LOLETS ECO-PARK (Dao Capiz)

"LOLETS ECO-PARK"

Enjoy a host of beauty of nature and man's creativeness at its theme park, located in the midst of a farm. Each of its themed sections offers fantastic experience for the family and groups. Amenities include swimming pools, boating, pavilion, flower garden, aviary, fishpond, playground, and many more.

St. Martin of Tours Parish Church (Dumalag Capiz)

"St. Martin of Tours Parish Church"

It is 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. The walls are 3 feet thick and made of yellow sandstone. It has two doors at its side and one main doorway in front. There are six windows at each side with columns between them reaching to the roof. These are also small buttresses at the sides. The façade is decorated with small columns. At the front left side of the church is the five-story belfry housing 5 bells of different sizes, all made in 1881.The church's interior is shaped like a cross. The church was finished in 1872 when Fr. Andel Abasolo was parish priest of the town.

SUHOT CAVE and SPRING (Dumalag Capiz)

"SUHOT CAVE and SPRING"

Situated in Dumalag, Capiz and only 300 meters from the provincial road, It is actually a series of interconnected caverns of different sizes. At the cave's arched entrance is a pool of clear, ice cold water fed by a rock spring from within the cave. Further on, however, is a crack in the rocks where sulfurous water comes out. Suhot is believed to have a connecting tunnel to the Badiang Cave, Dumarao Since both caves are found in the same mountain only 6 km apart from each other but Badiang is on a higher elevation. On the other hand, entrance to Badiang is hidden by dense jungle. In pre-war days, phosphate was said to have been extracted from the cave but it was a short-live effort.

BALISONG CAVE (Pilar Capiz)

"BALISONG CAVE"

Approximately one and a half km from the poblacion by jeepneys, tricycles and cars over rough roads: About two years ago,At the Balisong Cave where the Capiz Revolucionarios routed the Spanish soldiers, townspeople discovered earthen pots carved with intricate designs. The cave must have been burial sites of pre-Spanish Filipinos.  This is where the greatest Capiznon hero, Juan Arce of Sigma, Capiz died. At the side of the cave is a spectacular sight of a mountain. A grayish black rock rising up to 200 ft. to the sky: Plants, orchids among them hang from the cliffs, blooming in the summer and filling the air with exotic fragrance.

KIPOT CAVE (Mambusao Capiz)

"KIPOT CAVE"

Located at Brgy.Burias, Mambusao, 30-minute ride; about 3 km. from Capiz State University, Mambusao campus or around 9 kms from the town proper. Wild birds, deer and wild ducks abound the place. Near the cave is a stream. The cave consists of many chambers each at a different level. Certain sections of the cave seem like dead ends except for small openings measuring 2 to 3 feet through which only one person can crawl. These holes lead to the main chamber which is as big as a hotel ballroom which is why it is dubbed as the "Kipot Hilton".

PANGILATAN FALLS (Tapaz Capiz)

"PANGILATAN FALLS"

Located in Brgy. Artuz, Tapaz, Capiz is composed of a main waterfalls which has a water drop off of about 81 ft., countless mini falls whose water drop offs are between less than a foot to as high as 7 ft., the total length of which is at least 3.5 kms and could go as far as 8 kms; and a viewing area on the highest point of Brgy. Artuz where one could see the rolling hills and mountains of Tapaz and neighboring towns as far as Calinog, Iloilo in the south and Libacao, Aklan in the north, which could rival the famous chocolate hills of Bohol. 

Residents used to call it “Pangilat-kilatan” based on the Visayan  root word “kilat, ” which means lightning. It is said that lightning used to strike the place whenever somebody tries to fish in the falls even during summer of sunny days.  The name was later modified to “Pangilatan.”  This came about, or so the legend says, because the older ones had difficulty pronouncing the old and original name.

