PANAY ISLAND TOUR OF CHURCHES AND BEACHES. Part Five: Nogas Island and Rafflesia of San Remegio

Nogas Island is a 24-hectare uninhabited island and government naval reservation located about a twenty-minute boat ride from the mainland of Anini-y, the southernmost town of Antique before entering the province of Iloilo.

Although its beach is white, the shoreline is composed mostly of crushed corals, shells, and pebbles rather than fine sand. Beneath its surrounding waters, however, are beautiful coral formations, which I found even more impressive than those of Mararison Island. In fact, several dive sites can be found around the island.

Perhaps the most photographed feature of Nogas Island is the picturesque pathway leading to its lighthouse. Lined on both sides with calachuchi trees, their gnarled branches stretch across the path and form an almost natural canopy overhead. Another interesting sight near the lighthouse is the colony of giant bats hanging from the branches of some of the trees, adding yet another fascinating feature to this small and otherwise uninhabited island.

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 about the sights to see in Antique, I learned that the Rafflesia, often described as producing the largest individual flower in the world, could be found in the municipality of San Remigio. That discovery was enough for me to include San Remigio in our itinerary.

I learned that the Rafflesia could be found in two mountain barangays, Tubudan and Aningalan. Tubudan was the more accessible of the two since it was located along the highway, so we decided to go there.

About thirty minutes after passing through the town proper of San Remigio and while we were making our way up the mountain, our car suddenly came to a halt. We later learned that the carburetor needed cleaning, which explained the several stops we had experienced along the way. Fortunately, where we stopped, we noticed a roadside sign that read, “Welcome to Viewing Deck, Brgy. La-Union, San Remigio, Antique.” Since we had some time to spare while waiting for the car, we decided to explore the place.

A viewing deck had recently been constructed on top of a limestone cliff, with a steel bridge connecting it to another rocky outcrop. From there, we were rewarded with a commanding view of the vast plains below and the surrounding countryside.

When we returned to the car, it started again, and about twenty minutes later, we arrived in Tubudan, where the Rafflesia could be found. At first, we saw plenty of Rafflesia flowers displayed around the area—only to discover that they were artificial! We therefore went with a guide and climbed the side of the mountain in search of the real thing.

Eventually, on the forest floor, nestled among the large roots of a tree, we found one. It was about the size of a mature coconut and already brownish in color, but unfortunately, it had not yet bloomed. Still, I was glad that we had at least seen a real Rafflesia in its natural habitat.

Afterwards, we climbed to another viewing deck, still unfinished at the time, built atop a limestone formation. From there, we enjoyed yet another impressive view of the surrounding plains and mountains—a fitting conclusion to our unexpected adventure in search of the Rafflesia of San Remigio.

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. 

PANAY ISLAND TOUR OF CHURCHES AND BEACHES. Part Three: Churches of Antique

  I spent the Easter Triduum in the province of Antique, arriving on Wednesday evening and leaving on Easter Sunday. Of the province’s eighteen municipalities, I was able to visit fourteen: Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Laua-an, Bugasong, Patnongon, Belison, San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, San Remigio, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, and Anini-y. We also passed through Libertad and Pandan, but it was already late when we reached them, so we were unable to visit their churches. Valderrama was out of our way, while Caluya is located on an island and would have required a separate trip.

We stayed first in Culasi because I particularly wanted to visit Mararison Island. On Holy Thursday, I concelebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in Sebaste. I had heard that its parish church was a well-known pilgrimage destination, with thousands of devotees flocking there for the feast of its patron, St. Blaise. On that Holy Thursday evening, however, the church was not crowded. The congregation filled most of the seats, but there were still a number to spare.

On Good Friday, we transferred to San Jose de Buenavista, the provincial capital, where we stayed at the Bishop’s Residence. I joined the celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral and later concelebrated the Easter Vigil there with Bishop Jose Lazo. During the days of the Triduum, we also took the opportunity to make our own Visita Iglesia, visiting the different parish churches throughout the province.

Most of the churches we visited were of relatively recent construction. Among the notable exceptions were the churches of Hamtic and Anini-y, the latter of which was undergoing restoration by the National Historical Commission at the time of our visit.

One feature that particularly caught my attention in Hamtic was its beautiful set of Stations of the Cross. Though not very large, the individual stations were magnificent. Circular in shape, the scenes were rendered in relief, perhaps in resin, and each was enclosed within an elaborate Gothic-style frame. They were among the most distinctive Stations of the Cross I encountered during our journey through Antique.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH CHURCH

Culasi, Antique

ST. BLAISE PARISH CHURCH

Sebaste, Antique

I concelebrated the Mass with the parish priest of Sebaste, Fr. Segundo, and Fr. Ramon, a native of the town and a member of the Eucharistic Healers of Mary, a local religious community.

