View source for Panay

{{short description|Island in the Philippines}}
{{about|the major island in the Visayas, Philippines|the small island in Bicol Region, Philippines|Panay Island (Catanduanes)|other uses|Panay (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Po-ni|the former state in Borneo|History of Brunei}}
{{Infobox islands
| name               = Panay
| native_name        = 
| native_name_link   = 
| image              = File:Panay Island, PH, Sentinel-2.jpg
| image_caption      = Panay island satellite image captured by [[Sentinel-2]] in 2016
| image_map          = Ph locator map panay.png
| map_alt            = 
| map_width          = 
| map_caption        = Location within the Philippines
| map_relief         = yes
| label              = 
| label_position     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|11|09|N|122|29|E|type:isle_region:PH|display=inline,title}}
| waterbody          = {{unbulleted list | [[Cuyo East Pass]] | [[Guimaras Strait]] | [[Iloilo Strait]] | [[Jintotolo Channel]] | [[Panay Gulf]] | [[Sibuyan Sea]] | [[Sulu Sea]] | [[Visayan Sea]] }}
| location           = [[Southeast Asia]]
| archipelago        = [[Visayas]]
| area_km2           = 12,011
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=unep>{{cite web|url=http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm |title=Islands by Land Area |work=Island Directory Tables |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |access-date=June 7, 2021}}</ref>
| rank               = 65th
| highest_mount      = [[Mount Madja-as]]
| elevation_m        = 2117
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="pn"/>
| coastline_km       = 
| coastline_footnotes = 
| country            = Philippines
| country_admin_divisions_title = Region
| country_admin_divisions = [[Western Visayas]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Provinces
| country_admin_divisions_1 = {{unbulleted list | [[Aklan]] | [[Antique (province)|Antique]] | [[Capiz]] | [[Iloilo]] }}
| country_largest_city = [[Iloilo City]]
| country_largest_city_population = 473,728
| population         = 4,669,037 <!-- sum of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Iloilo City -->
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_footnotes = {{PH census|2020}}
| density_km2        = {{sigfig|4302634/12011|3}}
| ethnic_groups      = {{unbulleted list | [[Visayan people|Visayans]] ([[Hiligaynon people|Hiligaynon]], [[Karay-a people|Karay-a]], [[Capiznon]], [[Aklanon people|Aklanon]], [[Caluyanon language|Caluyanon]]) | [[Ati (tribe)|Ati]] | [[Suludnon]] }}
| demonym            = [[Panayan people|Panayan/Panayanon]]
}}
'''Panay''' is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the [[Philippines]], with a total land area of {{convert|12,011|km2|abbr=on}} and a total population of 4,669,037 as of 2024 census.{{PH census|2015}} Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country.<ref name="Boquet 2017">{{Cite book |last=Boquet |first=Yves |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90C4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16 |title=The Philippine Archipelago |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-51926-5 |series=Springer Geography |location=Cham, Switzerland |page=16 |language=en}}</ref> The [[City of Iloilo]] is its largest settlement, with a total population of 473,728 inhabitants as of the 2024 census.

Panay is a triangular island, located in the western part of the [[Visayas]]. It is about {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} across. It is divided into four [[Provinces of the Philippines|provinces]]: [[Aklan]], [[Antique (province)|Antique]], [[Capiz]], and [[Iloilo]], all in the [[Western Visayas]] [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]. Just off the mid-southeastern coast lies the island-province of [[Guimaras]]. It is located southeast of the island of [[Mindoro]] and northwest of [[Negros Island|Negros]] across the [[Guimaras Strait]]. To the north and northeast is the [[Sibuyan Sea]], [[Jintotolo Channel]] and the island-provinces of [[Romblon]] and [[Masbate]]; to the west and southwest is the [[Sulu Sea]] and the [[Palawan]] archipelago<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=C. Michael |date=2011 |orig-year=2009 |title=Sulu Sea |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sulu_Sea?topic=49523 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504162440/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sulu_Sea?topic=49523 |archive-date=2012-05-04 |website=Encyclopedia of Earth}}</ref> and to the south is [[Panay Gulf]]. Panay is the only main island in the Visayas whose provinces does not bear the name of their island.

Panay is bisected by the [[Central Panay Mountain Range]], its longest mountain chain. The island has many rivers, the longest being the [[Panay River]] at a length of {{convert|168|km|mi}}, followed by the [[Jalaur River|Jalaur]], [[Aklan River|Aklan]], [[Sibalom River|Sibalom]], [[Iloilo River|Iloilo]] and [[Bugang River|Bugang]] rivers. Standing at about {{convert|2117|m|ft|abbr=on}}, the [[Dormant volcano|dormant]] [[Mount Madja-as]] (situated in [[Culasi, Antique]]) is the highest point of the island,<ref name="pn"/> with [[Mount Nangtud]] (located between [[Barbaza, Antique]] and [[Jamindan, Capiz]]) following next at {{convert|2073|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

The island lent its name to several [[United States Navy]] vessels including {{USS|Panay|PR-5}}, sunk in 1937 by the Japanese in the [[USS Panay incident|USS ''Panay'' incident]].

== Etymology ==
In the past, Panay was called ''Simsiman''. The community is located at the shores of the [[Ulian River]] and was linked by a creek. The creek provided salt to the [[Ati people]] as well as animals which lick the salt out of the salty water. Coming from the root word "''simsim''", "''simsimin''" means "''to lick something to eat or to drink''", thus the place was called ''Simsiman''.

The native Ati called the island ''Aninipay'' from words "''ani''" to harvest and "''nipay''", a hairy grass abundant in the whole Panay.

