ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Iloilo residents looking to invest or find their next home can take advantage of exclusive perks and special offers on select ready-for-occupancy (RFO) Megaworld residential properties during the two-day Pag-IBIG Fund National Housing Expo 2026, running until October 28 at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City.  Available exclusively for new sales made during the event, these limited-time deals cover prime residential lots and condominium units across Megaworld's top Visayas townships including Iloilo Business Park right here in Iloilo City, alongside The Upper East and Forbes Hill in Negros, and The Mactan Newtown in Cebu. To qualify, properties must have a contract price of PhP30 million or below. Local buyers can maximize these event-exclusive savings across various payment arrangements. Those settling their purchase in full within 30 days of reservation can enjoy extra discounts, while buyers opting for Pag-IBIG Fund financing by December 2026 can avail of special promo te...

Alimodian, Iloilo – MORE Electric and Power Corporation employees braved the heat and hiked the steep slopes of Agony Hill in Alimodian, Iloilo, carrying 500 narra tree saplings for a tree-planting activity. More than 50 employees joined the initiative in coordination with the Alimodian Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Alimodian Local Government Unit. “This activity reflects MORE Power’s core commitment to environmental responsibility. Every year, we conduct similar initiatives to engage with our consumers and demonstrate that MORE Power goes beyond delivering quality service as a distribution utility but also extending its efforts for the community. We would like to extend our gratitude to the cooperation of the Alimodian Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office headed by, Engineer Reno Alquisada and most especially to Mayor Ian Kenneth Alfeche for allowing us to execute this activity,” said Engineer Ronald Torres, Chief Operating Officer of MORE Po...

More than just a place for shopping for daily essentials, public markets are the windows of a city’s soul. It is a shared space for the community and a living connection between the past, present, and future reflecting how the city and its people continue to evolve.  A visit to the markets gives one a close view of everyday life and a taste of cultural heritage through the food, crafts, produce, and commodities offered to shoppers. These retail spaces are also a hub for small businesses as well as homegrown brands and local products. Countries around the world are leveraging their local markets as destinations as part of their tourism strategy. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey, for example, is often cited as one of the oldest enclosed markets in the world, dating to the 15th century. The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey   Stock photo from Dreamstime.com It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and remains to be a must-see attraction in Istanbul, drawing ...

MANILA, Philippines – MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) took home the prestigious APEX Company of the Year award, held on October 13, 2026, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Resorts World Manila. MORE Power President and CEO Mr. Roel Castro received the award beaming with pride. Castro was also a finalist in the Asia CEO Awards. The APEX Company of the Year is awarded to companies that show significant innovation, contribute to economic advancement, demonstrate strategic leadership, and drive national transformation. “APEX company of the year recognizes companies that have achieved something significant but more importantly companies whose success can impact beyond their own organization,” says Haidee Enriquez of Microsourcing Group.  As a distribution utility, MORE Power strengthened its services in more than six years. It capitalized on rehabilitating the substations, put up new substations, put up insulated power lines, as well as a modern and centralized monitoring...

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...

Sta. Barbara is a colorful, romantic town with rich history and culture. Visitors should check out its historic center , the town’s most eye-catching architecture , the  Baroque-Renaissance architectural style of  the Sta. Barbara Parish Church and Convent. Constructed in 1849 and finished in 1878. The convent was built the same time as the church. Materials used in the construction of the church and convent were of adobe and coral stones quarried from Alimodian and red bricks used for the flooring, walls and posts. Materials were transported to the town through carts drawn by carabaos.  Connected to the side door of the church is its L-shaped convent of Antillan architectural style. The church served as the headquarters for the Ilonggo Revolutionary Forces in Western Visayas under General Martin Delgado in 1898. It was untouched during World War II and had withstood the 1948 earthquake. It was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Inst...

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) continues to extend its commitment beyond reliable electric distribution service by supporting initiatives that create practical and sustained opportunities for communities, including Iloilo City’s urban farmers. The Harvest Festival held in Barangay Ticud, La Paz, Iloilo City, on September 24, 2026, was once again a success. The activity was spearheaded by the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office, together with the Ticud Farmers Association, under the program of the Iloilo City Government and private company MORE Power. Also in attendance at the event were the Executive Assistant to the Mayor and former Councilor Ely Estante, along with other stakeholders. More than 200 high-quality hybrid Fujisawa and Inthanon melons were harvested and purchased by MORE Power employees during the Harvest Festival. The event also featured various freshly harvested vegetables and fruits, giving employees and community members an opportunity to directly suppo...

The biggest fire in Iloilo City’s history erupted on February 7, 1966.  I was in my third grade at San Agustin and as we were bundled out of school I could see the plumes of black smoke beyond the school’s walls.  Fire engines wailed and people rushed about.  News reports say it started somewhere along Iznart, rapidly engulfing Ledesma, Quezon, Valeria, Delgado and Mabini streets, devouring 12 blocks of the city’s stores, theaters, schools, and hundreds of houses.  Photos from that time have an apocalyptic feel. It should have been a major blow, since Iloilo city was slowly recovering from the damage of WW2, had labor troubles at the port and was mired in petty local politics. Its “Queen City of the South” title was relinquished to Cebu.  However, in the conflagration’s aftermath, the city arose, phoenix-like, from the ashes.   Shanties and hovels that used to be in Delgado were relocated; small businesses arose, movie houses rebuilt—some ...