Hortus Botanicus "Where People discover the wonder of Nature"

Nestled on the hills of Brgy. Milibili in the City of Roxas is the Hortus Botanicus – home to all plants found in the city streets, parks, plaza and riverbanks. It is about six kilometers east of the plaza and about 10 minutes ride from the heart of the city.

As you enter the vicinity, an immense feeling of tranquility will fill you as you look around and take in the beauty of the surroundings with various trees, plants, shrubs, flowering and ornamental plants.

It occupies about 5.19 hectares of land owned and managed by the city government of Roxas. The area is conducive for picnics, retreats and a refreshing site to commune with nature. Included in this area is a man-made lagoon for boating. A floating cabana has been designed for picnic and fishing.

Master Development plans that promise to transform the Botanical Garden into a tourism  destination are in the offing as the city government came out with “well-studied and comprehensively designed” plans.

At Hortus Botanicus, you can feast your eyes on the panoramic view of the botanical garden, colorful flowers and lush trees.

BOTANICAL GARDEN

Quiet, relaxing and beautiful, the botanical garden is just a wonderful place to spend a bit of time with nature. Take the family, have a walk or perhaps fully immerse yourself in Hortus Botanicus natural surroundings. Hortus Botanicus is the perfect place for you.

PLANT NURSERY

To cater to the requirement of beutifying the projects of the city, plant nursery is established to grow both introduced and native varities of plants needed for landscaping.

GREENHOUSE

The eye-catcher of the Hortus is the greenhouse designed to protect young plants from harsh weather while allowing access to light and        ventilation. Here, you will find tiny tree seedlings being protected with machine controlling the    temperature and humidity in the different areas of the greenhouse.

TREES

You will find palm trees all over the Hortus. This is not surprising since palms grow in different climates. There are at least 19 species of palm trees in Hortus. Mostly, they grow in outdoor garden of the Hortus.

HORTU DE LAGUNA

Boating at the Hortu de Laguna is the garden’s main attraction. Kids and the young at heart most especially will enjoy  boating in the man-made lagoon found at Hortus. It’s a great place to spend quality time with your family and friends.

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Time out for Capiztahan

By Nathalie Tomada

(The Philippine Star/April 22, 2012)

MANILA, Philippines - Yes, it’s more fun to eat seafood in Roxas City. That we happily discovered and experienced during the Capiztahan celebration held at the capital of Capiz last April 13 to 15.

Roxas City is being touted as the seafood capital of the Philippines, being home to one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.

Even the hotel menus are more seafood-oriented. There’s a place called Baybay (which also means seashore), a three-kilometer ride from the city proper, where there’s an array of restaurants serving fresh seafood cooked in many a delectable way. You have oysters, shrimps, crabs, tuna and even catfish on a stick.

Vendors on banca, selling fruits and vegetables

But the seafood, showcased in a fair, was just among the highlights of the three-day Capiztahan, which also celebrated the 111th Foundation Day of the province of Capiz, and the 64th Death Anniversary of the province’s most illustrious son, the late President Manuel Roxas.

Capiztahan, which marked its second year, was a team effort of the Provincial Government of Capiz under Gov. Victor Tanco, the City Government of Roxas under Mayor Angel Celino, the Capiz First District Congressional Office under Rep. Antonio del Rosario and the ONE Capiz Foundation, Inc., led by Judy Araneta-Roxas.

DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas with wife, broadcaster
Korina Sanchez

“Capiztahan last year saw the effective public-private partnership when the celebration was simulated in Araneta Center through the launching of Fiesta-cular Philippines (March of last year), and later the staging of the actual festivity in Capiz in April of last year,” according to Mayor Celino.

This year, ONE Capiz Foundation executive director Melanie Arancillo said that the “activities are more and are really grander, and Capiztahan is really a big hit! It has all the elements of a barrio fiesta.”

Other events that enhanced the festive air included the one-of-a-kind Parade of Lights, which featured electric floats depicting marine creatures. The event was a certified crowd-drawer, attracting more than 25,000 revelers based on police estimates.


The renovated Panublion museum located in the city plaza was also unveiled, with its management and operation transferred to the ONE Capiz Foundation, Inc.