==History==

===Precolonial era===

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| width             = 120
| image1            = Visayans_3.png
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = 
| image2            = Visayans_4.png
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = 
| footer            = '''Left to right''': Images from the [[Boxer Codex]] illustrating members of the ancient [[Visayan]] ''kadatuan'' or ''[[tumao]]'' class from Panay: ['''1'''] couple from the nobility, and ['''2'''] a [[Royal family|royal]] couple.
| footer_align      = left
}}
No pre-Hispanic written accounts of Iloilo and Panay island exist today. Oral traditions, in the form of recited epics like the ''[[Hinilawod]]'', have survived to a small degree. A few recordings of these epic poems exist. The most notable are the works of noted Filipino anthropologist [[Felipe Jocano]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jocano |first1=Felipe Landa |title=Hinilawod: Adventures of Humadapnon Tarangban I |last2=Hugan-an |publisher=Punlad Research House |year=2000 |isbn=971-622-010-3 |location=Quezon City |author-link=F. Landa Jocano}}</ref>

While no current archaeological evidence exists describing pre-Hispanic Panay, an original work by [[Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro]] published in 1907 called [[Maragtas]] details the alleged accounts of the founding of the various pre-Hispanic polities on Panay Island. The book is based on oral and written accounts available to the author at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Locsin-Nava |first=Ma. Cecilia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v8Xk_10M4icC |title=History & Society in the Novels of Ramon Muzones |publisher=Ateneo de Manila University Press |date=2001 |isbn=978-971-550-378-5 |location=Quezon CIty |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=v8Xk_10M4icC&pg=PA46 46]}}</ref> The author made no claim for the historical accuracy of the accounts.<ref>Originally titled ''Maragtás kon (historia) sg pulô nga Panay kutub sg iya una nga pamuluyö tubtub sg pag-abut sg mga taga Borneo nga amó ang ginhalinan sg mga bisayâ kag sg pag-abut sg mga Katsilâ'', {{Harvnb|Scott|1984|pp=92–93, 103}}</ref> Noted anthropologist and historian William Henry Scott initially concluded in his dissertation that it was a myth, but in a revised version admitted its credibility is debatable and concluded it was most likely based on real folk legends.
[[File:Confederation of Madjaas.png|left|thumb|230x230px|A map showing the Confederation of Madja-as.]]
According to Maragtas, [[Madja-as]] was founded after ten datus fled Borneo and landed on Panay Island. The book then goes on to detail their subsequent purchase of the coastal lands in which they settled from the native Ati people. There were other datus who settled in Southern Luzon and Negros Island, but Madja-as was the center and other barangays within the Kedatuan took turns in being the capital. Then, the Kedatuan of Madja-as, recruiting natives from the Philippines; and the immigrants from Borneo, went back and waged a successful war against Rajah or Sultan Makatunao, who's oppression forced the 10 Datus to flee. Afterwards, the treasures and loot from the conquest and sacking of Borneo, were carried back to the newly founded towns of the Datus in the various islands scattered in the archipelago.

An old manuscript ''Margitas'' of uncertain date (discovered by the anthropologist [[H. Otley Beyer]])<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=William Henry |title=Pre-hispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History |publisher=New Day Publishers |year=1984 |location=Quezon City |pages=101, 296}}</ref> gives interesting details about the laws, government, social customs, and religious beliefs of the early Visayans, who settled Panay within the first half of the thirteenth century.<ref name="G. Nye Steiger 1929, p. 122">G. Nye Steiger, H. Otley Beyer, Conrado Benitez, ''A History of the Orient'', Oxford: 1929, Ginn and Company, p. 122.</ref> The term ''[[Visayan]]'' was first applied only to them and to their settlements eastward in the island of Negros, and northward in the smaller islands, which now compose the province of Romblon.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Steiger |first1=G. Nye |title=A History of the Orient |last2=Beyer |first2=H. Otley |author-link2=H. Otley Beyer |last3=Benitez |first3=Conrado |author-link3=Conrado Benitez |date=1929 |publisher=Ginn and Company |location=Oxford |pages=122–123}}</ref> In fact, even at the early part of Spanish colonialization of the Philippines, the Spaniards used the term ''Visayan'' only for these areas. While the people of Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte were for a long time known only as Pintados. The name ''Visayan'' was later extended to them because, as several of the early writers state, their languages are closely allied to the Visayan dialect of Panay.<ref>G. Nye Steiger, H. Otley Beyer, Conrado Benitez, ''A History of the Orient'', Oxford: 1929, Ginn and Company, pp. 122–123.</ref>

Gabriel Ribera, captain of the Spanish royal infantry in the Philippine Islands, also distinguished Panay from the rest of the Pintados Islands. In his report (dated 20 March 1579) regarding a campaign to pacify the natives living along the rivers of Mindanao (a mission he received from Dr. Francisco de Sande, Governor and Captain-General of the Archipelago), Ribera mentioned that his aim was to make the inhabitants of that island "''vassals of King Don Felipe… as are all the natives of the island of Panay, the Pintados Islands, and those of the island of Luzon…''"<ref>Cf. BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 04 of 55 (1493–1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", pp. 257–260.</ref>

During the early part of the colonial period in the Archipelago, the Spaniards led by [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] transferred their camp from [[Cebu Island|Cebu]] to Panay in 1569. On 5 June 1569, Guido de Lavezaris, the royal treasurer in the Archipelago, wrote to Philip II reporting about the Portuguese attack to Cebu in the preceding autumn. A letter from another official, Andres de Mirandaola (dated three days later, 8 June), also described briefly this encounter with the Portuguese. The danger of another attack led the Spaniards to remove their camp from Cebu to Panay, which they considered a safer place. Legazpi himself, in his report to the Viceroy in New Spain (dated 1 July 1569), mentioned the same reason for the relocation of Spaniards to Panay.<ref name="BLAIR, Emma Helen 1911 pp. 15">Cf. BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 03 of 55 (1493–1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", pp. 15–16.</ref> It was in Panay that the conquest of Luzon was planned, and later launched on 8 May 1570.<ref>Cf. BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 03 of 55 (1493–1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", p. 73.</ref>

===The account of early Spanish explorers===
[[File:1734 Map of Panay.jpg|thumb|right|A 1734 map of Panay]]

