Beliefs in New Washington Aklan

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a feast held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the island and town of Kalibo, Aklan in thePhilippines. The name "Ati-Atihan" means "to be like Aetas" or "make believe Ati's." Aetas were the primary settlers in the islands according to history books. They too are the earliest settlers of Panay Island where the province of Aklan is situated.^[1]

The festival consists of tribal dance, music, accompanied by indigenous costumes and weapons, and parade along the street. Christians, and non-Christians observe this day with religious processions. It has inspired many other Philippine Festivals including the Sinulog Festival of Cebu and Dinagyang of Iloilo, both adaptations of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival.

The Town of New Washington also joins in celebrating this enormous fiesta where the people enjoys the "sadsad" along the New Washington Plaza with some New Washington fire dancers performing together while having the street dancing.

Recreations of New Washington Town

Here are some of the projects of the New Washington town which made it more beautiful and productive:

  The feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary  is held on the second Saturday of October .

For free means of leisure and entertainment, residents go to the town plaza, which houses the Jaime Cardinal L. Sin Park, the Rizal Park, the Municipal Children's Park and the Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex.

photo of Cardinal Lachica Sin Monument in New Washington Plaza

photo of the beautiful New Washington Plaza

Manuel C. Peralta Memorial Community Center

                          Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex of New Washington

Events are held in Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex of New Washington

Search For Bb. Kakaibang Lahi 2012

Search for Miss Pacto de Sangre

Karanza sa Banwa it New Washington Aklan

People of New Washington loves to watch the Search for Miss Pacto de Sangre, Karanza sa Banwa and Bb Kakaibang Lahi where you can see different faces marked which makes it people happy and enjoy every moment with smiles in their faces.

Family Concerns and Practices

How many children do they have?
-most of the families in New Washington has 3-4 number of children.
  Do they practice family planning
-couples that are more aware of the situation nowadays pracice family planning.The other couples don't because they are not that educated with regard to this that's why they produce more babies.
  Are they contented about their present situations
-there are some saying that they are still contented even in thehard times because they still eat three times a day and that they are more greatfull for having the gift of life---happiness.
What age do they usually marry?
-nowadays, there are some people that gets pregnant first before marriage,usually the teens. But as I ask the older ones, they that the average age that people of New Washington decide to settle is about 22-25.
Are they extended family? Up to how many families live in one roof?
-Some. But more of them have their own houses and ot depending on their parents but still having in touch with them.

Common and Uncommon Practices of people of New Washington

With its coastline location and vast rice fields, the chief industries in New Washington are fishing and rice farming.

hila-hila in Tambak, New Washington Beach

rice farming in Mabilo, New Washington, Aklan

These are some some photos on how they grow oysters(suba)

 oyster fattening

this is one of the livelihood of the people of New Washington, Aklan

Potential Tourist Spots

Sampaguita Gardens Resort

Aklan Sampaguita Gardens Resort, Inc. is the brainchild of Samuel John Butcher, an American artist and creator of Precious Moments artworks that promote messages of loving, caring and sharing. Mr. Butcher, who owns Precious Moments Park in Carthage, Missouri, put his plans into action in December 2001 and in June 2003, the resort began commercial operations.

Today, Sampaguita Gardens is recognized as a landmark in the Travel & Trade Industry, and provides employment for hundreds of Aklanons as well as training opportunities for students not just from Aklan and nearby provinces but from as far as northern Luzon and southern Mindanao.

This sprawling 2.6 hectare multi-awarded boutique resort offers world-class facilities, amenities and services and is recognized as a landmark in the Travel & Trade Industry. It is home to Jojo’s Christmas Cottage, the first all-year round Christmas store in the Philippines.

The name Sampaguita was chosen because of three reasons: (1) it is the national flower of the Philippines; (2) Sam was fascinated by the little children who sold these flowers in the streets of Metro Manila; and (3) it bore the first three letters of his name.

The resort is an attraction in itself, and true to its Vision, is focused on a dynamic and motivated organization that continues to grow and prosper as it provides world-class amenities and services to an ever-growing clientele.

The Mission of Sampaguita Gardens is to operate a world-class resort that values customer satisfaction at every encounter, providing a seamless experience from reservation to departure, and, cognizant of its role as a good corporate citizen, is committed to its employees as it moves forward to achieve superior return on shareholder investment.

The sprawling 2.6 hectare property features 48 Guestrooms and Suites; three restaurants; Convention Facilities; Business Center; Spa and Fitness Center; 2 swimming pools; Circus Rides; a 43 Ft. Aquarium; Oriental Garden, Precious Moments Gallery; the Samuel J. Butcher Mansion with its vast antique collection and stunning pieces of bric-a-bracs and other Orientalia; Precious Moments Meditation Chapel and Jojo’s Christmas Cottage, a Victorian cottage showcasing Precious Moments collectibles and the unique JCC Museum of Christmas.

Sampaguita Gardens has become famous for celebrating Christmas all year round. It is currently being marketed as more than just a destination but an experience.

Everyday is Christmas at Sampaguita Gardens

  This is the one liner marketing of the resort that you will surely remember every time you will hear it name because of Jojo's Christmas Cottage. Sampaguita Gardens has become famous for celebrating Christmas all year round. It is currently being marketed as more than just a destination but an experience.

 JOJO's CHRISTMAS COTTAGE - A three-storey structure including the attic, with a very Western interior and majestically seats at the center of the resort is considered to be the most popular attraction in the resort and have served at its landmark since it started commercial operation in June 2003. Considered to be the only all-year round Christmas Store in the country, it manufactures and distributes Precious Moments dolls.

