It is a center of copra and aquaculture production. The surrounding area grows sugarcane, rice, coconut, fruit, hemp, and tobacco. The language spoken in
According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 126,352 people in 25,126 households.
The abundance of marine life makes
History of this Capiz
Originally founded as the town of
Olotayan island is also one of the most beautiful spots of the Captivating Capiz...Some say that it is widely comparable to the astonishing white sand of Boracay..Olotayan Island, can be found in Roxas City, Capiz Philippines. It is a place where beauty reigns, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the beach, in short it is a paradise. It is relaxing and wonderful to stay at the Olotayan Island of the Captivating Capiz...It is best to visit there if its summer, go invite your friends and have fun, you can go swimming and snorkelling during calm surf. You can also enjoy sailing, jet-skiing/flat boat riding, wind surfing, skimboarding, fishing and also seaweed harvesting.
The Diocese of Captivaitng Capiz was created on January 27, 1951 and was elevated to an archdiocese on January 17, 1976. It now comprises the civil province of Capiz and Roxas City and has Kalibo and Romblon as suffragans. Capiz has a population of 652,809, of which 90 per cent are Catholics. Capiz is one of the provinces on the island of Panay. 
It is part of a group of provinces forming the Western Visayas group now comprising Region VII. On Panay Island, Capiz is bounded on the south and on the east by the province of Iloilo, on the west by Antique, on the northwest by Aklan and on the north by the Sibuyan Sea.
The early history of Capiz is closely associated with that of Aklan. Both were called Aklan under Datu Bankaya who, with ten other datus from Borneo settled in Panay in the 13th century. Aklan was ruled by the descendants of Bankaya until the Spaniards arrived in 1569. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi is reported to have established a settlement in Capiz and made it an independent encomienda.
The entire island of Panay was under the leadership of Datu Sumakwel who is remembered in Philippine history as the wisest of the group of datus from Borneo who bought the lowlands with gold from the Negritos. The so called Code of Kalantiaw, a code of laws in pre-Spanish times, also originated from Panay, presumably made by Datu Kalantiaw, descendant of Sumakwel.
The separation of Aklan from Capiz took place in 1956. Today Capiz is a prosperous province with an oversupply of rice, enough sugar production, and more than enough fish harvested from its 80-kilometer coastline. Most of the inhabitants speak Hiligaynon, a kind of Visayan with a distinct accent.
In the seminars, which the archbishop himself initiates, updating and renewal in the faith are emphasized. Sacred Scriptures are being presented as an all-important factor in the renewal and maturing of the faith. The documents of Vatican II, the Code of Canon Law, tile pronouncements of the Holy Father and the pastoral letters of the CBCP, most specially the documents and decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, are given the importance due them and are disseminated among the clergy and laity.
Decrees, encyclicals, exhortations coming from the Vatican, and pastoral letters and guidelines from the CBCP are reprinted and translated into the local dialect for distribution to all priests for further dissemination to the laity.
There are 85 priests and 54 religious sisters ministering to the needs of the 22 parishes, 1 quasi-parish and 4 chaplaincies. Catholic institutions in the archdiocese, aside from a seminary and Catholic schools, include an orphanage, a home for the aged, and a hospital. The number of BEC's and faith communities have now come up to 763.
Heritage Features: Pan-ay belongs to the Baroque style. The pediment cascades gracefully down. The façade is ornamented with swags of flowers, niches and statuary. The bell tower to the left of the façade is simple in contrast to the façade. It base is planned as a quadrilateral but its upper stories are octagonal with the two sides longer than the other. To the church was attached an L-shaped convento, which had been ruined. Remnants of the covento have been incorporated into the present modern convento. Behind the church are remnants of a wall, which according to town lore was once a fortification. Attached to the sacristy is a large storage room, now converted into a Blessed Sacrament chapel.
he Sinadya sa Halaran Festival is the joint festival of the City of Roxas and the Province of Capiz. It is a mixed festival in that it is celebrated for both cultural and religious reasons. It is celebrated every first weekend of December in commemoration of the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate Concepcion who also happens to be the patroness of the City of Roxas. Sinadya sa Halaran boasts of colorful activities like the grand parade of festivals, the fluvial parade, the lighted river floaters. There is also the traditional seafood festival and the grand pyrotechnic display.