During the early part of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the Spanish Augustinian Friar Gaspar de San Agustín, O.S.A. described Panay as: ''"…very similar to that of Sicily in its triangular form, as well as in it fertility and abundance of provision. It is the most populated island after Manila and Mindanao, and one of the largest (with over a hundred leagues of coastline). In terms of fertility and abundance, it is the first.'' […] ''It is very beautiful, very pleasant, and full of coconut palms… Near the river Alaguer'' (''Halaur''), ''which empties into the sea two leagues from the town of Dumangas…, in the ancient times, there was a trading center and a court of the most illustrious nobility in the whole island."''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas (1565–1615) |date=1975 |publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas |editor-last=Merino |editor-first=Manuel |location=Madrid |pages=374–376 |language=es}}</ref> Padre Francisco Colin (1592–1660), an early Jesuit missionary and Provincial of his Order in the Philippines also records in the chronicles of the Society of Jesus (published later in 1663 as ''Labor euangelica'') that Panay is the island which is most abundant and fertile.<ref>Francisco Colin, S.J., ''Labor euangelica, ministerios apostolicos de los obreros de la Compañia de Iesus : fundacion, y progressos de su Prouincia en las islas Filipinas historiados'', Madrid:1663, Lib. I, Cap. VII, p. 63.</ref>

The first Spanish settlement in Panay island and the second oldest Spanish settlement in the Philippines was established by the [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] expedition in [[Panay, Capiz]] at the banks of the [[Panay River]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Conserva |first=Louine Hope |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Location of the Panay River Basin |work=The Daily Guardian |url=https://thedailyguardian.net/banner-news/another-megadam-commence-2018/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2018-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216120539/https://thedailyguardian.net/banner-news/another-megadam-commence-2018/ |archive-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> in northern Panay, the name of which was extended to the whole Panay island. López de Legazpi transferred the capital there from [[Cebu]] since it had abundant provisions and was better protected from Portuguese attacks before the capital was once again transferred to Manila.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Funtecha |first=Henry F. |title=The First Spanish Settlement in Panay |work=The News Today Online |url=http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/01/27/the.first.spanish.settlements.in.panay.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220102211/http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/01/27/the.first.spanish.settlements.in.panay.html |archive-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>

Miguel de Luarca, who was among the first Spanish settlers in the Island, made one of the earliest account about Panay and its people according to a Westerner's point of view. In June 1582, while he was in Arévalo ([[Iloilo]]), he wrote in his ''Relación de las Yslas Filipinas'' the following observations:
[[File:Salaverria 1797 Map of Panay Island.jpg|thumb|Map of Panay, with data about the bastions of its coastlines, 1797, drawn under the direction of Don Santiago Salaverria, Teniente Coronel graduado de Batallon de Milicias de la Laguna de Bay, y Corregidor de la Provincia de Tondo.]]
The island is the most fertile and well-provisioned of all the islands discovered, except the island of [[Luzon]]: for it is exceedingly fertile, and abounds in [[rice]], [[swine]], [[fowl]]s, [[wax]], and [[honey]]; it produces also a great quantity of [[cotton]] and [[abacá]] fiber.<ref name="Loarca, 1582 p. 67">Miguel de Loarca, ''Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas'' (Arevalo: June 1582) in BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1903). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 05 of 55 (1582–1583). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", p. 67.</ref>

''"The villages are very close together, and the people are peaceful and open to conversion. The land is healthful and well-provisioned, so that the Spaniards who are stricken in other islands go thither to recover their health."''<ref name="Loarca, 1582 p. 67"/>

''"The natives are healthy and clean, and although the island of [[Cebu]] is also healthful and had a good climate, most of its inhabitants are always afflicted with the itch and buboes. In the island of Panay, the natives declare that no one of them had ever been afflicted with buboes until the people from [[Bohol]] – who, as we said above, abandoned Bohol on account of the people of Maluco – came to settle in Panay, and gave the disease to some of the natives. For these reasons the governor, Don Gonzalo Ronquillo, founded the town of Arévalo, on the south side of this island; for the island runs north and south, and on that side live the majority of the people, and the villages are near this town, and the land here is more fertile."''<ref name="Loarca, 1582 p. 67"/> This probably explains why there are reference of presence of [[Pintados]] in the Island.

''"The island of Panay provides the city of [[Manila]] and other places with a large quantity of rice and meat…"''.<ref>Miguel de Loarca, Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas (Arevalo: June 1582) in BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1903). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 05 of 55 (1582–1583). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", p. 69.</ref>.. ''"As the island contains great abundance of timber and provisions, it has almost continuously had a [[shipyard]] on it, as is the case of the town of Arévalo, for [[galley]]s and [[Frigate|fragatas]]. Here the ship 'Visaya' was launched."''<ref>Miguel de Loarca, Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas (Arevalo: June 1582) in BLAIR, Emma Helen & ROBERTSON, James Alexander, eds. (1903). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 05 of 55 (1582–1583). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord BOURNE. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", p. 71.</ref>

Another Spanish chronicler in the early Spanish period,  Dr. Antonio de Morga (1609) is also responsible for recording other Visayan customs. Customs such as Visayans' affinity for singing among their warrior-castes as well as the playing of gongs and bells in naval battles.

''Their customary method of trading was by bartering one thing for another, such as food, cloth, cattle, fowls, lands, houses, fields, slaves, fishing-grounds, and palm-trees (both nipa and wild). Sometimes a price intervened, which was paid in gold, as agreed upon, or in metal bells brought from China. These bells they regard as precious jewels; they resemble large pans and are very sonorous. They play upon these at their feasts, and carry them to the war in their boats instead of drums and other instruments.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 2 Spanish Found Yloilo 1565 - The Spanish first arrival in Jalaud or Araut |url=http://ilongo.weebly.com/iloilo-history-part-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009183141/http://ilongo.weebly.com/iloilo-history-part-2.html |archive-date=2014-10-09 |access-date=2014-09-14 |website=Research Center for Iloilo}}</ref>

''The early Dutch fleet commander Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge called at Panay in 1607. He mentions a town named "Oton" on the island where there were "18 Spanish soldiers with a number of other Spanish inhabitants so that there may be 40 whites in all". He explained that "a lot of rice and meat is produced there, with which they [i.e. the Spanish] supply Manila."''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Journal, Memorials and Letters of Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge: Security, Diplomacy and Commerce in 17th-century Southeast Asia |date=2015 |publisher=NUS Press |isbn=978-9971-69-798-3 |editor-last=Borschberg |editor-first=Peter |location=Singapore |pages=565–6 |language=en}}</ref>

