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Kalibo
Municipality
Municipality of Kalibo
From top, left to right: Museo It Akean Kalibo Poblacion Ati-Atihan Festival reveler Kalibo Cathedral
FlagSeal
Etymology: Calivo
Nickname: Ati-Atihan Town
Map of Aklan with Kalibo highlighted
OpenStreetMap
KaliboLocation within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°42′26″N 122°22′12″E / 11.7072°N 122.37°E / 11.7072; 122.37
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas
Province	Aklan
District	1st district
Founded	November 3, 1571
Barangays	16 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Juris B. Sucro
• Vice Mayor	Cynthia C. Dela Cruz
• Representative	Carlito S. Marquez
• Municipal Council	Members Mark Ace L. Bautista Mark V. Quimpo Phillip Y. Kimpo Jr. Daisy S. Briones Buen Joy V. French Matt Aaron P. Guzman Ketchie F. Luces Augusto C. Tolentino
• Electorate	54,660 voters (2022)
Area
• Total	50.75 km (19.59 sq mi)
Elevation	7.0 m (23.0 ft)
Highest elevation	54 m (177 ft)
Lowest elevation	−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
• Total	89,127
• Density	1,800/km (4,500/sq mi)
• Households	20,993
Demonym	Kalibonhon
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	9.79% (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 457.1 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 1,007 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 405 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 165.5 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5600
PSGC	060407000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)36
Native languages	Aklanon Hiligaynon Capisnon Tagalog
Website	www.kaliboaklan.gov.ph

Kalibo, officially the Municipality of Kalibo (Aklanon: Banwa it Kalibo; Hiligaynon: Banwa sang Kalibo; Tagalog: Bayan ng Kalibo), is a municipality and capital of the Province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 89,127 people.

Kalibo is located in the north-west of Panay island and also, it is the most populous town in Aklan. It is the main transportation hub for the resort island of Boracay. The municipality is known for the Ati-Atihan festival; the semi-urban and multi-awarded mangrove forest Bakhawan Eco-Park and piña-weaving, which was inscribed to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2023.

Etymology

The term Kalibo comes from the Aklanon word sangkâ líbo, ("one thousand"), reputedly the number of native Ati who attended the first Catholic Mass celebrated there. Kalibo was originally spelled as Calivo.

The town of Kalibo was originally called Akean by the inhabitants, similar to the name of the river nearby. The word akean itself connotes the warbling of running waters, from the root word akae, meaning "to boil". Akae-akae means "to bubble" or "to boil" or "to make the sound of bubbling or boiling" in the Aklanon language.

The Spaniards interchanged the names Aklan and Calivo to refer to the town. Aside from these two, other names such as Calibo, Daclan, Adan, and Calibog have been used.

History

Precolonial and Spanish Colonial Period

When Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in 1569, he discovered that the town already had around 2,000 inhabitants, so he recruited 500 of them to help conquer the rest of the Philippines. On November 3, 1571, it became an encomienda and on April 22, 1581, the town became a parish under the Augustinians. During the Spanish era, Kalibo was part of Capiz.

On March 17, 1897, Filipino revolutionaries march to Kalibo but lost the battle against the Spaniards. Some of them escaped to the jungle.

On March 23, 1897, the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan were executed by the Spanish colonial government for their role in the Philippine Revolution.

Commonwealth, World War II and Post-war Period

Aklan continued to be part of Capiz during the early 20th century. When the Americans came, they annexed financially-struggling towns with bigger towns in the whole country, reducing the number of municipalities in Capiz from 34 to 24. In 1903, today's towns of Lezo, Numancia, and Banga were annexed to Kalibo. Lezo and Numancia (which were a single municipality then) de-merged in 1909 and Banga followed suit in 1912.

In 1929, the Capiz Provincial Hospital was built in Kalibo. Equipped with 30 beds, it was one of the few provincial capitals located outside provincial capitals. It opened in 1930. However, the war forced it to close, only reopening in 1945. In 1981, the hospital would later be renamed Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), in honor of Dr. Rafael Tumbokon, a former representative of the 3rd district of Capiz (1932 to 1938) and Undersecretary of Health in the 1950s.