Sinadya sa Halaran is one of Roxas City’s most important annual events and is fusion of two festivals – “Sinadya” (City) and “Halaran” (Province) which literally means joy in sharing and thanksgiving. It is celebrated on December 4-8 to commemorate the religious activities that embody the true Capiceño spirit. The highlights of the celebration are the Dancing Parade, ”Higantes”, Fluvial Parade, Fireworks display, Mutya sa Halaran beauty pageant, Coronation of the Fiesta Queen, and Agri-Aqua Trade Fair.
he Diwal Harvest Seafood Festival is held every 2nd weekend of July. The Diwal is a rare bivalve found abundantly along the coastal waters of Roxas City and Capiz. Ten years ago it disappeared from the waters of the City and Province because of illegal harvesting practices and pollution. Now, ten years later, after intensive research, seeding, and strict fishing and harvesting legislation, the Diwal is again ready for harvest as the efforts of the City have once again caused its abundance. The festival was first celebrated this year and will be celebrated annually. The Diwal is known for its sweet and juicy qualities and its immaculately while elliptical shells, hence the name “Angel Wing” Shell. Every year during the festival, tons of the bivalve are harvested and sold in the open market and the seafood festival, with drinks and music, and lots of partying in thanksgiving to the Almighty for the great and rare bounty that is Diwal.
The two-day celebration fits its national image as the seafood capital. Diwal, popularly known as “Angelwings” is one of the most sought after bivalve for it’s sweet, juicy and tender taste. It can be recalled that Diwal was first harvested in commercial quantity back in 1994. it’s abundance triggered wanton harvest that wrought havoc to its natural habitat. The destruction caused the absence of Diwal for almost a decade until a research team from the Institute of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas came to the rescue in cooperation with the Philippine Council for Aquatic & Marine Research & Development (PCAMRD), the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Capiz Provincial Government. The city government funded study on “Habitat and Reproductive Biology of Angelwings, Pholas Orientalis (Gmelin) eventually restored the natural habitat that brought back Diwal from years of absence.
The Aswang Festival of Capiz was a soaring success marked by a huge attendance of ebullient visitors who became part of amazing events like Manggad sg Capiz Trade Fair, Lupad Capiznon Job Fair, Pagtukib sa mga Sugilanon (a symposium featuring various folklore and myth of Capiz), Pasundayag Torch Parade, Balangaw sg Abilidad Capiznon (a showcase of Capiz's very own pop bands), Mga Sugilanon On-the-Spot Art Contest, Pagtukib sg Kamatuoran (a symposium on historical and archeological findings in Capiz), Matahum Capizena A Fashion Show and Comparza, among others. A grand opening fireworks display dubbed Palupok welcomed guests and participants of this year's Aswang Festival.More than just a huge turnout on the attendance during the different events, restaurants like Buurp!, Groove City, Pangahaw, Pat-pat's and several others, reported experiencing unusually high number of customers in the whole duration of the festival. All trade fair participants disclosed gaining positive income, and there was also a remarkable number among applicants during the job fair.
John Alaban left a huge crowd awe-inspired by his artistry which gained him 1st places in both Alternative Art and On-the-Spot Mural Artwork Contests. Lloyd Develos was the featured artist for the body painting event. The three costume winners for the dinning seafoods fest also surprised the crowd and it was Marcel Millian who ran away with the 1st prize award and P2,000.
One of the biggest treats during the Aswang Festival was the Triple M Carnival at the Arnaldo Boulevard animating Capizenos and guests with ten exciting rides which included a horror train, octopus, mini roller coaster and a lot more. The seven different tribes made the festival very colorful. Tikbalang won 1st place (P20,000), Sigbin-2nd place (P15,000) and Kapre-3rd place (10,000). The other participating tribes were: Amamanhig, Shokoy, Bruha and Tik-tikCAPTIVATING CAPIZ HYMN
O Capiz duog nga hamili
Dunang manggad sang
Diyos pinili, kadagatan
Mo kag kabukiran
Pagatatapon imong kabuganaan
Capiz matahum nga ngalan
Sa tagipusuon ikaw
Mapahamtang dumuluong ka o
Capizeno man ang
Kagayon sa gihapon
Nahamut’an
Chorus:
O, Capiz Capiz bisan
Diin kami padulong
O, Capiz Capiz imo
Ngalan pagadal’on
Capiz probinsiya nga
Pinasahi bilidhon ang mga
Palanublion ipadayon, palig-onon
Itib-ong Capiznon tanan
Magahugpong
(Repeat Chorus 2x)
Imo ngalan pagadal-on
