey, Aklanon accounted for of the provincial population of 450,353. Other ethnic groups in the province were the Hiligaynon at ,

Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Tagal ...

at , Kankanaey at , and Cebuano at . Aeta family at Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines

Languages

The most prominent languages in the province are Akeanon (''Aklanon Proper''), Malaynon, and Buruanganon. Akeanon is spoken by a majority of the people, while Malaynon is spoken in Malay and Buruanganon is spoken in

. Other regional languages used include Hiligaynon, Ati,

Kinaray-a The Karay-a language ( krj, label=none, Kinaray-a, krj, label=none, Binisayâ nga Kinaray-a or krj, label=none, Hinaraya; en, Harayan) is an Austronesian regional language in the Philippines spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique, Ilo ...

, and

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

are used in administration and business as the national official languages.

Religion

Roman Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

is the dominant religion of the people and Christian festivals such as

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

and

Lent Lent ( la, Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and L ...

are regarded with high importance. Meanwhile, Christian icons such as the '' Santo Niño'' are regarded as cultural symbols of the people.

Animism Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, Soul, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct Spirituality, spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—Animal, animals, Plant, plants, Ro ...

, however, is still practised by the Ati. The

Aglipayan Church , native_name_lang = fil , icon = Logo of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church).svg , icon_width = 80px , icon_alt = Coat of arms of the Philippine Independent Church , image ...

or the Iglesia Filipina Independiente is the second most predominant religion in the province. Other religions in the province include Iglesia ni Cristo and Islam.

Economy

The province of Aklan is designated as a first class province.

Agriculture

Aklan depends on agriculture, with

palay Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera ''Zizania'' and ''Porteresia'', both wild and domesticated, ...

being the top produce in the province. Rice plantations had an area of (0.39 percent of the total provincial agricultural area). 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, 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 . Ibajay ranks the largest with ; followed by Balete with ; Banga with umaru ; Makato with ; and, Altavas with . All the rest of the municipalities have areas below . 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.

Aquaculture

Fishpond areas had a total area of . Of the total fishpond areas, are with Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA); are with permits; are on process/application; and, are titled.

Industry

Aklan is a top producer of abaca, which are dyed and made into cloths or place mats, bags, wall decors and fans. The ''

piña Piña ( ) is a traditional Philippine fiber made from the leaves of the pineapple plant. Pineapples are indigenous to South America but have been widely cultivated in the Philippines since the 17th century, and used for weaving lustrous lace-li ...

'' 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.

Government

Elected Officials: *Member of the House of Representative: **Representative, 1st District of Aklan: Carlito S. Marquez **Representative, 2nd District of Aklan: Teodorico T. Haresco Jr. *Governor:

Florencio T. Miraflores Florencio Tumbocon Miraflores (born July 1, 1951) is a Filipino politician. "Joeben" was born in Ibajay, Aklan to parents Dr. Jose Conlu Miraflores and Eusebia Tumbocon. He is married to Ma. Lourdes Villanueva Martin. He graduated valedictorian a ...

*Vice Governor: Reynaldo M. Quimpo * Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members: :* 1st District: # Nemesio P. Neron # Emmanuel Soviet Russia A. Dela Cruz # Juris B. Sucro # Harry C. Sucgang # Immanuel L. Sodusta :*2nd District: # Jose Miguel M. Miraflores # Jay E. Tejada # Esel L. Flores # Nelson T. Santamaria # Ramon S. Gelito *PCL President (Philippine Councilors League): Teddy C. Tupas *ABC President (Association of Barangay Captains): Ciriaco T. Feliciano *SK Provincial Federation Chairman: Blessie D. Jizmundo

Transportation

Airports

Aklan is famous for

, a resort island north from the tip of

. It is known for its white sandy beaches and is considered one of the most prominent destinations in the Philippines. Because of this, there is frequent air travel to the province's airports in

and

Caticlan Malay , officially the Municipality of Malay ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Malay''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Malay''; tl, Bayan ng Malay), is a 1st class cosmopolitan municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the richest municipality ...

Kalibo International Airport Kalibo International Airport ( Aklanon: ''Paeoparang Pangkalibutan it Kalibo'', hil, Pangkalibutan nga Hulugpaan sang Kalibo, fil, Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Kalibo; ) is an international airport An international airport is an airport with c ...

is about ten minutes from the main plaza. Kalibo Airport serves direct flights to and from Taipei; Hong Kong; Shanghai and Beijing in China; Incheon, Busan, and Chengdu through international flights served by Air Asia Zest Airways, ANA, Jin Air, Tiger Air Philippines, Etihad Airlines and

PAL Express Air Philippines Corporation, operating as PAL Express and formerly branded as Air Philippines and Airphil Express, is a wholly owned subsidiary airline of Philippine Airlines which is under its ownership. It is PAL's regional brand, with servic ...

