Capiz: Panay Bell, Coast and Living Traditions

The Panay Bell in Sta. Monica Church in Panay is seven feet in diameter, five feet tall and weighs 10.4 tons. It is considered the largest Catholic church bell in Southeast Asia. The church itself also has distinctive dimensions: built from coral blocks in 1774, its walls are nine feet thick.

Culture, Crafts and Festivals

In Roxas City, Capiz shells, locally known as pi-os, are part of a thriving craft tradition. They are made into lampshades, windows, doors and other home accessories. The city's traditional fishing methods include surambao, siguin and pukot. These practices are demonstrated to locals and visitors as vivid examples.

Every Saturday at 6 p.m., Saot Capiz brings together various performance groups from the province at Capiz Provincial Park in Roxas City. Together, they celebrate Capiznon dances and culture. In Tapaz, the Tapaz Municipal Religious Town Fiesta, held annually from September 21 to 30, honors Saint Jerome, the town's patron saint. The Sirinadya Festival, in honor of the Santo Niño, runs from the third week of January to the first Sunday in February and includes street dancing, live music and thanksgiving events. The different dates give each festival its own place in the annual calendar.

Religious Sites and Traditions

At the Agtalin Shrine in Pilar, worshippers gather for Mass in the chapel beneath the statue on the first Saturday of every month. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Shrine in Roxas City is a pilgrimage site and a place for meditation and reflection. Another religious tradition is Pasalum in Basiao, Ivisan: every year on May 31, the feet of the Santo Niño are dipped in seawater during a procession on the water.

Beaches, a Lake and Nature

Marugo Lake in Barangay San Antonio, Tapaz, is an artificial lake covering 18.62 hectares and fed by mountain water. Visitors can choose from swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing. Baybay Beach in Roxas City is twelve kilometers long and has black sand. Swimming, kayaking and boating are also mentioned here, along with snorkeling and skimboarding. The comparison is useful if you are deciding between lake and beach activities.

At Palina Greenbelt Ecopark in Cagay, Roxas City, mangroves line the banks for more than one kilometer, not including the tributaries. Ayagao Beach lies on the Sibuyan Sea and offers sunset views. In Dumalag, Suhot Cave and Spring consists of interconnected caves and a clear, icy-cold pool fed by a rock spring.

Experience Culture in Cuartero

Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village in Cuartero is a 16-hectare ecopark featuring traditional Filipino houses and endemic plant species. As an open-air museum, it offers guided tours about local culture and history. The park also includes an Institute of Living Traditions, dedicated to preserving and promoting the region's cultural heritage. Visitors can learn about traditional crafts such as basket weaving. They can also learn how to prepare local specialties such as baye-baye and ibus; cooking demonstrations are also available.

Places to Help Plan Your Trip

Tapaz can be reached overland from Roxas City and Iloilo by public minibuses and buses. Check the schedules before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Dao, Roxas City, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo.

View the main travel guide: Western Visayas.