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There
is a lot that the province
offers.
From the famous Sinadya
sa Halaran Festival, to the
seafood that the province
provides, to the biggest bell
found in Southeast Asia; the
province is replete with places
to visit and a bountiful catch
to whet one’s appetite.
Located
on a small island straddled by
the Panay and Banica rivers,
Capiz is considered the Seafood
Capital of the Philippines.
The rich and growing
industry of fishing has been the
major source of income for the
province.
Its waters abound with
blue marlin, tuna, prawns,
shellfish and other marine
species.
These products of the sea
are shipped to Manila and to the
far corners of the country by
the tons.
But not only is Capiz
famous for the food it moves,
but a number of industries have
been blossoming.
The cutflower industry
has gained a huge boost from the
demand of ornamental plants in
the area.
And most notably, Capiz
shells have been on high demand
abroad.
These seashells are known
for its beauty and translucent
quality.
The call for the
exportation of these shells have
ballooned to such proportions
that the province could not keep
up with the demand.
Natural
and cultural wonders have also
captivated the imagination of
the local folk as well as the
tourists in the province.
Baybay beach, the
sanctuary in the capital city of
Roxas, is a black sand beach
which is a popular destination
for relaxing and watersports. From skiing to fishing, activities abound in this pristine
and beautiful beach.
The Quipot and Pilar
caves also attract their share
of outdoorsmen.
The former a literal maze
for the curious to enjoy, the
latter a monumental find,
historical buffs would giggle
with glee as intricately
designed earthen pots were found
in these caves. There are also the Suhoton caves and the Igang caves in
Maayon.
These are multi-layer
chambered caves that draw
spelunkers from all over the
country.
But
the main attraction of the
province is its people.
Their festivals
celebrating their life, religion
and culture has been the
embodiment of their outlook
towards life.
The Sinadya sa Halaran is
one such festival.
Held annually in Roxas
City it is actually a fusion of
two festivals, the “Sinadya”
and the “Hilaran” which
taken together literally means
“joy in sharing and
thanksgiving.”
Parades, fireworks and
dancing culminate in a beauty
pageant that crowns the
“Fiesta Queen.”
There is also the
Balintawakan Festival, a
longstanding tradition of
holding a “Binayle” on New
Year’s Eve in the town proper
of Balintwak.
It is a gathering of the
mostly old townsfolk capped off
by the crowning of “Miss
Balintawak.”
These
and other treasures are what
keep Capiz a jewel in the minds
of its locals and tourists.
The province boasts of a
lot of exciting things to do and
places to see but most
especially its pride is in its
people – they are there for
you to talk, dance and celebrate
with.
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