I was glad to spend a weekend in Pilar last October thanks to the invitation of a good friend, tour guide, and shell craft artist, Gi Biana. Of course I shouldn’t miss the chance to write something (no matter how belated) about this quaint town 45 minutes away from Roxas City.
Pilar is a town of many wonders. It is
blessed by the bounty of the land (just look at the expansive sugarcane and
rice fields that dot its countryside) and the wealth of the sea. Get your bags
ready and head to Pilar where a curnocopia of folklore, natural bounty, and
adventure will complete your holiday.
Visit Agtalin Shrine
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| Agtalin Shrine. Image: View Photos |
The Marian Statue in Agtalin, 80 ft high,
is considered as the tallest of its kind in Asia. The International Marian
Research Institute listed the Agtalin Shrine as a premier pilgrimage site and
it welcomes hundreds of devotees every month. But aside from its spiritual signifies, the
shrine, nestled on top of a hill, offers a pristine view of Pilar and the
neighboring areas.
Camp
at ZBB Campground
Retired academician and nature lover Zenaida Benliro operates ZBB Campground right on her expansive garden. High school students and city dwellers frequent the place over the weekend, where various activities can be done, including camping, storytelling around a bonfire at night, or team building games. An arts workshop is also held here every summer.
Taste
the Home-Cooked Cuisines of the Locals
Doc Zeni and her daughter, Ms Tisay,
prepared sumptuous breakfast and lunch for me—all fresh from the sea! The
buttered scallop, grilled fish, and garlic shrimp are all to die for. They also
grow passion fruit, which they squeeze and serve as refreshment. Ms Gi, who
also lives in the campground, meanwhile, makes fresh lemongrass juice, another
thirst-quenching delight.
Check
out Gi Crafts and Shell Museum
Gi Crafts and Shell Museum is owned by my
friend, Gi Biana, who lives with Doc Zeni’s family. Her craft and creativity
really did her well. She’s making souvenirs, furniture, and accessories out
from the shells which she gathers in the beach. She also runs a tour-guiding
business, Laray Tours, which takes guests to Gigantes Islands is Carles. Gi’s
Museum contains her collection of different kinds and sizes of shells, while
her shell crafts are in demand not only in Capiz, but also in Iloilo and
Boracay, where they are on display in some high profile establishments. Through this enterprise, Gi helps some college students get by. She offers them a weekend job in exchange for their allowance.
Go
Shell Hunting Along Pilar’s Shoreline
The long stretch of shoreline in Pilar
invites you to enjoy a morning or late-afternoon stroll. And there’s more! I
found out that it’s also rich in different kinds of shells that are worth
collecting. And some added attraction, too, are the kids hunting for sisi and shells, which they either sell or eat at lunch.
Enter
the Balisong Cave
Balisong in Brgy. Natividad is where
Capiznon revolutionaries outmaneuvered the Spanish soldiers during the
Philippine Revolution. It is also the resting place of one of Capiz’s greatest heros,
Juan Arce. Rising 200 feet above the ground, it is known for its forest and
grayish rocks. It is ideal for hiking, trekking and rock climbing.
Visit
the Mummified Remains of Lola Bebe in Casanayan
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| The mummified remains of Lolo Bebe. Image: Aswang Project |
Barangay Casanayan of Pilar is frequented
by visitors curious of the remains of Maria Basañes , who, almost a century
after her death enjoys the devotion of the locals. She died of heart failure on
March 12, 1929 and ten years later her remains were unearthed to give way for a
relative who would also be buried there. The family’s surprise, the remains of “Lola
Bebe” still remains preserved. The family
brought her remains back home and the
locals started venerating her, praying to her for miracles. Some believe this
preservation to be divine will and that she should be proclaimed a saint.
Pray
at the Pilar Parish Church
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| The Parish of the Most Holy Trinity. Image: Metropilipinas |
Originally known as Sibala, named after the
river that flows through the coastal village, the small community grew larger
and the Spaniards named name it Pilar after La Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our
Lady of the Pillar). In the 18th century, a wooden image of the Holy Trinity
was found ashore. The folks believe the image was part of a Spanish galleon
that was sank by the British while en route to Mexico. The town eventually
adopted La Santisima Trinidad as its patron
saint and the wooden image now hangs on the left side of the church’s altar.
How
to Reach Pilar?
Ceres bus and L300 vans ply from Roxas City
to Estancia, Iloilo. Pilar is the frontier town of Capiz before Balasan,
Iloilo, so it’s within the route of buses and vans to and from Estancia and
Roxas City. If you’re from the airport, take a tricycle ride to Punta Dulog
Terminal in Pueblo de Panay, Roxas City. There’s a Ceres bus plying once every
30 minutes from the terminal from 6 am to 7 pm. However, if you are traveling on
a Friday afternoon, it is advisable to take the trip not later than 4 pm to
avoid the long queue during rush hour.
