Panay, Philippines

Panay is an island in the Western Visayas Region of the Philippines. It covers 12,011 sq km (4,637.5 sq mi) and has a population of 4 million people (2011 estimate). The biggest city in Panay is Iloilo.

Panay is divided into four provinces namely Aklan Province, Antique Province, Capiz Province and Iloilo Province. From Panay, Mindoro Island is to the northwest while Negros Island is to the southeast. To the north of Panay is the Sibuan Sea while to the southwest is the Sulu Sea.

According to folk legend, Panay was first settled by people of the Malay stock who came from Borneo. The province of Capiz was one of the early Malay settlements during pre-Hispanic times.

The first Spaniards to arrive in Panay was led by Miguel López de Legazpi, who came from Cebu in 1569. They called the natives Pintados, meaning people with tattoos. This is believed to be the derivative for Panay, but how it came about is uncertain. According to another theory, Panay was named after the settlement called Pay Ay which was in Capiz.

Street in Iloilo City, Panay
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