An off-the-beaten-track destination, San Joaquin is probably one of the hidden jewels of Iloilo that has yet to be discovered. And what’s so special about San Joaquin? Well, it is the only church in the Philippines that has a militaristic-themed facade.

Read more about the San Joaquin Church in Iloilo here.

Upcoming Events

Probably one of the grandest churches in the Philippines. The Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao Iloilo is truly a sight to behold!

Continue reading about the Miag-ao Church here

Upcoming Events

17 Pebrero. Bagama’t binayo ang Iloilo ng malamig na ihip ng hangin mula sa Siberia, hindi nagpatalo ang mga Ilonggo sa kanilang talento na harapin ang bangis ng karagatan na humanaw sa kamuwangan ng mga Ilonggo bilang isa sa mga kilalalang seamen ng bansa. Ang Paraw Regatta Festival ay tinuturing na isa sa pinakamatandang regatta o karera ng mga yate o bangka sa Asya. Ngayon na nasa ika-36 na taon ng pagdiriwang na ang nasabing festival, ito’y lumaki at lumaki mula sa simpleng karerahan ng mga bangka-de-paraw ng mga mangingisda noon, hanggang naging isa itong pang-akit sa mga turista at mga boat enthusiasts na rin. Tinaguriang ika-tatlong  best tourism event ng ATOP (Assoctiation of Tourism Officers in the Philippines), maliban sa karera sa dagat at pagpinta ng mga layag ng mga paraw, dinagdagan na rin ng mga karagdagang activites ang nasabing pyesta. May sayawan ng samba, may fireworks display noong gabi bago ang fiesta at mga pakontest habang nasa kalagitnaan ng karera ang mga bangka.

Ang karera ngayon ay tila hinabaan at nagtagal ito ng mahigit 2 oras na umiikot mula sa Villa Beach ng Iloilo City, patungo sa Guimaras at pabalik.

Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang paraw na marahil ang naging simbolo ng angking kagalingan ng mga Ilonggo pagdating sa industriya ng pandaragat o maritime industry. Kung tutuusin, dito mo rin matatagpuan ang kauna-unahang maritime university ng bansa at ang mismong Iloilo ay nagpapadala ng libo-libong mandaragat kada taon. Sa kasaysayan ng mga Ilonggo, pinaniniwalaang ito ang nagdala sa 10 datu na nanggaling pang Boreno (Malaysia na ngayon) na tumakas sa diktador nitong sultan, patungo sa Isla ng Panay ayon sa Maragtas. Dahil sa nakatira sa isla ang mga Panayanon, hindi maiiwasang gumamit at makipagsapalaran sa karagatan para manghuli ng isda, maglakbay at manakop ng ibang lugar. Ito ay naging tradisyon na nakamarka sa mga Ilonggo at pati na sa mga Panayanon.

Ang paraw ay isang uri ng banka (na may katig [outrigger sa Ingles] din) na nilagyang ng triangular na layag o sail na nagpopropel o nagpapatakbo sa bangka sa pamamagitan ng hangin. Kung minsan mas mabilis pa ito kumpara sa mga de-makina na bangka, na animo’y lumilipad sa mga alon. Madalas ginagamit ng mga mangingisda ito tuwing kalmado ang karagatan. Ito rin ang sasakyan patungong Guimaras mula sa Iloilo City noong wala pang makina ang mga bangka. Iniimagine ko na lang kung gaano kaganda ang itsura ng harbour ng Iloilo noong panahon na iyon, makita ang mga layag. Sa kabilang dulo ng Panay, ginagamit na ito bilang cruise banca/boat ng mga turista sa Boracay.

Dahil sa likas na sa mga Ilonggo ang pagiging masiyahin, binigyang parangal nila ang tradisyong nakaukit na sa kanilang kasaysayan at kamalayan. Isang tribute na naangkop sa mga bagong bayani ng bayan na naglalayag at nakikipagsapalaran sa karagatan, tila mga layag sa paraw, makulay at matatag.