The town also suffered from World War II. Kalibo itself was occupied by the Japanese from May to August 1942, and then the invaders moved on to Capiz. They returned to town 15 months later, following the October 1943 juez de cuchillo where the Japanese massacred 74 Batan residents. This time, they garrisoned the towns of Kalibo, Ibajay, New Washington, Altavas, Balete, and Batan. The town would eventually be liberated together with the entire island of Panay on March 18, 1945.

The town's older private colleges were established after the war: Aklan Catholic College (1945), and Northwestern Visayan Colleges (1948).

On November 8, 1956, the province of Aklan was officially established, and Kalibo became its capital.

The town's trade school, the Roxas Memorial School of Arts and Trades (RMSAT), was established in 1959 and opened in 1960.

Martial Law Period (1965-1986)

The mid-60s to mid-80s saw several developments rise in Kalibo as it took on its role as Aklan's capital town. The Garcia College of Technology, a private technical college, opened in 1968. St Gabriel Medical Center, a major private hospital, opened its doors in 1969. The local power company, Aklan Electric Cooperative, was established in 1972. Meanwhile, the local water district, the Metro Kalibo Water District, was created in 1976. The provincial diocese was also erected in 1976.

RMSAT was elevated to a state college in 1983.

In 1984, Typhoon Agnes (local name Undang), ravaged Kalibo and the whole province. It would become the worst typhoon disaster Kalibo will experience until Typhoon Fengshen (local name Frank) in 2008.

Contemporary Period (1986-present)

As a response to Undang, the Bakhawan Eco-Park began to take shape in December 1989 when the Kalibo Save the Mangroves movement was organized.

RMCAT became part of Aklan State College of Agriculture in 1998. It was elevated into a university in 2001.

In 1990, the town recorded 50,000 residents for the first time. Kalibo was classified a first-class municipality in 1997, and again in 2008. The town's first major mall, Gaisano Capital Kalibo, opened in 2002. It is located in Roxas Avenue Extension, and had 20,000 sqm of retail space.

Geography

Kalibo is located at 11°42′26″N 122°22′12″E / 11.7072°N 122.37°E / 11.7072; 122.37.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 50.75 square kilometres (19.59 sq mi)  constituting 2.79% of the 1,821.42-square-kilometre- (703.25 sq mi) total area of Aklan.

Topography

Kalibo is situated on the alluvial plains of the Aklan River which lies to its west. The town is generally flat, with slopes ranging from 0 to 3%.

Climate

Barangays

Kalibo is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

All barangays are classified as urban. Mobo was formerly known as Tinigao Bongoe.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, Kalibo had a population of 89,127. The population density was 1,800 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,700/sq mi).

Language

Aklanon is the main language of Kalibo. Hiligaynon and Capiznon are also spoken as secondary languages of the municipality.

Economy

Kalibo's main industry is agriculture, based on rice, coconuts, piña and abaca. The town also produces piña fiber, which is marketed as an alternative to traditional leather. Kalibo also has food manufacturing facilities, supporting a meat-processing industry that produces chorizo, tocino and other similar products.

Kalibo serves as the commercial center for Aklan province, owing to its status as the provincial capital. Its institutions serve its immediate surrounding area. In 2021, the municipality hosted 28 banks and held 19 million pesos in total deposits, the largest among 17 municipalities of Aklan. This is equivalent to 75% of all deposits in the province. The Kalibo Public Market, Gaisano Grand, Gaisano Capital, CityMall and SM Cherry further cement Kalibo's position as a retail hub.

The town also hosts multiple higher educational institutions such as Aklan Catholic College, Northwestern Visayan Colleges and Garcia College of Technology. The College of Industrial Technology of Aklan State University is located in Andagao.

Some hospitals in the town include the government-owned Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital; the private St Gabriel Hospital, Panay Healthcare Medical Center and Asia Pacific Medical Center.

