Pa
panay is the
place where the dawn of Christianity started. it is also the center of
the first act of revolt against the Spaniards in the province of capiz.
the first encounter between the Filipino revolutionaries and the Spanish
forces happened in may 1897 at Tadio Bridge. Despite the inferiority in
manpower and arms, the revolutionaries were able to repulse the
advances of the Spanish forces by sheer ingenuity. using only "gafas"
nipa stalks which looked like rifles from afar, they have the Spaniards
thinking that the Filipino revolutionaries were well equipped and
prepared retreated to Capiz now Roxas city.
Panay's centuries old church
is the town's historic landmark and foremost tourist attraction. it was
constructed in 1571 and complete in 1771. The grand structure is 70
meters long, 25 meters wide, 18 meters hide and shape in the form of a
Latin cross.The 3 meter thick wall is made of coral blocks and the
flooring of back Spanish marble,red tiles and ceramic. It has three (3)
towering altars made of hardwood decorated with ornamental Bas-relief
and antique statues,a delicate expression of old Spanish baroque. Atop
the church belfry, hangs the biggest bell in Asia. Its booming sound
could be heard 8 kilometers away. It is about 7 feet tall, a base
diameter of 5 feet and weighs 10.4 tons. Seventy sacks of coins were
used to cast the giant bell in 1878.
