Nabas, Aklan

Nabas
Municipality

A mountain range in Nabas, part of Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park.

Seal
Nickname(s): Nature Lovers' Haven

Map of Aklan showing the location of Nabas
Nabas

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 11°50′N 122°05′E / 11.833°N 122.083°E / 11.833; 122.083Coordinates: 11°50′N 122°05′E / 11.833°N 122.083°E / 11.833; 122.083
Country Philippines
Region Western Visayas (Region VI)
Province Aklan
District Lone district
Incorporated 1854 (as Navas)
Barangays 20
Government[1]
 • Mayor James V. Solanoy
 • Vice Mayor Romeo M. Dalisay
Area[2]
 • Total 96.82 km2 (37.38 sq mi)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 31,052
 • Density 320/km2 (830/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
Zip Code 5607
Dialing code 36
Classification 4th Class (Partially Urban)
Languages Aklanon, Malaynon, Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, Tagalog, and English.
Website www.nabas.gov.ph

Nabas (formerly also spelled Navas) is a municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is located east of the town of Malay and Buruanga Peninsula at the north-west tip of Panay Island. It is a coastal town bounded on the north by Sibuyan Sea; on the south by the municipality of Pandan, Antique; on the east by Ibajay; and on the west by Malay. The resort island of Boracay is located 2 km (1.24 mi) swimming distance from the north-westernmost tip of the town.

According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 31,052 people.[3]

Barangays

Nabas is politically subdivided into 20 barangays:[2]

  • Alimbo-Baybay
  • Buenasuerte
  • Buenafortuna
  • Buenavista
  • Gibon
  • Habana
  • Laserna
  • Libertad
  • Magallanes
  • Matabana
  • Nagustan
  • Pawa
  • Pinatuad
  • Poblacion
  • Rizal
  • Solido
  • Tagororoc
  • Toledo
  • Unidos
  • Union

History

Accounts about the earliest community of Nabas are uncertain but the initial documentation for the town's existence was recorded in 1845. Facing the Sibuyan Sea, the town started as a small coastal village referred to as Barrio Alimbo which extends to the hills and mountains to the west. This small community occupies the floodplains of Alimbo River where the village derived its name. Fishing and farming is the primary source of livelihood, even today except for the hunting which was common on that time because of the abundances of wild pig, monkey and deer in the area.

Before, the town was part of the municipality of Ibajay under the jurisdiction of Capiz Province. Ibajay's municipal boundary was so vast but with poor road system. The natives of this municipality spoke two distinct Aklanon dialects. The eastern side of the municipality that is the Ibajay utters a dialect generally spoken by most municipalities of the province. On the other hand, those in the western side constituting now the municipalities of Nabas, Malay and Buruanga spoke and continue to speak until today a dialect currently regarded as Malaynon but with softer intonation. The same dialect was also influenced and spoken by the neighboring Antiqueños, particularly the people from the towns Libertad, Pandan, and Sebaste of Antique Province. Hiligaynon is used as a regional language throughout the municipality.

The developing populaces whose tongue and customs diverge from those of the eastern community build awareness amongst people of the west. The invasion of migrants from the nearby province of Antique continued that further emphasized the difference in dialect and culture to some extent. In 1853, their notion of a separate municipality for better living and independence serves as the foundation for taking apart of Alimbo in concert with its adjoining barrios of Nagustan, Panaytayon (Toledo), Gibon, Namao (Rizal), Kabangrosan (Union), and Pakilawa (Unidos) ceased to be a barrio to form a new municipality inevitably. The municipality was formed in 1854 and named Navas, after Governor Nava of the province of Capiz who came to inspect the area before its creation.

The Cartilla System, an early teaching methods that dominantly use the letter "b" than "v" caused the variable spelling of "Navas" and "Nabas". In 1906, the Municipal Council in a resolution approved by unanimous vote adopted the name Nabas as the official name.

Demographics

Population census of Nabas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 20,538—    
1995 21,391+0.77%
2000 25,014+3.41%
2007 28,345+1.74%
2010 31,052+3.38%
Source: National Statistics Office[3]

Nabas Bariw Festival

The Nabas Bariw Festival is celebrated to commemorate the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer, the town's patron saint. It is celebrated annually from May 12–15. This celebration showcases the town's hat, mat and other bariw products as well as the town's unique tourism sites and natural attractions.

During this affair, various skills in mat, hat and bag making and designing are demonstrated. Among the events is a contest to produce the biggest hat and mat contest. The festival is highlighted by continuous street dancing by folks from the town's 20 barangays dressed in colorful bariw costumes accompanied by indigenous bamboo instruments.

The festival is intended to promote the town's cottage industry, which is a thriving livelihood activity in Nabas. It also promotes the town's well preserved cold spring resorts, lagoons, long winding coastline, rivers, and low elevation intact forest, home to various endemic flora and fauna.

Climate

Climate data for Nabas, Aklan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 30.6
(87.2)
Average low °C (°F) 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24.8
(76.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 79
(3.11)		 48
(1.89)		 63
(2.48)		 52
(2.05)		 127
(5)		 229
(9.02)		 239
(9.41)		 181
(7.13)		 204
(8.03)		 283
(11.14)		 245
(9.65)		 187
(7.36)		 1,937
(76.27)
Average rainy days 15 11 9 6 11 18 20 18 18 21 19 20 186
Source: World Weather Online[4]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Municipalities". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Province: Aklan". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay: as of May 1, 2010" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Gibon, Philippines: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 24 January 2015.

External links

 Sibuyan Sea
Malay Ibajay
   Nabas  
Pandan, Antique
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