Unspoiled beaches with ivory sand and clear waters, a warm people, verdant seaweed farms and delectable coconut crabs. These make the Caluya group of islands rich.
Text/Article written by Harthwell C. Capistrano
Caluya, A hidden gem in Antique
The absence of high-rises further makes the islands a perfect getaway for nature trippers who want a respite from the pains of city life. There, they can go snorkeling, diving, boating or swimming alongside playful dolphins.
White Sand Beach in Sibato Island
Situated in the northernmost tip of the province of Antique in Western Visayas, the island-municipality of Caluya has seven more islands: Semirara, Sibay, Sibato, Sibolo, Liwagao, Nagubat and Panagatan.
Caluya is 4 hours away by boat from Libertad, Antique and 6 hours from Pandan, Antique
“Caluya has a lot to offer. It’s an excellent place for hibernation,” said Roderick C. Javier, public relations officer of the municipality of Caluya.
Its over 20,000 people are among its greatest assets.
Fish Sellers in Caluya
“People here are very cooperative in social activities of the municipality, and most of the time, they are very hospitable. They smile at you and greet you, even if you are a stranger,” said town councilor Linda Aguilar-Arrido.
Caluya is also known for tatus, a coconut crab with bluish streaks on its back. Its raw meat sells for P500 a kilo.
Coconut Crab locally known as “Tatus”
“This crab eats leaves, rotting fruits, small animals and turtle eggs but it thrives on coconut, thus its name,” Ms. Arrido said.
The coconut crab is related to the hermit crab. But unlike the hermit crab that spends most of its life in water, tatus cannot survive underwater.
They can grow up to 40 centimeters, weigh up to four kilograms and live for more than 30 years. Its powerful claws can lift objects almost seven times its weight.
These elusive crustaceans are hunted at night when they forage for food. Hunters use flashlights and grilled coconut as bait.
Sea urchins locally known as “Tirik” is another exotic delicacy of Caluya
The islanders celebrate the annual Tatusan Festival in April as a thanksgiving for the bounty that they receive. Colorful crab-shaped floats, street-dancing and displays of various sizes of tatus are among the highlights of the festival.
“Yes, people gather here, especially from the mainland Antique. We invite them to join us in our yearly celebration. More people are coming over not only to witness the festival, but also to see what the tatus look like and taste how delicious they are,” Mr. Javier said.
Caluya is also known for seaweeds. Mr. Javier said they are the fifth largest seaweeds producer in the country. Styrofoam floaters of the monolines that anchor the seaweeds dot the surrounding waters of the island.
“Here, people work very hard to earn a living. Seaweed farming is more popular than rice farming. It takes only about three to four weeks or a month to harvest the seaweed. There is no need for fertilizers or expensive enhancers unlike in rice farming,” Mr. Javier said.
The seaweed is sent to Cebu where it is processed into carrageenan, a gum that is used as stabilizer or thickener in jellies and dairy products, processed meat, toothpaste and pharmaceutical products.
To improve accessibility to the island, town Mayor Reynante J. Lim, Sr. said there was a proposal to open a 1,200-meter landing strip and construct a port at the town center. A port in Barangay Masanag, about 30 minutes away by motorcycle from the poblacion, now serves Caluya and its 18 villages.
Except for the Caluya Lodging House that charges P150 per head per night and arranges for meals depending on the day’s catch, there are no other accommodations yet. But the islanders are willing to take some visitors in for a minimal fee.
The island has electricity from 8 a.m. until midnight from a diesel-powered generating plant operated by the Antique Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANTECO). For emergencies, the island has a health center with a physician, nurses and midwives. The Semirara Island nearby has a 25-bed hospital owned and managed by the Semirara Coal Corporation.
To get to the island from Iloilo City, one can take a two-hour land trip to San Jose de Buenavista, capital town of Antique province followed by a four-hour bus ride to the Libertad port. There, a ferry can take visitors on the four-hour trip to Caluya. The trip is estimated to cost a little over P500.
Too tiring? The island’s unspoiled natural resources, friendly people and exotic dishes might be worth it. Caluya can also serve as a jump-off point for the seven other islands. Pumpboats are available for island hopping and Boracay in Malay, Aklan is just two hours away.
Caluya is a great place to unwind in its peaceful and beautiful environment
For more inquiries contact the Caluya Liaison Office
Address: San Nicolas Bldg. T. Fornier St., San Jose, Antique
Landline: (036) 540-7024
Email: municipalityofcaluya@yahoo.com
39 Comments
AWESOME!
great job.
another pride of Panay island. i remmbr my relatives der. tnx 4 da pics.
