Lakawon
Encyclopedia
Lakawon, also called Llacaon, is a 13-hectare, banana-shaped island off the coast of Cadiz City
in the northern portion of Negros Occidental
, a province in the Western Visayas
region of the Philippines
. A white sand beach resort on the island, a family-run business, is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists.
word lakaw, meaning "to walk". The island may have gotten its name because during low tide, one has to literally walk or wade a long distance to or from the main island.
, the provincial capital. The island is accessible from the coast of Barangay Cadiz Viejo via a 20-minute boat ride. Lakawon's white sand beach is claimed to rival that of Boracay
, a popular island resort off the coast of Aklan
in Panay
. In stark contrast to its more famous counterpart, however, Lakawon has a smaller influx of tourists, and the island is not commercially developed.
The island is more akin to a sandbar. The white sand beaches are largely on the part of the island facing the island of Negros. The opposite portion, facing the open sea, is more rugged. There is a small fishing village on one side of the island. The inhabitants there earn their living from harvesting the sea's bounty.
s available for hire, driver included. One may also take Ceres Liner
buses from any of the cities and municipalities in the province. From the national highway in Cadiz Viejo, a dirt road leads to the shore. The island is visible from here and parking space is available. The ride to the island by motorized banca
takes about 20 minutes. It is best to arrive in the morning during high tide–the waters will be calmer and there will be less wading required to get to the boat.
Cadiz City
Cadiz City is a 2nd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 141,954 people in 26,998 households. The city is 65 kilometers north of Bacolod City....
in the northern portion of Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
, a province in the Western Visayas
Western Visayas
Western Visayas, one of the regions of the Philippines, is designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces; Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo and 16 cities making it the region with the highest number of cities. Iloilo City is the regional center...
region of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. A white sand beach resort on the island, a family-run business, is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists.
Etymology
The term Lakawon is derived from a CebuanoCebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
word lakaw, meaning "to walk". The island may have gotten its name because during low tide, one has to literally walk or wade a long distance to or from the main island.
Features
Lakawon is 48 kilometers north of Bacolod CityBacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
, the provincial capital. The island is accessible from the coast of Barangay Cadiz Viejo via a 20-minute boat ride. Lakawon's white sand beach is claimed to rival that of Boracay
Boracay
Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice...
, a popular island resort off the coast of Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
in Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
. In stark contrast to its more famous counterpart, however, Lakawon has a smaller influx of tourists, and the island is not commercially developed.
The island is more akin to a sandbar. The white sand beaches are largely on the part of the island facing the island of Negros. The opposite portion, facing the open sea, is more rugged. There is a small fishing village on one side of the island. The inhabitants there earn their living from harvesting the sea's bounty.
As a destination
Getting to Cadiz Viejo, which is the nearest embarkation point to the island, may be done via private or public transportation. From Bacolod City, or any point of Negros, are numerous jeepneyJeepney
Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating...
s available for hire, driver included. One may also take Ceres Liner
Ceres Liner
Ceres Liner is a bus line under Vallacar Transit Inc., the largest public land transportation company in the island of Negros, Philippines. It operates bus transport service to the whole island of Negros from Bacolod City to Panay, Cebu and Samar-Leyte islands...
buses from any of the cities and municipalities in the province. From the national highway in Cadiz Viejo, a dirt road leads to the shore. The island is visible from here and parking space is available. The ride to the island by motorized banca
Banca
-Places:* Bangka Island, an island lying east of Sumatra, part of Indonesia* Banca, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département, France* Banca, Vaslui, a commune in Vaslui County, Romania...
takes about 20 minutes. It is best to arrive in the morning during high tide–the waters will be calmer and there will be less wading required to get to the boat.