Santa Monica Parish Church (Panay Capiz)

"Santa Monica Parish Church"

This awe-inspiring church monument reveals the Spanish grandeur in Pan-ay town; a small fortress;  it is about 250 ft long and 80 ft wide with 9-ft thick walls of coral blocks. The floor is colored marble which shine in subdue tone in misty light. The central altar is an elaborated sculpture retablo of silver and hardwood in florid Baroque style. The lateral altars have intricately carved tiers of niches for images of saints. Sta. Monica is the patron saint. The church's five-story belfry shelters a huge antique bell and surrounded by 8 smaller bells. Shrouded with many enchanting tales, the huge bell holds more fascinating truth. It was cast from 70 sacks of coins believed to have been contributed by the citizens of the town. It is seven feet in diameter, five feet high and weighs 10.4 tons. In fact, it is estimated to be the largest in Southeast Asia.

NAPTI ISLAND (Panay Capiz)

"NAPTI ISLAND"

About three to four hectares big located at the Sibuyan Sea, fronting Brgy. Agojo, Panay, this inhabited island has white colored beach that is actually due to accumulated skeletal coral remains.  Plenty of live coral reefs are abundant near its shore.  Fishing enthusiasts and gourmets alike have wonderful time here for the plentiful fish and lobsters.  There is also a small cave, about 100 meters long and winds several feet below the surface across the island commands a breathtaking view of Roxas City and Panay.

MANTALINGA ISLAND(Roxas City)

"MANTALINGA ISLAND"

A kilometer away from the shoreline of Baybay Beach, Roxas City, it has been identified by the Department of Tourism as an ideal spot for scuba divers and a perfect rotunda for sailboat (dilayag) and kayaking contest. Recently named "Good Luck Island" by DOT consultants, the place is believed by local fisher folks as source of luck when names of their fish boats are written on the sides of the island before it goes fishing for the first time.

OLOTAYAN ISLAND (Roxas City)

"OLOTAYAN ISLAND"

Olotayan Island is an island of legend. The name is a combination of olo (“head”) and  “tyan” (stomach), as a Capiz legend tells of a cruel giant whose body the anitos (gods) struck with lightning, scattering his body parts all over the sea. Nearer to Roxas’ shore is Mantalinga Island – reportedly the giant’s “mata” (eyes) and “talinga” (ears).

MORO TOWER (Sitio Nipa Roxas City)

"MORO TOWER"

The Moro Tower is a historic landmark, which, surprisingly, remains unfamiliar to most Capiznons. Until recently, I thought Moro Towers only exist in other parts of the country until I was able to glance at the local history books of Capiz and yes, there are indeed Moro Towers in my hometown.

There are actually two Moro Towers located here in Roxas City. The first one is situated at Barangay Dumulog, near the Roxas City Domestic Airport. The second one is the more familiar Moro Tower situated at Sitio Nipa in Culasi, Roxas City, just a few meters away from the Roxas City Port.

The Moro Towers were built by the Spanish authorities in 1814 to protect the province from marauding Moros and Portuguese pirates. They were built from black pebbles and once stood up to 20 ft high.

The Moro Towers have witnessed several upheavals in the history and politics of Roxas City. It withstood the Philippine Revolution and the Fil-Am War that ensued afterwards. However, the towers nearly met their fate during the World War II. Today, these towers stand half-torn, almost obscure from the eyes of the public. They are constantly eroding, thus, calling the attention of the local government to salvage one of Roxas City's oldest existing historical structures. I hope that decades from now, the Moro Towers are still standing so that the next generation can relish the rich history and culture of Roxas City.

The Moro Towers continue to be a living landmark of the rich and awesome history of Capiz. They are here to remind us that despite the change of time, the richness and glory of the past are still here to remain, ready to stay with us no matter how hard we partake from them.

The Moro Towers are here. And they are here to stay. They are here to provide us the glimpse of the awe and wonder of our history, culture, and locale. Let us not forget to preserve them for they are treasured gems to no material wealth of today could ever surpass.

With its array of natural and man-made wealth, Roxas City is indeed a piece of heaven here on Earth that's worth cherishing, protecting, loving, and keeping in our heart.