Marc,
I really missed Seaweed Salad! YUMMM! with kamatis, sibuyas bombay bilog kag dahon, kinihad nga linaga nga itlog kag may langaw nga makahang. Lord have mercy, daw sa mapauli akon dayon ba!
nami gid tana ang caluya.. ilabi ron gid ang sibay..hope na mag posed u pa uli ng article ’bout sibay
Hi marjorie, di lang ako cgrdo kung ikaw kilala ko nga marjorie taga sibay man ako.
hidlaw run gid ako sa caluya! makabalik pa ako ayhan?
if you wanted it why not? never never say “ayhan” my friend, its looks like no more hope in this world, think positive my friend. you can have it if you want it.
i had been there long time ago. hindi madali ang pagpunta. and my last trip was a nightmare, our ferry boat was hit by typhoon. we almost lost our lives, that’s why i say “ayhan” but my heart belongs to caluya. thank u for giving hope,hehe…
I was shock when we found the Caluya, website. its been more than 33 years since i made my home in USA. looking back i might go and visit more often.Yes i miss my hometown Barrio Dawis. and of course i miss my family and blue water. Many to the person who put this on the website.
Neng Magan Alarcon Mckeon
You’re hometown is a true paradise in Panay Island. You’re welcome, I hope many people will be able to appreciate Caluya too.
Dear Mr Marcos C.
I thank you so much, again for putting the Caluya, on the internet. I’m sure many people all over the world will see sometime.very nice pictures, of the star fish, cucunot crab,seaweed,and tirik, wow yummy,my husband love the crab, last time we visited.
Neng
hi guys!
i love my place
mag-ayan kamu sa caluya.
hi guys i love my place
pag-ayan kamu sa caluya
lilil! it’s me, remember? kamusta run ang tatusan dyan? hopefully makaagto ako dyan next year sa bakasyon.
it’s nice to hear & see some beautiful places in northern part of antique. do hope u can post some from other towns aswell. keep up the great job!
wow, i will put this on my list in my honeymoon trip, hehehe so nice and wala ko pa matilawan ang sea urchin, hehehe
pre Marcus Good job, Congrats Gid,
marc, nag email ko sa trippers…tani maread nila…hihi
I was looking up the origins of my last name, and came across this site, and I have to admit it’s a beatiful island. I was wondering if their are alot of island residents with the last name caluya? Reason being is that I’m actually going to the P.I in October and if there was a large presence of caluyas there I would like to visit and maybe tryin and trace my roots,/ enjoy the islands since we plan on visiting baracay anyway. Well thanks for the information and beatiful pictures, and hope to get a reply.
Aloha
Albert caluya
Albert Caluya- do you happen to be from the Bay area of CA? If you happen to be this Albert Caluya & have a son named Joseph, he is & has been looking for you.
if so, please email him at joecaluya760@gmail.com
To,Albert Caluya! i read your comment, my name is Neng, and residents of Caluya, Island, i was born, grow up there, i came to USA, when i was 20, years old, now live in Pennssylvania, were the PENNSTATE UNIVERSITY, is if you want to know more about Caluya? here is my e-mail add n49poblacion@gmail.com Caluya, is about 3 hours away from boracay, by pam boat, Neng,
Hi! to everyone!
Yes,i been visited Caluya island this April 2009.Nainvited ng pinsan ko na taga Semirara to be a part of their ( lungkas) there.Caluya,having a lot of improvements really.The beaches,white sands,warm sea water,and plenty of beautiful creatures that you can find in the sand beach…oh i miss the days when im there:) Im also away 23 years from Semirara island where i was born and grew up.Kahit pala gaanu ka-stable ang buhay natin sa ibang bansa,totoo yung kanta ni Gary V.na ( babalik ka din) you know why? kasi halos lahat ng siblings ntin are there in our home town.Thats why mas masaya di ba pagkasama natin sila.Next year probably pupunta ulit ako sa Caluya,sana mas matagal ako doon ng konti para nman makilala ko yung original naming kamag-anak na mga Calinog daw hehe.Sorry im only 13 years old ng umalis na kami sa Semirara,kya hahanapin ko din someday yung mga kapamilya namin.Godbless to everyone..and if i have find some more time marami akong photographs of Caluya,Semirara,Mindoro,to put up here for everybody to see.
Greetings from FINLAND!
Shirlyn Viitanen
+358 503652849
PS.Thank you sa Mayor Reynante Lim Sr.sa pagkakaroon ng maraming improvements all over the islands na nasasakupan ng Antique.Ganun din sa lahat ng mga kasali sa pag buo ng batas dyan at kaayusan pra sa pakinabang ng lahat.Sa Semirara nman thank you sa kapitan ng barrio Tinogboc na si Mr Romy Malixe,and sa wife nya sa improvements din doon.Thank you din sa pinsan ko Mrs Liberty Hatulan Erodias,sa accomodation nila sa aming vacation there and sa sisters ko Merlyn Swenin and Zeny Varon.I will see you all again in my next vacation.Enjoy the life…All the best!