Cebu Pacific Air Cebu Air, Inc., operating as Cebu Pacific (), is a low-cost airline of the Philippines. Founded in 1988, it is Asia's oldest low-cost airline. It offers scheduled flights to both domestic and international destinations. The airline operates fl ...

and

Philippine Airlines Philippine Airlines (PAL), a trade name of PAL Holdings, Inc. ( PSEPAL (Philippine Air Lines until 1970), is the flag carrier airline of the Philippines. Headquartered at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and ...

. The following are the airports in Aklan:

(under CAAP) * Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (under public private partnership (PPP) with

San Miguel Corporation San Miguel Corporation, abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally founded i ...

)

Seaports

The following are the seaports in the province: * Alegria Port * Batan Port * Cagban Port * Caticlan Jetty Port * Tabon Port * Tambisaan Port * Gibon Port * Colong-Colong Port * Dumaguit Port * Kalibo Jetty Port * New Washington Port

Culture

Despite the prevalence of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesu ...

, native beliefs about the ''

aswang Aswang is an umbrella term for various shape-shifting evil creatures in Filipino folklore, such as vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and werebeasts (usually dogs, cats, pigs). The aswang is the subject of a wide variety of myths, s ...

'' and the ''

babaylan Filipino shamans, commonly known as (also ''Balian'' or , among many other names), were shamans of the various ethnic groups of the pre-colonial Philippine islands. These shamans specialized in communicating, appeasing, or harnessing the spi ...

'' are still prevalent among the people. '' Kulam'' or

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have u ...

, locally known as ''amulit'' is still feared by many residents.

Cuisine

Two main dishes associated with Aklan and Aklanons are inubaran and

binakol ''Binakol'', also spelled ''binakoe'', is a Filipino chicken soup made from chicken cooked in coconut water with grated coconut, green papaya (or chayote), leafy vegetables, garlic, onion, ginger, lemongrass, and '' patis'' (fish sauce). It can ...

. Inubaran, is a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

chicken stew or soup made with chicken cooked with diced

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry (botany), berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa (genus), Musa''. In some countries, Cooking banana, bananas used for ...

pith Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants. Pith is composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which in some cases can store starch. In eudicotyledons, pith is located in the center of the stem. In monocotyledons, it e ...

coconut milk Coconut milk is an opaque, milky-white liquid extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of coconut milk are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food i ...

(''gata'') or

coconut cream Coconut milk is an opaque, milky-white liquid extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of coconut milk are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food in ...

(''kakang gata''), a souring agent,

lemongrass ''Cymbopogon'', also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. Some ...

, and various spices. The souring agent (called ''aeabihig'') is traditionally either ''batuan'' fruits (''

Garcinia morella ''Garcinia morella'' is a species of tree in the family Clusiaceae found in India, and Sri Lanka. Common names *Assamese: Kũzi Thekera (কুঁঁজী ঠেকেৰা) *English: ''gamboge'' (Sri Lanka), ''gamboge'' (India) *Tamil: ''irav ...

'') or ''libas'' leaves ('' Spondias pinnata''). The name means " ookedwith ''ubad'' (banana pith)", not to be confused with ''ubod'' ( palm heart); although ''ubod'' can sometimes be used as a substitute for ''ubad'' which can be difficult to acquire. Variants of the dish can also be made with other types of meat or seafood. It is a type of ''

ginataan ''Ginataan'' (pronounced: ), alternatively spelled ''guinataan'', is a Filipino term which refers to food cooked with ''gatâ'' (coconut milk). Literally translated, ''ginataan'' means "done with coconut milk". Due to the general nature of the ...

