Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan, is a

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

in the

Western Visayas Western Visayas (; ; ) is an Regions of the Philippines, administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. The region comprises the islands of Panay and Guimaras Island, Guimaras. It consists of five Provinces of the ...

region of the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. Its capital and largest town is

Kalibo Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Kalibo''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Kalibo''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, ...

. 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 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 of I ...

, bordering

Antique An antique () 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 describe any object that i ...

to the southwest, and

Capiz Capiz (), officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon language, Capiznon/Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the central part of the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines ...

to the southeast. Aklan faces the

Sibuyan Sea The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines separating Luzon and the Visayas. It is bounded by the island of Panay to the south, Mindoro to the west, Masbate to the east, and to the north Marinduque and the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon. ...

and

Romblon Romblon (, , ), officially the Province of Romblon, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main components include Romblon, an archipelagic municipality of the same name that also serves as the provi ...

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

Boracay Boracay (; sometimes shortened by non-natives as Bora) is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located off the northwest coast of Panay, Panay Island. It has a total land area of , under the jurisdiction of thre ...

, 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 Santo 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

Early history

Aklan is believed to have been settled in ancient times by settlers from Borneo, ruled by Datu Bangkaya, with his seat at Madyanos, near present-day Numancia.

Spanish colonial era

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, though no ...

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 Spanish conquistador who financed and led an expedition to conquer the Philippines, Philippine islan ...

landed in Batan in 1565 and claimed the island for

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, in early Spanish accounts it was called ''El Río de Aclán''.

Japanese occupation

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 of combatants of one geopolitical entity, usually in large numbers, entering territory controlled by another similar entity, often involving acts of aggression. Generally, invasions have objectives of co ...

Aklan during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In 1945, combined Filipino and

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

army along with Aklanon guerrillas liberated Aklan during the

war in the Pacific The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...

Philippine independence

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 ...

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 1957 Cebu Douglas C-47 crash, aircraft disast ...

on April 25, 1956, separating Aklan from

. The original towns were Altavas, Balete,

Batan Batan or Batán may refer to: Places and locations * Batan, Aklan, a municipality in the Philippines * Batan Island, the main island of the province of Batanes, the Philippines * Batan Island, Albay, in Rapu-rapu, Albay, the Philippines * Ba ...

, Banga, Buruanga,

Ibajay Ibajay, officially known as the Municipality of Ibajay ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Ibajay''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Ibajay''; ), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. During the creation of Aklan Province in 1956, Ibajay was its ...

, Lezo,

Libacao Libacao, officially the Municipality of Libacao (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Libacao''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Libacao''; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province ...

Madalag Madalag, officially the Municipality of Madalag ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Madalag''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Madalag''; ), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is Aklan's largest municipality by land area and also the most ...

, Malay, Makato, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, and Tangalan, 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 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 of Il ...

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 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 Mount Madja-as is a large dormant volcano and the highest peak on the island of Panay and Western Visayas region in the Philippines, second highest mountain in the entire Visayas, after Mount Kanlaon on Negros. With an elevation of above sea ...

sub-summit with only

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

peak of above the isolation from the

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

. Located 6 km northwest of Mount Nausang and 4.8 km northeast of

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 the longest

river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

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 mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

s and mountainous landscapes. Situated within the province is the river

Akean 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 ...

, which appears unique due to its "boiling or frothing" appearance.

Administrative divisions

Aklan comprises 17

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

. 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 ( Cebuano: ''mga Bisayà'' ) are a Philippine ethnolinguistic family group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, to the southernmost islands south of Luzon, and to a significant portion of Mindanao. They are composed of numerous di ...

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, th ...

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

Visayans Visayans ( Cebuano: ''mga Bisayà'' ) are a Philippine ethnolinguistic family group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, to the southernmost islands south of Luzon, and to a significant portion of Mindanao. They are composed of numerous d ...

also present are the Hiligaynon, Karay-a, and Capiznon. 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 .

Languages

The most prominent dialects in Aklan are

Akeanon Akeanon, also known as Inakeanon, is an Austronesian language of the Bisayan subgroup spoken by the Aklanon people, the locals of the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines. Its unique feature among other Bisayan languages i ...

, Malaynon, and Buruanganon. Akeanon is spoken by a majority of the people, while Malaynon is spoken in Malay and Buruanganon is spoken in Buruanga. Hiligaynon is also widely spoken and understood in the province. Another dialect used is Ati, which is spoken by the tribe of the same name famous for the Ati-Atihan festival.

Kinaray-a The Karay-a language (, or ; ) is an Austronesian regional language in the Philippines spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique. It is one of the Bisayan languages, along with Aklanon/Malaynon, Capiznon, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon. ...

is spoken in the western part of the province bordering

. Capiznon is spoken in the eastern part of the province bordering

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

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

Religion

Catholicism

Roman Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

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

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

and

Lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...