Pebrero 2. Ito na marahil ang pinaka-una kong pagkakataon na maranasan ang sinasabing pinakamalaking pyesta ng Iloilo, bago pa man sumulpot ang Dinagyang sa syudad. Ito na ang Pyesta ng Nuestra Señora de Candelaria ng Distrito ng Jaro sa Syudad ng Iloilo. Noong una, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parag grabe ang kasikatan nitong pyesta na to, na magdadala sa north part ng syudad sa grabeng trapik at di mahulugan ng karayom na namamanata sa Birhen.

Flashback muna tayo. Ang kasalukuyang Katedral ng Jaro (o Katedral ng Santa Elizabeth de Ungria) ay itinayo noong late 19th Century sa komisyon ni Padre Mariano Cuartero. Ang statwa mismo na tinitingala ng mga deboto ay meron ding misteryosong nakaraan. Sinasabing nakita raw ito sa tabi ng Ilog Jaro ng isang mangingisda, hindi raw ito mabuhat ng madla kahit 1 feet lang. Wow, bigat!

Nang mailuklok ang estatwa na ito sa Katedral, pinaniniwalaang lumalaki at lalong bumibigat ito kada taon. May mga araw rin daw na nawawala ang imahen na ito, sabay na nakikita ang isang magandang babae na may dalang anak na naliligo sa isang bukal sa ngayo’y Plaza Jaro.

Dahil sa taglay na mala-milagrosong katangi-an. Maraming naging deboto ang Candelaria…ang kanilang naging simbolo ng pag-asa.

Mismong si Pope John Paul II na mismo ang nagdeklara kay Birheng Candelaria bilang Patrona Santa ng Western Visayas, ng Arsodiosesis ng Jaro noong 1981 nang sya’y bumisita sa syudad.

Marahil hindi ito sa mga tipong nauusong “festival fever” na nauuso sa buong kapuluan ngayon. Isang high mass ang ginaganap sa araw ng kapistahan, sabayan pa ng “palapak” kung saan pinapa-apak ang mga maliliit na estatwa ng Candelaria sa mga deboto sa paniniwalang ito’y magdadala sa kanila ng kaayusan sa buhay.

Ang isa pang haylayt ng pyestang ito ay ang prosesyon. Dito na mismo lumalabas ang mga old rich ng Jaro, ang mga kamag-anak at mismong tagapag-mana ng mga haciendas, mga bigating pulitiko at mga may-ari ng mga malalaking kumpanya. Ang tinatawag na Jaro Queen at ng “Royal Court” ika nga ay tila ekslusibo lamang sa mga mayayaman ng Jaro. Talk about pomp and posh preparations!

Sa iilan naman pag sinabing pyesta ng Jaro, sabungan ang pumapasok sa isipan. Marahil na rin sa malaking pustahan na umaabot sa milyong milyong pisong tumataginting ang pinupusta sa mga manok. Sabi nga naman nila ang Ilonggo ay mahilig sa sabungan.

Sa mismong pyesta rin, may Agro-Trade fair sa Plaza na malamang ginagawa na ng mga taga-Jaro mula pa sa panahon ng Kastila. Kaya asahan mo parang isang munting karnabal at palengke ang plaza pag pyesta. At para naman sa mga kaibigan natin sa Greenpeace, beware…at mapupuno ka ng usok mula sa mga hurno ng bibingka na binebenta sa plaza sa murang halaga…. namit pa! (masarap pa!)

Sa mga kabataan naman, ito ang tamang panahon para mang gate-crash at kumain 6 o minsan sobra pa na beses sa iisang araw. Hanggang gabi ang pyesta!

Sinasabi nila na na-overtake na daw ng Dinagyang ang Fiesta Candelaria. Pero sa libo-libong mga deboto at mga Ilonggo, para sa kanila ito na marahil ang pinakadakilang relihiyosong pyesta. Panata nila sa mahal na Birhen at ang kanilang masayang pagpapasalamat sa mga biyayang natanggap nila sa taon na ito.

