Guimaras is located southeast of Panay and northwest of Negros Islands in Western Visayas, Philippines. The island is separated from Panay by the 1.5 nautical miles long Iloilo Strait and acts as a natural breakwater for Iloilo. The 6 nautical mile Guimaras Strait likewise separates the province from Negros. Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992.
It is an island province and has an area of only 60,457 hectares (604.57 sq. km). Guimaras is composed of five (5) municipalities and 98 barangays.
Municipalities:
1. Buenavista
2. Nueva Valencia
3. Jordan
4. San Lorenzo
5. Sibunag
Jordan is the capital town of Guimaras. Hiligaynon is the native dialect of the island.
Anchored on agriculture for its economy, the people of Guimaras developed their livelihood from the bounties of the land and its surrounding seas. Farm or agri-tourism destination is being set by the Guimaras for its definitive tourism image in Western Visayas by diversifying its agriculture and introducing tourism related activities supplementing or enhancing agricultural areas.
Its major agricultural products are palay, coconut, mango, cashew, vegetable, citrus, camote, corn, cassava, legumes, livestock, poultry and fishery products.
Guimaras is well known for its agricultural crops, particularly mangoes, where some 50,000 of these trees are planted.
The Guimaras Island is famous for producing the sweetest mangoes in the world, after Pakistan. Guimaras mangoes are reportedly served at the White House and Buckingham Palace.
Guimaras' largest event of the year is The Manggahan Festival (the Mango Festival). The varieties of mangoes produced are also best for making dried mangoes, jam and other delicacies.
The Manggahan Festival is an identity festival of the Province of Guimaras celebrated every second or third week of April for the sustained promotion of the Mango Industry. It culminated in a grand showcase of cultural festivals in a bid to show the world that there is more to Guimaras than its sweet, fiber and pest-free mangoes.
When in Guimaras you can visit the following interesting places:
For Beach Bums
1. Ave Maria Islet - a whitesand beach islet located in Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras.
2. Gallopa's Beach - good for excursion only and no overnight cottages available, it is located at Tando, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
3. Marine Reserved Area - located in the beach area of Brgy. Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras, it is the municipality's project area for the preservation of endangered species. The sea turtles or pawikan, after being hatched, are cared for in aquarium-nursery and after few months are released in the sea. The fully grown turtles periodically return to the beach during mating seasons and lay their eggs in the sand.
4. Sea Turtle Temporary Feeding and Caring Station - located at Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras. It a community project managed by the Brgy. Lawi Tourism Council. It aims to preserve the endangered Olive Ridley & Hawksbill sea turtles or pawikan that are nesting on the beach area of Barangay Lawi. The station accepts donation from visitors for maintenance purposes.
5. Tiniguiban Islet (Pulang Pasayan) - located in Pandaraonan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. A 1,544 square meter islet right in front of SEAFDEC Igang Marine Sub-Station. This is where rare red shrimps may make appearance inside the pool during high tide.
6. Tatlong Pulo Beach - located at Sinapsapan, Jordan, Guimaras. Islets which boast of its lush, greenery, white sand beaches, private coves, rich and colorful marine life and unique inland terrain.
For Nature Trippers and Adventure Seekers
1. Macopo Falls - located at Sta. Teresa, Jordan, Guimaras
2. Sad-Sad Falls - located at Sta. Teresa, Jordan, Guimaras
3. Labi-Labi Spring - located at Daragan, Buenavista Guimaras
4. Guimaras Adventure Park - located in Iaguisoc, Jordan, Guimaras. A park where one could experience the adrenalin rush as he/she battles with other players in paintball, war games, rappelling, target shooting and horseback riding.
For Spelunkers
1. Biri Cave - located in Poblacion, Jordan, Guimaras. The entry passage is so low that one has to crawl to enter.
2. Bucoy Cave - located in Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras. Inside in the semi-darkness, one is greeted by phosphorescent glow of crystalline rocks or quartz which resembles like twinkling fireflies.