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

Animism Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...

, however, is still practised by the Ati. The

Aglipayan Church The Philippine Independent Church (; ), officially referred to by its Philippine Spanish name (IFI) and colloquially called the Aglipayan Church, is an independent catholic Christian denomination, in the form of a nationalist church, in the ...

or the Iglesia Filipina Independiente is the second most predominant religion in the province.

Others

Other religions in the province include Members Church of God International (MCGI),

Iglesia ni Cristo The (INC; ; ) is an independent Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church founded in 1913 and registered by Felix Manalo, Félix Manalo in 1914 as a corporation sole, sole religious corporation ...

, and

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

Economy

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

Agriculture

Aklan depends on agriculture, with

palay Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much less commonly, ...

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 was 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.

Coconuts The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...

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

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

(''Lakatan''),

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

es,

rambutan Rambutan ( ; ; ''Nephelium lappaceum'') is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae. The name also refers to the edible fruit produced by this tree. The rambutan is native to Southeast Asia. It is closely related to several other ed ...

, and

lanzones ''Lansium domesticum'', commonly known as langsat () or lanzones, ,--) is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae with commercially cultivated edible fruits. The species is native to Southeast Asia, from peninsular Thailand and Malaysia to I ...

, as well as fiber crops such as

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- ...

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 ''

'' 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 Carlito Marquez (born July 21, 1942) is a Filipino people, Filipino politician. He currently serves as a member of the House of Representatives (Philippines), Philippine House of Representatives representing the Aklan's 1st congressional distr ...

**Representative, 2nd District of Aklan: Teodorico T. Haresco Jr. *Governor: Jose Enrique M. Miraflores *Vice Governor: Reynaldo M. Quimpo * Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members: :* 1st District: # Nemesio P. Neron # Mark V. Quimpo # Mark Ace L. Bautista # Teddy C. Tupas # Apolinar C. Cleope :*2nd District: # Jay E. Tejada # Romeo M. Dalisay # Jupiter Aelred G. Gallenero # Bayani M. Cordova # Plaridel M. Solidum *PCL President (Philippine Councilors League): Roly O. Equiña, Jr. *ABC President (Association of Barangay Captains): Ralf A. Tolosa *SK Provincial Federation Chairman: Edmundo M. Tolentino, Jr.

Transportation

Road

Aklan is accessible via highways and buses. Buses with routes from

Iloilo Iloilo ( ; ), officially the Province of Iloilo (; ; ; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital and largest city is Iloilo City, the regional center of Western Visayas and politically independen ...

, and

connect Aklan with neighboring provinces. The

Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway The Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway (ICAEX), also known as the Panay Expressway, is a proposed 4-lane, , full-access controlled toll expressway on the island of Panay in the Philippines. It will comprise elevated roadways, viaducts, a tunnel, an ...

(ICAEx) is a proposed expressway on the island of Panay that will run from

Iloilo City Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines, region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of th ...

to Caticlan, Malay. A limited-access bridge connecting Caticlan to

is also being proposed by the

Department of Public Works and Highways The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH; ) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for serving as the country's engineering and construction arm. It is tasked with implementing the government's policy to ...

(DPWH) as part of its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects.

Airports

Aklan is famous for Boracay, 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''; ), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the richest municipality in the province in terms of revenue. Accordi ...

;

Kalibo International Airport Kalibo International Airport is an international airport that serves the general area of Kalibo, the capital of the province of Aklan in the Philippines, and is one of two airports serving Boracay, the other being Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (a ...

itself is about ten minutes from the main plaza. Both airports serve direct flights to and from

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

;

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

;

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...

and

Chengdu Chengdu; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ; Chinese postal romanization, previously Romanization of Chinese, romanized as Chengtu. is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a ...

in China; and

Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it became an international port in 1883. As of February 2020, ...

and

Busan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second list of cities in South Korea by population, most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economi ...

in Korea, through international flights served by Air Asia Zest Airways,

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a Japanese airline headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. ANA operates services to both domestic and international destinations and is Japan's largest airline, ahead of its main rival flag carrier Japan Airlines. the airline has approximate ...

Jin Air Jin Air Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean low-cost airline. As of April 2018, it operates flights to six domestic cities and 26 international destinations. It launched its first long haul route, between Incheon and Honolulu, in December 2015. It has ...

Tiger Air Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tigerair, was a low-cost airline headquartered in Singapore. It operated services to regional destinations in Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Taiwan, China and India from its main base at Singapore Chan ...

