Kalibo is known as one of the gateways to Boracay island. Bigger than the Caticlan airport, which is nearer the tiny island, the Kalibo International Airport can accommodate bigger aircrafts and chartered flights from Taiwan and South Korea.<\/p>\n
While most tourists that pass through Kalibo only stay long enough to board a bus or van to Caticlan, there are those that head to this municipality every third weekend of January for the ati-atihan festival.<\/p>\n
I’ve done those two, so when there was an opportunity to stay with a friend who lives in Kalibo, I quickly grabbed it.
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\nChris, our host, took us to Bakhawan Eco Park, an eco-tourism project of the local community that spans 170 hectares in Baranggay New Buswang. It’s just a short drive from the town center. There are no jeeps or multicabs that come this way, so best to ride a tricycle. Entrance to the eco park is Php 15 per person, while cottage rental, if needed, costs Php 100. <\/p>\n
It was an 800 meter stroll on a bamboo walkway raised about 3 to 4 feet off the ground, through the mangrove forest. The bamboo were already showing signs of age, but were still quite stable. You’d have to watch where you step at some point though. It was a pleasant walk, with the trees providing shade and the gentle breeze from the sea cooling you off as you near the end of the path. There are 2 rest stops along the path, with cottages at the end for picnics. <\/p>\n
Chris tells us that the landscape in the swamp has changed. Typhoon Frank’s path through the Visayas left Kalibo with a terrible mudslide that affected the town for over a week. Most of the mud flowed out to the mangrove forest. Where there used to be a beach and water, now only has mud. <\/p>\n
Despite the distance of the sea from the cottages, we were still able to appreciate the relative serenity of the place (there were a bunch of teenagers singing Justin Beiber songs in the cottage right next to us). After munching on some ban mi<\/em> that Chris’ aunt packed for us, we moved on to unpack, pose and take pictures of our dolls. Since it was a weekday, there were hardly anybody in the place — no busy bodies getting in between our lenses and collection.<\/p>\n Next in the itinerary was the Aklan State University campus in the town of Banga. It’s approximately 15-minute drive from Kalibo, or one multi-cab ride (just ask the driver to drop you off at the ASU gate). The university lies at the foot of the Manduyog Hill, a pilgrimage site owing to the life-size stations of the cross that line the 750-meter path that winds around the hill all the way to the summit, where there’s a huge cross and a chapel.<\/p>\n
\nFollowing the path up Manduyog Hill<\/em><\/div>\n