ILOILO CITY—Discovery Channel Asia will air a documentary on the natural treasures of Antique province next week.
“Antique is a paradise where the mountains meet the sea. It is a province that may have been in the doldrums for three decades but is now experiencing Golden Age,” said Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), the provincial government of Antique and Legarda launched the countdown to the March 23 premiere of Antique: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea.
A province in the western portion of Panay Island, Antique is often overlooked as a tourist destination despite its proximity to Boracay Island in Aklan province.
Legarda, who has roots in the province, has made it one of her visions to document and protect Antique’s rich marine biodiversity.
The documentary aims to showcase the natural beauty in the hopes of attracting visitors to Antique.
Legarda, who is serving a term in Congress, allocated a budget for the documentary.
The documentary by Studio H2O began by sending an expedition team to Antique in 2021.
The marine researchers, scientists and underwater cinematographers conducted surveys of the reefs, particularly around the coastal areas of Pandan Bay and Libertad.
“Part of the survey is to have the local people learn the method so they can continue on with the monitoring, or at least be interested in learning more about it,” said Tara Abrina, one of the researchers and free-diving instructors.
“We wanted to see where people can go to dive, where guests can stay, and what might be interesting underwater,” Abrina added.
Aside from the 6:15 p.m. screening on March 23, it will be replayed on March 24 at 8:15 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. (Philippine standard time).