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[av_heading heading=’PEOPLE POWWOW | Sira-an: Antique’s booming tourist destination’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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Sunday, March 19, 2017
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ANINI-Y, the southernmost municipality of Antique Province, is an idyllic setting for a break from day-to-day routine. Straddling the mountain on one side and the sea on the other, it ranks as the province’s No. 1 tourist haven, primarily because of its Sira-an Hot Spring & Health Resort.
Sira-an nestles on the craggy cliff-edge of Barangay Nato, Anini-y, Antique — one side fronting the highway, the other facing the Sulu Sea. Tourists come here not just to savor the moment but also to stay healthy.
It used to be a natural “bowl” of warm spring water continuously flowing from crevices of a volcano-like basalt bulge along the beach. A scientific theory behind this phenomenon is that molten matter from the Earth’s interior is blocked in its path by solid rock. Only the gases in the magma escape, heating the water underground and pushing it up the surface. No wonder the surface water is rich in sulphur, a mineral capable of healing skin diseases and muscle pain.
Through the initiative of Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao, the provincial government has developed that natural wonder into a 6,012-square-meter concrete resort showcasing various sizes of swimming pools and bath tubs, transforming it into a tourism haven.
Sira-an derives its name from the local word “sira,” which refers to the white or yellowish specks of sulphur drying up on the skin of the spring bathers.
While this municipal government-run resort is a potent tourist magnet by itself, it has also become a spillover destination of foreign and local tourists either going to or coming from the famous Boracay Island.
Between Sira-an and Boracay are around a dozen beach and inland resorts accessible to visitors on private vehicles.
Sira-an-bound individuals on budget may take passenger buses and vans plying the San Jose-Anini-y, Iloilo-Anini-y or Iloilo-San Jose via Anini-y routes.
Tourists coming from Manila to Iloilo City by plane may take a bus or van bound for Anini-y, Antique at the Molo bus terminal.
Filipino tourists may come in for an entrance fee of P60 only for adults and P40 for children 5 to 12 years old. Foreigners pay higher at P100.
To cope with the increasing number of daily tourists, laborers are frantically rushing to construct more facilities. As of today, Sira-an has one “infinity” pool that can accommodate 20 swimmers at a time and 12 bath tubs of different sizes for immersion. Under construction is the giant “slide pool,” where customers may glide from a platform to the water. The platform doubles as viewing deck offering a spectacular view of the sea and shoreline.
Kayak boats are available for rent.
Lodging facilities are available for stay-in tourists.
Visitors may bring their own baon or food provision to be eaten in bamboo cottages or under mushroom-shaped concrete “picnic cottages,” which are for rent at P200 per day.
Those with no baon may eat breakfast, lunch or dinner and drink drinks in the only restaurant thereat, which stays open from 7 a.m. to midnight.
The view from the shoreline is that of the Nogas Island, a marine and bird sanctuary. It is also the location of the only lighthouse in the province which serves as landmark and guide of ships passing by. Also a favorite tourist attraction, it is accessible in 10 to 15 minutes by motorized boats for hire. But that’s another story for a future column./PN
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