THE quiet town of Tibiao in Antique has not been the same since a fish spa opened in June.

Thousands of local and foreign tourists have flocked to the town proper, 75 kilometers north of the capital town of San Jose, to experience the much talked-about spa which features small fishes that nibble on dead skin, calluses and cuticles, creating a soothing sensation.

Rex Dianala, co-founder of the Tibiao Fish Spa, said more than 2,000 guests had visited the spa as of October, barely four months since it opened in June.

While the bulk are from Antique and neighboring provinces, many visitors, including foreigners, came all the way from Manila.

Many of them were attracted by news reports, both local and international including an Inquirer front-page piece in August, Dianala said in an e-mail.

?It was flattering to know they came all the way to Tibiao just to check out the fish spa they read about,? he said.

The spa, one of a few of its kind in the country, utilizes an indigenous fish species in Tibiao, unlike the imported ones in fish spas in Manila and Boracay Island.

P20 minimum charge

The Tibiao health resort is also popular because it charges a minimum of only P20 for 10 minutes and P2 for every succeeding minute. Students are charged a discounted rate of P1 per minute.

The spa was founded by Flord Calawag, a marine fisheries graduate from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) in Miag-ao, Iloilo, who discovered last year that a kind of fish from a friend?s mountain pond created a soothing sensation while nibbling on dead skin.

The project was supported by Dianala and Victor Marco Emmanuel Ferriols, Calawag?s close friends and former classmates.

Both aquaculture fisheries majors, Ferriols and Dianala helped in the technical setup and operations, including designing the filtration and aeration systems.

Tour packages

Dianala said the group had started organizing tour packages for those who want to experience the spa and other attractions in Tibiao, including fishing, brick and pottery making, and trekking the popular Bugtong Bato Falls.

Located at Calawag?s house along the national highway in the town proper, the spa has also generated local employment. Calawag is organizing motorcycle and tricycle drivers to provide transport for their tours.

The spa operators have also asked fisherfolk, as well as brick and pottery makers, to provide them with extra income from the resort visitors.

Students of the UPV?s College of Management Marketing Society have also helped in the spa?s business planning and marketing.

?Nonprofit?

Because of the cheap rates, the students described the spa more as a ?nonprofit organization? rather than a business, Dianala said.

?We realize it?s quite true so we might, with some hesitation, slightly increase our rates by next year to keep our endeavors sustainable. Of course, we will still make sure we are the ?fish spa for the masses,?? he said.

Investors have continuously approached Calawag for a possible expansion in Iloilo, Boracay, Cebu and Manila.

Calawag said in an earlier interview that he would maintain the spa in Tibiao until its fish species and technology are patented. But Dianala said expansion could come soon because of the spa?s fast growing popularity.

?Our first priority now is to expand to Iloilo and eventually to other parts of the region. With this, we will be able to share the affordable fish spa experience with them,? Dianala said.