Panay, Island in Western Visayas, Philippines.
Panay is a triangular island in Western Visayas, Philippines, with mountain ranges along its western coast and flat plains covering much of its interior. It is divided into four provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, each with its own capital city.
Before the 13th century, the island was known as Simsiman, and it later became one of the first strongholds of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. Iloilo, in the southeast of the island, served as a key port and administrative center for the surrounding region during that era.
The island is home to four languages, each tied to one of its provinces: Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Aklanon, and Capiznon. Crossing from one province to another, a visitor can hear the language shift noticeably in conversations, on signs, and in local songs.
The island has two airports, one in Iloilo and one in Kalibo, both serving international routes. A road network connects all four provinces, and buses or rental vehicles are the most common way to get around between towns.
The river that gives the island its name runs across the interior and flows into the Sibuyan Sea, yet most visitors never see it. It passes through farming villages far from the main tourist routes, making it a rarely visited part of the island.
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