ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Long before Boracay, there was Sicogon island as a top tourist destination in Asia that was famous for its long coastline lined with coconut trees, creamy sand and clear blue waters. Before operations closed down in the 1980’s, the island had resort facilities like a clubhouse, cottages, swimming pools, sports and other recreational facilities, a wharf and an airstrip. The island continues to attract back packing scuba divers and snorkelers with its abundant coral reefs and giant clams, and trekkers along its forested slopes that offer a rich biodiversity. Various animal species include among others, the large swamp frog, the Philippine bent-toed gecko, variable Malay monitor lizard, the reticulated python, common island flying fox, Visayan warty pig, Visayan leopard cat and the long-tailed macaque. Tree species endemic to Panay that are found in the island include the Batuan, Apitong, Gayong-gayong, Malakadios, Inyam and Banaui, etc. Northeast of barangay Buaya is the

Or as our host, Flord Nicson Calawag, said " Tanum, lagaw kag pamahaw sa Tibiao ". Indeed our visit to this municipality in the province of Antique last weekend was filled with adventure and gastronomy for a cause. The town's 1st Agri-Enviromental Tourism Tree Planting program dubbed as Tanum-Lagaw sa Tibiao was foremost a tree planting activity organized the office of Congressman Paolo Javier & the Provincial Government (through the initiatives of SP Victor Condez, Committee Head on DENR) in cooperation with the local government Unit of Tibiao (through the leadership of Mayor Walden Lim). It aims to promote environmental awareness on the value of forests that serve as carbon sink, enriching nutrition through planting fruits trees and providing employment opportunities through tourism development. This is also in line with Tibiao's thrust of becoming the adventure capital not only of the province but for the whole island of Panay as it hosts an international k