According to Stephanie J. Mawson, using recruitment records found in Mexico, in addition to the 40 Caucasian Spaniards who then lived in Oton, there were an additional set of 66 Mexican soldiers of Mulatto, Mestizo or Native American descent sentried there during the year 1603.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mawson |first=Stephanie J. |date=2016 |title=Convicts or Conquistadores ? Spanish Soldiers in the Seventeenth-Century Pacific |url=https://academic.oup.com/past/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/pastj/gtw008 |url-status=live |journal=Past & Present |language=en |volume=232 |issue=1 |pages=87–125 |doi=10.1093/pastj/gtw008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216045816/https://academic.oup.com/past/article/232/1/87/1752419 |archive-date=2018-12-16 |access-date=2018-12-15 |doi-access=free}}</ref> However, the Dutch visitor, Cornelis Matelieff de Jongedid, did not count them in since they were not pure whites like him.

Iloilo City in Panay was awarded by the Queen of Spain the title: "''La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo''" (The Most Loyal and Noble City) for being the most loyal and noble city in the Spanish Empire since it clung on to Spain amidst the Philippine revolution the last nation to revolt against Spain in the Spanish Empire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCA-Symbolisms/Meanings in the Philippine Flag |url=https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/philippine-fast-facts/symbolisms-meanings-in-the-philippine-flag/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Colonial rule (1565–1898) ===
[[File:Fedstateofthevisayas.png|thumb|Map of the short-lived [[Federal State of the Visayas]], centered on Panay Island. The island served as the focus of the revolutionary state in the central Philippine archipelago, with Iloilo City designated as the capital of the Visayas.]]
The Spaniards landed in Batan (in Panay's northeastern territory, which is currently called ''Province of [[Aklan]]''), in 1565. Following the Spanish conquest, the locals became Christians. Father Andres Urdaneta baptized thousands of Aklanons in 1565, and consequently these settlements were named ''Calivo''.

Legazpi then parceled Aklan to his men. Antonio Flores became encomiendero for all settlements along the Aklan River and he was also appointed in charge of pacification and religious instruction. Pedro Sarmiento; was appointed for Batan, Francisco de Rivera; for Mambusao, Gaspar Ruiz de Morales; and for Panay town, Pedro Guillen de Lievana.

Later (in 1569), [[Miguel López de Legazpi]] transferred the Spanish headquarters from [[Cebu Island|Cebu]] to Panay. On 5 June 1569, Guido de Lavezaris, the royal treasurer in the Archipelago, wrote to Philip II reporting about the Portuguese attack to Cebu in the preceding autumn. A letter from another official, Andres de Mirandaola (dated three days later - 8 June), also described briefly this encounter with the Portuguese. The danger of another attack led the Spaniards to remove their camp from Cebu to Panay, which they considered a safer place. Legazpi himself, in his report to the Viceroy in New Spain (dated 1 July 1569), mentioned the same reason for the relocation of Spaniards to Panay.<ref>Cf.  Blair, Emma Helen & Robertson, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 03 of 55 (1493-1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", pp. 15 - 16.</ref> It was in Panay that the conquest of Luzon was planned, and launched on 8 May 1570.<ref>Cf.  Blair, Emma Helen & Robertson, James Alexander, eds. (1911). The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803. Volume 03 of 55 (1493-1803). Historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Company. {{ISBN|978-0554259598}}. OCLC 769945704. "Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century.", p. 73.</ref>

In 1572, the island was organized into two provinces: jurisdictions of [[Panay, Capiz|Panay]] (Capiz and Aklan) and [[Oton]] (Iloilo and Antique).

In 1693, the town of Capiz, known as El Puerto de Capiz was finally created.

In 1716, Capiz was organized into a separate politico-military province with the transfer of the capital from the town of Panay, Under its jurisdiction were the neighboring islands of Campo, Romblon, Tablas, and Sibuyan.

In 1796, Panay island was divided into three provinces: Iloilo, Antique, and Capiz (which included Aklan and Romblon).

In 1853, The island now comprising Romblon province and Maestre de Campo was organized into separate politico-military “comandancia” administered from Capiz.

In 1898, The Spanish educated Panay Island and were replaced by the revolutionary forces, who were in turn overthrown by the American the following year.

=== World War II ===
{{Main article|Japanese invasion of Panay}}
[[File:Situation in Panay April 1942.png|thumb|Map showing the Japanese invasion of Panay during World War II.]]
On April 16, 1942, [[Imperial Japanese Army]] forces landed at San Jose de Buenavista, Capiz City (now the city of Roxas), and Iloilo City during [[World War II]] in order to secure Panay and the rest of [[Visayas]]. [[Guerrilla warfare|Guerrilla]] forces under [[Colonel]] [[Macario Peralta Jr.]] later liberated most of the island and eventually captured the city of Capiz on December 20, 1944. Peralta's forces therefore achieved the liberation from [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|Japanese occupation]] of all of Capiz Province before [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] forces landed at Iloilo City on March 18, 1945, and mopped up the remaining Japanese forces in the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title="The Seizure of Panay" from General Douglas MacArthur's report |url=https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur%20Reports/MacArthur%20V1/ch11.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821040518/https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur%20Reports/MacArthur%20V1/ch11.htm |archive-date=2020-08-21 |via=history.army.mil}}</ref>