Meanwhile, the People’s Park fronting Baybay beach was also inaugurated. This will be further developed by the Roxas family, led by Araneta-Roxas and son, Transportation Sec. Mar Roxas, in partnership with ONE Capiz and the City government.

The newly-restored historical Geyser fountain by the plaza was also unveiled, with a 100-voice choir lending excitement to the affair.

The STAR also joined the inaugural trip of the Panay River Cruise, the new tourist attraction of Roxas. The relaxing cruise onboard bamboo rafts pulled by motored banca passed through six barangays before winding up at the back of the plaza.

On the way there, what welcomed us were scenic views of mangroves and the silhouette of hills. The riverbanks were also lined with multi-color bougainvilleas. One impressed VIP guest had to comment it was the most underrated river cruise.

There were also docking areas with vendors selling goods, fruits and souvenir items. The cruise would also drop by the fisherman’s village in Barangay Libas where guests get a feel and look at the fisherfolk’s lifestyle, the fish cages and cultured oysters.

Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, chair of the committee on tourism, said that they hoped that through the cruise, Panay River’s potentials in tourism, trade and commerce are explored and maximized.

While you’re in Roxas, be sure to make that side trip to the town of Panay (a 15-minute drive) to visit its history-laden Santa Monica church and museum wherein the biggest bell in Asia can be found. Standing at 7-ft. tall and weighing over 10 tons, it was created in the year 1878 out of the 70 sacks of coins that came from the residents.

DOT Sec. Ramon Jimenez Jr. with ONE Capiz Foundation chair Judy Araneta-Roxas

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. praised the efforts of Capiz. He also noted that tourism in the area holds much promise. “It is growing but there’s much more to do. There is much more growth to be had. It is growing at different rates... But Capiz is far more prepared than everybody else and as you know with tourism, if the local government unit is very active, it’s impossible not to be successful.”

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Panay River Cruise: The ‘thrill’ of CAPIZtahan 2012

A new activity that is set to thrill guests and adventure-seekers is the Panay River Cruise, a 45-minute ride in three wooden rafts. Each of the two rafts is towed by a motorized banca while the other one has built in engine.

Introduced as part of the CAPIZtahan festivities by Roxas City Vice Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on Tourism of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the cruise takes off in the morning of April 14, 2012 at Barangay Barra passing through Barangays Dayao, Cagay, Punta Tabuc, Baraggays 6 and 7, before winding up at the back of the Roxas City plaza bandstand.

The activity promises to be memorable as three Cabinet Secretaries of President Benigno C. Aquino are expected to join the cruise. They are Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.

The guests will be treated to a breathtaking view of mangroves and the various sceneries offered by the river. These include the fishing gears used and actual harvests done by the locals, giving the guests a bird’s eye view of the different marine species found in the river.

Visitors will also be delighted with the sight of the river banks lined with Norfolk Pine trees and bougainvilleas of various colors and hues. The river’s side gutter has also been repainted as part of the river’s beautification. Again, the greening and beautification projects are spearheaded by the Vice Mayor.

There will be several stops in between the cruise, with each “docking area” lined with vendors selling goods and souvenir items.

First stop is the Fishermen’s Village in Barangay Libas, where guests will take a glimpse of the fishermen’s modest homes, fish cages, and cultured oysters in next boxes.

Through the cruise, Dadivas hopes to highlight the Panay River’s potentials in tourism, trade and commerce and, later, as a viable mode of transportation.

The river’s beautification and greening, Dadivas said, is an initiative of ONE Capiz Foundation Inc. with the support of the City and Provincial Governments and the Capiz First Congressional District Office.

Panay River is a 98 –kilometer waterway that starts in Tapaz town passing through several municipalities, including Roxas City, before it empties itself into the Tinagong Dagat Bay in Pontevedra town.

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CAPIZtahan 2012 on April 13-15

The Roxas City Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas joins the CAPIZtahan 2012 festivity. Dali diri sa Roxas City on April 13 to 15 as we all celebrate Capiz 111th foundation celebration of Capiz and commemoration of late President Manuel A. Roxas of its 64th death anniversary.

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