''. Binakol, also spelled binakoe, is a

chicken soup Chicken soup is a soup made from chicken, simmered in water, usually with various other ingredients. The classic chicken soup consists of a clear chicken broth, often with pieces of chicken or vegetables; common additions are pasta, noodles, d ...

made from chicken cooked in

coconut water Coconut water (also coconut juice) is the clear liquid inside coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). In early development, it serves as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during the nuclear phase of development. As growth continu ...

with grated coconut, green papaya (or

chayote Chayote (''Sechium edule''), also known as mirliton and choko, is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. This fruit was first cultivated in Mesoamerica between southern Mexico and Honduras, with the most genetic diversi ...

leafy vegetable Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. Leaf vegetables eaten raw in a salad can be called salad g ...

s, garlic, onion, ginger, lemongrass, and '' patis'' (fish sauce). It can also be spiced with chilis. ''Binakol'' can also be cooked with other kinds of meat or seafood. It was traditionally cooked inside bamboo tubes or directly on halved coconut shells. ''Linapay'' also known as ''tinamuk'', is a dish related to Laing but from Aklan in the

. It is made from pounded freshwater shrimp (''ueang'') mixed with ''gawud'' (grated young coconut meat) and wrapped with taro leaves (''gutaw'') and cooked in coconut milk.

Festivals

The province is known for its festivities which includes the Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo. Originally, the festival was to celebrate the treaty between the Ati and the Malayan tribes who settled in the Island. The Ati live in the mountain regions and the Malay people in the flatlands or close to the water. The festivity begins on the dry season, at which time the Ati come down from the mountains to trade and celebrate with the Malayan tribes. When the Spaniards settled in the region and converted the Malays to their Christian religion, they asked the Malays to celebrate this festivity to coincide with the Feast of the Santo Niño (Holy Child) which is usually held during the third week of January. Bariw Festival is a unique festival showcasing the skills of every Nabasnon in weaving bags, mats and hats made of ''bariw'' leaves – the prospering livelihood in the municipality. It is highlighted by the dance performance of local talent and ingenuity to the beat of the drums and indigenous rhythm celebrated every May 14 of the year. Bugna Festival is a festival showcasing the different locally produced products and eco-tourism destinations of Tangalan like the marine sanctuary and coral garden, Afga Point, Campo Verde, Jawili Falls, Bughawi beach and reforestation project every May 16 of the year. Kali-Ugyon Festival (''kali'' stands for Kalipayan or happiness and ''Ugyon'' meaning "unity"). This is the festival celebrated in Libacao every December 30 to January 1, costumed in modern and indigenous outfits bringing people together on the streets for merry-making and to drive away evil spirits in the coming New Year.

Literature

Aklanons are known for their literature, which includes the epic of Kalantiao. Certain Aklanons, such as Melchor F. Cichon,

Roman Aguirre Roman Selorio Aguirre is one of the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan, Filipino patriots who were executed by musketry in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines on March 23, 1897 at 2 a.m, for cooperating with the Katipunan during the Philippine Revolution against S ...

, have produced several notable literary works in the province.

Ati – Atihan Festival

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), held on the third Sunday of January in the town of

, Aklan, Philippines, on the island of

. It originally came from

Batan, Aklan Batan, officially the Municipality of Batan ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Batan''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Batan''; tl, Bayan ng Batan), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...

, then adopted later by some neighboring towns. The name ''Ati-Atihan'' means "to be like Atis" or "to make believe Atis", the local name for the

Aeta The Aeta (Ayta ), Agta, or Dumagat, are collective terms for several Filipino indigenous peoples who live in various parts of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They are considered to be part of the Negrito ethnic groups and share commo ...

aborigines who first settled in Panay Island and other parts of the archipelago. The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along the street. Christians and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It has inspired many other Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of

Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and ...

and Dinagyang of

Iloilo City Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo ( hil, Siyudad/Dakbanwa sang Iloilo; fil, Lungsod ng Iloilo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines on the island of Panay. It is the capital city of ...

, both adaptations of the Kalibo's Ati-Atihan Festival, and legally holds the title "The Mother of All Philippine Festivals", being the oldest festival in the Philippines and in spite of the other Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals' claims of the same title. The costumes worn at the festival is patterned after the African tribal design like those seen at the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval in Brazil. A 1200 A.D. event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called ''

s'', fleeing from the island of

settled in the Philippines, and were granted settlement by the Ati people, the tribes of

. Datu Puti made a trade with the natives and bought the plains for a golden salakot, brass basins and bales of cloth. They gave a very long necklace to the wife of the Ati chieftain. Feasting and festivities followed soon after. Some time later, the Ati people were struggling with famine as the result of a bad harvest. They were forced to descend from their mountain village into the settlement below, to seek the generosity of the people who now lived there. The ''Datus'' obliged and gave them food. In return, the Ati danced and sang for them, grateful for the gifts they had been given. The festivity was originally a pagan festival from this tribe practicing Animism, and their worshiping their

anito ''Anito'', also spelled ''anitu'', refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities in the indigenous Philippine folk religions from the precolonial age to the present, although the term itself may have other meanings and associa ...

god.