=== Modern period ===
Aklan (Akean) became an independent province through ''[[Republic Act]] No. 1414'' signed by Philippine President [[Ramon Magsaysay]] on April 25, 1956, separating Aklan from [[Capiz]]. The original towns were [[Altavas, Aklan|Altavas]], [[Balete, Aklan|Balete]], [[Batan, Aklan|Batan]], [[Banga, Aklan|Banga]], [[Buruanga, Aklan|Buruanga]], [[Ibajay, Aklan|Ibajay]], [[Kalibo, Aklan|Kalibo]], [[Lezo, Aklan|Lezo]], [[Libacao, Aklan|Libacao]], [[Madalag, Aklan|Madalag]], [[Malay, Aklan|Malay]], [[Makato, Aklan|Makato]], [[Malinao, Aklan|Malinao]], [[Nabas, Aklan|Nabas]], [[New Washington, Aklan|New Washington]], [[Numancia, Aklan|Numancia]], and [[Tangalan, Aklan|Tangalan]], then all part of the province of [[Capiz (province)|Capiz]]. The province was inaugurated on November 8, 1956. Jose Raz Menez was appointed the first governor of Aklan by President Magsaysay and he served until December 30, 1959. In 1960, Godofredo P. Ramos became the first elected governor but upon resigning to run for Congress he was succeeded by the vice governor, Virgilio S. Patricio. In 1964, José B. Legaspi succeeded Patricio and he held office for two consecutive terms from 1964 to 1971.

==Geography==
[[File:PANAY.png|thumb|Map of Panay Island.|left]]
Panay island is the sixth largest island in the Philippines by area, with a total land area of {{convert|12,011|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="unep" /> [[Mount Madja-as]] is the highest point in Panay with an elevation of {{Convert|2117|m}} above sea level,<ref name="pn">{{cite web |title=Mt. Madia-as has 'undiscovered treasures' |url=https://www.panaynews.net/mt-madia-as-has-undiscovered-treasures/ |website=www.panaynews.net |publisher=Panay News |access-date=7 June 2021 |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> located in town of [[Culasi, Antique|Culasi]] in the northern province of Antique. [[Central Panay Mountain Range]] is the longest and largest mountain range in the island with a total length of {{convert|170|km|abbr=on}} north-south. [[Panay River]] is the longest river in the island with a total length of {{convert|169|km|abbr=on}} located in the province of [[Capiz]].

[[Boracay|Boracay Island]], a popular tourist destination known for its long white sand shore, is located {{convert|0.86|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}} off the northwest tip of Panay Island. It is part of Aklan province under the jurisdiction of the municipality of Malay.

=== Topography ===
The highest mountain is [[Mount Madja-as]], at {{cvt|6946|ft|abbr=on}}.

===Rivers===
[[File:Panay River, Roxas City Bridge (Roxas, Capiz; 10-19-2022).jpg|thumb|[[Panay River]] in [[Roxas City]]]]
[[File:Major River Basins of Panay Island, Philippines.png|thumb|Map of major river basins in Panay]]
Major rivers in Panay include:
* [[Jalaur River]]
* [[Iloilo River]]
* [[Batiano River]]
* [[Panay River]]
* [[Aklan River]]
* [[Sibalom River]]
* [[Tipulu-an River]]
* [[Mao-it River]]
* [[Bugang River]]

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Population of Panay <!-- based on historical censuses, sum of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Iloilo City -->
|align       = none
|cols        = 2
|percentages = 
|footnote    = 
|source      = Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}
| 1903 | {{sum|110773|134266|119948|329993|52472}}
| 1918 | {{sum|137323|154999|155342|397854|77925}}
| 1939 | {{sum|176625|199414|228660|589198|116277}}
| 1948 | {{sum|196982|233506|244889|665563|110122}}
| 1960 | {{sum|226232|238405|315079|757440|151266}}
| 1970 | {{sum|263358|289172|394041|885221|209738}}
| 1975 | {{sum|293349|308484|445716|1001507|227027}}
| 1980 | {{sum|324563|344879|492231|1096432|244827}}
| 1990 | {{sum|380497|406361|584091|1337981|309505}}
| 1995 | {{sum|410539|431713|624469|1415022|334539}}
| 2000 | {{sum|451314|472822|654156|1559182|366391}}
| 2007 | {{sum|495122|515265|701664|1691878|418710}}
| 2010 | {{sum|535725|546031|719685|1805576|424619}}
| 2015 | {{sum|574823|582012|761384|1936423|447992}}
| 2020 |
{{sum|683823|873020|998465|1987618|4,542,892}}
}}{{bar box|title=Languages Spoken as a Primary (2000)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov.ph/content/over-one-and-half-million-persons-iloilo |title=Table 5. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Iloilo, 2000 |access-date=2022-08-08 |archive-date=2014-09-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140903164558/http://www.census.gov.ph/content/over-one-and-half-million-persons-iloilo |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/ANTIQUE.pdf Page 39. 2000 Census of Population and Housing]</ref><ref>[https://psa.gov.ph/content/capizs-annual-population-growth-rate-down-100-percent Capiz's Annual Population Growth Rate Down to 1.00 Percent]</ref><ref name="CensusGovPH-2000">{{cite web|title=Aklan: Population Growth Rate up to 2.05 Percent in 2000; Table 5. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Aklan, 2000|url=http://census.gov.ph/content/aklan-population-growth-rate-205-percent-2000-results-2000-census-population-and-housing-nso|website=Philippine Statistics Authority|access-date=26 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421142905/http://census.gov.ph/content/aklan-population-growth-rate-205-percent-2000-results-2000-census-population-and-housing-nso|archive-date=21 April 2015|date=24 July 2002}}</ref>|titlebar=#f99|left1=Language|right2=Speakers|barwidth=6.5em|float=right|bars={{bar pixel | [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]]     | #cf0202| 34.98| | {{number and percent | 1,225,595 | 3,503,865 | 2}} }}
{{bar pixel | [[Kinaray-a]]     | #d13636|  24.78| | {{number and percent |   868,177 | 3,503,865 | 2}} }}
{{bar pixel | [[Capiznon language|Capiznon]]     | #d45959|  18.85| | {{number and percent |   660,540 | 3,503,865 | 2 | pad=yes}} }}
{{bar pixel | [[Aklanon language|Aklanon]] | #c47070|  16.53| | {{number and percent |   579,096  | 3,503,865 | 2}} }}
{{bar gap|<hr>}}
{{bar pixel | ''[[Bisayan languages|Other Visayan languages]]''                     | #c28a8a|  2.25| | {{number and percent |   78,836 | 3,503,865 | 2}} }}
{{bar pixel | ''[[Languages of the Philippines|Others]]''               | #b88c8c|  2.61| | {{number and percent |   91,621 | 3,503,865 | 2}} }}}}Panay is the most [[Ethnic groups of the Philippines|ethnically]] and [[Languages of the Philippines|linguistically]] diverse major island in the Visayas, being native to four vibrant [[Ethnic groups in the Philippines#Other ethnolinguistic groups|non-indigenous ethnolinguistic groups]] ([[Hiligaynon people|Hiligaynon/Ilonggo]], [[Karay-a people|Karay-a]], [[Capiznon people|Capiznon]], [[Aklanon people|Aklanon]]), and two [[Ethnic groups in the Philippines#Other indigenous peoples|indigenous groups]] ([[Suludnon]], [[Ati people|Ati]]) or [[Minority group|minorities]]. However, the ethnic and linguistic boundaries within the island do not correspond to its [[Provinces of the Philippines|administrative]] divisions.<ref name="magos">{{cite web |last=P. Magos |first=Alicia |title=Kinaray·a, Hiligaynon, Ilonggo and Aklanon Speaking People |url=https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/central-cultural-communities/kinaray-a-hiligaynon-ilonggo-and-aklanon-speaking-people/ |website=[[National Commission for Culture and the Arts]] |authorlink=Alicia P. Magos}}</ref> Only the province of [[Antique (province)|Antique]] is monolingual, which only speaks [[Karay-a language|Kinaray-a]] as its primary language.<ref name="magos" /> The ''[[lingua franca]]'' of the island is [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]], native to [[Iloilo City]] and the northeastern coastal strip lining the province of [[Iloilo]].<ref name="javier">{{cite web |last1=Javier |first1=Dante |last2=Cruz Lucero |first2=Rosario |last3=Manuel |first3=Esperidión Arsenio |title=Philippine Ethnography |url=https://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph/CC01/NLP00VM052mcd/v1/v29.pdf |website=[[National Library of the Philippines]] |authorlink3=E. Arsenio Manuel}}</ref><ref name="magos" /> For local administrative, educational, and commercial purposes, [[English language|English]] and [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] are also widely used.

