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Roca Encantada in Guimaras

This serene and picturesque view is one of the many reasons why Roca Encantada is among the top tourist attractions in Guimaras. The summer house of the illustrious Lopez clan of Iloilo is built on a rock that juts out into the sea earning its nickname - the Enchanted Rock.  More than 100 years old now, it  was built in 1910 in honor of Dona Presentacion Hofilena Lopez.  It was declared a “Heritage House” in 2002 by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly National Heritage Institute.) The stairs not only serve as entry way to the house but a perfect backdrop for countless selfies and photo-ops. But it's the grand balcony of the heritage house that offers the most photogenic views - so better get your cameras and batteries ready. A perfect place not only to relax after that climb but also to get that picture perfect snapshot. It offers a  picturesque view of the sea (Iloilo Strait) and beach front (Navalas beach/El Reti
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ILOMOCA's first Hulot Gallery offering for 2024: Comfortably Numb by Joe Geraldo

With the world ever-changing, one cannot just simply remain the same and do nothing.  This, among other things, is what multimedia artist Joe Geraldo holds true. His solo exhibition in the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art entitled Comfortably Numb surreally depicts the social realities in our country that we collectively share. Demonstrated using pen and ink, each of the twenty-one (21) artworks present a journey—more than enough to convey a lifetime of values and wisdom he has learned and lived through. Even the titles of his pieces could only speak for a part of the whole picture which is exactly how he wishes it to be. Graphic creatures are intentionally placed in scenarios with mundane details to emphasize the symbolic representations of our common experiences. In the same way, these capture Geraldo’s enigmatic artistic process: out of this world but purposeful, out of control but brutally honest. Inevitably his showstopper is on a 10 x 25 feet canvas that simultaneousl

TMC Iloilo elevates outpatient experience thru SARA

ILOILO CITY – The Medical City Iloilo, a leading healthcare institution known for pioneering health innovations in the region, is bringing outpatient care to the next level by introducing the first exclusive online application to assist patients in their Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) needs – SARA which stands for Self-Access and Registration Assistant.   SARA is strategically located at TMC Iloilo's Ambulatory Care Center to cater to the HMO approval needs of outpatient clients. Strategically positioned at TMC Iloilo Ambulatory Care Center, SARA is the latest addition to TMC Iloilo’s commitment to exceptional outpatient care aimed at providing convenience and efficiency. This exclusive online application is designed to enhance the patient experience by providing online HMO applications, internet access, and Letter of Authorization (LOA) printing services. This innovative approach ensures a seamless and convenient process for patients to obtain approval for their Letter of A

National Museum of the Philippines, Iloilo City LGU start prep for Fort San Pedro pre-restoration works

The National Museum of the Philippines and the Iloilo City Government have started the preparations to kickstart the excavation and prerestoration works of Fort San Pedro Iloilo, an important cultural property. In a recent meeting, Mayor Jerry P. TreƱas and NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns identified the needed preparations to start the preliminary works that will determine the direction of the PhP4-million prerestoration project. Attorney Ma. Cecilia U. Tirol, NMP Visayas director, together with the architects of the Iloilo City government, inspected the site early this month.  The NMP Archaeology Division headed by archaeologist Dr. Mary Jane Louise A. Bolunia has started reviewing the 1820 blueprint of the fort, comparing it to photographs taken in the 1930s up to early 1940s and after World War II.  These photos were overlaid with the recent photos of the fort to aid the technical experts in determining the extent of the site that will be covered by the project. The preparation wo

Iloilo Ancestral Houses: The Lizares Mansion in Jaro

One the most elegant reminders of Iloilo's rich and noble past is the imposing Lizares Mansion in Tabuc Suba, Jaro. Situated in an almost 2-hectare lot, this mansion was built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife Conchita Gamboa. The mansion has three floors, a basement and an attic. It has a winding wooden staircase and big bedrooms with floor and doors made of hardwood. It has 59 doors which indicate the intricacy of its layout.  When World War II broke out, the family left for a safe hiding place in Pototan, Iloilo. The mansion was then used as headquarters of the Japanese army. It was believed that the basement became a dumping ground for tortured Filipinos. After the war, the family went back to live in the mansion, but life was never the same. In 1950, Don Emiliano Lizares died and his widow left for Manila, leasing the mansion to a businessman who turned it into a casino.  The city mayor later ordered that the casino be closed, claimi

Connie Carillo Diversified Farm in Bingawan: Helping Sustaining a Healthy Community Through Farm Schools

The area around the town of Bingawan, the edge of the central portion of the province is where it ends and the town of Tapaz, Capiz province begins and is very much another unsung corner of Iloilo with warm, friendly, welcoming people. Bingawan has some rich farming land and farming is at the heart of its village life. The landscapes are gorgeous here; with gentle pastures, to the high mountains. The area offers some beautiful hikes and bike trails across its lovely rolling meadows, woodland and a few working farms. The town would be less touristic than its neighboring towns but is well worth exploring. If you are concerned about how organic can contribute to benefit our shared environment, promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved, then a trip to Connie Carillo Diversified Farm is for you. With the governments’ efforts to improve the knowledge and technical skills of the farmers, the Connie Carillo Diversified Fa

What's Inside CM Bamboo Craft Center in La Paz?

I LOVE BAMBOO! And who doesn't?  With its wide variety of uses - from what can be seen in and out of our homes to the actual materials most houses are made of plus its young shoots as popular ingredients in home cooking to the many things it can still be, it can give the coconut a run for its title as the Tree of Life. But the bamboo is actually a grass, the tallest grass species, so it can claim another title itself. But nonetheless, bamboo is among the most useful plants to mankind. And you've probably has dozens of things that ate made of or been created with the help of the bamboo. So much for this lengthy intro and let me show you CM Bamboo Craft Center in La Paz has made a lot of unique and beatiful things with the bamboo. The display center run by the Carmelite Missionaries ia located beside the Lapaz Catholic church in Iloilo City. This social project intends to give livelihood to the poor and out-of-school youths.