At para naman kay Juan de la Cruz, matapos na trip na ito, malamang at babalik pa sya sa susnod. Dami kasing magagandang dilag at ang sarap ng handaan!

I’m back here in Manila. Anyway the Dinagyang Festival 2008 in Iloilo City Philippines was a huge success. Thousands of locals, and foreign tourists flocked to Iloilo to witness the annual celebration of the Dinagyang Festival.

Anyway, here’s the list of winners of yesterday’s competition:

GRAND CHAMPION: Tribu Paghidaet

1st runner-up, Tribu Ilonganon

2nd runner-up, Tribu Taga Jaro

More Dinagyang stories here

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

In the conventional history text books, they would mentioned that  when Aguinaldo declared Independence, all of the islands have been independent from the Spanish colonizers. They were dead wrong. After that mock battle between the Americans and the Spaniards in August 1898, the latter transfered their power at Iloilo to make last reforms but they were too late.

Given that the Ilonggos were loyal to the Spanish crown (as manifested by thge city of Iloilo’s seal “La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad”), the Spaniards stayed here thinking that they will be confident with the company of one of the most loyal peoples to them, they were wrong.

Sometime in late November, an event in Jelucuon (now part of New Lucena town) lead to the spark of the Ilonggo Revolt against the colonizers. Later on, they will move to the town of Santa Barbara in which Nazaria Lagos “smuggled” the Philippine flag beneath the haystack. Santa Barbara was the first place outside Luzon to have hoisted the Philippine flag. The downfall of the European power is inevitable.

The story of freedom and nationality is being celebrated 109 years after its declaration in Santa Barbara with their Annual Kahilwayan Festival which is held every November 17th. Kahilwayan is the Hiligaynon word for “freedom”. The town has brought in their best dramatic interpretative dance tribes, manifesting their graceful moves and the drama behind their ancestor’s fight for freedom. This year though, the Santa Barbaranhons celebrated with 3 band-contingent competition reliving the “Marcha Independencia” which was played during the freedom march from Santa Barbara to Iloilo City, a century ago.

As the largest flag in the VisMin area was hoisted, so are the spirits of every Ilonggo, remembering what their ancestors did to attain such freedom that we enjoy now.

For more pictures of the Kahilwayan Festival, click the phrase below:

Kahilwayan Festival (Santa Barbara, Iloilo)

The 7-day Western Visayas Tourism Assembly with the theme, “Entrepreneurial Tourism: Beyond Tourist Arrivals”, is slated on November 12 – 18 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

The assembly aims to highlight, promote and showcase the diversity of the tourism attractions, services and facilities of the different areas of Region VI. It is intended to be a colorful display of destination attractions, cultural and historical events, shopping and investment opportunities.

Some of the highlights of the assembly are the Regional Tourism Fair and Cultural Showcase on November 12 – 18 at SM City Bacolod, Regional Travel Exchange on November 12 – 14 at Sugarland Hotel, Regional Tourism Congress on November 14 at L’Fisher Hotel, Tourism Excellence Awards on November 14 at Nature’s Village Resort, Talisay City, Search for Ms. WV Tourism on November 15 at the Provincial Capitol, and Regional Parade of Festivals on November 16.

The assembly is sponsored by the Department of Tourism – VI, Bacolod City Government, Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, Negros Island Tourism Inc., Association of Tourism Officers of Negros Occ. (ATONO) in cooperation with Naitas Hrano, Women in Travel in Bacolod.

For information, the Negros Occ. Tourism Center can be reached through 433-2515 and 709-8775 or e-mail at tourism_negocc@yahoo.com.

- Capitol News

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

I’m experiencing problems with my life in Cebu during these times. At times like these, I just wanted to get out of everything, therefore I went home, to Iloilo. The sudden decision that I made affected the schedule of my whole week for I wanted to escape the urban jungle the soonest time possible, under the cover of the night. Crossing the seas and the mountains in the cover of the night and the shade of morning dew. In less than 12 hours.

For the faint-hearted and non-risk takers, this is not for you. For cash-strapped and the adventurous, this is one hell of a risking cutting trip to Iloilo from Cebu!