== Economy ==
[[File:R. Mapa Street, Iloilo City (01-2019).jpg|thumb|[[Iloilo City]] skyline in 2019]]
Panay Island's economy thrives due to the combined strengths and contributions of its four provinces. The diversity of industries, including agriculture, fishing, tourism, manufacturing, and natural resource utilization, sustains the island's robust economic growth and development. As a result, Panay Island has emerged as the fifth economic giant in the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-07-31 |title=Panay emerging as 5th economic giant in PHL |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/07/31/panay-emerging-as-5th-economic-giant-in-phl/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=BusinessMirror |language=en-US}}</ref>

Iloilo, including Iloilo City, which serves as the economic center, plays a pivotal role in driving the island's economy. The province is a hub for various industries, including real estate, accommodation, medical centers, education, shopping centers, business centers, IT/BPO centers, and more. Its vibrant and multifaceted economy has positioned Iloilo as one of the most competitive provinces in the country.

Aklan, known for Boracay Island, serves as the tourism center of Panay Island. The world-famous tourist destination attracts a significant number of visitors, contributing to the province's tourism industry. Aklan's economy benefits from the influx of tourists and the diverse range of activities and services catering to their needs.<ref name="AklanGovPH-Economy">{{cite web |title=Economy |url=http://aklan.gov.ph/economy/ |access-date=18 March 2016 |website=Province of Aklan}}</ref>

Capiz, dubbed the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines," takes advantage of its coastal areas and swampy lands, supporting a thriving fishing industry. The province's aquamarine resources, including prawns, milkfish, marlin, squid, oysters, shrimp, and seaweed, contribute significantly to its economic growth.

Antique's economy relies on fishing, with a rich fishing ground along its coastline. Additionally, the province's forest resources, such as bamboo, buri, bariw, nito, logs, and charcoal, contribute to the construction industry, furniture-making, and handicrafts. The natural beauty of Antique, including the presence of the [[Rafflesia arnoldii|rafflesia flower]] and protected forestland, further enhances its tourism potential.