Philippines,

Etihad Airlines Etihad Airways is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (the other being Emirates (airline), Emirates). Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Zayed International Airport. The airline commenced operations in Nov ...

and

PAL Express Air Philippines Corporation, operating as PAL Express and formerly branded as Air Philippines and Airphil Express, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philippine Airlines. It is PAL's regional brand, with services from its hubs in Manila, Clark, Ce ...

Cebu Pacific Air Cebu Air, Inc. (), operating as Cebu Pacific (stylized in lowercase), is a Philippine low-cost airline based in Pasay, Metro Manila. Founded in 1988, the airline was the first low-cost carrier in Asia and is also the largest airline in the Phi ...

and

Philippine Airlines Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered at the Philippine National Bank, PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia. Philippine ...

. 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 with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...

)

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, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

, 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 transforming human-beast hybrids (usually dogs, cats, pigs). The aswang is the subject of a ...

'' 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 sp ...

'' are still prevalent among the people. ''

Kulam Witchcraft () has been present throughout the Philippines even before Spanish colonization, and is associated with indigenous Philippine folk religions, where Philippine shamans, who people come for healing and rituals, are known to counter ...

'' or

witchcraft Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meanin ...

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

Cuisine

Two main dishes associated with Aklan and Aklanons are

inubaran ''Inubaran'' is a Filipino chicken stew or soup made with chicken cooked with diced banana pith, coconut milk (''gata'') or coconut cream (''kakang gata''), a souring agent, lemongrass, and various spices. The souring agent (called ''aeabihig' ...

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 c ...

. Inubaran, is a Filipino chicken stew or soup made with chicken cooked with diced

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus '' Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called plantains, distinguishing the ...

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 ex ...

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

(''gata'') or

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

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

lemongrass ''Cymbopogon'', also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, oily heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, 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: ''ir ...

'') 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 language, Filipino term which refers to food cooked with ''gatâ'' (coconut milk). Literally translated, ''ginataan'' means "done with coconut milk". Due to the gene ...

''. Binakol, also spelled binakoe, is a Filipino

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, ...

made from chicken cooked in

coconut water Coconut water (also coconut juice) is the clear liquid inside young 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 developm ...

with grated coconut, green papaya (or

chayote Chayote (; previously placed in the obsolete genus ''Sechium''), also known as christophine, mirliton, güisquil, and choko, is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. This fruit was first cultivated in Mesoamerica between ...

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

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.

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''; ), is a third-class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,484 peo ...

, 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 Aeta (Ayta ), Agta and Dumagat, are collective terms for several indigenous peoples who live in various parts of Luzon islands in the Philippines. They are included in the wider Negrito grouping of the Philippines and the rest of Southeast A ...

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 The Sinulog Festival (also known as Sinug and Sulog) is an annual Filipino cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu, with the center of the activities being in Cebu City; and is the core of Santo Niño Chr ...

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...

and

Dinagyang The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival held annually on the fourth Sunday of January in Iloilo City, Philippines, in honor of Santo Niño, the Holy Child, and to commemorate the historic pact between the Malay settlers an ...

, 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 Carnival The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro ( Portuguese: ''Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro'') is a festival held every year before Lent; it is considered the biggest celebration of Carnival in the world, with two million people per day on the streets. The first ...

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. A 1200 A.D. event explains the origins of the festival. A group of 10 Malay chieftains called ''

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, though no ...

s'', fleeing from the island of

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

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 associ ...

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 countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

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 (NCCA; , ) is the official government agency for culture in the Philippines. It is the overall policy making body, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, d ...

(NCCA) and the ICHCAP of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

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.

Bariw Festival

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

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-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 Datu Kalantiaw (Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw) (sometimes spelled Kalantiao) is a widely publicized pseudohistorical figure based on an early 20th-century hoax by José Marco. Kalantiaw was credited with allegedly creating the first legal code in t ...

. Certain Aklanons, such as Melchor F. Cichon, Roman Aguirre, have produced several notable literary works in the province.

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 — Kalibo * Aklan Polytechnic College — New Washington *

Aklan State University Aklan State University (ASU; ) is a provincial state university in Aklan province, Philippines. Its seat of governance is in ASU - Banga, with four other campuses across the province. ASU focuses on agriculture, fishery, arts and sciences, eng ...

— Banga (Main) *

— Ibajay *

— Kalibo *

— Makato *

— 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 * JAVTES College — Kalibo * Lezo Technical College * Montfort Technical Institute * New OFW Vocational and Technical School * Northwestern Visayan Colleges * 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 * Infant Jesus Academy Kalibo * Infant Jesus School

Flora and Fauna

Several species

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...

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, invasiv ...

