Nogas Island
is a 24-hectare uninhabited government naval reservation island which is about
twenty minutes boat ride from the mainland of the town of Anini-y, the last
town of Antique before entering the province of Iloilo. The beach although
white is mostly composed of crushed coral stones, shells and pebbles. However, it has
more beautiful corals than in Mararison Island. In fact, there are several dive sites around
the area. But the most photographed part
of the island is the pathway that leads to the lighthouse which is planted on
both sides by calachuchi trees almost covering
the path with their gnarled branches. Interesting also to see are the giant bats hanging on some trees near the lighthouse.
The most photographed part of the island, Calachuchi trees lining up to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse of Nogas
There were plenty of beautiful and varied corals.
SIRA-AN HOT SPRING
Just near
the beach where the boats dock coming from Nogas island is the Siraan Hot Spring. It has a one big pool and several smaller hot tubs good for two to four persons. Since the water is not only hot but also sulphuric, that is why the water looks rather cloudy. But the place was
not that well-maintained.
RAFFLESIA IN BRGY. TUBUDAN, SAN REMEGIO
While reading on the sights to see in Antique I discovered
that there is in San Remegio found the biggest flower in the world, Rafflesia.
So I included San Remegio in the itinerary.
There were supposedly two mountain barangays that they could be found,
in Tubudan and Aningalan, but it was the former which was accessible as it was along
the highway. While we were climbing up the mountain about thirty minutes after passing by the town of San Remegio, the car suddenly came to a halt. (We learned later
that the carburettor needed cleaning, hence the reason for the number of stops
that we had). Anyway, we saw a sign by the road which said “Welcome to Viewing
Deck, Brgy. La-Union, San Remegio, Antique.” So we took the time to visit the
place. They had newly constructed viewing deck on top of a limestone cliff with
a steel bridge connecting to another cliff. It had a commanding view of the plains below. When we came back, the car started again and in
twenty minutes time we arrived in Tubudan where the Rafflesia flowers were
found. There were plenty of Rafflesia flowers
placed around the area but they were artificial. With a guide we climbed to the
side of the mountain to look for the real one and on the ground wedged between some big roots of a tree
we saw one Rafflesia of the size of a mature coconut fruit as it was brown, but
it was not yet in bloom. At least we saw
one. Afterwards we climbed up to the yet unfinished viewing deck on top of the
limestone rock to get another view of the plains and mountains nearby.
I thought at first they were the real ones. Artificial Rafflesia flowers were placed around the area. 
This is the flower bud of the Rafflesia with the size of a coconut head. The guide said that it would still take a week or two before that bud would bloom.
This is the part of the mountain where we found the Rafflesia flower.
The viewing deck at the Rafflesia center in Brgy. Tubudan, San Remegio.
The viewing deck at Brgy. La Union, San Remegio on the way to the Rafflesia flowers in Brgy. Tubudan.
Map of Panay Island
This completes my round the island tour of Panay with the map above showing the places in the mainland that we went to.