==Administrative divisions==
The island is covered by 4 [[Provinces of the Philippines|provinces]], 1 [[Cities of the Philippines|highly urbanized city]], 2 component cities, 92 [[Municipalities of the Philippines|municipalities]] (93 municipalities if the [[Island groups of the Philippines|associated islands]] of [[Caluya, Antique|Caluya]] are included), and 3,291 [[barangay]]s, all under the jurisdiction of the [[Western Visayas]] region.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;font-size:90%;background-color:#FEFEFE;"
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Province {{font|{{small|or}} {{abbr|''HUC''|Highly urbanized city; administered independently from any province}}|css=font-weight:normal}}
! scope="col" | Population<br />{{small|(2020)}}{{PH census|2015}}<ref name="PSA">{{Cite web |title=Philippine Standard Geographic Code (PSGC) |url=https://www.psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/provinces |access-date=2021-02-24 |website=Philippine Statistics Authority}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Land area
! scope="col" | Population Density
! scope="col" | Capital
!Barangays
! scope="col" | Municipalities*
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Cities
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Location
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;" | [[Aklan]]
| 615,475
| {{convert|1821.42|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|615475/1821.42|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Kalibo, Aklan|Kalibo]]
|327
| {{Collapsible list
 |title = 17 towns
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = background:transparent;text-align:center;
 |list_style = text-align:right;display:none;
 |1= [[Altavas, Aklan|Altavas]]
 |2= [[Balete, Aklan|Balete]]
 |3= [[Banga, Aklan|Banga]]
 |4= [[Batan, Aklan|Batan]]
 |5= [[Buruanga, Aklan|Buruanga]]
 |6= [[Ibajay, Aklan|Ibajay]]
 |7= [[Kalibo, Aklan|Kalibo]]
 |8= [[Lezo, Aklan|Lezo]]
 |9= [[Libacao, Aklan|Libacao]]
 |10= [[Madalag, Aklan|Madalag]]
 |11= [[Makato, Aklan|Makato]]
 |12= [[Malay, Aklan|Malay]]
 |13= [[Malinao, Aklan|Malinao]]
 |14= [[Nabas, Aklan|Nabas]]
 |15= [[New Washington, Aklan|New Washington]]
 |16= [[Numancia, Aklan|Numancia]]
 |17= [[Tangalan, Aklan|Tangalan]]
 }}
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| data-sort-value="11" | [[File:Panay Island-Aklan locator map.png|75px]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;" | [[Antique (province)|Antique]]
| 612,974
| {{convert|2729.17|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|612974/2729.17|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[San Jose de Buenavista, Antique|San Jose de Buenavista]]
|590
| {{Collapsible list
 |title = 18 towns
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = background:transparent;text-align:center;
 |list_style = text-align:right;display:none;
 |1= [[Anini-y, Antique|Anini-y]]
 |2=[[Barbaza, Antique|Barbaza]]
 |3=[[Belison, Antique|Belison]]
 |4=[[Bugasong, Antique|Bugasong]]
 |5=[[Caluya, Antique|Caluya]]*
 |6=[[Culasi, Antique|Culasi]]
 |7=[[Hamtic, Antique|Hamtic]]
 |8=[[Laua-an, Antique|Laua-an]]
 |9=[[Libertad, Antique|Libertad]]
 |10=[[Pandan, Antique|Pandan]]
 |11=[[Patnongon, Antique|Patnongon]]
 |12=[[San Jose de Buenavista, Antique|San Jose de Buenavista]]
 |13=[[San Remigio, Antique|San Remigio]]
 |14=[[Sebaste, Antique|Sebaste]]
 |15=[[Sibalom, Antique|Sibalom]]
 |16=[[Tibiao, Antique|Tibiao]]
 |17=[[Tobias Fornier, Antique|Tobias Fornier]]
 |18=[[Valderrama, Antique|Valderrama]]
 }}
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| data-sort-value="13" | [[File:Panay Island-Antique locator map.png|75px]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;" | [[Capiz]]
| 804,952
| {{convert|2594.64|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|804952/2594.64|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Roxas City]]
|473
| {{Collapsible list
 |title = 16 towns
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = background:transparent;text-align:center;
 |list_style = text-align:right;display:none;
 |1= [[Cuartero, Capiz|Cuartero]]
 |2=[[Dao, Capiz|Dao]]
 |3=[[Dumalag, Capiz|Dumalag]]
 |4=[[Dumarao, Capiz|Dumarao]]
 |5=[[Ivisan, Capiz|Ivisan]]
 |6=[[Jamindan, Capiz|Jamindan]]
 |7=[[Maayon]]
 |8=[[Mambusao, Capiz|Mambusao]]
 |9=[[Panay, Capiz|Panay]]
 |10=[[Panitan, Capiz|Panitan]]
 |11=[[Pilar, Capiz|Pilar]]
 |12=[[Pontevedra, Capiz|Pontevedra]]
 |13=[[President Roxas, Capiz|President Roxas]]
 |14=[[Sapian]]
 |15=[[Sigma, Capiz|Sigma]]
 |16=[[Tapaz, Capiz|Tapaz]]
 }}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Roxas City]]
| data-sort-value="12" | [[File:Panay Island-Capiz locator map.png|75px]]
|-style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:bold;" | [[Iloilo]]
| 2,051,899
| {{convert|5,000.83|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|2051899/5000.83|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Iloilo City]]
|1,721
| {{Collapsible list
 |title = 42 towns
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = background:transparent;text-align:center;
 |list_style = text-align:right;display:none;
 |1= [[Ajuy, Iloilo|Ajuy]]
 |2=[[Alimodian, Iloilo|Alimodian]]
 |3=[[Anilao, Iloilo|Anilao]]
 |4=[[Badiangan, Iloilo|Badiangan]]
 |5=[[Balasan, Iloilo|Balasan]]
 |6=[[Banate, Iloilo|Banate]]
 |7=[[Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo|Barotac Nuevo]]
 |8=[[Barotac Viejo, Iloilo|Barotac Viejo]]
 |9=[[Batad, Iloilo|Batad]]
 |10=[[Bingawan, Iloilo|Bingawan]]
 |11=[[Cabatuan, Iloilo|Cabatuan]]
 |12=[[Calinog, Iloilo|Calinog]]
 |13=[[Carles, Iloilo|Carles]]
 |14=[[Concepcion, Iloilo|Concepcion]]
 |15=[[Dingle, Iloilo|Dingle]]
 |16=[[Dueñas, Iloilo|Dueñas]]
 |17=[[Dumangas, Iloilo|Dumangas]]
 |18=[[Estancia, Iloilo|Estancia]]
 |19=[[Guimbal, Iloilo|Guimbal]]
 |20=[[Igbaras, Iloilo|Igbaras]]
 |21=[[Janiuay, Iloilo|Janiuay]]
 |22=[[Lambunao, Iloilo|Lambunao]]
 |23=[[Leganes, Iloilo|Leganes]]
 |24=[[Lemery, Iloilo|Lemery]]
 |25=[[Leon, Iloilo|Leon]]
 |26=[[Maasin, Iloilo|Maasin]]
 |27=[[Miagao, Iloilo|Miagao]]
 |28=[[Mina, Iloilo|Mina]]
 |29=[[New Lucena, Iloilo|New Lucena]]
 |30=[[Oton, Iloilo|Oton]]
 |31=[[Pavia, Iloilo|Pavia]]
 |32=[[Pototan, Iloilo|Pototan]]
 |33=[[San Dionisio, Iloilo|San Dionisio]]
 |34=[[San Enrique, Iloilo|San Enrique]]
 |35=[[San Joaquin, Iloilo|San Joaquin]]
 |36=[[San Miguel, Iloilo|San Miguel]]
 |37=[[San Rafael, Iloilo|San Rafael]]
 |38=[[Santa Barbara, Iloilo|Santa Barbara]]
 |39=[[Sara, Iloilo|Sara]]
 |40=[[Tigbauan, Iloilo|Tigbauan]]
 |41=[[Tubungan, Iloilo|Tubungan]]
 |42=[[Zarraga, Iloilo|Zarraga]]
 }}
| style="text-align:left;" | {{unbulleted list | [[Iloilo City|Iloilo]] | [[Passi, Iloilo|Passi]]}}
| data-sort-value="14" | [[File:Panay Island-Iloilo locator map.png|75px]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;font-weight:regular;" | ''[[Iloilo City]]''
| 457,626
| {{convert|78.34|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| {{convert|{{sigfig|457,626/78.34|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
| style="text-align:center;" | —
|180
| style="text-align:center;" | —
| style="text-align:center;" | —
|[[File:Ph locator iloilo iloilo.png|75x75px]]
|- class="sortbottom"
!Total
! scope="col" | 4,542,926
! scope="col" | {{convert|12,011|km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
! scope="col" | {{convert|{{sigfig|4542926/12,011|2}}|PD/km2|abbr=on|sortable=on|disp=br()}}
! scope="col" | —
!3,291
!93 towns
!3 cities (1 highly urbanized city)
![[File:Panay Island & its associated islands.png|75x75px]]
|- class="sortbottom" style="text-align:left;background-color:#F9F9F9;"
| colspan="9" |''Notes'': The municipality of [[Caluya, Antique|Caluya]] in [[Antique (province)|Antique]] province is covered by separate islands which are included under the [[Island groups of the Philippines|island group of Panay]]. Iloilo figures excluded the ''highly urbanized city'' of Iloilo.
|}

