TravelswithCharie

Pagtilipon. Acrylic on paper. 2023 Hamungaya (Hiligaynon for fruitful or bountiful) is the solo show of Jonard Villarde at Teddy's Art Space in Roxas City. This series of paintings  traces the trajectory of fish from the net cast by fishermen to the porters and couriers who take them in woven boxes to market where it will be sold and end up on our dinner plate. The artist pays homage to the often "unseen" folk who form the chain of hands that deliver food to our table.  Pagtilipon (gathering) of fisherfolk with the tools of the trade: fishing net to catch fish, paddle, baskets to hold fish, the bountiful catch and the pole to carry the baskets of fish. Kargador. Acrylic on paper. 2023 The Kargador (porter) takes the haul in woven boxes and baskets to the courier for delivery. Note how the artist painstakingly portrays the woven boxes and baskets which he has observed since his childhood . Fish mobiles. Acrylic on paper. 2023. Couriers take the catch to market on their

Kuris Kuris (to doodle) officially opened on December 5th at Ang Panublion Museum. The four featured artists, Lucille Manuel, Nubbin Beldia, Julien Tan and Angie Boluso Viterbo, were classmates at St. Mary's Academy. What started as doodling in grade school for these friends turned into passion projects they embraced through adulthood. Their paintings are rich narratives of their growing up years in Roxas City.  Kuris Kuris exhibition ends December 30. Ophelia in Summer, Oil on Canvas Ophelia in Summer by Lucille Manuel is representative of her style of painting using blue hues and a female subject. The tragic story of Ophelia is not lost to the viewer. This is a bittersweet work which Lucille dedicated to friends and classmates who have left this world. Happy Days, Mixed Media Julien Tan's fascination with pop art manifests itself in this painting, Happy Days. Tan took his interest a step further by adding his personal childhood experiences and recollections to his canvases li

There's a burgeoning art scene in Roxas City. Following the successful run of the Visayas Islands Visual Arts Exhibition and Conference (Viva Excon) Biennale in November 2018 led by Black Artists Asia, the seafood capital is welcoming a new outdoor art space in the heart of the city.  Planta is just across the river from the cluster of cultural heritage structures of Roxas City. It recently hosted Primero , an arts and crafts fair which formally introduced the murals painted by the group, Vinyl on Vinyl (VOV) of Manila with the help of fourteen local artists hand picked by Lloyd Develos. This project is the gift of Atty. Blas Viterbo who owns Planta, a former power station and ice plant, to his hometown. The first mural (above) is of a hand lifting the curtain to reveal a wider perspective of what Capiz has to offer. Alternatively, it may represent how artists from neighboring towns perceive Capiz from an artistic point of view. A monitor lizard has planted itself on t

  When your visit to a tropical island is extended, you develop an island state-of-mind. You wear flip flops from morn till bedtime, your shades are comfortably resting on your head on the ready, lunch of seafood on the beach is frequent  and your hat is in the bag. But the hat has now been replaced with an umbrella as monsoon season is upon us bringing afternoon showers with it. This is my view while eating lunch. My favorite here is the grilled tanigue fish and the Hawaiian pizza. When it rains, the island is shrouded in mist.  So I go again to the Wayfarer when the forecast calls for a clear and  sunny day. The sweetest mangoes are from the island of Guimaras. And I was lucky to have received a few during the month of June when the market was flooded with  mangoes. Driving around the coastal towns is my favorite pastime. The coves of Ivisan are so picturesque. And there’s dried fish to buy along the road. Basiao Beach In Capiz, everyday is beach day!

Beyond the sea-to-table cuisine that Capiz is famous for, the province serves a plateful of surprises to feed your wanderlust. Gugma Beach Aptly named Gugma (Love), this off the grid stretch of warm grey sand in Sapian ticks all the right boxes for a splashing good time with its expansive views of the coastline and striking rock formations by the shore. The White Sand Beaches of Ivisan Speaking of beaches, the town of Ivisan has fine white sand beaches bordered by palm trees. The laid-back vibe of Basiao, Ayagao and Patio beaches will please the consummate beachgoer. Pumpboats are available to explore the tiny shoreline of Maba-ay Island, just minutes from Basiao beach. Ruins of Railway Bridge Once upon a time, there was a railroad connecting Capiz and Iloilo. Buses eventually replaced the trains which were finally put to bed in 1985. There are remnants of the supporting approach to a railway bridge in Dao, about thirty minutes from Roxas City. Hardwoo

Just when I thought I've explored Capiz enough, I'm finding captivating places off the beaten track. Some of these sites hit me with nostalgia like the ruins of the approach to a railway bridge while others took me completely by surprise (La Playa Beach and Marugo Lake). These new discoveries inspire me to wander down dusty roads and hunt for more local color. Ruins of Railway Bridge These hardwood pylons supported the approach to a railway bridge in Duyoc, Dao. This was constructed in 1910 and the railway extended for 117 kilometers from Capiz to Iloilo. Passenger service operations ended in 1985. Buses and private utility vehicles (PUV) now ply the highway between these two provinces.  These ruins are on McKinley Street in Duyoc, Dao. La Playa Beach There are so many beaches in Capiz but La Playa stands out for its serene surroundings. It's far from the noise and crowds of the city. If you appreciate a quiet time and a beach to yourself, this is the

Little Free Library

Mantalinga Island or Good Luck Island beckons from across the sea. Just under 20 minutes from Baybay beach in Roxas City, it's rocky shores, tidal pools and sweeping view of Baybay are enough reasons to make the short crossing.     Mantalinga Island

Sorry to disappoint you but there are no aswang in Capiz. If there were, the airlines would lose money since we could probably get promo fares more frequently on the back of an aswang. Seriously though, release your fear. Come to Capiz. Wear a garlic bracelet, if you must. But do come and experience our world.  1. Life is simpler in flip flops Baybay Beach and Mantalinga Island

Sunrise Waking up to this.

Touring can be both fun and educational. And so it is with the Palina Greenbelt Ecotour that takes students and visitors out into the waters off of Barangay Cagay in Roxas City to appreciate the reclamation of the Palina River after it was silted up from the excessive number of fish pens in the area. This tour is conducted by the fisherfolk who sacrificed their own fish pens and livelihood in order to save the river. And now they are our guides on this barge trip as they unravel the story of the rehabilitation of this river and the rich mangroves that were planted to stem floodwaters and nurture fish, bird and plant life. Bamboo Raft We were towed by an outrigger to the open waters while two able bodied men navigated our bamboo barge with their bamboo poles, steering us forward or sideways with their muscles and then turning the barge into the narrow passage leading to the Panay River where a huge surambaw commandeered a big slice of the corridor and we had to gingerly