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

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 ''Ceriops decandra'' is a mangrove plant of tropical Asia in the family Rhizophoraceae. The specific epithet ' is from the Greek meaning 'ten male', referring to the flower having ten stamens. Description ''Ceriops decandra'' grows as a shrub or ...

(Nearly Threatened) and

Camptostemon philippinense ''Camptostemon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. Its native range is Central Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realm ...

(Endangered) are documented in the forest of

Ibajay, Aklan Ibajay, officially known as the Municipality of Ibajay ( Aklanon: ''Banwa it Ibajay''; Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Ibajay''; ), is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. During the creation of Aklan Province in 1956, Ibajay was its ...

Notable people

Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan The Nineteen Martyrs of Capiz, more commonly known anachronistically as the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan refers to a group of Filipino revolutionaries in Panay who were executed for advancing the cause of the Katipunan during the Philippine Revoluti ...

Victorino Mapa Victorino Montaño Mapa (February 25, 1855 – April 12, 1927) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and later, as the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the American colonial Insular ...

–2nd Chief Justiceof the Supreme Court of the Philippines * Col. Alejandro Melchor Sr. (1900-1947) — designed the

pontoon bridge A pontoon bridge (or ponton bridge), also known as a floating bridge, is a bridge that uses float (nautical), floats or shallow-draft (hull), draft boats to support a continuous deck for pedestrian and vehicle travel. The buoyancy of the support ...

contributed to the Allied Forces winning World War II / Secretary of National Defense in President

Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (, , , ; 19 August 1878 – 1 August 1944), also known by his initials MLQ, was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier, and politician who was president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1 ...

's Cabinet /

Sergio Osmeña Sergio Osmeña Sr. (, ; zh, c=吳文釗, poj=Gô͘ Bûn-chiau; September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961) was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the List of presidents of the Philippines, fourth president of the Ph ...

's Military Adviser of the war cabinet *

Gabriel Reyes Gabriel Martelino Reyes (March 24, 1892 – October 10, 1952) was the 28th archbishop of Manila, and the first native Filipino to hold that post. He previously served as Archbishop of Cebu from 1934 to 1949, and then served as Archbishop of ...

– the 28th and the first native Filipino

Archbishop of Manila The Archdiocese of Manila (; ; ) is the archdiocese of the Latin Church, Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Catholic Church in Metro Manila, Catholic Church in the Philippines, Philippines, encompassing the cities of Manila, ...

Jaime Cardinal Sin Jaime Cardinal Lachica Sin, ( zh, t=辛海梅, 辛海棉, poj=Sin Hái-mûi, Sin Hái-mî; August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005), commonly and also formally known as Cardinal Sin, was the 30th Catholic Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, Arch ...

– 30th

* Jose Cardinal Advincula – 33rd

Gabriel V. Reyes Gabriel Villaruz Reyes (born August 3, 1941) is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo from 2002 to 2016. Prior to this, he was the Bishop of Kalibo from 1992 to 200 ...

– third bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo The Diocese of Antipolo (Latin: ''Dioecesis Antipolensis'', Filipino: ''Diyosesis ng Antipolo'', Spanish: ''Diócesis de Antipolo'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines that compris ...

Jose Corazon Tala-oc Jose Corazon Tumbagahan Tala-oc (born June 16, 1950) is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalibo from 2011 to 2025. Prior to this, he was the bishop of the Diocese of Romblo ...

– bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalibo The Diocese of Kalibo is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Erected in 1976, the diocese has experienced no jurisdictional changes and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Capiz. The see is currently vac ...

since 2011 * Nelia Sancho – Filipino women's rights activist and beauty queen. She was one of the co-founders of the

Gabriela Women's Party The Gabriela Women's Party (General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action), or simply GABRIELA, is a progressive Filipino political party that advocates for women's issues and represents Filipino women in ...

. *

Jonha Richman Jonha Richman (born Jonha Ducayag Revesencio) is a Filipino-born businesswoman. Rappler recognised her as one of the 'most inspiring Filipino entrepreneurs' and SunStar considered her as one of the most 'successful Filipino businesswomen'. Dubbed ...

– businesswoman and philanthropist * Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo – politician

Notes

References

External links

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

* {{Authority control Provinces of the Philippines Provinces of Western Visayas States and territories established in 1956 1956 establishments in the Philippines

History

Early history

Spanish colonial era

Japanese occupation

Philippine independence

Geography

Administrative divisions

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Languages

Religion

Catholicism

Others

Economy

Agriculture

Aquaculture

Industry

Government

Transportation

Road

Airports

Seaports

Culture

Cuisine

Festivals

Ati-Atihan Festival

Bariw Festival

Bugna Festival

Kali-Ugyon Festival

Literature

Universities and colleges

Flora and Fauna

Notable people

See also

Notes

References

External links