Cebu Leg

I was supposed to take the last trip to Bacolod City via Ceres Lines passing thru Tabuelan. At first I got confused whether it’ll be in the North Terminal or South Terminal. By the time I was in the former, the dispatcher told me that all Bacolod Ceres trips are at the Southern Terminus. Manong Taxi Driver rushed as if my soul was left somewhere down the road, by the time we reached there, the bus just left. I wasn’t discouraged, it motivated me more. It was 11PM.

I asked the dispatchers at the terminal, they told me that the last trip to Dumanjug, a town 70 kilometers south of the Queen City was headed for a port and the passengers are heading to Guinhulngan, Negros Oriental. I was curious yet hesitant at first. I might risk my life with a floating wooden coffin in Tañon Strait. But the dispatcher convinced me it was seaworthy. It will be my first time breaking the Barili limit, it will be my first time in Negros Oriental, it will be my first time crossing Tañon Strait.

The fare was P70 with a high-speed bus built to fly from Cebu to the southern towns. But in fairness, we reached thr rugged southwestern Cebu in just an hour and a half, after crossing the historic Carcar and breaking my Barili limit.

Midnight Sailing: Crossing Tañon Strait

We reached the port of Dumanjug at precisely 12:45AM. The ferry will leave at 1:30AM. I ate a hot noodle soup and listened to the screaming videoke singers and chikadoras who are having their own graveyard shifts.

The fare is P150 and it would last for an hour and a half to Guinhulngan, a town in Negros Oriental 3 hours away from its capital Dumaguete under the cover of the night.

MV Leonor 2 looks seaworthy though, for a calm day. The sea was calm, I’m freakingly tired. 48 hours of no sleep and no rest after my last duty. I tried my very best to go asleep but it was futile. The volume of the TV was to the nth decibel and it was warm. Thank goodness it was not raining that night. The sea was very calm. It was perfect. I wonder where are the famous Bais dolphins were doing during those times?

Ringing Bells: Guingulngan, Negros Oriental

I reached the northern town of Guinhulngan in Negros Island, this time the eastern side! Yipee!! The first time I reached the eastern soil of the Sugar Island! Finally! Yet I asked, how far is Dunaguete from here? “3 hours pa dong!” Yikes! Ang layo! But anyway, it was exiting, even though the town is blanketed in slumber with its own Rizal Boulevard well lit. So I head to the bus terminal. It was dark, there were only a few people, the first trip was 4:15AM to San Carlos City! Dang! I have to wait for an hour and 15 minutes in darkness. Good thing the dispatcher was there too.

I noticed that whenever the locals speak Bisaya, they speak it gentler than their Cebuano counterparts. They have a slightly different accent. And yes, the dispatcher and I exchanged ideas for an hour.

Different Negros: To San Carlos City

I’m very oriented about Western Negros. Sprawling plains with sugar plantations everywhere. Yet I was quite shocked that the topography of NegOr was different. Literally, the mountains meet the sea. All the way towards the border of San Carlos City. It was an hour and a half ride in the winding and narrow road. The bus driver was a Lucifer! Good at first, quite slow then driving madly when he was already in Vallehermoso, where the road is at the edge of the mountain and the sea! Yikes! Look how he drives!

I noticed old rail tracks crossing the field as we approach the border of San Carlos, and vast tracks of sugarcane plantations with a very Ilocos-like topography. Canlaon’s peak watches over the plains, watches over the Visayan Islands as his face is lit with the morning twilight.

I have a short time with the port and plantation city of San Carlos as I’ve stepped out the bus from NegOr and headed towards the airconditioned bus bound for Bacolod City through the mountains.

Crossing the almost Impenetrable Border

Known for decades as the bailiwick of communist guerillas and almost impassable terrain, in early 2000 the provincial government of Negros Occidental opened finally a road that will cut the travel time from San Carlos City to only 1 hour and 45 minute ride.

