An Escape to Panay Island's Paradise (March 2015)

   

I must have fallen in love with Panay Island, because in the same year, I've visited it twice, but can you really blame me?  After meeting the people of Panay and having experience it's own treasure. WOW! Let my pictures explain it further. :) <3 <3 <3
Late January when I first visited Antique, that's before attending one of the celebrated festival in the Philippines-Dinagyang.  Then when one of my friends told me that he is going back to his hometown, I immediately volunteered myself to accompany him.

My first itinerary with Jimai was: (January)

Manila-->Iloilo (Airport)-->Culasi, Antique-->Malalison Island-->Tibiao, Antique-->Anini-Y, Antique-->Nogas Island--> Iloilo (Dinagyang) --> Bacolod-->Manila

Then when I returned this March, (well I didn't really plan on traveling the whole Panay but  still, I end up going around which is actually a lot better.) :) So behold as I tell  the story about my awesome trip in Panay. :) I took the first flight of Cebu pacific and arrived in Iloilo airport around 7am. I took the shuttle from the airport up to the Molo Terminal that costs me 50 pesos.

 

I met my friend Raffy at the terminal and we took the Ceres Bus to Anini-Y Antique that took us about 3 and a half hours and the costs is 98 pesos.

We get off at the Anini-Y Old Church, took pictures ;)

    

and had our lunch at the nearby Carinderia (Restaurant).

 

Then we took a tricycle to Sira-an Hotspring Resort.

Checked-in our things and took a boat to Nogas island.

 

We explore the island and took a lot of photos.

,

It's really summer now, the last time we went in the island there were only me and my friend Jimai so the island was all ours,

but this time, there were couple of families spending their time on the island. There was also a pre-nup shoot.

The last time I went in Nogas, cats were very excited to welcome me, this time they were too busy eating since there were a lot of groups giving them food.

Few hours later we decided to call the reception desk at the resort and ask to pick us up, few minutes later we decided to leave the island since it's too hot and we didn't have any food nor water with us.

 #fail

 

We went back to the resort, cleaned up, eat and waited for the sunset-- WHOAH! another awesome 

way to call it a day!

The sunset is just amazingly beautiful.

At night, we waited for our friend, Tian to arrived, we had dinner and just talked almost all night.

On our itinerary, we actually planned on going to church since it's Palm Sunday, but we woke up late so we missed the mass. -_- :(

We had breakfast and started packing up, we are supposed to go to Tibiao but since it's already late, we decided to skipped it and go directly to Culasi.

***But since last January, I've been to Tibiao,

I'll still be posting photos of my Kawa Bath experience here. :)

We took a jeep from Anini-y to San Jose that took almost an hour and a half. From there, we took a van to Culasi. 

When we arrived in Culasi, we had lunch first and then we met Mr. John Sumanting, this is my second time to meet Mr. John and he always make sure that all the guests will have a great experience in the island of Malalison.  He assigned us the boatman that will bring us to the island as well as the home stay family where we will be spending our night.

The first time we came to visit the island, we stayed with the parents of kuya Roldan. ---Kuya Roldan was our boatman on our first visit, and Kuya Mario on our second.  The family were we stayed are very hospitable, very nice and accommodating.  The food is very fresh, -freshly caught fish. aaaaah. life!!! <3

We arrived in the island around 2:30 in the afternoon and we were told that there were more people now than last time since it's going to be a long weekend.

We secured our stuff in our home-stay family and started to trek the Batanes of Panay-- Malalison.

We took Pictures, a lot of picturessss. :)

Batanes of Panay

My good friend Jimai taking her own good shot while I'm taking this 'candid' shot. :)

And of course

we didn't' want to miss the sunset. :)

The electricity in the island is just from 6pm up to 10pm enough time just to charge your gadgets, then it's total island life already. In the morning, we decided to experience the sandbar of Malalison. The sand is white, not very fine but clean enough for you to enjoy every bits of it.

The water is crystal clear plus the view of Mt. Mad-jaas will just leave you in awe. -- Mt. Mad-jass is recognized as the highest peak in Panay Island, see they have Paradise an Mountain and more... It also means, more reasons to visit Culasi. :)

The dog of our home-stay family can't help but play with me the first time I came to visit the island.

