A Walk in the Town of Kalibo, Aklan

Monument of Godofredo Peralta Ramos, the Father of Aklan

As expected, we were so tired from the previous day’s activities so we weren’t able to leave Roxas City at 5AM as planned. Instead, we were at the van terminal going to Kalibo past 6AM. The tricycle ride from Roxas City Pension House was much farther and the fare was 20php per person. The van and bus terminals are located in Km. 1 in Roxas City. Tell the driver to drop you off in Albar Terminal if you are planning to take the van. Van fare is 110php per person going to Kalibo. 

Albar Terminal in Roxas City (vans from Roxas City to Kalibo-Caticlan)

Albar Terminal in Roxas City

A few bakeries were opened so we had some coffee and bread inside the van while waiting for some more passengers. Eventually, we left Roxas City around 6:40AM. The drive was smooth as the road to Kalibo is already concrete except for a few meters of dirt road along the way. It took more than 1 and a half hour to Kalibo so we got a few dozes of sleep. We also enjoyed the scenery and the ‘scary’ names of the towns. Town names Sapi-an, Balete, and Banga are worth mentioning. If you’ve watched local Filipino movies, you’d probably understand our amusement.

Aklan Capitol Building under construction

Design of the New Capitol Building of Aklan

Outside the gate of the capitol (south side)

Before reaching the center of Kalibo town, we passed by the Kalibo Provincial Capitol grounds. The van terminal was just near the capitol grounds so we walked our way back. We were hoping to get our traditional capitol-picture-taking again but the capitol building was being renovated. Disappointed was an understatement since we don’t know when we could have another chance to visit Kalibo again. We just took pictures of the other sides of the building.

We didn’t make any reservations for accommodations in Kalibo. We planned to tour the city in the morning while checking the various hotel and pensions house, decide over lunch where we would stay, and check-in on our desired hotel or pension house by 1PM. This was ok since it was not the peak season when we came so most hotels/pension houses were not fully booked. To check out the list and information of the hotel and pension houses that we’ve visited, click HERE. 

Aklan Freedom Shrine

Aklan Freedom Shrine

From the Capitol grounds, we rode a tricycle back to the town center. Our first stop was Ati-Atihan County Inn located in Maagma Street. After getting some information, we walked a steps going to United Veterans Avenue and saw the Aklan Freedom Shrine on the intersection. After taking some pictures and learning a bit of history from the shrine’s marker, we walked along United Veterans Avenue going to GM Reyes Street where the Kalibo Municipal Hall is located. This was a bit of a long walk passing three blocks, and I was kind of hungry already. We saw a lady cooking and selling banana-que though after two blocks (corner 19 Martyrs Street). We were so happy munching over very cheap and tasty banana-que. One stick was worth 7php, way cheaper than the Manila price of 12php in Sampaloc Area.

Kalibo Municipal Hall

After looking around and taking pictures of the Kalibo Municipal Hall, we walked along GM Reyes Street going to the main highway, Aklan East Road/Mabini Street, passing by Magsaysay Park on the left. There is a waiting shed (google map called this Aloha, don’t really know the reason why) in the middle of the intersection of Aklan East Road and GM Reyes Street. People could go up into its second floor rooftop of Aloha where an Ati-Atihan statue is erected. Like in the Ati-Atihan festival, the statue is holding a Sto. Nino image and a shield.

Aloha in Kalibo

View of Plazoleta on top of Aloha, Kalibo

Across the waiting shed is the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School. The YES-O Congress 2013 was being held there. It was the last day of the congress so some ‘tiangge’ were assembled inside the school. The school guard let us in and we looked for a Kalibo souvenir. After finding a ref magnet with an Ati-Atihan design, we had some snacks in another ‘tiangge’ where we ordered crispy hotdog sandwich and mango shake. The mango shake was so refreshing and delicious. It was like the best mango shake we’ve tried in Camiguin. We learned that they got their mangoes from the mango capital of the country, Guimaras.

Mango Shake and Crispy Hotdog Sandwich

After filling our stomachs, we continued our city walk and visited Juliet’s Pension House in United Veterans Avenue and Kalibo Hotel in Roldan Street. We walked back to Roxas Avenue and made our way to the Kalibo Church. Along the way, we passed by Garcia Legaspi Mansion (Roxas Avenue) and made a quick visit in RB Lodge (Pastrana Street). 

View of Roxas Avenue from Garcia Legaspi Mansion

Walking again along Pastrana Street going on the other direction, we turned a right at Regalado Street and reached the Kalibo Church in Martelino Street. A mass was being held at that time so we just did some sightseeing outside the church. We also dropped by the Museo It Akean across the cathedral. It was close though since it was a Sunday. 

Sto. Nino Church of Kalibo

Museo It Akean

We took a rest at the Pastrana Park located on the next block. After getting enough energy, we continued our walk along 19 Martyrs Street and passed by a marker of the Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan.

Pastrana Park

Marker of the 19 Matyrs of Aklan

Along the way, we saw NVC Hotel and Backpackers Haven. Both are located along Pastrana Street, just a few steps from 19 Martyrs Street. From there, we continued our exploration of the Kalibo town. We wanted to reach La Nena’s located on the corner of Mabini Street and Regalado Street by lunch time. Though it looks like Pastrana Park was so far from Mabini Street in the map, we were back in Mabini Street before lunch time. With our cheerful conversation and curiosity of the place, we didn’t feel tired and didn’t even notice that we have walked over 2 kilometers around the town center. I'll be writing about our La Nena experience next time.

La Nena's, Kalibo

After a hearty lunch, we checked the brochures of the different hotel/pension houses that we’ve been to and finally decided to check-in at Ati-Atihan County Inn. We walked again from La Nena’s along Mabini Street going to Ati-Atihan. The sun was high up but we didn’t mind the heat. We saw more interesting restaurants along the way but we weren’t sure if we would be able to try them.

Soon after we checked-in and rested for a few minutes in Ati-Atihan, we proceeded to New Washing town to visit the Sampaguita Gardens. Click HERE to read my post about our time there. We arrived back at Kalibo by 5:30PM just in time for an early dinner at Saylo Cuisine.