To be greeted by the tangeringe color with its warmth while ascending the Negros cordilleras, the San Carlos side of the mountains are quite steep, similar to those in Talisay in Batangas, and then a plateau with the majestic Canlaon Volcano looming above with vegie patches in its foothills.

Negros has also its own “Chocolate Hills” somewhere in San Carlos Highlands. The cliffs and the verdant scenes were stunning enough to make me awake while listening to Steps’ soundtracks in the bus.

After DSB (Don Salvador Benedicto), we made a descend towards Murcia. Then, I saw the familiar Negros that I know eversince I first stepped here. Sugarcane plantations in gently sloping hills. And the language that has been familiar to me as it was part of me. Finally, I’m closer to home. Oh, its already the City of Smiles, Bacolod City.

Smiles and Warmfelt Love: Last leg from Bacolod to Iloilo

I know Bacolod City streets by heart since for me it was my extention of my hometown: Iloilo. I hailed manong driver to stop at Libertad Market and followed the sign towards Jolibee. My bladder was about to explode and i’m very hungry! Waahh!!! Jolibee’s quite far! And finally I’m there. Ate voraciously and peed as if there are tons of urine that needs to be exreted.

I don’t have the luxury of time staying in Bacolod so I zoomed in to the port where the newly opened and airport-inspired SM City is.

The sidecar driver kicked the pedal and rushed towards the fastcraft terminal. I thought I will be late, I was wrong. I made it! And after giving P10 to the sidecar driver, I went to the ticketing and flashed my expired student ID and paid P210 for the fare going to my hometown. The ferry was jampacked, I never minded it. And as the ferry whisked itself at Guimaras Strait, I felt asleep. I’m tired and I know I’m near home after an hour.

As the ferry slowed down, I woke up and saw the old scenes. The Muelle and the Aduana. I’m home.

To as much adventurism that I wanted to, it was this risk that I took. I wish I took a morning trip to see the beauty of the Visayas. But I was in a hurry. I wanted to go home and seek the comforts of it. I compared my life with the path I took. Risky but hopefully will be rewarding. As I took the risk, it took me to new destinations and new people, of the other side of Cebu and of Negros. I’ll do this thing again!

With its inauguration last June 13, 2007, the old Mandurriao airport of Iloilo was finally decommissioned by the Air Transportation Office and moved to its new facility in the town of Cabatuan, some 20 kilometers away from the old airport.

With the promise of economic growth that will bring upon this region, the new Iloilo Airport can take 1 million passengers per year and can accommodate wide-bodied aircraft and currently the 4th busiest airport in the Philippines as according to ATO.

And because of its distance and new location, for the benefit of the travelers, here are some tips on how to get in or out of the new airport:

• The usuall thing you do in when you arrive at the airport, hail a taxi. The fare (flagdown is PhP30) from the airport to the city on average is from PhP150-200 depending on what location in Iloilo City will you be. This is the most expensive way to get in or out of the airport to the city.
• Shuttle services by Suzie Star Tours are being offered to cash-strapped travelers. PhP50 is the fare to the city and you’ll be dropped at strategic sites such as SM City, Molo Plaza and Jaro Plaza.
• The longer and the cheapest alternative. Multicabs from Bangga Dama (Dama Junction) shuttles passengers to the airport for PhP10. From Bangga Dama in Santa Barbara town, take a jeepney to the city (Highway if you’ll be going straight to Mandurriao District, City Proper, Molo or SM City or LaPaz if your heading to Boracay/North Panay Bus Terminal or Jaro and LaPaz Districts) and it’ll cost you approximately P15.
• 

Starting June 14, Philippine Airlines will operate all its four flights daily to Iloilo via the new Iloilo Airport in Santa Barbara-Cabatuan. PAL will no longer operate at the old airport at the Mandurriao district.

From June 14, PAL passengers and cargo customers in Iloilo are advised to proceed to the new airport, located at Barangay Duyan Duyan in the municipality of Cabatuan, Iloilo province. The facility is situated at the juncture of Santa Barbara and Cabatuan towns, about 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City.