After the Mass, Fr. Segundo invited us to join them for a “Last Supper” dinner hosted by the Antonio family, who owned a large house just outside the town proper. Mr. Antonio was a first cousin of Bishop Elenito Galido.

During dinner, I became particularly interested in their stories about the Mill Hill Fathers, the missionaries who had served in Antique, especially Fr. Eugene Daberto, an Italian priest who had done much to help poor families in the area. Beginning around 1975 and continuing into the 1980s, Fr. Daberto reportedly helped many young women from Sebaste and the neighboring towns of Laua-an and Pandan find employment in Austria. According to the stories shared with us, many poor families with daughters had at least one who was given the opportunity to work there.

Mr. Antonio explained that the economic impact on Sebaste was quite visible. With the money their daughters sent home from Austria, many families were able to improve their houses, replacing modest dwellings with more substantial concrete homes. Many of the women eventually chose to remain in Austria, where they settled down and married locals.

They also told us that whenever bishops or priests from Antique traveled to Europe, a visit to Austria would often become part of their itinerary. There, they would invariably receive a warm welcome in the homes of these Filipinas from Antique who had made Austria their second home.

The dinner itself was also memorable. It was truly fine dining, with several courses and a change of plates for each one—a rather elegant conclusion to our Holy Thursday celebration in Sebaste.

SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO PARISH CHURCH

Tibiao, Antique

In Tibiao, we passed by the Fish Spa and decided to give it a try. I was particularly amused when I noticed that, instead of nibbling away at the dead skin on Mark’s feet, the fish seemed content simply to gather around and stare at him!

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA PARISH CHURCH

Barbaza,Antique

ST. ISIDORE PARISH CHURCH

Laua-an, Antique

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH CHURCH

Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique

       When I saw the church, it immediately looked familiar. Its architectural design and the clay tiles used reminded me of several churches I had seen in Pangasinan. When I asked Bishop Lazo about it, my hunch proved correct: the church had been built and donated by DMCI.

Municipal hall of Bugasong, Antique

STO. NIÑO DE BUGASONG PARISH CHURCH

Bugasong, Antique

          

ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO PARISH CHURCH

Patnongon, Antique

I could not help but notice that while the parish church of Patnongon was rather so ordinary with the belfry being under construction, just near the church was an antique structure which still had a belfry. It was the St. Augustine Academy which housed before the old convento of the Spanish friars.

St. Augustine's Academy of Patnongon

Patnongon, Antique

OUR LADY OF THE CANDLES PARISH CHURCH

Belison, Antique

ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL OF THE DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE DE ANTIQUE

San Jose de Buenavista, Antique

Some of the carrozas during the Good Friday procession in San Jose de Buenavista.

With Bp. Lazo and the Apostoles after the Easter vigil. 

The Provincial Capitol of Antique

Preparations for the Palarong Pambansa 2017 were being finalized in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique which was the host. 

             Bibingkas from different barangays of the town were being cooked and sold by the side street near the Cathedral. 

STA. RITA DE CASCIA PARISH CHURCH

Sibalom, Antique

ST. VINCENT FERRER PARISH CHURCH

San Remegio, Antique

STA. MONICA PARISH CHURCH

Hamtic, Antique

The beautiful Stations of the Cross in Hamtic. I missed to picture one of the Stations. 

SAN NICOLAS DE TOLENTINO PARISH CHURCH

Tobias Fornier, Antique

SAN JUAN DE NEPOMUCENO PARISH CHURCH

Anini-y, Antique

The church of Anini-y was being renovated by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) when we passed by. Conservation work included the restoration of the stone walls, reconstruction of the choirloft and access to bell tower, replacement of roof and ceiling, reconstruction of the retablo and refurbishment of church fixtures. The restoration was finished by November 2017.   

There were scaffoldings inside the church as the ceilings were being replaced.

The old altar of Anini-y

The renovated church of Anini-y with its new altar when I passed by in April 2019 for the installation of the new bishop of Antique, Most Rev. Marvyn Maceda.

New altar retablo of Anini-y

         After passing by Anini-y the next churches that we passed by already belonged to the province of Iloilo: San Joaquin, Miag-ao, Guimbal, Tigbauan,  Oton and the city of Iloilo.  Since I have visited the churches of these towns before, the pictures are in my post: Churches in Iloilo. Part One.