Melo Villareal
Seco Island Travel Guide
An uninhabited island located North East of the Sulu Sea with a 1.5 km stretch of sand and shallow clear sea, this island is a crown jewel of Antique and probably one of the best-kept secrets of the province. This island is part of Tibiao Antique which is now dubbed as the eco-heritage destination of Panay Island.
Aerial Photo of Seco Island
Seco Island in Tibiao Antique
Seco Island used to be a sanctuary for fishermen seeking refuge from bad weather during their fishing expeditions. Even until today, it is visited by fishermen to sun dry their fish. There is no infrastructure, no trees, and definitely no vendors on the island, just pure white sand surrounded by crystal clear body of water in the middle of the ocean.
A Haven for Kite Surfers
Considered by Yahoo Philippines as one of the top five kiteboarding spots in the Philippines, the beauty of Seco Island is now put into the limelight. The category level for kiteboarding is three to advance.
For kite-surfers, the island provides consistent strong winds that could propel surfers up to 50 to 150 ft. high while on their surfboards and the shallow and clear water with sandbanks are perfect for jumping and aerial tricks. This is way better than the winds found in Boracay, which is why Seco Island is fast becoming a favorite destination among kite enthusiasts who don’t mind traveling all the way from Boracay.
With an average of 4 ½ hours scenic trip from Boracay to Seco Island, kitesurfers, particularly advanced ones can easily return to civilization once the thirst for adventure on a remote island is quenched.
Saving Seco Island
Last June 12, 2014, the Philippine flag was raised in Seco Island in celebration of the 116th Philippine Independence Day. The objective of the historical event is to help preserve, protect, and rehabilitate the island paradise.
This was made possible by the organizer’s SB Karmila Dimamay of Tibiao, SB Pio Sumande of Hamtic, and SP Victor Condez. Governor Exequiel Javier gave his big support as well as the municipal officials of Tibiao headed by our Mayor, Hon. Bandoja, SB Dalisay, and SB Flores. The Antique Mountaineering Society, Inc., Antique Trekkers Inc., Provincial Tourism Office thru Ms. Leah Marlie Pagunsan-Tambanillo, Flord Nicson J. Calawag and his group, DSWD Region VI group, Chester Rene Regondon, Sibalom group, DOH Representative Region VI, AFON, PNP – Tibiao, 602nd SARA, PDRRMC Rep., Peter John and his Group, Navy, biathletes, media, PO’s and NGOs, Malabor Fisher-folks Association (MFA) and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) of Tibiao also joined the big event.
The group accomplished cleaning the island with non-biodegradable garbage. Hundreds of coconut and talisay trees were also planted around the island. For the first time, a Biathlon event (running and swimming) was simultaneously done.
The most important thing about the big event is to create awareness about the situation of the island and its call for help against illegal activities such as dynamite and cyanide fishing, the use compressors, quarrying of bunker white sand that reduced the size of the island by half, cutting of trees and littering.
The event ended with the deployment of Bantay Dagat in the island to be manned by the members of the MFRAC members of Tibiao.
One of the movers of Antique Tourism promotion, Flord Nicson Calawag is the owner and proprietor of Tibiao Fish Spa and Katahum Tours.
He is a marine fisheries graduate from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) in Miag-ao, Iloilo.
He discovered a kind of fish from a friend’s mountain and he later utilized them in their first-ever fish therapy spa in the town of Tibiao. To date, Tibiao Fish Spa is now one of the famous tourist places in the province of Antique.
Tibiao Fish Spa / Katahum Tours
Contact: FLORD NICSON J. CALAWAG / Founder & General Manager
Websites: tibiaofishspa.com / katahum.com
Calawgan, Tibiao
Antique, Philippines 5707
Contact No: +63919-813-9893 / +63917-631-5777
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Also read:
- Antique Travel Guide: Budget And DIY Itinerary, Things To Do + More
- Experience Kawa Hot Bath In Tibiao Antique
- The Treasures Of Antique Heritage Tour: Kruhay Antique!