These pictures of Caluya,are very splendid!! I showed these pix to my Japanese students and let them explained! They really love the views! Please post some more pix.
Thank you!
I would love to post more pics, but I have to visit Caluya again for that. I really enjoyed my first visit and am always wondering when I will be able to come back..hmm.. last time I was only able to visit the main poblacion area, I was hoping to be able to visit Semirara Island also but we weren’t able to :(
pwede ko kaupod when mkabalik kmo? seryoso ako :-D
To, Shirlyn Bello Domingo Viitanen, hi my name is Neng and i’m from Caluya, Barrio, Dawis. i think you are related to us, Tatay Wellie, is my uncle, my father, the Alarcon,family, my mother is Magan, and yes she’s a close relative, with Domingo, i made my home in the USA. for over 30 years. i visited, Caluya, 2 years ago. i would to get to know you us my kababayan. here is my e-mail add N49poblacion@hotmail.com our home add, is
108 Buchanan Ave.
State College, PA, 16801
home,phone, 814-861-4219
ive been to this place 13 years ago… it’s really beautiful… its a nice place!! looking forward to visit this place again and again!!!
nami gid ya ang caluya compare sa mga places na naagtunan ko..,thank you sa pag post ng mga pictures….mauli ko gid ya sa caluya…mre power and god bless…
hi guys! im from sibay island,thanks po 4 posting some pics from caluya island i appreciate nkakawala ng homesick d2 abroad hehe.. sana more pics pa,great job and god bless!!
gud day miss arnaez,prang familiar po kyo sa akin,batch 2000 po C.N.H.S.god bless!
franziz_22@yahoo.com
To Neng,
Naku pasinsya kana ha..busy sa work..salamat sa messages mo.Opo sabi nga ng mga pinsan ko sa Semirara ang baluarte daw ng mga Calinog ay nasa parteng Dawis..Yung lawyer na kilalang lolo Pingko sa poblacion ay lolo nmin sa father side..gosshh bka nga kamag anak tayo..anyway bakasyon ulit ako next year April and 3 months ako ulit doon..sa Semirara ako nakabili ng farmland and right now pinatataniman ko na para sa improvements.Punta din ako ulit sa Caluya magbayad ng bwis.
Chat tayo sometimes add me: shy_viitanen@yahoo.com
Address: Kalastajanmäki 3A25
02230 Espoo City FINLAND
+358 503652849
My mother Beatrice Escultor Bello,solong anak ni Francisco Bello ng Bro.Tinogboc Semirara
My father Angelito Abalon Domingo,anak ni Luis Calinog ( na naging Domingo) dahil adopted si lolo Luis ng Domingo.
My cousin Catherine Domingo Hatulan,nakapag asawa sa taga Dawis..
Naku im looking forward to meet you..Godbless and regards..
Hello to everybody here.Malapit ng Pasko nnman super saya nnman ng mga fiesta-fiesta doon sa Semirara,Caluya at iba pang mga locals area.Pinagkaiba dito sa Finland na palagi nalang white christmas kasi makapal ng snow and freezing cold that days…anyway super ganda nman po ng Finland during Summer season napakaraming flowers everywhere..parang carpets hihi.
Culture is amazing and shocking haha..kya gulat na gulat yung swap na pinay from PBB to FBB house…Godbless you guys..whatever it is masayang nasa sariling bansa..tara na uwi na tayo sa mga isla natin..Thanks to everyone…Neng,Nelma,thanks you guys that we are now emailing…sooooooo excited!! bye muna..mabuhay ang lahat:)
sana naman mga beach resorts sa san jose u’ll feature it like kamea. Kooralbyn(aloha),danilo’s etc. to help promoye tourism of san jose and antique.thank u.
i am checking on beach resorts in san jose wala naman.meron nga matagal na.please post pictures ng mga beach resorts in san jose. kasi lagi nalang na i feature ang sa heart of town.thank u.
hay nami gd yah ang caluya,its a nce place to unwined,,kag miz q ang magkaon tirik,,,its yyuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyy,,nami man magpakinas….alibog sadya gd tna…promizzzz,,….
ai snu kby liwat ang tatusan man,,,kpurungaw ara aq gd kaaatend ky my summer klaz b q,,,ang k d malas,khrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuhaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy caluyanhon aton ini………………
gusto ko makarating ng caluya island….maganda siguro jan
miss my hometown soo much….it’s been 5 long years.so many memories to be cherished.my friends,neighboors,my relatives….OUR HOME.ang balay namun,mga bulak kag orchids,ang duyan,ang baybay.makabalik pa bala ako duto sa caluya?????? for 28 years ko sa Caluya,how could I forget? hay……….thanks fo the pix.