Roxas City, the capital of Capiz, is located at the north eastern tip of Panay Island. Dubbed as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, milkfish, crabs, oysters and shrimps are grown in abundance. Savour the flavours of fresh seafoods which are made tastier by the network of brackish waters that thread around the province.

The Capizeños, as people from this province are called, are of Malay extraction and a crossbreed of various influences drawn from over four centuries of Spanish and American colonization and trading contacts with Chinese and Indian merchants.  Spanish relations began in the 1560’s when the Spanish Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi left Cebu and sailed by the river banks of Panay.  Here he established the second Spanish settlement after Cebu in the town of Pan-ay and eventually converted many natives into Christianity.

The American forces took control of Panay island in December 1899 and their influences can be seen in the formation of liberal education and Protestant denomination.  Two of the city’s educational institutions recently celebrated their centennial.

The Capizeños are known for their hospitality and religiosity. For a number of Capizeños, their day begins with a mass at the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Panay Island.  IEvery December, the city celebrates its most awaited festival, Sinadya sa Halaran, which means “joy in sharing”, to commemorate the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.  The merriment includes a Grand Dancing Parade, a fluvial parade along Panay river or Prosesyon sa Suba, a seafood fair and dazzling fireworks display among others. The festival also heralds the start of the christmas lights display on floating rafts along the river.

Foodies would love the month long Diwal or angel’s wings festival every July.   This exotic shellfish, scientifically known as pholas orientalis, once harvested almost into extinction, is now found in great abundance after government intervention.