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: ** Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Ca ...

missionaries gradually added a Christian meaning. Today, the Ati-Atihan is celebrated as a religious festival. In 2012, the

National Commission for Culture and the Arts The National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyon para sa Kultura at mga Sining, ceb, Nasodnong Komisyon alang sa Budaya ug mga Arte) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. ...

(NCCA) and the ICHCAP of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. I ...

published ''Pinagmulan: Enumeration from the Philippine Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage''. The first edition of the

-backed book included the ''Ati-atihan Festival'', signifying its great importance to Philippine intangible cultural heritage. The local government of Aklan, in cooperation with the NCCA, was given the right to nominate the Ati-atihan Festival in the

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance.Compare: This list is published by the Intergove ...

. The people attend masses for the ''Santo Niño'', and benefit dances sponsored by government organizations. The formal opening mass emphasizes the festival's religious event. The procession begins with a rhythmic drumbeats, and dances parading along the streets. The second day begins at dawn with a rosary procession, which ends with a community mass, and procession. The phrase "Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!" is originally associated with the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Festival as the revelers and devotees keep on going with the festivities all over the town from morning to the wee hours of the next morning, rain or shine, for one week or even more. They believe that the miraculous Child Jesus will protect them from harm and illness. The highlight of the festival occurs on the third Saturday of January, when groups representing different tribes compete for tourists' attention and prizes. The festival ends with a procession of thousands of people carrying torches and different kinds of images of the Santo Niño on the third Sunday. The contest winners are announced at a masquerade ball which officially ends the festival.

Universities and colleges

Aklan is the home of the Regional Science High School for Region VI (RSHS-VI), one of the specialized system of public secondary schools in the Philippines. * Aklan Catholic College — Andagao * Aklan Catholic College — Kalibo Poblacion *

Aklan Polytechnic College Aklan Polytechnic College is a private educational institution in Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines. It was established primarily as a maritime school but at present it already offers nursing, business, and other courses. It has recently offered tourism ...

— Kalibo *

— New Washington * Aklan State University — Banga (Main) * Aklan State University — Ibajay * Aklan State University — Kalibo * Aklan State University — Makato * Aklan State University — New Washington * Altavas Colleges * Balete Community College * Batan Community College * Canadian Tourism & Hospitality Institute — Boracay * Carillo Culinary Arts and Skills Development Center * Central Panay College of Science and Technology * FEATI University — Kalibo * Garcia College of Technology-Annex * Garcia College of Technology-Capitol Site * Madyaas Institute * Numancia Integrated School (NIS) * JAVTES College — Kalibo * Lezo Technical College * Montfort Technical Institute * New OFW Vocational and Technical School *

Northwestern Visayan Colleges Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; tgl, Bayan ng Kalibo), is a 1st class municipality and capital of the Province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...

* Numancia National School of Fisheries * Panay Technological College * Provincial Academic Center College of Nursing * Saint Gabriel College * Saint Anne Business School * STI College of Kalibo * Santo Niño Seminary * Verde Grande Culinary School * Western Pacific College

Flora and Fauna

Several species

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the

are found in the province. Examples include

endangered animals An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

such the Philippine spotted deer (''Cervus alfredi''), the Visayan warty pig (''Sus cebifrons''), and the Visayan hornbill (''Penelopides panini''). As of 2007, conservation efforts are being made by the Aklan State University and the DENR with varying success. Three mangrove species are in the World's Red List namely

Avicennia rumphiana ''Avicennia rumphiana'' is a species of tropical mangrove in the family Acanthaceae. It is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in the 2008 assessment. , Plants of the World Online considered it to be only a variety of ...

(Vulnerable), Ceriops decandra (Nearly Threatened) and

Camptostemon philippinense ''Camptostemon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. Its native range is Central Malesia, Northern Australia. Species: *''Camptostemon aruensis'' *''Camptostemon philippinensis'' *''Camptostemon schultzii ''C ...

(Endangered) are documented in the forest of

Ibajay, Aklan Ibajay, officially the Municipality of Ibajay (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Ibajay''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Ibajay''; tl, Bayan ng Ibajay), is a 3rd class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Phil ...

References

External links

* * *
The Official Website of the Provincial Government of Aklan

ABS-CBN Choose Philippines travel guide to Aklan
{{Authority control Provinces of the Philippines States and territories established in 1956 1956 establishments in the Philippines