== Transportation ==
=== Road ===
[[File:Festive Walk Transport Hub.jpg|thumb|[[Premium Point-to-Point Bus Service|Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus]] servicing Iloilo City to [[Iloilo International Airport|Iloilo International]], [[Kalibo International Airport|Kalibo International]], and [[Godofredo P. Ramos Airport|Caticlan]] Airports and vice versa.]]
All the provinces in Panay are interconnected by major inter-provincial roads. Iloilo City is served mostly by passenger [[jeepney]]s, white metered taxis and tricycles within the city limits. The primary transportation vehicle used within Roxas City, Kalibo, San Jose de Buenavista and other cities and municipalities in Panay is the tricycle. Travel between cities and municipalities is typically by jeepney, vans and Ceres operated buses. In March 2019, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board announced the opening of a new [[Premium Point-to-Point Bus Service]] in Iloilo City with express bus services to the airports in Cabatuan, Kalibo and Boracay (Caticlan).

Iloilo is one of the few cities in the Philippines that recently initiated to adopt the mini-bus-like type modern PUJ or modern Jeepneys in contrast to the President Rodrigo Duterte's administration to phase out the old dilapidated jeepneys as the mode of mass public transportation in the Philippines.

The [[Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway|Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway]] (ICAEx) is also being proposed, which might reduce travel time between provinces in Panay. It will connect Iloilo City and Malay, Aklan through Passi City, Roxas City and Kalibo, Aklan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sornito |first=Ime |date=2024-05-29 |title=DPWH reviews proposal for Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway |url=https://www.panaynews.net/dpwh-reviews-proposal-for-iloilo-capiz-aklan-expressway/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Panay News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Airports ===
[[File:Iloilo International Airport Panorama (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Iloilo International Airport]], primary gateway into the region.]]
Panay Island is now served by five airports. The [[Iloilo International Airport]], located in [[Cabatuan, Iloilo]], serves the general area of [[Metro Iloilo–Guimaras|Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan]] as well the whole province of Iloilo, and is also considered to be the primary gateway into the region. The [[Kalibo International Airport]] is one of the two airports serving Boracay, the other being [[Godofredo P. Ramos Airport]] (also known as Caticlan Airport) in the municipality of Malay. The [[Roxas Airport]] is a domestic airport serving the general area of Roxas City and the province of Capiz. The [[Evelio Javier Airport]] (Antique Airport) is the only airport serving the province of Antique located in San Jose. The other, Semirara Airport in Caluya is a municipal airport.

==== International ====
* [[Iloilo International Airport]]
* [[Kalibo International Airport]]

==== Domestic ====
* [[Godofredo P. Ramos Airport]] (Caticlan Airport)
* [[Roxas Airport]]
* [[Evelio Javier Airport]] (Antique Airport)

=== Rail ===
[[File:A passenger train in Panay (c.1917).jpg|thumb|[[Panay Railway]] in 1917, provided an important means of transportation for passengers and goods between Iloilo City and Roxas City, two major urban centers on Panay.]]
Proposals to re-connect again Iloilo-Roxas, Iloilo-Kalibo, Iloilo-Malay (Aklan) and Iloilo-San Jose (Antique) from the Iloilo City via rail was included in the revival of the currently defunct [[Panay Railways]] network which has a station in Santa Barbara town proper.<ref name="panayrail">{{cite news |author=Salvilla, Rex S. |date=July 28, 2006 |title=Anything Under the Sun: Panay Railways |work=The News Today |publisher=TNT Publishing, Inc. |url=http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/07/28/panay.railways.html |access-date=June 12, 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Macario Peralta, Jr.]]
* [[Panay Railways]]
* [[Church of Panay]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|Panay}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Panay}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Panay}}
* {{cite book |author=Valeriano L. Corre, Jr. |year=1985 |title=Philippine Tilapia Economics |chapter=Status, Potential and Needs of Tilapia Culture in Panay Island, Philippines |editor1=Ian R. Smith |editor2=Enriqueta B. Torres |editor3=Elvira O. Tan |publisher=Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development |isbn=971-1022-18-4 |issn=0115-4435 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/6514812.pdf |pages=165–173}}

{{Islands of the Philippines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Panay| ]]
[[Category:Landforms of the Sulu Sea]]
[[Category:Islands of Aklan]]
[[Category:Islands of Antique (province)]]
[[Category:Islands of Capiz]]
[[Category:Islands of Iloilo]]