Sibunag Archives - Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras

February 18, 2026

CMPG

The Sabang Seaweed Growers Association (SSGA) was established on January 20, 2009, initially comprising 119 members, primarily composed of small-scale fisherfolk. It has been officially registered with the Department of Labor and Employment since 2013. The association has engaged in various capacity-building activities and has received support from agencies including the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6, DOLE Region 6, the Provincial Government of Guimaras, the Municipality of Sibunag, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), academic institutions, and non-government organizations. In 2021, the SSGA was provided with a processing center to support value-added production, such as ...

Significant Personalities

VICENTE BRIZA ALVAREZ, SR.

Guimaras, Sibunag

February 18, 2026

CMPG

Vicente Briza Alvarez, born on September 7, 1927, in Tabaco City, Albay, was a marine biologist known for pioneering seaweed farming in the Philippines. He earned his degrees in Marine Biology from the University of the Philippines Diliman and the University of Hawaii. Alvarez contributed significantly to the study and cultivation of the seaweed Kappaphycus, leading to the development of Eucheuma farming in the country. In 1969, he introduced seaweed farming in Tawi-Tawi, and, in 1973, a strain of seaweed locally known as “guso” or “tambalang” (Kappaphycus alvarezii), was named in his honor. His work is credited in bringing economic ...

Intangible Cultural Heritage, Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe

SALT MAKING

Bubog, Guimaras, Sebaste, Sibunag

February 18, 2026

CMPG

Salt making is practiced in the coastal barangays of Sebaste and Bubog in Sibunag, Guimaras, where residents use punungan or fishponds during the dry season, January until May, to produce salt. The practice in the barangay was said to have began in 1983 when Teofisto Vilchez converted his fishpond into an asinan to provide income and employment. At present, only Sebaste remained active in salt production, sustained by 39 workers in the Sebaste-Bubog Salt-Making Association. The process of salt production involves creating clay boxes (kahons) and filling them with seawater. Once the salt has dried and crystallized, it is harvested ...

Bodies of Water, Natural Heritage

SIBUNAG RIVER

Alegria, Guimaras, Sibunag

February 18, 2026

CMPG

Sibunag River is the longest river in Guimaras which spans approximately 10 kilometers from its source in the hills of Barangays Millan, Tanglad, and Ayangan to its mouth at the Guimaras Strait. Flowing through Barangay Alegria, it provides irrigation to agricultural lands and supports fishing, as well as sand and gravel extraction. Rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, the river is steeped in legend, most notably the tale of Prince Sibunag which explains the river’s mystical origins. During both the Spanish and Japanese colonial periods, it served as a strategic refuge. Presently, it is a site for community gatherings, festivities, ...

Heritage Houses/Vernacular Architecture, Tangible Immovable Heritage

MAESTRAL ANCESTRAL HOUSE

Guimaras, Sebaste, Sibunag

February 18, 2026

CMPG

The Maestral Ancestral House in Barangay Sebaste, Sibunag, Guimaras is said to be the first concrete house in the barangay and believed to be the only intact ancestral home in the municipality. Built with materials transported from Iloilo by batil, the house features a blend of modern and traditional designs. The house is located on a 3.4-hectare property and includes a spacious interior with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen extension. Significant to the community, the house is a witness to several prominent local events including a dubbed ‘wedding of the year’ in 1997. Furthermore, the house serves as ...

SABANG SEAWEED GROWERS ASSOCIATION

Cultural Mapping Of Panay and Guimaras

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