The once quiet town of San Remigio in Antique is now booming and blooming, thanks

to the rice terraces and hidden waterfalls of General Fullon that caught the attention of
public and social media. But apart from these newly rediscovered attractions, another
one is making a big buzz – the Rafflesia in Barangay Tubudan and Aningalan.

A view in San Remigio overlooking Matindig Peak in Barangay Aningalan

Rafflesia is the biggest flower in the world which can only be found in South East Asia
including the Philippines with at least 10 out of the 27 known species. But unlike any
other flowers, it has a foul odor attracting flies instead of bees. It displays its full bloom
only in three to four days, before it withers.

Unknown to many, Rafflesia is actually a parasite that depends on tropical grapevine

which are common in the highlands of Antique particularly in the town of Barbaza,
Sibalom, Culasi and San Remigio, dubbed as the “Summer Capital of Antique“.
Rafflesia attracts flies because of its foul odor
Rafflesia are rare and usually hard to find, which is not the case in San Remigio since
they are just short walk, at least fifteen (15) minutes, from the main road. They are
called “oroy” by elders and according to the locals, they bloom all year round, most
specially during rainy season. However, to see them in full bloom is by pure luck.

There are two known sites in San Remigio where Rafflesia can be found. One in Mount
Igtulahong of Barangay Tubudan and the other is in Igbaclag Cave of Barangay
Aningalan.

Mount Igtulahong, Barangay Tubudan

Do not be intimidated of Mount Igtulahong being a mountain for it is just a short trek
from the main road of Barangay Tubudan. Do not underestimate it either and prepare
for some cliff scrambling since the trail to the peak is made up of pointed rocks and
boulders beautifully decorated with Rafflesia and other tropical plants.
A withering Rafflesia in Barangay Tubudan
It is a good thirty minutes cliff scrambling to the peak that offers panoramic view of the
hinterland of San Remigio, overlooking the mountains of Sibalom and Leon in Iloilo.

Local guides are readily available at the Rafflesia Information Center along the main
road. Rate is P150 per guide for one to five person, entrance fee is P30 per person for it
is a private property.
The rocky peak of Mt. Igtulahong overlooking the highland of San Remigio
Igbaclag Cave and Stone Castle, Barangay Aningalan

Not far from Barangay Tubudan is Barangay Aningalan, famous for Igbaclag Cave and
Stone Castle, and of course the two species of Rafflesia – Rafflesia
speciosa and Rafflesia lobota – that dwell on the rich ground around the cave.
Rafflesia in Barangay Aningalan
Igbaclag Cave is made up of two cave chambers with different openings. The bigger
cave, home to numerous swiftlets or balinsasayaw, has two entry points and has narrow
pathways that lead to still unexplored areas. The other one is quite bare and short.
The Stone Castle of Aningalan
The cave is crowned with tall limestone rocks forming a cliff that locals refer as Stone
Castle. Prepare to be amazed as it does really feels like you are in a castle once you
get inside, particularly in the spot aptly named as “Balcony” with its high ceiling stone
tower. For the more adventurous ones, go cliff scrambling and climb on your own risk to
the rocky and pointed peaks they call “Terrace” and be awed with the panoramic view
on top.
The way to the Balcony
Local guides are readily available at the Igbaclag Cave. Rate is P150 per guide for one
to five person while entrance fee is P20 per person, payable at the cave. Meanwhile,
the barangay is also collecting P30 per person registration fee payable at the hall.
The pointed and rocky cliff on top of Igbaclag Cave is called Terrace.

How to go to San Remigio, Antique

Going here, catch a van from Iloilo City, Kalibo or Caticlan going to San Jose (at most
P150, 3 hours). From San Jose, transfer to a jeep to San Remigio (P28, 45 minutes).
Then single motorcycle to Tubudan or Aningalan (P100/motorbike/one-way, 20
minutes).
Kuya Boy, one of my guides from Tubudan
For more information and inquiry, contact San Remigio Tourism Office
at +639085663379, Aningalan Community-Based Tourism Organization (CBTO)
at +639061589454 or +639058231021, or the Tubudan CBTO at +639151810756.

Special thanks to Flord Nicson Calawag of Katahum Tours for all the assistance.
Thanks too to Kuya Boy, Bor and Jo, my guides in Tubudan, and to Miss Rhoda, my
guide in Aningalan.

Did you know that Antique has its own rice terraces? Located in San Remigio, it was
“discovered” by University of the Philippines-Visayas instructor Emmanuel Lerona, in
2014.

Lerona had been looking at Google Maps of the area and found what he suspected to
be some terraces. After months of trying to find someone who knew where the terraces
were, Lerona, with the help of Flord Calawag, owner of Tibiao-based Katahum Tours,
established contact with the Iraynon Bukidnon community in the area.
The hike up to Brgy. Gen. Fullon in San Remigio takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, at
a relatively brisk pace. The first part of the trek is an easy uphill walk through rice fields
and rivers, but the latter part consists of trails that go up and down the mountains.

When you arrive there, head off the fatigue and ask the guide to take you not only to the
viewpoint where you can see the best of the rice terraces, but also to some of the
waterfalls, including Kawa-kawa.

If you’re lucky, you can also see a Rafflesia in bloom, too, considered the biggest flower
in the world. Just ask your guide to show you where the “stinky” flower is! If you can’t
find one in bloom (they die 3-5 days after blooming), you can try to find more Rafflesia
in Brgy. Aningalan, just ask tourism officer Charity Sanchez at (+63 908) 566-3379.

Rafflesia speciosa. Photo by by Aleah Taboclaon

Where to stay: There are homestays in Brgy. Gen. Fullon. To arrange for a guide,
food, and accommodation, contact KatahumToursAntique@gmail.com. They have a
good hilot there, too, who does home service.

Free climb the karst cliffs at Igbaclag Cave (San Remigio, Antique)

Igbaclag Cave. Photo by Tonzie Gay

Also in San Remigio, you can find the Igbaclag Cave, a karst cave that invites free
climbing up to the peak. The climb is not for the faint of heart; there are no ropes and no
harnesses in place. All that’s needed is a lot of guts and steady footing. The view from
the top is very much worth any scrapes you might get from the climb.

Igbaclag Cave is managed by the Aningalan community-based tourism organization.

Contact Charity Sanchez if you want to go there (+63 908) 566-3379.

 Disconnect from internet (recommended)

 Extract and install the program (run setup)
 Don’t run yet, exit the program if running
 Copy Patch file to the installation directory
 Run as admin and click on “Patch” to apply
 Or just extract and run the portable version
 Don’t use the login or register functions!