Philippine Travel Notes

Many people (including me) remember Roxas City for this bridge. It’s not common anyway that a town or now city is divided by a river right in the middle of it all. This bridge is said to have been there since 1910. And it still stands strong after witnessing the life of this place for a century! Official name is “Capiz Bridge” and that’s not the name of the province but the town that Roxas City was. Yes, I learned that sometime ago, this place actually started as the town of Capiz, the capital of the province of Capiz. Just like Iloilo, Iloilo, Tarlac, Tarlac, Bulacan, Bulacan, Cebu, Cebu and many more! And by the way, this bridge connects the city at that main thoroughfare called Roxas Avenue. So, listen well children… this is the Capiz Bridge on Roxas Avenue of Roxas City in Capiz Province. At least we know it is not made of capiz hehe! I think of equal importance or significance to the residents of Roxas is that river called Panay River. It remains big to this day and not as dir...

Its across the street from the side of the city hall – where I took that shot from. What can you say about the picture? Interesting? Imposing? Intruiging? Inviting? Mausoleum? Well, it was once a water tank and the city was wise enough to have converted it into a museum. But the “beauty” stops there. Maybe its still a work in progress as many museums are. I entered… It’s a rather small place compared to many museums around the country, but good enough – the building was a water tank in the first place. But this would still have been fantastic if the “contents” had more real value as to heritage and culture. The few things and pictures on display are nothing but a Roxas Family ‘achievement display’ not really about the town of Capiz and its beginnings. I fished my camera to snap a few photos so I could show you how wanting a museum this was BUT as I took the second photo, the caretaker came running and pushed my hand saying cameras are not allowed. Oh okay… as if... As if there is a...

From the ancestral house I emerged out on the plaza again heading for the bridge. But I saw another thing. Still part of the plaza, just across the bandstand, I stumbled upon this silent and uncentral monument. Yes it is of the late Manuel Acuna Roxas, the 5th president of this country and the shortest-serving, if I recall my high school history correctly! But he was (I think) the first-ever bar top-notcher in this country too, since he aced the very first bar-exams to be conducted. This monument is on the western edge of the plaza almost directly opposite the capitol far across but just about 3 blocks front of his ancestral residence. I like it though that behind this monument is a residential area, and facing his back is a big wooden old-era house that has been converted to what is now the Plaza Central Inn. I saw a musem, let’s go there?!

That’s where he was born yes… but that’s it! Why? Because you can’t enter the house, its still a real habited house where some of his remaining kin still live. We visitors (strangers of course) cannot be roaming in anyone else’s private abode, right? Hehe, so that’s it! Actually, I remember the woman at the tourism information kiosk told me that you can arrange (preferably in advance) with the residents for you to be able to see the insides of the house. But that was not a practical thing to do for me as I was just zooming by. You see those hanging things on the side? Those are not the day’s laundry! Those are for sale, its an ukay-ukay place. Yes, they’re everywhere including residences of ex-presidentes! It also houses the ‘Albar Law Office’ of Miguel B. Albar and I wonder what he wants to tell us with that “COUN-SEL-LOR” thing on his signage. Maybe he does not want people to mistake him for a municipal or barangay “councilor”. Y'know, early in the morning people would see yo...

Ah lunch! It was decidedly at Jo’s (Chicken Inato) Kamayan Sa Ilog. I knew where this place is since I already ate here in a previous visit. But it was evening and I didn’t know this place actually also looks good at lunch. Well more of, there are nice views from this restaurant during lunch, especially if you perch up at the second level. The river and the bridge are quite a sight. Okay, we’ll get to that bridge soon!

A few steps from the capitol on my way to find the Roxas house, I stumbled upon this thing they call ‘display center’ just before the bridge. So I walked right in! Hmm, it’s a modest house and a garden. However, everything in there is a product of various industries in the city and even the province, that you can immediately buy! I gathered from the woman on duty that they are from a cooperative that manages this place. Thus, most everything are from members and their associates. I did ask how this place differs from those stalls between the city hall and the church (I think they call it Paseo). With some kind of a smirk she told me that those are stores owned by just anyone who wanted to do business, while their products (in this display center) are of high quality as they are controlled by the department of trade and industry. Hmm… di naman sya galit hehe! Look at that picture. Everything in it you can actually buy from them as those are sample products. Yes, all of them including...