3. Buho Ramirez Cave - located in Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras. Studies show that it could be a good source of spring water that can supply 2 barangays with 429 households.
4. Bul-ugan Tapi Cave - located in Tacay, Buenavista
5. Capitoguan Cave - located in Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras. It is considered as bats sanctuary.
6. Daliran Cave - located at Old Poblacion, Buenavista, Guimaras. It is accessible by jeep or by tricycle from Buenavista wharf in 10-15 minutes.
7. Higante Cave (Giant Cave) - located in Espinosa, Jordan, Guimaras. According to legend this cave was used by a giant hence it was called higante cave.
8. Hurot-Hurot Cave - located in Espinosa, Jordan, Guimaras.
9. Kuweba Tudyong (formerly known as San Marcos Cave) - located in Lucmayan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
10. Pirate Cave - located in Lawi, Jordan. Natives tell it's the pirates' secret hiding place and storage of their pirated goods.
For the Religious
1. Balaan Bukid Shrine - located in Balcon Melliza, Jordan, Guimaras. This was discovered in 1956 by an Italian priest.
2. Consoler's of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - located in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. It is a 7-hectare monastery for men and women, established in 2000.
3. Holy Family - located in Tamborong, San Lorenzo, Guimaras. You'll find a Grotto of Holy Family and life size Station of the Cross.
4. Navalas Church - located in Navalas, Buenavista, Guimaras. Built in 1880-1885, it is the oldest existing Roman Catholic Church in the province of Guimaras that has survived the ravages of time.
5. Our Lady of the Philippines-Trappist Monastery - located in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. Established in 1972, it is only men's monastery in the Philippines run by Cistercian Order of Strict Observance.
How to Get There
From Manila, you can fly to Iloilo (estimated cost of Php3,000++, round trip, one hour). You can also opt for a bus trip (estimated cost of Php875++ per head, air-conditioned bus and boat fare, 17 hours plus).
Iloilo City is the primary gateway to Guimaras. From Iloilo City, there are two main jump-off points to Guimaras, which includes Parola (for ferries bound for Buenavista, Guimaras) and Ortiz Port (for ferries bound for Jordan, Guimaras).
Parola Port
From Iloilo Airport, take a cab and ask to be taken to Parola which is the jump-off point for Buenavista. From there you can board a motorboat (Php10-20 per head, 15-20 minutes) going to Buenavista Wharf. The island is serviced by ferryboat or motorboat from 6am to 6pm on a daily basis.
For assistance you can inquire at the Office of the Tourism Guest Assistance Center upon arriving, it is just located beside the gate entrance. You can call them at (033) 580-83-85 (Mayor's Office/Information). You can also visit the Buenavista Municipal Town Hall by riding a jeepney, van or tricycle.
Ortiz Port
From Iloilo Airport, take a cab and asked to be taken to Ortiz Port located in Ortiz St., Iloilo City near the University of Iloilo. Ortiz Port is the busiest jump off point to Guimaras, it is where ferries bound for Jordan are stationed. Tourists usually transit Ortiz Port to go to popular beaches in Nueva Valencia town.
Another option is to take the RORO
The island of Guimaras is only 10-15 minutes (RORO) away from Iloilo City. Hail a cab to go to the Iloilo River Wharf in Muelle Loney. Take a ferryboat from Iloilo to Jordan, the capital of Guimaras.
The daily Iloilo to Guimaras trips are as follows:
• 4 trips a day from Mondays to Fridays - 8:30am, 10:30am, 3:00pm, 5:30pm
• 2 trips a day from Saturdays to Sundays - 8:30am, 5:30pm
Please take note that schedules may subject to change without prior notice, so it is better to contact the following numbers for more information: (F.F Cruz Shipping Corporation)
• Lapuz, Iloilo City - (033) 337-1046 / 336-9329 / 336-4195
• Jordan, Guimaras - (033) 581-1701
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photos/source/reference: guimaras.gov.ph | en.wikipedia.org
