Everything about Aklan Province totally explained
Aklan is a
province of the
Philippines located in the
Western Visayas. Its capital is
Kalibo and is located at the northwest portion of
Panay, bordering
Antique to the southwest,
Iloilo to the south, and
Capiz to the east. Aklan faces the
Sibuyan Sea and the province of
Romblon to the north.
History
Aklan, originally known as "Minuro it Akean", is considered as the oldest province in the country and is believed to have been established as early as
1213 by settlers from
Borneo ruled by Datu Dinagandan.
Towards the end of the
14th century, Datu Dinagandan moved the capital from the present Batan. This was after it was captured by Chinese adventurers under Kalantiaw, allowing him to grab the throne. In
1433, Kalantiaw's grandson and successor,
Kalantiaw III, formulated a set of laws that's known today as the
Code of Kalantiaw. the historian,
William Henry Scott, considered these laws as fake. In
1437, the short-lived dynasty of Kalantiaw ended when Kalantiaw III was slain in a duel with Datu Manduyog, the legitimate successor of Datu Dinagandan. When Manduyog became the new ruler, he moved the capital to Bakan (now known as
Banga).
Several datus succeeded Manduyog until
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed in Batan in
1565. Datu Kabanyag was the current ruler at the time and had his capital in
Libacao.
From the time of the Spanish colonial administration until
Pilipino was instituted as the
Philippine national language, Aklan was spelled "Acean", and its chief town Kalibo was spelled "Calivo".
In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Aklan,
In 1945, landed by the Filipino and American troops with the Filipino guerrillas liberated in Aklan attack from the Japanese troops during the
Second World War.
Aklan finally became a separate province through Republic Act 1414 signed by
President Magsaysay on
April 25,
1956, separating Aklan from
Capiz. The province was inaugurated on
November 8,
1956.
Administrative divisions
Aklan is subdivided into 17
municipalities.
Municipalities
Geography
Aklan occupies the northern third of the island of
Panay and is bordered by the provinces of
Iloilo from the south,
Capiz from the east, and
Antique from the southwest. It also faces the
Sibuyan Sea from the north. The province includes the island of
Boracay which is located at its northwestern tip.
The province boasts high geographic diversity, ranging from white sandy beaches,
mangroves, and mountainous lanscapes. It also boasts the river
Akean, which appears unique due to its "boiling or frothing" appearance.
Fauna
Several endemic species in the
Philippines are located in the province. Examples include
endangered animals such the
Philippine Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi), the
Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons), and the
Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini). As of
2007, conservation efforts are being made by the
Aklan State University and the
DENR with varying success.
Economy
Aklan is famous for
Boracay, a resort island one kilometer north from the tip of
Panay. It is known for its white sandy
beaches and is considered as one of the more prominent destinations in the country. Because of this, there's frequent air travel to the province's airports in
Kalibo and
Caticlan.
Farming is the basic livelihood in the interior while fishing is the basic livelihood in the coasts. Poorer inhabitants also migrate seasonly to other provinces and islands, particularly
Negros, to work mostly in plantations. Some of these migrants include
minors.
Despite its vibrant tourism industry and substantial agriculture, the province is still considered as one of the poorer provinces in the country with more than 30% of the population living below the national poverty line.
Demographics
Ethnic groups
The main inhabitants of the province are the
Aklanon, who fall under the
Visayan ethnic group. Other inhabitants include the
Negrito, locally known as the
Ati, and the Sulod, a lesser known tribal group located at the hinterlands of Panay. Other
Visayans are also present such as the
Karay-a, the
Hiligaynon, and the
Capiznon.
Languages
The most prominent languages in the province are the
Aklan languages, which includes
Aklanon and
Malaynon. Aklanon is spoken by a majority of the people, while Malaynon is spoken in
Malay. Other languages include the language of the
Ati;
Hiligaynon, the regional language;
Kinaray-a; and
Capiznon.
Religion
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion of the people and Christian festivals such as
Christmas and
Lent are regarded with high importance. Meanwhile, Christian icons such as the
Santo Niño are regarded as cultural symbols of the people. A prominent example of the importance given by Aklanons to their faith is
Jaime Cardinal Sin.
Animism, however, is still practised by the
Ati.
Culture
Despite the prevalence of
Christianity, native beliefs about the
aswang and the
babaylan are still prevalent among the people.
Kulam, or Philippine
witchcraft, locally known as "amulit" is still feared by many.
Festivals
A known icon of the province is the annual
Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo. Originally, The festivity was to celebrate the coexistence between the Ati [ local name for the Aetas]and the Malays who were newcomers to the Island. The Ati lives in the mountain or elevated regions and the Malays in the flatlands or close to the water. The Festivity starts at the onset of the dry season, at which time the Ati comes down from the mountains to trade and celebrate with the Malays. When the Spaniards came and established their own Government and converted the Malays to their Christian Relegion, They asked or possibly coerced the Malays to celebrate this Festivity to coincide with the Feast of "Santo Nino" which is usually held during the third week of January. Accordingly, because of this change [ Ati uses the Moon to tell Seasonal changes]the Ati couldn't be available to participate in the celebration. The Malays have to paint their faces with soot to simulate the appearance of the Ati.
Literature
Aklanons are known for their literature, which includes the epic of
Kalantiao. Certain Aklanons, such as
Melchor F. Cichon, Niezel Rondario Fernando, have tried to further enrich the literature of the province.
Educational Institutions
Aklan Academy
Aklan Catholic College
Aklan National College of Fisheries
Aklan Polytechnic Institute
Aklan Science Development High School (RSHS for Region VI)
Aklan State University
Brent International School (Boracay)
Garcia College of Technology
Irao Institute
Jose Borromeo Legaspi Memorial National High School
Kalibo Elementary School
Kalibo Pilot Elementary School
Northwestern Visayan Colleges
Roxas Memorial College of Arts and Trades
Saint Anne Montessori School
Saint Gabriel School of Nursing
STI College Kalibo
STO. Niño Seminary
Western Aklan Polytechnic CollegeFurther Information
Get more info on 'Aklan Province'.
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