Panay

Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 12,011 km2 (4,637 sq mi) and a total population of 4,669,037 as of 2024 census, similar to Sicily or Bali. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City of Iloilo is its largest settlement, with a total population of 473,728 inhabitants as of the 2024 census.^[1]

Etymology

In the past, Panay was called Simsiman. The community is located at the shores of the Ulian River and was linked by a creek. The creek provided salt to the Ati people as well as animals which lick the salt out of the salty water.^[1]

Precolonial era

No pre-Hispanic written accounts of Iloilo and Panay island exist today. Oral traditions, in the form of recited epics like the Hinilawod, have survived to a small degree. A few recordings of these epic poems exist.^[1]

The account of early Spanish explorers

During the early part of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the Spanish Augustinian Friar Gaspar de San Agustín, O.S.A. described Panay as: "…very similar to that of Sicily in its triangular form, as well as in it fertility and abundance of provision. It is the most populated island after Manila and Mindanao, and one of the largest (with over a hundred leagues of coastline).^[1]

Colonial rule (1565–1898)

The Spaniards landed in Batan (in Panay's northeastern territory, which is currently called Province of Aklan), in 1565. Following the Spanish conquest, the locals became Christians. Father Andres Urdaneta baptized thousands of Aklanons in 1565, and consequently these settlements were named Calivo.^[1]

World War II

On April 16, 1942, Imperial Japanese Army forces landed at San Jose de Buenavista, Capiz City (now the city of Roxas), and Iloilo City during World War II in order to secure Panay and the rest of Visayas. Guerrilla forces under Colonel Macario Peralta Jr. later liberated most of the island and eventually captured the city of Capiz on December 20, 1944. Peralta's forces therefore achieved the liberation from Japanese occupation of all of Capiz Province before Allied forces landed at Iloilo City on March 18, 1945, and mopped up the remaining Japanese forces in the island.^[1]

Modern period

Aklan (Akean) became an independent province through Republic Act No. 1414 signed by Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay on April 25, 1956, separating Aklan from Capiz. The original towns were Altavas, Balete, Batan, Banga, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Malay, Makato, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, and Tangalan, then all part of the province of Capiz.^[1]

Geography

Panay island is the sixth largest island in the Philippines by area, with a total land area of 12,011 km2 (4,637 sq mi), similar to Jamaica or Samar. Mount Madja-as is the highest point in Panay with an elevation of 2,117 metres (6,946 ft) above sea level, located in town of Culasi in the northern province of Antique. Central Panay Mountain Range is the longest and largest mountain range in the island with a total length of 170 km (110 mi) north-south.^[1]

Topography

The highest mountain is Mount Madja-as, at 6,946 ft (2,117 m).^[1]

Demographics

Panay is the most ethnically and linguistically diverse major island in the Visayas, being native to four vibrant non-indigenous ethnolinguistic groups (Hiligaynon/Ilonggo, Karay-a, Capiznon, Aklanon), and two indigenous groups (Suludnon, Ati) or minorities. However, the ethnic and linguistic boundaries within the island do not correspond to its administrative divisions. Only the province of Antique is monolingual, which only speaks Kinaray-a as its primary language.^[1]