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LEON: The Great Escape
The municipality of Leon, a 48-minute hop by jeepney, 28.2 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City, sits at the foot of Mount Madja-as. With Barangay Bucari (the highest portion) on a 1,200-metre-above sea level location surrounded with evergreens, and because of its cool climate---on some days it even gets foggy---the area around is a popular summer retreat from the heat of the nearby city. The municipality exercises a curious, magnetic pull. This is rural life in extremis, on market days at Fridays, are rambunctious group of merchants and middlemen flogging chickens in exchange for clothes or shoes, fresh vegetables by the baskets and the sweetest mangoes in the province. Compulsive eaters sing the praises of “ Linagpang nga Manok ,” loved as much for its native chicken on spicy soup stock. A visit to the 18 th century church, Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria , is acclaimed to have the biggest stone edifice in the whole island of Panay, will give you some idea of the area's historical significance.
With a land area of 14,013 hectares, the municipality is home to 43,729 residents. Its 85 barangays offers some of the best, and often the most extreme, trekking in Iloilo. Leon offers plenty of opportunities to explore pristine wilderness areas. Popularly known as the little Baguio of Iloilo Province, BUCARI , for example offers exhilarating trekking through dense 30-50 year old evergreens. Declared as an Eco-tourist zone, this 10,432.875-hectare land is more eco-friendly than its Banaue counterpart because of the agro-forest character of the farms diversified by fruit trees in between the terraces. Not so much of a secret any more, Leon boasts a handful of good waterfalls. Most popular is situated at Barangay Camandag, 31 kilometers straight from the Poblacion, the IMOY Waterfalls . Surrounded by wild flowers, this type has a natural spring which is the main source of its water. This falls is accessible by jeepney all year round.
Throw yourself to the unending beat of indigenous instruments and Leon's predisposition for a good party. HANDURAW Festival is a sustained week-long frenzy of the municipality's culinary ingenuity. Handuraw is partly a historical festival----held to commemorate the transfer of Pueblo del Camando to Sitio Capan, the present site of the municipality. Groups coming from outlying entities with rhythmic movements will be part of a street spectacle and assumed the status of an exuberant cultural show for locals and visitors alike. Surely, for first-timers, it will be a memorable, deafening spectacle, with dozens of intricately-dressed Leonians dancing the Camando dance through the streets in to the sounds of the Handuraw drums. With the theme; “ Leon: The Next Eco-Tourism Destination ,” the festival, now on its 5 th year, is committed to provide the people of Leon and its visitors an experience they will surely miss.
Headed by their very active mayor, Hon. Romulo C. Cabana, Jr. the festival is set to open on August 26, 2005, with series of lined-up activities for everyone to enjoy. From Food Festival to Agro-Industrial fair, Torch Parade to Tunog-Pinoy--- set to open on the first day. The search for Binibining Leon-Tourism will mesmerize everyone on the second day. A Seminar on Livestock Upgrading, Mango Production, Coconut Virgin Oil Demonstration with LGU Officials and Employees Night follows on the third day. The Handuraw tribe competition culminates on September 1, 2005. Leon, a municipality rich in culture…gifted with natural wonders…proud of its history and hard-working, environmentally-conscious and peace-loving people. No other place offers great escape from city life than Leon. Whatever you do, wherever you go in this municipality, you will always enjoy the warmest welcome in this side of the province. (photos by Ramon Ramirez) |
