As you venture offshore, there are colorful coral reefs. If you swim out to these areas with a snorkel and mask, you might catch a glimpse of dark eels, large and small fish, deadly sea snakes and bright blue sea stars! There are also sea turtles, but I have not seen one yet. Many of these reefs are considered marine protected areas (MPAs), meaning you are not allowed to fish within these zones. However, leaving the marine environments undisturbed is effective at increasing fish populations! The waters surrounding marine protected areas often have more fish as a result, so the fisherfolks’ catches will improve, too.
As you head eastward towards the mountains, there are large, roaring rivers and thinner mountain streams. My community is home to many beautiful waterfalls, too! Visiting tourists enjoy taking swims in the falls’ rock pools or kayaking and tubing through mountain streams. The largest mountain in Antique is called Mount Madja-as (MAH-jah-OSS), and it is the highest peak on Panay Island. The dormant (inactive) volcano is nearly 7,000 feet tall, and it is believed to be the legendary home of ancient gods! Many of these highland regions are home to indigenous communities. In some areas of Antique, these communities carved out rice terraces into the mountainside. These beautiful features of the land are one of my favorite sights in Antique.
Antique’s long mountain ranges isolate the province from the rest of the island. As a result, communities here speak their own distinct language called Kinaray-a. Even within the province, historical separation due to rivers and a lack of infrastructure (roads and bridges) means that the language varies widely.