Then, when I returned, he just recognized me. Yay!!! <3

I just had to take a picture with my "family" in the island. I am so thankful for their hospitality. <3 

wacky!!! :)

We left the island around 11am and went back to the town to meet Mr. John, he gave us certificate of appreciation just like what he did last time.

The first time we visited Culasi, me and my friend Jimai had a chance to take a picture with the town's Mayor and Mr. John Sumanting. We walked to Ceres bus terminal and took the bus going to Pandan, Antique.   It was almost an hour ride and we get off at the drop off point of some other resorts. We checked in at Kulayag Cottages,

had our late lunch and waited for Raffy's friends that came from Boracay. Then we head to Malumpati Cold Spring that is about 15 minutes by motorcycle.

The entrance fee is 10 pesos and you'll have a refreshing cold spring water.

The place is beautiful.  No doubt about it, but it's not very accessible to the visitors, i hope government can develop the road the spring and provide a regular transportation that can bring backpackers/commuters and all other guests to the spring with ease.

Sunset at Kulayag Cottages :)

That night, we have finally decided to have a side trip in Boracay! yay! so random!!!! But since it's just a 30 minutes road trip why not give it a go? We left around 5am from Pandan and took the first bus that passed by, then we took a van going to Caticlan. Everything was so fast, the next thing I know, we're already having breakfast at patio Pacific and around 7am  I'm already walking on the pristine white sand of Boracay.

Well, as for me Boracay is not very inviting during summer because they also call it as Algae Season so I was not very impressed by the beach, plus the bulk of tourists going for their holiday escapades, I miss Malalison already.

Anyway, one reason why we pushed thru with Boracay is the Jonah's shake!!!! So why not order two? :) :p

Around 2 pm we decided to leave the island, earlier that day I heard that Big Mountain Band had a performance the night before and they are still in the island, fortunately, when we passed by where they are staying, -- I SAW THEM! <3 but I was too shy to ask for photos, anyway, I saw them. I saw them.. atleast. :) We head back to Leon, Iloilo - Raffy's hometown. The next day, we went to Bucari, Leon Iloilo.

Wow! This is one of the highlight of our trip, It's like seeing Banaue- Baguio-Sagada in one destination.

We took a single motorcycle to get to Bucari, it was a rough ride but it was all worth it!

Refreshing waterfalls!

Fresh Air!

Awe-inspiring view!!! The last on our itinerary but definitely not the least- Guimaras Island!

But before we took the boat to Jordan, I sneak out to meet my good friend Jimai. :)  It feels good to see her after  a few months.  

It was Maundy Thursday and we decided to explore the beach of Guimaras together with Tian and his girlfriend- Gie.

The sunset we have witnessed was magnificent!

The next day we decided to go island hopping,

We visited an island, it was beautiful!

But it was way too far and time consuming.   We packed up and head back to Leon. On our last day in Iloilo, We decided to meet other instagrammers,

We were supposed to do a photowalk but end up photoeating! :)

all time favorite

Ube Brazo de Mercedes ( MUST TRY)

Thank you Jas for the Pasalubong! :)

Sunset at Esplanade.

Anyhoo, it was an amazing stay in Panay, I felt all the love and hospitality of all the people. <3   Follow us, our adventure and our daily life on instagram! :)

***Here is our Itinerary  (March 28-April 4, 2015)

  Day 1:

• Arrival in ILOILO
• Go to Molo Terminal
• Take the Bus to Anini -Y
• Get off at Anini-Y Church
• Lunch
• Check-in at Sira-an Hot spring Resort
• Explore Nogas Island
• Snacks
• Sunset Watching
• Dinner

  Day 2:

• Breakfast
• Check out
• Take the jeep to San Jose
• From San Jose, Take the Van or Bus bound for Culasi
• Lunch
• Take the boat to Malalison
• Check in at home stay family
• Explore Malalison Island- Trek, beach bum
• Watch the Sunset
• Dinner

  Day 3:

• Breakfast
• Beach Bum, take pictures, swim, relax
• check out
• Take the boat back to Culasi
• From Culasi Town, take the bus to Pandan
• Check in at Kulayag Cottages
• Lunch
• Explore Malumpati Cold Spring
• Dinner

