life in these islands

People laugh when they hear my town's name Carles (when pronounced, it sounds literally mean no car) The farthest town in the northeastern tip of Panay Island, it has under its jurisdiction, 26 islands and islets with long stretch of white sand shores and cool crystal clear water.

Unique in many ways, one can't  imagine how life in these islands must be where majority of its residents depends on fishing as their main source of living. Living in extremes, small time fishermen live in shanties while the well off big fishing boat operators in concrete fully furnished houses.

"There's no place like home". A typical house in fishing villages of Carles.

Most of the islands don't have electricity and limited potable water source. For the economically well off households in these rural areas depends on generator sets for their electrification.

Despite of these material inadequacy, they have their own conventional ways of doing things, reasoned attitudes and actions, tastes, leisure activities, cultural interests, moral standards, and economic levels. It is difficult to classify simply because it is remarkably assorted, one of a kind in its own right.

Tangke

                                   The famous Tangke

Island hopping and sight seeing in Carles is not complete if you cant take a plunge in the cool crystal clear water of "Tangke"

Tangke in Hiligaynon means tank or a container.  Just like its name sake, Tangke is compares to a container with high rising karst stones around it. During high tide, the water in Tangke also rises, just like a tank being filled with seawater. On low tide, the water also recedes.

                                The entrance of Tangke.

Tangke is located in the Southern part of Gigantes Sur, Carles, Iloilo. The only way to get there is through boat and the best time is during high tide.

The Tangke during low tide

The Mystery of Gigantes Islands

Gigantes group of islands is composed of two big islands, Gigantes Norte and Gigantes Sur and ten (10) islets namely Balbagon, Cabugao Daku, Cabugao Gamay, Waydahon, Bantigue, Bulubadiang, Gigantillo, Gigantona, Ojatras and Gakitgakit.

These islands is approximately 14 nautical miles from Bancal Fish Port, Barangay Bancal, Carles (mainland Panay) or an hour minimun travel time.

Blessed with unique natural beauty, these islands have long strecth of white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and one of its kind landscape.

                                         Balbagon Island

                                         Bantigue Island

Gigantillo Island

Apart from the geographical splendor, Gigantes is also loaded with enchanting stories. One of the most popular stories that was handed down verbally for generations was the tale of the Golden Ship. Other equally famous stories are the account of the Langub Princess; the three colored marbles; the story of the mysterious wreath; the mystery of the giant coffins; the story of the two headed snake; and the belief that al the caves of Gigantes Islands connects to Pilar, Capiz and Masbate.    

The way to Carles

My hometown is 146 kilometers away from Iloilo City, the provincial capital.  It is the farthest northeastern town of the Province of Iloilo (it is located in the northeastern tip of Panay Island).  Going to Carles would mean to some as a something to bear or put up with.

Aside from its distance from the provincial capital, people always laugh when they hear that the name of my hometown is CARLES (when pronounced, its sounds literally means "no car"). Truly, Carles was in scarcity of land transportation a decade ago, but due to improved road network that homonym is now a myth.


In the 40's it would take eight (8) hours more or less to travel by passenger bus from Carles to Iloilo City.  At present, it takes barely three hours. Passenger jeepneys make a trip to Balasan (the nearest town, 13 kilometers away) and back every 15 minutes interval. A bus company have a regular trip to Iloilo and vice versa every hour.  Vans also transport passengers to and from the remotest barangays. 


Schedule of trips from Iloilo to Carles:

1st trip       3:30 AM at Tanza, Iloilo City Terminal
2nd trip      5:30 AM at Tagbak Terminal
3rd trip       7:30 AM and every hour onwards
Last Trip     6:00 PM

Carles to Iloilo

1st trip       3:30 AM at Bancal Terminal
2nd trip      5:30 AM and every hour onwards
Last Trip     4:00 PM

Fare varies on whether it is an ordinary or aircon bus at Php 160 to 180 respectively.


Crossing the seas to the islands is not difficult nowadays, but it is hazardous during stormy weather when the sea is rough.  Motorized medium sized bancas, locally referred to a pumpboats provide transportation from the mainland to the islands of Carles.  Some pumpboats ply from Bancal, Carles to Masbate as well.

inspiring PAST

Scanning through the yellowed pages of a typecript written by Andrada, I was facinated with the fact that Carles, a far flung municipality and the native home of my father has a very interesting and colorful past. 


Before the said written chronological account of past events and development of Carles, it is believed that the islands of Gigantes have been the seat of ancient civilization as manifested by the burial and ceremonial jars excavated in the area.

       

Ceremonial Jars excavated at Gigantes Islands. It wascarbon
dated to be during the metal age or 200 BC

Wooden coffin also found in Gigantes Islands. It is believed tobe the casket of the Giant of the Island.

The recorded chonological list of historical events begun in 1846.

1846     Francisco Arriola from Jolo found {unta Bolokawe and organized the early settles known as Bolokawe settlement.

October 15, 1850     Francisco Arriola and settlers celerated their first Thanksgiving Day.  Arriola was chosen as the first Teniente del Barrio.

1855     Barrio Bolokawe settlers transferred to Barrio Badiang ( Barangay Badiang is a flat lowland where wild giant gabi variety of plant was abundant)now Barangay Poblacion. 

January 1860     Arriola and settlers petitioned the change of status of Barrio Badiang into a municipality from the Spanish Governor of Iloilo, Jose Maria Dominguez Carles.

          Carles was turned to pueblo or municipality by virtue of an executive proclaimation of the the Governor General in Manila. The people of Barrio Badiang out of their gratitude to Governor for his benevolence approved and presented another petition to change the name Badiang to Carles in honor of the Governor.  This petition was approved, thus Carles became a town of Iloilo.

July 1, 1886  Carles was inaugurated as a new Pueblo and Alejandro Buaya was the first Gobernadorcillo del Pueblo.

1892      By operation of Maura Law, Pueblo de Carles was changed into Municipio de Carles.  The first elected Municipal Captain was Luceno Golingan.

November 1898  The title of Capitan Municipal was changed to Presidente Local.

1901 - 1903    First Presidente Local was ex-Capitan Municipal Luceno Golingan.  He was the last executive of Carles before Carles was transferred to Balasan on January 1, 1904.

1904 - 1919     Demotion of Carles to a status of a barrio of Balasan municipality.  Carlesanons abandoned their town and migrated to other places.  Carles then became a "ghost" town for 16 years.

          Few energetic sons of Carles took part in its administration in Balasan led by Casimero Andrada and Numeriano Bartolome.

          Carles Separation Movement from Balasan was headed by Casimero Andrada together with other Carlesanons namely:

• Luceno Golingan
• Tiburcio Betita
• Carpio Borgonia
• Anacleto Bellosillo
• Moises Enojas
• Catalino Solis
• Liberato Guillen
• Tomas Satiago
• Venancio Zarceno
• Bartolome Dionaldo
• Fabian Deanon
• Fruto Bartolome
• Jose Abdallah
• Gerardo Josue
• Donato Solis
• Fortunato Acolentava
• Juana Golingan Villanueva
• Felix Bullo
• Filomeno Enojas

January 1, 1920       Carles was finally restored to its Municipal status. Federico Ramos was appointed as the first Municipal Preseident in Carles.

Linabog etcetera

Linabog nga Lipot or Karatungan (sting ray and porcupine fish) is a famous Carlesanon dish.  Its basic ingredients are coconut milk, chile pepper, peppercorn, laurel leaf, ginger, garlic, onions, salt and porcupine fish. 

 

KARATUNGAN or porcupine fish

By the looks of a porcupine fish, it seems impossile to believe it could be eaten or edible because of its spikes.  Cooking it to be the main ingredient of the linabog means undergoing a labourious task of removing the spikes after the fish has been blanched.

Here's how to cook LINABOG the Carlesanon way. 

1.  Blanche the porcupine fish and remove the spikes;
2.  Cut the fish into desired sizes;
3.  Prepare the spices (onion, garlic, ginger, peppercorn, bay leaf and coconut  milk)
4.  Sautee the fish and add a little water
5.  Allow to boil and add coconut milk, pepper and salt.
6.  Simmer for about 10 minutes or longer to let the oil of coconut milk appear.
  
Your LINABOG is now ready to serve.

Welcome to the Beaches and Resorts of Carles

For all the persons who are wishing a one of a kind vacation, whether it will be a romantic getaway or just escape the hustle and bustle of city life, add the part of fun here in Carles.    There are a number resorts overlooking the sea with beaches with gray sand, beaches with pink sand, those that seem to go on forever without any sign of human life, and others that hum with activity.

Below is  list of Carles' resorts and beach spots where you can unwind and have the great time of your life at the same time proving that beachgoing experience doesn’t have to always look like what you see in commercials.         (www.discovercarles.page4.me) Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. Located at Barangay Guinticgan, Carles, Iloilo.  Though currently on sale, the resort is still operational.             Dos Hijas Beach Resort.  Adjacent to Blue Lagoon Resort, Dos Hijas has several rooms that could accommodate a maximum of 100 visitors.  It has a pavilion for social gatherings. Reception Area of Dos Hijas Beach Resort Jeanette and Lovisa Resort. This resort has a two room building for overnight stay and open hut cottages for picinic goers.It is located at Barangay Guinticgan, Carles, Iloilo Shangrila Beach Resort. Located at Barangay Barosbos, Carles, Iloilo, it has two function rooms for social gatherings and several aircon and fan rooms for overnight stay. Palm Garden Beach Resort.  Just beside Shangrila, Palm Garden is famous for its nice landscape and pavillions for beach weddings and other gatherings.  The resort also has 4 bamboo and one concrete huts for those who love to stay overnight.   Round Pavilion of Palm Garden Resort Beach Head Resort. A kilometer away from Poblacion Carles, the resort has 10 rooms that could accomodate a a number of visitors. It has a pavillion for meetings and other functions and a videoke bar to while away time.  It also offers island hopping to several islands of the Municipality. Open Pavilion of Beach Head Resort Punta Beach Resort.  Located at Barangay Punta, Carles, Iloilo, the resort has a dormitory type accomodation, a large pavilion for social functions and a number of nipa huts for picnic goers. Nipa Huts for picnic goers Asluman Homestay (Gigantes Hideaway).  Enjoying the sun and sights of Carles would take a day or two. While in the islands, its best to stay at Gigantes Hideaway.  It has two rooms for overnight stay.