Wow! This building could have come in the usual white and/or off-white paint and still look good! While many provincial capitols in this country come with many pillars for a façade, this one has only two! But its a big building nonetheless. And I think that color is not common amongst provincial seats of government. Let’s just say its modernized – although I know from a lot of hardware stores that those off-something non-traditional colors are cheaper to have and the fad these days. So we can fairly say, this one is a bit 'updated' hehe. One of the few (if not the only) capitol where the walls are right on the very sides of main thoroughfares. Call it the need for more road space in an ever progressing city! I like it that they maintained the presence of that usual window material that the province is named after – capiz shells. Very reminiscent of the beautiful houses of bygone years. Hey I think those big letters are made of metal (probably brass). And not to be left out by...

Yep, you got it… that’s Pareng Pepe! He stands in the middle of almost every locale in this country, right? He is the national hero after all. The monument says its been inaugurated in 1911 and reconstructed in 1926. That means Roxas city has erected this monument just a little over a decade after his death. I suppose in those times it must still have been considered a defiant act by the Spanish Friars – since Rizal was supposed to be a criminal to them. Therefore, this monument must have been a bold and brave thing to do for the religious people of Capiz in those times. Even if the 'American era' was already starting. Hey, one of the best-looking Rizals I have seen around. Very real-like.

Clearly visible! You can’t miss it because of the bright sky-blue paint. While I go for churches that are in their natural color like those in Paoay, Baclayon or Miag-ao, I think for this church in Roxas, it was better they painted it so. For if they didn’t, you might actually think it was just another building. Why? Because only that façade is visible. Why? Well, sign of progress… to its left is a big and tall school building of the parish – and that’s where you enter when there is no Sunday Mass, while to its right is the equally big and tall city hall. There is though a little alley between the church and the munisipyo, but it is now an interesting row of eateries and little stores that showcase the province’s products and produce. You can’t enter the church from that side. Up front the hispanized inscriptions say this church was built in 1877 and reconstructed in 1954. There is a jubilee marker but its tarnished and rusting that I could not read what its saying. But I like the ...

Decidedly my first choice building to 'look and see' since on its right side is where you enter the city plaza from the beach and airport. Trike driver let me off on a busy part of that street (near the tourist kiosk) where I had a direct front view of the building. Hey I usually don’t have many good things to say about city halls that are mere modern blocks of concrete with no artistic or cultural hints. But with this one, I even caught myself exclaiming WOW! Just look at the façade, its nothing really fantastic, right? Other than those 4 ornamental whatevers (colored white), everything is just plain modernistic yellow-painted cemento, right? But this city hall is 3 floors when most I see are just 2 floors so it got me curious. It looks big and tall, that’s why I went a bit closer – yep, I went up those stairs and entered the lobby! Something else got me even more curious in there – the side opposite main entrance was sunny bright and I could see trees. Hmm, was that already...

Hard to get near to! This is at the very middle, in fact, the rotund amidst a very busy confluence of, I guess 5 or so roads! It looks beautiful, but viewed from the sidewalks, I could not make out if there is some kind of description. I guess none. There is probably good symbolism in how this thing was made. There are men carrying that platform from where the water fountain spouts up. There are native clay vases scattered below. And I guess those fishlike figures that spurt finer jets of water towards the main fountain are some bit of ‘recent adornment’. Must be a beautiful thing to see at night. Let's go to the city hall, shall we?!

As we spoke, I glanced at that other cute structure just behind the outpost. This tourism lady told me it is a bandstand. I said oh okay, since I already know what they are/were for, as I have seen other similar structures (e.g., Oroquieta, Sibulan, Butuan, Dumaguete, etc). But she continued telling me that the platform is/was not just used to house a band but also a venue for speeches, rallies and other events of the city – even the coronation of their queens or installation of bishops! Reason she says why the platform (floor area) was widened, though they had to retain the form and structure of the canopy, so as not to lose its historical significance. Bright! I liked the part where she told me the thing was originally movable therefore could stand earthquakes. As my lowly brain found it hard to picture her descriptions, I asked if she had at least a photo or a drawing that I can see. That got her also wondering and told me she realizes she actually needs it and will ask the engine...

Its that cute lovely kiosk that immediately invites the attention of anyone who visits the city plaza. I got off the trike near this thing so I went near to find out what it is/was. Oh what a combination! It is the city’s Tourism Information Centre at the same time a Police Outpost. I asked the lady in charge if they have tourist police in this city. She said none really, what they have in this outpost are real policemen. They just share the space since its too big for an information desk regarding tourism – plus, the police will have somewhere to be nearer the center of it all, in case needed. Bright idea, I suppose! The lady here, who was busier sweeping the area and wiping dust from just about anywhere dropped everything to help me! Aside from a brochure with a map, she told me a lot of information regarding this city. Like? LIke this cute building was made out of donations from ex-Roxas residents who now live in the USA! Plus many more, and she pointed to me the bandstand! Okay...