Tourism in Kalibo peaks during the Ati-Atihan Festival, celebrated every second week of January and culminating on the third Sunday. The town also benefits from good road connections to Boracay, allowing it to become a jump-off point for tourists headed to the island. This is all underpinned by the presence of the Kalibo International Airport which was the fourth busiest airport in the country as of 2022.

Culture

Ati-Atihan Festival

The Ati-Atihan Festival is a festival celebrated in Kalibo every second week of January and culminating on the third Sunday of the month. Revelers smear themselves with soot or any blackening substance in order to look like an Ati.

The Ati-Atihan Festival is believed to have started in the year 1212 when Borneans, led by the ten datus, traveled on balangays and crossed the Sulu Sea to land in Panay, making it the oldest festival in the Philippines.

Ati-atihan Festival was included as one of the "World's Best Festivals" by Fest300, dubbed as the "Grand Daddy of Philippine Festivals" by the Largest Travel Guide Book Publisher in the World - Lonely Planet and recognized, as well as, holds the title of "Mother of All Philippine Festivals".

Attractions

Landmarks of the town include Aklan River, the main river that flows through the town and the origin of the name of the province. Within the town proper lies Freedom Shrine which commemorates World War II veterans and the Museo it Akean, a museum of Aklan's history. Outside the town lies Bakhawan Eco-Park, a 220-hectare (540-acre) mangrove reforestation project that began in 1990 in barangay New Buswang. Tigayon Hill and Caves in Barangay Tigayon which were burial sites during the pre-Hispanic era and a pit for Chinese artifacts which were excavated in the recent past.

Historical Markers

The table below is the list of Historical Markers installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in Kalibo.

Infrastructure

Kalibo's roads are composed of national, municipal and barangay roads. The town is connected to Iloilo City and Roxas City via the Aklan East Coast Road. In 2023, the new Kalibo Circumferential Road was declared as a national-level road. The road features a new bridge (Kalibo Bridge III) across the Aklan River and connects municipalities west of it to Brgy. Tigayon, the airport, and the jetty port in Brgy. Pook.

Water is provided by the Metro Kalibo Water District while power is provided by the Aklan Electric Cooperative.

Transportation

Air

Air travel to Kalibo from Manila is about 45 minutes under four airlines: the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Zest and PAL Express. These airlines increase their flights during the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival every January each year.

PAL Express also flies to Cebu and Angeles. AirAsia Philippines and SeaAir also have flights to Angeles. AirAsia has a flight to Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways, China Southern, China Airlines have weekly flights to and from Taipei; Philippine Airlines and Shanghai Airlines have chartered flights to and from Shanghai; Jin Air does flights to Incheon. Spirit of Manila has its chartered flight to Kalibo from its regional destinations. Zest Air has flights to Seoul, Busan, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing, and Chengdu. Philippine Airlines has flights to Hong Kong and Seoul.

Kalibo is the major hub for/to Boracay. The Kalibo International Airport is about ten minutes away from Poblacion Kalibo main plaza (Pastrana Park).

Sea

Kalibo has four ports near the town. The New Washington port and the Dumaguit port are 20 minutes away from Kalibo. Batan port is accessible via Dumaguit and Altavas while the Malay port is approximately two hours. Travel time from Manila to Aklan is 14 to 18 hours through sea travel.

The Caticlan Jetty Port is part of the Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Strong Republic Nautical Highway that connects Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and it passes through Kalibo to Capiz or Romblon. There is a jetty port in barangay Pook of Kalibo.

Land

Public transportation around the town is by tricycle, taxi, multicab and jeepneys.

Kalibo is 158 kilometres (98 mi) from Iloilo City, 86 kilometres (53 mi) from Roxas City, and 182 kilometres (113 mi) from San Jose, Antique. Land travel from Iloilo City to Kalibo takes approximately three hours, one and a half hours from Roxas City, and four hours from San Jose, Antique. All are accessible by bus and minivans. Trips to Caticlan range from 70 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the mode of transportation.

