History

The Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed in what is now the town of Batan in 1565. Aklan was incorporated into the jurisdiction of the province of Ogton until 1719. When Pan-ay (Capiz) was separated from Ogton, Aklan was included in the new province together with Capiz, Romblon and parts of Antique. Aklan remained part of Capiz for more than two centuries.

During the Philippine Revolution, Katipunan members Candido Iban and Francisco del Castillo, who were close associates of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio, established the movement in Aklan. This made it the first region outside Luzon where the Revolution took firm root. In March 1897, the Aklanon revolutionaries tried to liberate Kalibo, but were repulsed. Revolutionaries continued to fight the Spaniards until Kalibo was liberated in December 1898. The revolutionaries held on to Aklan until the Americans occupied the towns in 1900. In March 1901, the revolutionaries ended their struggle against the Americans by signing the Paz de Aclan or "Peace of Aklan," in Kalibo.

Throughout the American period, the people of Aklan agitated for full recognition as a separate province. Several legislative bills were filed in the Philippine legislature to enact Aklan’s provincehood but it was only in April 1956, after a long and sustained effort by Aklanons, that the province was, at last, established. President Ramon Magsaysay signed Republic Act No. 1414 creating the province. In November of the same year, the province was inaugurated.

People, Culture and the Arts

Visayans, in general, have an easy-going nature, and the Aklanons are certainly known for the relaxed attitude towards life. However, the laid-back and carefree disposition that one sees in these communities is just one aspect of the complex Aklanon personality. Beneath the people’s easygoing appearance lie a fierce independence manifested by the Aklanons’ ancestors who took part in various struggles for freedom. The Aklanons have a strong sense of ethnic pride and speak a distinct language called Akeanon.

The Aklanons pay tribute to their tradition of courage in battles. They have built shrines and preserved the battlegrounds that celebrate their province’s contribution to liberty. The Freedom Shrine in Kalibo was built to honor the heroic stand of Aklanons in the Second World War. Kalantiaw Shrine in Batan was erected in homage of the third chief of Panay, Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw, the promulgator of the so-called Code of Kalantiaw. The Ingus-Ingus Hill in Buruanga was once a watchtower used to alert the people of approaching Moro vintas. Agtawagon Hill in Balete was the last line of defense of the Filipino patriots during the Spanish-Filipino struggle and served as camp of Filipino soldiers and guerillas during the Second World War.

Nevertheless, the Aklanons are generally fun-loving, and gracious. The Ati-atihan manifests of their penchant for revelry. Held every third week of January, this festival is a combination of pagan and Christian elements. "Ati-atihan" means ‘to make like an Ati’, and as legend describes, this was what the Bornean datus did to show their oneness with the Negrito natives. They blackened their faces with soot, and threw a feast to celebrate their alliance. Thus, every year Atis came down from the mountains to renew this bond. Centuries later, Kalibo’s patron saint—the Santo Niño—miraculously saved them from Moro raiders. The Spanish friars combined the celebration of the Ati-atihan harvest rites with the Feast of the Santo Niño. The focal point of the festival is a religious procession that ends in the church where devotees kiss the image of the Santo Niño and vow to return the next year. Through the years, trappings have been added to enrich the festivity and become the major festival that it is today.

Trade and Investments

Aklan, a mere 45-minute plane ride from Manila, plays host to thousands of tourists every year, making it a top tourist destination in the Philippines. Its land area of 1,817.9 square kilometers is divided into 17 municipalities. The province's main agricultural products are rice, copra and corn while its marine resources include different species of fish, oysters and seaweeds. Inland fishing allows the culture of prawns, crabs and milkfish. Although the province has known reserves of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources,it is more acclaimed because of its world-class island beach in Boracay, exciting caves and colorful festivals. Aklan has a population of 410,539 individuals that enjoys a literacy rate of 91,7%. The labor force is estimated to be at 268,492 and mostly educated and skilled.

The province has a good road network consisting of 142,352 kilometers of national roads, four major seaports and two airports. The airport in Kalibo is served by three airline companies that operate routes to Manila while the airport in Caticlan is served by two airlines that offer regular flights to Manila. The Aklan Electric Cooperative distributes power to the province while the Local Water Utilities Administration provides water connections. Telecommunication facilities in Aklan provide telegraph and long distance telephone services. The local banking industry is composed of 16 commercial and government banks that include the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and 20 financial intermediaries.

The identified priority investment areas in Aklan include loom-weaving, gifts and houseware, metalcraft, cutflowers, clay-based products, furniture, food processing and tourism and resort development. Loom-weaving blends well with the province’s large pool of weavers skilled in the art of piña cloth production. It has a promising and expanding local and international market. Ventures in gifts and houseware, clay-based items, cutflowers, and furniture will benefit from Aklan’s skilled artisans and the abundance of quality raw materials. Both local and foreign markets in these products have been experiencing growth. The province has a large volume of agricultural production and its proximity to consumer markets could sustain a thriving food processing industry. While Aklan has an established tourist industry, additional investments are very much welcome in some non-traditional destinations. Aside from the world famous Boracay, other alluring and exciting destinations include caves packed with magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations, multi-basin waterfalls and stretches of white sand beaches.

Development Initiative Highlights: