Luscious Tangalan...

Tangalan is one of the fifth class municipalities in the province of Aklan. It is composed of fifteen (15) Barangays including Poblacion with the economy based primarily on farming and fishing.Lying 19 kilometers northeast of Kalibo, the capital town of the province of Aklan. It is bounded on the north by Sibuyan Sea, on south by Ibajay, on the northeast by Makato, on the southeast by Malinao and on the west by Ibajay.


Getting There:
The Municipality of Tangalan is located in the Western Visayas Region of the Philippines on the Island of Panay in the Province of Aklan. There are two airports in the Province of Aklan, located in Caticlan, the jump off point to Boracay Island, and in Kalibo, the capital city of Aklan. Cebu Pacific Airlines and Philippine Airlines both have daily flights to Kalibo from Manila and visa versa. Numerous shipping lines provide service between Manila and Caticlan or Dumaguit, New Washington, Aklan.
If coming from Cebu, there are daily flights to Iloilo City, Iloilo. Tangalan can be reached via Kalibo from Iloilo by bus, van, or jeepney. Asian Spirit Airlines offers daily flights between Cebu and Caticlan as well. Transasia also provides overnight service by boat to and from Cebu and Iloilo.
Tangalan is only 19 km or 30 minutes from Kalibo and 45 km or one hour from Caticlan via the provincial highway. Buses, vans, and jeepneys provide daily transportation to Tangalan from Kalibo and Caticlan. From the town proper, it is only a 10 to 15 minute tricycle ride (the common means of transportation) to Barangay Jawili. Tricycles also provide regular service to Barangays Afga, Dumatad, and Panayakan. Private vans are available for hire in Kalibo and Caticlan that can provide service to any point on Panay Island.


ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE PARISH CHURCH, Brgy. Poblacion, Tangalan, Aklan. A century old church designed with limestone wall similar to the beautiful Miag-ao Church of Iloilo. The church finished construction in 1889 after 28 years of forced labor. Women, as much as men and children were forced to join this so-called great polo and toiled from the beginning of sunrise to sunset carrying blocks of corals and limestone from the quarries in Brgy. Afga to the construction site in Brgy. Poblacion. The church building is among the oldest religious edifice in the province.




JAWILI FALLS, Brgy. Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan. - It is famous for its beautifully and naturally endowed seven water basins each of which are tiered and winding upwards by a distance of about 20 feet. Some of its basins are suitable for diving, the highest point may be reached at the height of 100 feet, shaped like an oval, a diameter of 240 feet and 12 feet in depth, its waters resembles like a small lake. The other basins are of similar shapes from 130- 240 sq. feet in diameter and a depth of 8-10 feet, unlike the sixth basin having a swimming area with a diameter of 540 sq. feet.



CAMPO VERDE - Situated along the border of the municipalities of Tangalan and Ibajay, and 28 kms west travelling distance from the capital town of Kalibo. Its altitude of 3,700 feet makes it ideal for retreat especially during summer. It is also so-called the hikers’ paradise which abound with thick tree plantations of green pines, mahogany, acacia, ipil-ipil, and butterfly trees that draws or entice visitors to trek deeper into the woods.


Afga Wave-Rock Formation
The wave-rock formation in Barangay Afga is a unique environmental phenomenon produced by centuries of wave action on a rocky shore. It is told that the wave-rock formation served as the quarry site for the distinct limestone and coral walls of the St. John Nepomucene Parish Church. The detrital type of sedimentary rock is stratified in colors yellow, grey, black, and reddish-brown. Dwarf mangroves have found a home amongst the numerous cracks and crevices.



Tangalan Marine Sanctuary
The 375 hectare Marine Sanctuary was established in 2003 within the municipal waters at Pungtod Reef. Pungtod Reef is approximately 150 hectares consisting of patch reefs and ranging in depth from 8 to 30 meters. Live coral coverage and fish density have been increasing since the sanctuary was implemented. The sanctuary hosts numerous species of hard and soft corals, sponges, shellfish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, oysters, and lobsters. There are a variety of colorful fish as well, including Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Damselfish, Parrotfish, Surgoenfish, Scorpionfish, and Sweetlips among others. There are also many species targeted for fishing, such as Fusilers, Groupers, Jacks, Snappers, and Emperor Breams. Endangered sea snakes and sea turtles are also found within the sanctuary, as well as dolphins and stingrays. The Tangalan Marine Sanctuary and Municipal Waters officially opened for SCUBA diving and snorkeling in May 2006. There are a variety of dive sites inside and outside of the sanctuary ranging from the patch coral communities of Pungtod Reef to the deep wall at Pangayawan Reef which drops to depth of over 100 meters.

Dive Sites
1 Pangayawan Reef
The reef crest is around 11 meters deep and then slopes to over 100 meters on the southwest end. This wall dive generally has high visibility, but often has strong currents as well. The local fishermen fear this reef due to the ever present reef sharks, but just can't stay away due to the abundance of fish.
2 Three R's Rock
This patch reef located outside of the Marine Sanctuary is called O-eot in the local dialect. Three R's Rock is a massive coral that is hundred of years old. The rock is surrounded by an excellent coral reef comprise of soft and hard corals and numerous fish. The reef crest lies at about 12 meters and slopes to around 15 meters on the edge.
3 Coral Garden
The Coral Garden is located in the heart of the Marine Sanctuary and is the gateway to the vibrant Pungtod Reef. The Coral Garden has 49 pyramid-type artificial reefs that are teaming with marine life. The dive generally starts around the artificial reefs and then proceeds into the seemingly endliess Pungtod Reef, and at only 8 meters dives easily last over an hour.
4 Marine Sanctuary
For those looking for deeper diving within the Marine Sanctuary then this site is for you. At around 18 meters, this dive is not too challenging, but the deeper waters harbour the biger fish. Large schools of Fusilers are common here as well.
5 Jawili Reef
This small reef is located near the shore and in areas almost completely covered with Acropora hard corals. This shallow reef is a great place for near shore snorkeling and beginner divers.

For more details, please feel free to post comments or email at www.aklantourism@yahoo.com.ph.

Thank you!:)