If the structure of the cottage looks interesting outside, it's even more amazing and interesting inside. You will really feel the spirit of Christmas because every corner of it you will see all sizes of Christmas tree and decors plus the real Santa Claus.
         On the first floor you will find Hundreds, if not thousands, of Precious Moments dolls. These dolls with teardrop shaped eyes are for sale. You'll be surely amazed with the huge collection and with the different variety of this dolls.

  On the second floor you will  be greeted "Merry Christmas" in different languages posted along the stairs. You will also find here collection of  Precious Moment "belen" and Christmas Small Village.

More of these collection and toys will be found on the third floor. For only 10 pesos (entrance fee for the Christmas Museum) you will be transported to Christmas land inside Jojo's Cottage. You will feel like a child again who's always excited for Christmas and Santa. You'll also be amazed with doll and toy collections. 

Maria Mercedes Resort

For a rustic setting 'far from the maddening crowd' there is Maria Mercedes Resort. It is located at Malogo about two kilometers away from the town proper. It is named after the mother and mother in law of the owner. Here, you will get pampered in a way, only a loving mother can.

 

Isla Kapispisan

Across the Lagatik river to the south, 20 minutes boat ride from the town proper is the Isla Kapispisan Mangrove Reforestation Aquasilviculture and Eco-tourism Project. 

It won First Place in the Regional Development Council (RDC) and National Development Authority (NEDA) Search for Best Public Sector Project Award in Region 6. It is under the Aklan State University (ASU) College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (CFMS), New Washington campus. 

 The project hope to reforest the wetlands and bring back marine resources in the area. It is one big step to help the environment and have a positive impact on climate change.Here you will see mangrove trees just starting to grow and others in different stages of development.

 The development of Isla Kapispisan uses various approaches and strategies including — crafting a shared vision, charting the intervention, mobilizing people and enhancing participation, partnership and collaboration, massive mangrove planting, organizing fisherfolks, training for responsible fishing, out-sourcing, research and technology information diffusion and modeling, environment education and advocacy through eco-tourism and pro-ductivity enhancement.

 It serves as a convergence demo-learning area for the fishery sectors to recreate a wholesome coastal resource environment.

Leisure Time

The municipality has an abundance of beach resorts located near the shores from Mabilo to Dumaguit. The past decade saw an influx of inland resorts, which became a hit among Aklanon tourists. The inland resorts in the town are mostly in Poblacion, examples of which are Sampaguita Gardens Resort, Maria Mercedes Resort and Frogs Hollow Resort. For free means of leisure and entertainment, residents go to the town plaza, which houses the Jaime Cardinal L. Sin Park, the Rizal Park, the Municipal Children's Park and the Municipal Auditorium and Sports Complex.

Restaurants are also present in the municipality. Among the more famous are Oriental Flavors (fine-dining) and Poolside Restaurant at Sampaguita Gardens, the Residence River Restaurant (Seafoods) in Tambak and the unnamed restaurant in the heart of Poblacion, which offers well-loved Filipino dishes by the Nanay Puring.

New Washington delicacies, specialties and products

 New Washington has a lot of offerings when it comes to food. You can order the regular yummy crabs and prawns. 

We have also another snack locally called "suman". The flour is made from a native palm called "ambolong". The flour is locally called "okao". The flour is mixed with grated young coconut and sugar. It is the oil from the coconut that act as the catalyst in cooking. It take special skill to wrapped these in banana leaves. The secret is to heat the leaves just enough (eahob) since banana leaves tear easily without the heat treatment. It has a tacky texture. These are great for snacks. It is similar to the Ilocos "tupig" young coconut mixed in glutinous rice but in this case broiled.

There is also another worm locally called "sasing" a marine worm dug from the inter tidal zone of the Lagatik river. It is eaten raw. These worms are not for the squeamish and the faint hearted. In a sense they are exotic and for other people are taboo. It is mentioned here for their uniqueness and has been part of local food culture.

Of course we have the regular glutinous rice (malagkit) cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in coconut fronds. Locally it is called "ibos". We can also find these in other part of the country, other giving it a twist of their own usually in the way it is wrapped.

 For the adventurous (shade of Fear Factor) you may want to experience eating a local delicacy called "tamiluk". It is a wood worm that feed on dead mangrove trees. 

Beliefs In New Washington Aklan

There is a drink popular in the Visayas (Philippines) called "tuba". This drink is exotic, a form of coconut wine. Fresh "tuba" has wine like smell but milder (compared to red wine from fermented grapes) and taste like one but sweeter. Although sweetness and sourness I would say depend on the age of the coconut tree and other factors. There is however a belief that the taste of "tuba" depend on the "tuba" gatherer's skill (manang-gite) raising it to an art.

"Tuba" is derived from the sap drawn from the peduncle of the coconut tree using a very sharp scythe. The peduncle is slice thin {1 to 2 mm., thick and 2 to 3 slices) across the length to expose fresh peduncle everyday until it is used up. The slicing is done everyday since the peduncle dies up at the end. Slicing also increases the production of sap.As much as a liter of sap can be drawn from each peduncle in a twenty four hour period, but this may depend again on the age of the coconut tree.

Local folks drink it as a beverage which can make you red in the face, tipsy and mildly inebriated.The effect is comparable to drinking beer but may vary from person to person. The alcohol content is of interest to pursue. "Tuba" do not keep long. This is because it readily ferments to vinegar. One to two days old "tuba" is sour to the taste. "Tuba" is enjoyed fresh from the coconut tree, just like freshly baked bread from the oven.

There was this American expatriate (a Richardson) who love "tuba" so much he has steady supply everyday. "Tuba"is a drinking experience.

Another way of enjoying "tuba" is by putting one raw chicken egg in one glass of "tuba", stir well and drink. It makes a potent brew.