I’m feeling unusually tired today, and honestly, I have no idea how to begin this blog post. So, I’ll just start with a question: Do you have friends? The kind you truly know? And if you had to choose, would you rather keep a small, close-knit circle—or be part of a bigger, wider one?
As for me, yes, I do have friends—though not as many as others. And it’s true: as you get older, you tend to prefer a smaller circle, one where you feel aligned in values and life goals. Over time, I’ve outgrown some friendships, and I’ve come to accept that—it’s just part of life. There are also friends I’ve gotten to know more deeply along the way, and that kind of growth feels just as natural.
My advice to the young ones: enjoy the stage of life where you meet all kinds of people. Some will become true friends, while others might remain just acquaintances. Don’t feel pressured to please everyone just to make friends—let connections grow naturally and authentically.
Talking about friends, I’m grateful to have friends scattered across the country—in different provinces where you’re always welcome to visit. One memorable experience was back in 2022 during the pandemic, when most of us were working from home. A friend invited me and another friend to visit their province, Antique. It took us months to prepare, but in the end, everything went smoothly and it turned out to be an unforgettable trip.
Antique is our neighboring province, just beside Iloilo, which means it’s easy for me to visit whenever I go back home. According to public sources, the geography of Antique is quite unique — the province is shaped like a seahorse. It forms an oversized, serrated hemline along the western edge of the three-cornered, scarf-like island of Panay.
Antique stretches between the China Sea on the west and tall mountain ranges on the east, which span about 155 kilometers long and 33 kilometers wide, separating it from the rest of Panay. The province covers a total land area of approximately 2,798.57 square kilometers. It is bounded by Aklan to the north and northeast, Capiz to the east, Iloilo to the southwest, and the Cuyo East Pass of the Sulu Sea — part of the vast China Sea — to the west.
The province of Antique is composed of eighteen municipalities — fourteen along the coast, three inland, and one spread across six islets. The coastal towns include Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, Hamtic, San Jose de Buenavista, Belison, Patnongon, Bugasong, Laua-an, Barbaza, Tibiao, Culasi, Sebaste, Pandan, and Libertad. The inland municipalities are Sibalom, San Remegio, and Valderrama.
Historical records tell that a group of Bornean datus, led by Datu Puti, left Borneo to escape persecution from Sultan Makatunaw, a rajah of the House of Shri-Vijaya. They eventually landed on the island of Panay, which was then ruled by an Ati chieftain named Marikudo. After some negotiation, the datus succeeded in purchasing the island from Marikudo in exchange for a gold sadok (helmet) and a gold necklace for his wife. One of the datus, Datu Sumakwel, established a permanent settlement in what is now Malandog, located in the municipality of Hamtic—a name derived from hantik-hantik, a species of large ants that once thrived in the area.
Over time, the settlers occupied the coastal regions, while the native Atis moved into the hinterlands. The datus later divided the island into three political units, called sakop: Hantik (now Antique), Aklan, and Irong-Irong (now Iloilo), each led by Datu Puti, Datu Bangkaya, and Datu Paiburong, respectively. However, the entire island continued to be known as Hantik under the supreme command of Datu Sumakwel. Antique was later officially recognized as a separate political and military province, with San Jose de Buenavista as its capital town.
The establishment of American authority over the island and the restoration of peace and order in Panay led to the creation of a civil government on April 13, 1901. During the Japanese Occupation, Mt. Baloy (elevation 2,080 m), which straddles part of Antique, served as the headquarters of the 6th Military District under General Macario Peralta. The other two major peaks of Panay—Mt. Madia-as (2,117 m) and Mt. Nangtud (1,900 m)—are also located in the province of Antique.
https://antique.gov.ph/tourism/
Sadly, the airline we booked with didn’t have a direct flight to Antique, so we flew from Manila to Aklan instead. We initially thought we would have to commute from Aklan to Antique, but to our surprise, our friend was already waiting to welcome us at the airport. It was such a touching gesture! Later on, we even went to New Washington—known as the Seafood Capital of Aklan—for lunch.
I think we ate a lot of oysters there—they were so affordable! We also enjoyed some delicious garlic shrimp. After roughly a 2–3 hour drive, we finally arrived in Antique. I’m grateful to have seen a new province. My first impression was how green everything was—there were so many rice fields! It actually reminded me of our own province in Iloilo. It was so refreshing to be surrounded by nature and breathe in the fresh air.
After resting for a few hours, we immediately started our DIY tour. Our friend treated us to a simple but memorable experience—drinking black coffee and enjoying some snacks at the top of a mountain, overlooking a breathtaking view of the sea and distant islands, with a river flowing on the other side. It was a nearby tourist spot, and the scenery was absolutely stunning.
It was the perfect spot to unwind, take in the view, and share stories with friends. Our first day couldn’t have been more worth it.
On our second day, we visited what I can honestly say are two of the best places to see in Antique — Tibiao River and Madja-as Park. We woke up early that morning, and my friend’s boyfriend, who was also our driver for the day, took us there. On the way, we stopped at a local eatery for breakfast and tried some local dishes. One of them was Batchoy, a famous noodle soup originally from Iloilo.
I’m beyond grateful because, after my water rafting adventure in Cagayan de Oro, I got to experience another thrilling water activity in Antique — the famous water tubing. I’d say this was the highlight of our day! The river was so refreshing, and the whole experience was literally a cool and fun adventure.
If you’re visiting Antique, Tibiao River is one of the must-try adventure spots in the province. It’s known for its crystal-clear waters and scenic mountain views. The main activity here is water tubing, where you ride an inflated rubber tube and float along the river’s current — a fun and exciting alternative to white-water rafting.
The best time to try water tubing is during the dry season (November to May) when the river is clear and the current is just right. You’ll be guided by local experts who ensure your safety and help make the experience enjoyable. Don’t forget to bring extra clothes, waterproof bags, and sun protection, as you’ll definitely get wet!
We originally planned to try other activities and visit more beautiful spots, like waterfalls, but decided not to push through since we also wanted to see Madja-as Park. It wasn’t officially open to the public yet that month, but we were lucky to get a chance to visit this new, fun, and kid-friendly place because my friend knows the owner.
Madja-as Park is a relatively new, family-friendly destination in Sitio Bacolod, Barangay San Luis, Culasi, Antique. Sitting about 126 meters above sea level, it offers breathtaking views of the sea and nearby islands like Mararison and Batbatan. When we visited, it wasn’t officially open yet, but we got a special chance to explore the trails for ATVs, scooters, and bikes, as well as a kid-friendly path — making it perfect for families or anyone looking for a fun, relaxing outing. The park is also an amazing spot to catch the sunset while enjoying the cool breeze and scenic surroundings.
This park reminded me of when we visited Campuestohan Highland Resort in Bacolod. Like Madja-as, it’s perched on top of a mountain and even features life-sized dinosaur models — definitely a super cool place to explore!
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