Anini-y is one typical town of Antique that is imbued with historical facets and tourist attractions.  Various myths and legends tried to explain how the town got its unique name.  “Anini-y” or “place of small rivers”.  This Spanish customary writing of Y instead of I spurred researchers to finding that once upon a time, in the present area of the municipality, there existed a community called “Igneini”.  It was cited to be the gateway into the prosperous Aninipay (old Panay) kingdom of Ati king, Marikudo.  However, cultural historians believe that “dash Y” in the name actually is “dash I” which is a Malayan suffix, meaning “place/people of”.  This suffix is only used for a place that is very important or has achieve a degree of greatness, as in the case of Hantik-I which later became Antique or used as in May-I believed to be the legendary old Manila.

Anthropological research reveals that Anini-y, specifically Sira-an hot springs, and Nogas island, played a major role in the early civilization of Panay.  Sira-an hot spring, which is considered “holy” by “manugbulong” or native medicine men, functioned as a quarantine station.  Nogas island’s role was economic, as it was here that “banking” or striped golden-yellow seashell used as currency in the kingdom of the Atis was abundant.  As such, Anini-y was a garrison of sorts with the multiple functions of “currency’s minting plant” and as a guard post for access to the kingdom’s “headquarters”.  These strategic functions of what was to be Anini-y resulted to pre-Hispanic “visitors” to Panay like the Chinese and Malayan staying north and a healthy distance from Marikudo’s men in the restricted area around Nogas island.  They settled around of Anini-y causing it to remain very sparsely populated until the coming of the Spaniards.

Furthermore, the Santaren Papers declared that the landing of the ten Bornean datus took place in Embidayan.  This is a rock formation at a beach that is now part of Sinogbuhan but is claimed by local folks to have been part of Anini-y before but the leadership then failed to claim.  Its mention is important to the barter of Panay having historical significance.  The said barter meeting took place under the “Kadapdapan” which rootword is dapdap – the old name of the last barangay of  Anini-y less than a 100 meter from the rock.  Maragtas by Mortaciano also related that after the barter, the Atis went to the beach waters of Igdaganas to live in Anini-y uplands.