Public transport

The tricycle dominates the streets in Kalibo and is the main form of public transport. The town has its own version of the design of its tricycle that can accommodate up to 8 passengers. The design was also adopted in the rest of Aklan and some parts of northern Antique. There are about 3,000 tricycles-for-hire that are registered with Sangguniang Bayan-issued franchises operating within the 16 barangays of the Municipality of Kalibo and are distributed in accordance with their following approved routes or zones of operation:

Sister cities

Kalibo has one official sister city:

• Juneau, Alaska, United States (2014)

References

1.  Municipality of Kalibo | (DILG)
2. "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
4. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
5. "UNESCO - Aklan piña handloom weaving". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
6. "History - Municipality of Lezo". Municipality of Lezo, Aklan - Official Website. December 23, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
7. "DRSTMH History". Dr Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
8. "Juez de Cuchillo". Elmo's House Artist Residency. October 23, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
9. Redison, Frances Anthea. "Survival and Atrocity: Remembering the Japanese Occupation of the Province of Aklan, Philippines, 1942–45". Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies. 2020–2021. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
10. "Liberation of Panay, Romblon, and Guimaras". Philippine Veteran Affairs Office. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
11. "About Us". Aklan Catholic College. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
12. "NVC History". Northwestern Visayan Colleges. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
13. "Republic Act No. 1414". lawphil.net. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
14. "Institutional Profile – Garcia College of Technology". Garcia College of Technology. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
15. "Saint Gabriel Medical Center - Medical Center in Aklan | MyMediTravel". www.mymeditravel.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
16. "About Us". Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc.
17. "About MKWD". Metro Kalibo Water District. September 23, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
18. "Diocese of Kalibo". Claretian Publications. May 26, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
19. "Batas Pambansa Blg. 471". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
20. "The 12 Worst Typhoons of the Philippines (A Summary)". Typhoon2000. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
21. "Philippines: Typhoon Frank's total damage in Aklan placed at P2.012 trillon - Philippines | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. July 15, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
22. "A Philippine community sees life-saving payoffs from restoring its mangroves". Mongabay Environmental News. November 18, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
23. "Aklan State University - Kalibo Campus". Recruitday. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
24. "Income Classification as of 2008" (PDF). Bureau of Local Government Finance. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
25. "Province: Aklan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
26. "Groundwater development study in Panay island in the Republic of the Philippines. Final report. -". Japan International Cooperation Agency. November 1989. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
27. "Kalibo: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
28. "Municipal: Kalibo". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
29. "Republic Act No. 715 - An Act Changing the Name of the Barrio Tinigao Bongoe, Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Capiz, to Mobo". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. June 6, 1952. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
30. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VI (Western Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
31. Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
32. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
33. "Province of Aklan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
34. "Pina Weaving, Kalibo's Gift to the World". Airasia. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
35. "Distribution of Domestic Deposits as of December 2021". Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
36. "About Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital". Aklan Provincial Government. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
37. "Passenger Movement for CY 2022" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
38. "Ati-Atihan". Fest300. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
39. Lizares, Luci (January 20, 2014). "History of Santo Niño Festivals". Sun.Star Bacolod. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016. The Ati-Atihan festival is called the Mother of all Filipino festivals.
40. "Declaring Kalibo Circumferential Road as a National Road". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
41. "About MKWD". Metro Kalibo Water District. September 23, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
42. "Juneau's Sister Cities". City and Borough of Juneau. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.