  Day 4:

• Early Check out (5am)
• Take the first trip to Napoleon Town  then take the van/bus to Caticlan
• Take the ferry to Boracay Island
• Breakfast
• Beach bum, drink Jonah's Milkshake :), swim
• Take the ferry back to Caticlan
• Take the van to Iloilo City
• Take the van to Leon (Raffy's place)
• Dinner

  Day 5:

• Breakfast
• Go to Leon Town
• Take the Habal-habal(motorcycle) / Jeep to Bucari
• Explore the waterfalls, swim, relax
• Trek to the campsite, appreciate Nature, relax, breathe the FRESH Air <3
• Go back to Leon
• Lunch
• Free Time
• Sunset watching
• Dinner

  Day 6:

• Breakfast
• Go to Iloilo City
• Take the ferry to Guimaras Island
• Check in at Guisi Clearwater Resort
• Lunch
• Beach bum, relax
• Sunset watching
• Dinner

  Day 7:

• Breakfast
• Island Hopping
• Lunch
• Check out
• Go back to city proper
• Go back to Leon
• Free time
• Dinner

Day 8:

• Breakfast
• Go to Iloilo City
• Meet the Iloilo Igers :)
• Explore the city
• EAT, EAT and EAT some more
• Buy Pasalubong
• Go to Airport
• Arrival in Manila

  ** Estimated Expenses: All amount in Peso (Philippine Currency) PHP

ANINI-Y

• Taxi from Manila to Terminal 3 – 220
• Van from Iloilo Airport to Molo Terminal - 50
• Bus to Anini-Y - 98
• Lunch -66
• Tricycle from Anini-Y Church to Sira-an Hotspring - 9
• Entrance fee to Sira-an Hot spring - 60
• Boat to Nogas - 500 (divided by 2pax) - 250
• Accommodation - 1000/ 2 pax - 500
• Nogas Environmental Fee - 20
• Snacks -90
• Dinner - 135
• Breakfast - 100

CULASI-MALALISON Island

• Jeep from Anini-Y to San Jose - 60
• Van from San Jose to Culasi - 100
• Lunch - 55
• Boat to Malalison - 500/2 pax - 250
• Homestay - 150/night/pax
• Trek Guide - 150
• Food - 100
• Ice Cream - 20 :)

TIBIAO

• Kawa Bath - 200

PANDAN

• Bus from Culasi to Pandan - 38
• Accommodation in Kulayag Cottages - 250/night/pax
• Entrance to Cold spring - 10
• Rubber Tube - 15
• Food - 90

BORACAY

•  Environmental fee, Ferry, terminal fee - 275
• Shuttle - 20/ way x 2
• Jonah's Shake - 120/bottle *(I had 2 :) )
• Boat to Port - 50
• Van to Iloilo - 350

BUCARI

• Motorcycle from Leon town to Bucari - 250
• Entrance to falls - 20

GUIMARAS

• Van from Leon to Iloilo - 40
• Jeep from Jaro to Ortiz - 7
• Boat to Jordan - 14
• Tricycle to Guisi Clearwater Resort - 400/ 4pax - 100/pax
• Accommodation - 300/pax
• Lunch - 90
• Island Hopping - 900 / 4pax - 225/pax  (500 1st hr.. 200 succeeding hours)
• Dinner - 250
• Breakfast - 25
• Lunch -90
• Tricycle back to Jordan - 500/ 4pax - 125/pax
• Boat to Ortiz - 14
• Jeep to Jaro - 7
• Van to Leon - 40

  ** Contact Persons:

• Ate Dors - +63 947 315 6766

(Sira-an Hotspring Resort)

• John John U. Sumanting - +63 947 587 3067

(Municipal Information Officer, Tourism Officer, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Officer--Local Government of CULASI, ANTIQUE)

• Ate Sheila - +63 921 570 1947

(Tibiao  Kawa Bath)

• Ate Josie - +63 999  887 0038

(Guisi Clerawater Resort)

** Important REMINDER! Malalison Island's  electricity schedule : 6pm to 10pm ONLY