I like this one. It’s an elevated platform where the traffic officer stands to direct traffic flow. Yeah, very reminiscent of how traffic was controlled in our simple and wonderful past. Unlike most Philippine cities nowadays, where they install automated traffic lights and the officers (yes, plural) lurk at some hidden corner waiting to pounce at you AFTER a violation then say “boss, two thousand yan pag tiniketan kita”! This one in Roxas is real and clear ‘to direct and control traffic flow’. Hope it remains so, indefinitely! Oh, this is not the ‘one and only’ in the city. I know I have seen a similar thing some corners before the city hall (past the Gaisano mall).

I knew that if I headed this way, I would be within reach of many things I wanted to see. This place is unique amongst the many city centers I have seen in this country. It has some kind of a European feel in terms of how its been made and how it has become – a government center, park, promenade, attraction and a functional traffic crossroad all in the same place. And it takes just 10 minutes or less by trike from the beach (that means the airport is even nearer). Appealing! Hey, did you know that this place was adjudged the best city plaza in the Philippines way back 1964? Yes it was! And it won a very hefty prize of P500. Yes, five hundred pesosesoses! ONLY! I learned that from a teacher sometime ago in one of my visits where I was starting to get curious about this plaza. Per my request, this is where I was let off by the trike driver. And let’s see where else I went…

There is such a thing?! Well, am I glad to have seen it and am I ever happier to say yes, there is such a thing! And it is right at the very place where the locals and visitors alike frequently head to, especially from dusk ‘til dawn – Baybay Beach. Of course it is also such a wonderful place in the mornings. It’s a park and right by the long stretch of black sandy beach! I said “park” not “parking area”, okay?! The thing is its kinda new and concrete everywhere with yet just a few trees around, thus, something we could call a heat-maker! But its still a nice place, breezy with fantastic views out to the sea and some little islands. Ah yea, that is Mantalinga Island (and the plane that brought me here now returning to Manila). A chicharon vendor and some students “educated” me that no one lives on the island as it is believed to be “enkantado” or a place where many unseen, though friendly, spirits live! I like the portion of the story that says local folks always pass by the island f...

Alright, I was once again at Baybay Beach in this place called “La Playa De Roxas”. It’s a row of bars, barbecues and resorts by the beach that I had been to a number of times before, though ironically, this was the first time I was seeing the area in broad daylight! Nice place! But believe me, the strip smokes and sizzles with food and fun as soon as the sun attempts to rest. And I think the first time I’ve been in this place, there was even no such fine and clean road yet! Everything was a beach that I could walk to via pathways from Villa Patria! Then I remembered I wanted to know what “Kansi” really meant, so I asked my driver. He said it’s a soup dish. I insisted on knowing what the word means or where it originated (hoping for some kind of etymology like I already know what is SuTuKil or HotSiLog). He did not (could not) answer but instead swerved to the left of the road and called out for the cook of Patpat’s to tell us what kansi means. Cook casually answered “baka, beef”! I ...

Hah, am sure you didn’t guess that Toto Jun! I was not (yet) in that town on the other side of Panay. I was still in Roxas City, Capiz! Not Antique, no not yet! Took a trike from the airport straight to Culasi and back to the city! Culasi is the city’s seaport. Its a brangay in Roxas. What was I to do there? Nothing really hehe! Just wanted to see how that pier looks, since I have been coming across it as I read about my ultimate dream – to ride an inter-island ‘barko’ soon! But this is what I can tell you now… the way going there is such a picturesque highway overlooking the calm sea. Very tempting to dash for it and splash in the blue-green waters. Ahh! Hey it’s a big port and kinda new. The time I went there – to the surprise of the guards – there were both cargo and passenger ships, though none seemed to be leaving anytime soon nor have just arrived. The place was devoid of the crowds that I hear throngs forth when there is a passenger ship leaving or arriving. Even the rows of c...

“You what”? That’s what a dear friend exclaimed when I told her I was on the way to Roxas to watch Dinagyang hehe! She was going to Iloilo, I was going to Roxas, and our flights were leaving just within minutes of each other when we accidentally met at the airport’s departure lounge. I said yes I’m going Dinagyang but via Roxas City! She knows me better than that though… a few more questions and she learned that I only decided 3 days ago, with all Iloilo flights already full. I did not tell her anymore this was the 2nd time I was going via Roxas for the 7th time that I was going to watch the Dinagyang! ON this occasion however, I was determined to see more of Roxas City! So, off I went! I’ve been to this city several times before, even stayed here for a week. But I was on a business trip and have never really gotten to see even the city center for real. I just know where is what, but more of I have just taken glances of this and that. This time, I was determined to see more and pay att...