Kalibo

Kalibo is the capital of the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is a large town, with an airport that serves as the main gateway for Boracay, and a rich culture.

Understand
"Kalibo" derives from Akeanon sang kalibo (one thousand), referring to the thousands of Ati (Negritos) who attended the first Catholic Mass in Panay. It was also named as Akean, from another Akeanon word. Kalibo is also spelled as Calivo during the Spanish era.

The town was inhabited by Akeanons, a people believed to have originated from Borneo and sailed into Panay. When the Spaniards under Miguel Lopéz de Legaspi arrived, Kalibo has a population of about 2,000. Lopéz de Legaspi hired about 500 of the locals to help him in the conquest of what will become the Philippines.

Kalibo was then, part of Capiz. The town was where the Nine Martyrs of Aklan, a group of nine revolutionaries, are executed. Kalibo became part of Aklan after it was made its own province, and is made its capital. It has since expanded to become a large town, with a population of 80,000

Talk
Akeanons speak their own language Akeanon (or Aklanon), but Ilonggo is also spoken as it's the lingua franca in Panay. Another Visayan language, Kinaray-a, is also spoken here.

By plane
Kalibo is served by regular domestic flights from Manila and Cebu, and its airport has a runway long enough for widebody jets. It is a hub for three airlines, Cebu Pacific, Pan Pacific Airlines, and Philippines Air Asia, and also has international flights.


 * Air Asia - Busan, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai, Taipei.
 * Air Busan - Seoul-Incheon
 * Cebu Pacific - Hong Kong and Seoul-Incheon
 * China Eastern Airlines - Chengdu
 * Juneyao Airlines - Shanghai
 * Pan Pacific Airlines - Busan, Chengdu, Muan, Seoul-Incheon
 * Philippine Airlines (and PAL Express) - Beijing, Nanjing
 * T'Way Airlines - Seoul-Incheon, Daegu
 * Tigerair Taiwan - Taipei
 * Xiamen Air - Fuzhou

By van
There are UV Express vans from Caticlan, with fares starting from, and the trip lasting 1.5-2 hours. You can also catch a van from terminals in Iloilo City and Roxas City. Vans either terminate at the West Aklan Transport Terminal or at CityMall.

By jeepney
A jeepney to Kalibo from Caticlan port costs about and takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

Get around
Motorized tricycles will take you just about anywhere in Kalibo for a standard rate of, and can take up to 8 passengers. Foreigners or tourists are commonly asked for much higher rates.

See
Kalibo Mangrove Park is one of the places that must not be missed as well as the piña weaving industry.

Do

 * The renowned Ati-Atihan Festival is held every 3rd week of January, celebrated with frenetic dancing, and drinking to the wee hours of the morning.

Buy
Kalibo is famous for woven pineapple silk (piña) that is the darling of Philippine fabrics and the choice of the elites and the landed. The silk was the fabric used in making the barong that was worn by the leaders of the APEC countries during its conference in the Philippines in 1996.

Banana chips, coconut products, dried fish, mangoes, rambutan, lansones.

Eat
During the Ati-Atihan Festivals and the run-up to Aklan Day, food festivals abound where seafood, and copious amount of pork and beef are grilled and served al fresco at the town's main streets.

Drink
Alcohol is cheap like everywhere in the Philippines and is very much readily available at supermarkets, convenience stores, corner stores, and literally alongside the road. The coldest beer in Kalibo -- sometimes literally frozen -- is at Lakapaya, an eatery two blocks from the city plaza which serves pilsner for ), along with arroz caldo (rice soup) at the same price. For some local brew, tuba (fermented coconut wine) is popular amongst the locals (usually in far-flung barangays) and might be worth the taste if you are offered one.

Fruit juices are widely available and made fresh owing to the abundance and proximity of fruit-producing provinces including Aklan.



Sleep
Due to the boomtown character of Kalibo, there is a shortage of places to stay in. Department of Tourism has devised a Homestay Program for tourists where visitors are welcomed into local homes for a fee. Please ask the Philippine Department of Tourism office in your area when planning such.

Connect
Local Police tel. 166

Stay safe
Kalibo is relatively safe - although cases of pickpockets and an occasional brawl arises especially during the Ati-atihan festival rush where people from other provinces flood the town. Kalibonhons are naturally peaceful and religious folks.

Like most Filipino cities, Kalibo is home to many street children, who may ask you for money (especially if you look western) with their palms out. Any money you give them may be taken by their parents or spent on drugs or cigarettes. If you really want to help them, buy them a nutritious meal or, better yet, a toothbrush and toothpaste (some sari-saris stores sell them). You can also donate to an aid organization instead.

Stay healthy

 * Panay Health Care MPC Hospital, Osmena Avenue, +63362683486, http://panayhealthcare.ph/, Open 24 hours
 * Asia Pacific Medical Center - Aklan, Judge Martelino Rd, Andagao, http://asiapacificmedicalcenter-aklan.com/, +639190963082, Open 24 hours
 * Asia Pacific Medical Center - Aklan, Judge Martelino Rd, Andagao, http://asiapacificmedicalcenter-aklan.com/, +639190963082, Open 24 hours

Cope

 * Bureau of Immigration Kalibo Office. ABL Sports Complex Provincial Capitol.