External links

• Kalibo travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code

v t e Places adjacent to Kalibo
Sibuyan Sea Numancia Lezo Kalibo Sibuyan Sea Banga New Washington

Articles Related to Kalibo

v t e Province of Aklan Kalibo (capital and largest municipality) Municipalities Altavas Balete Banga Batan Buruanga Ibajay Kalibo Lezo Libacao Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Nabas New Washington Numancia Tangalan v t e Western Visayas (Region VI) Regional center Iloilo City Provinces Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Metropolitan Area Metro Iloilo–Guimaras Highly urbanized city Iloilo City Component cities Passi Roxas Provincial capitals Iloilo City Jordan Kalibo Roxas San Jose de Buenavista Municipalities Ajuy Alimodian Altavas Anilao Anini-y Badiangan Balasan Balete Banate Banga Barbaza Barotac Nuevo Barotac Viejo Batad Batan Belison Bingawan Buenavista Bugasong Buruanga Cabatuan Calinog Caluya Carles Concepcion Cuartero Culasi Dao Dingle Dueñas Dumalag Dumangas Dumarao Estancia Guimbal Hamtic Ibajay Igbaras Ivisan Jamindan Janiuay Jordan Kalibo Lambunao Laua-an Leganes Lemery Leon Lezo Libacao Libertad Maasin Ma-ayon Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Mambusao Miagao Mina Nabas New Lucena New Washington Nueva Valencia Numancia Oton Panay Pandan Panitan Patnongon Pavia Pilar Pontevedra Pototan President Roxas San Dionisio San Enrique San Joaquin San Jose de Buenavista San Lorenzo San Miguel San Rafael San Remigio Santa Barbara Sapian Sara Sebaste Sibalom Sibunag Sigma Tangalan Tapaz Tibiao Tigbauan Tobias Fornier Tubungan Valderrama Zarraga Visayas, Republic of the Philippines v t e Provincial capital cities and municipalities of the Philippines Luzon Abra: Bangued Albay: Legazpi Apayao: Kabugao / Luna Aurora: Baler Bataan: Balanga Batanes: Basco Batangas: Batangas City Benguet: La Trinidad Bulacan: Malolos Cagayan: Tuguegarao Camarines Norte: Daet Camarines Sur: Pili Catanduanes: Virac Cavite: Imus / Trece Martires Ifugao: Lagawe Ilocos Norte: Laoag Ilocos Sur: Vigan Isabela: Ilagan Kalinga: Tabuk La Union: San Fernando Laguna: Santa Cruz Marinduque: Boac Masbate: Masbate City Mountain Province: Bontoc Nueva Ecija: Palayan Nueva Vizcaya: Bayombong Occidental Mindoro: Mamburao Oriental Mindoro: Calapan Palawan: Puerto Princesa Pampanga: San Fernando Pangasinan: Lingayen Quezon: Lucena Quirino: Cabarroguis Rizal: Antipolo Romblon: Romblon Sorsogon: Sorsogon City Tarlac: Tarlac City Zambales: Iba Visayas Aklan: Kalibo Antique: San Jose de Buenavista Biliran: Naval Bohol: Tagbilaran Capiz: Roxas Cebu: Cebu City Eastern Samar: Borongan Guimaras: Jordan Iloilo: Iloilo City Leyte: Tacloban Negros Occidental: Bacolod Negros Oriental: Dumaguete Northern Samar: Catarman Samar: Catbalogan Siquijor: Siquijor Southern Leyte: Maasin Mindanao Agusan del Norte: Cabadbaran / Butuan Agusan del Sur: Prosperidad Basilan: Lamitan / Isabela Bukidnon: Malaybalay Camiguin: Mambajao Cotabato: Kidapawan Davao de Oro: Nabunturan Davao del Norte: Tagum Davao del Sur: Digos Davao Occidental: Malita Davao Oriental: Mati Dinagat Islands: San Jose Lanao del Norte: Tubod Lanao del Sur: Marawi Maguindanao del Norte: Datu Odin Sinsuat Maguindanao del Sur: Buluan Misamis Occidental: Oroquieta Misamis Oriental: Cagayan de Oro Sarangani: Alabel South Cotabato: Koronadal Sultan Kudarat: Isulan Sulu: Jolo Surigao del Norte: Surigao City Surigao del Sur: Tandag Tawi-Tawi: Bongao Zamboanga del Norte: Dipolog Zamboanga del Sur: Pagadian Zamboanga Sibugay: Ipil de facto seat of provincial government

• Kalibo
• Municipalities of Aklan
• Provincial capitals of the Philippines