ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

The continuing thin power supply in the Visayas has affected electricity rates across distribution utilities in the region, prompting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to place the grid under several yellow alerts since May. In Iloilo City, MORE Electric and Power Corporation said it is hoping that power supply in the Visayas Grid will return to normal as soon as possible so that electricity rates may also go down. A yellow alert means available supply is not enough to meet demand, which may lead distribution utilities to implement manual load dropping or rotational power interruptions. Based on the latest data, MORE Power recorded around 428,308.60 kWh in power losses from May 13 to June, affecting 177,727 consumers. NGCP said the tight supply situation in the Visayas was caused by the outage of three major coal-fired power plants: Units 1 and 2 of Aboitiz Power Therma Visayas Inc., which have a capacity of 169 MW each, and Panay Energy Development Corporation (P...

SM Supermalls is bringing more giant-sized fun, immersive experiences, and memorable moments to communities across the Visayas and Palawan with the expansion of the SM Giant Squad to SM City Iloilo, SM City Roxas, SM City Bacolod, and SM City Puerto Princesa. As part of SM Supermalls' commitment to creating meaningful and engaging experiences for Filipino families, the country's most loved mall continues to grow its roster of larger-than-life characters designed to inspire fun, discovery, and community connection. Through the Giant Squad, mallgoers can enjoy more shareable moments and "Gala to the Max" experiences that make every visit more exciting and memorable. Leading the newest wave of Giant Squad characters is Lilo, the Lovable Bear of SM City Iloilo. Innovative, warm, and always bringing people together, Lilo inspires exciting adventures and unforgettable moments for mallgoers. At SM City Roxas, Roxy, the Bubbly Octopus, brings playful energy and endless surpri...

Rooted in a deep appreciation for Iloilo’s rich sports heritage and driven by a vision for the future, Filinvest Land, in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation, officially broke ground on the Iloilo Centrale Football Pitch. Located right at the heart of the township, this 9-a-side football pitch marks a major milestone in reintroducing Iloilo Centrale as a vibrant, lifestyle-driven destination.   Representatives from the Municipality of Leganes, the Philippine Football Federation, and Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) gather for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Iloilo Centrale Football Field. More than a ceremonial launch, the groundbreaking highlights the township’s vision of building an integrated, future-ready community that promotes active, modern living. Inspired by legendary football stories of passion, perseverance, and humble beginnings, this initiative reflects a fierce commitment to preparing and empowering the next generation of Ilonggo athletes.   Sports In...

 ILOILO CITY - MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), the sole electricity distributor in Iloilo City, has taken a bold step toward securing the region’s power future. This landmark initiative for the Western Visayas energy sector introduces the area’s first fully unmanned 30MVA substation. This historic milestone stems not from hasty planning but from years of intensive assessment and careful forecasting of consumer needs. The achievement represents a major advance in modernizing the region’s power infrastructure, underscoring MORE Power’s commitment to efficient, reliable, and innovative service for Ilonggo consumers. The facility is remotely controlled from MORE Power’s Control Center via an advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Fully automated, it is operated and managed entirely from the center, with real-time data delivering all essential information. State-of-the-art design allows monitoring of load flow, voltage levels, and equipment c...

Mangroves are a highly valued resource in the province of Iloilo. They are found along much of Iloilo’s coastline. The most extensive mangroves are found in the northern district with the town of Ajuy having one of the most luxuriant mangrove covers. Ajuy is home to a diversity of marine organisms. One of the most valuable features of its biodiversity is the presence of a mangrove ecosystem. The town is an ecotourism excursion destination that visitors should include in their itineraries when making plans to explore Iloilo. Barangay Silagon, situated 10 kilometers from the town proper, is a destination you can consider as an itinerary if you have enough time visit to Ajuy. The area offers lush mangrove forests worth visiting with family and friends who seek a unique experience. The barangay Opened last December 23, 2019, the Silagon Mangrove Eco-Park is a 240-meter bamboo boardwalk extends beyond the existing mangroves and has become a special feature for visitors to the barangay. Take...

ILOILO CITY — MORE Electric and Power Corporation is passing on relief to Ilonggo consumers with a reduction in electricity rates for May, despite upward pressure on global commodity prices stemming from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The residential rate for May is ₱11.8710 per kWh, down from ₱12.14 per kWh in April. The commercial rate falls to ₱11.00 per kWh from ₱11.27 last month. The movement in retail rates is primarily attributed to a lower transmission charge, which declined to ₱0.26/kWh versus the previous month. The system loss charge was also trimmed by ₱0.027/kWh, reflecting the transmission adjustment; overall system loss improved from 5.37% to 5.20%. On the other hand, the generation charge rose by ₱0.05/kWh due to higher coal prices and increased freight costs associated with imports. Inflation (CPI) and foreign exchange fluctuations also pushed generation costs upward. Prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market likewise climbed to ₱4.47/kWh. Despite the upt...

San Enrique, Iloilo is a truly tranquil and peaceful town guaranteed to help you relax, slow down, and connect with nature. Visit small scale farms— sugar cane and rice fields, corn, water buffalo, and more. Meet happy, smiling people and enjoy their local cuisine. Amidst the bustling and progressive city pulsating with modern life, Pallon Farm is a unique haven for those who long for the solitude and enjoyment while communing with nature. Where the ambiance will surely soothe the senses and calm your nerves, allowing you to achieve one of the best farm holidays of your life. PallonFarm, a privately-owned farm in Barangay Bantayan is one of the unique places in Iloilo where you can come to recharge in beautiful scenery with peaceful silence in the farm fields. Only four (4) kilometers from the town center, Pallon Farm will remind you of a simple yet happy life. This 1.5 hectares developed area of the farm has a fishpond framed by fruit-bearing trees such as r...

Pavia, Iloilo – Malls, food chains, hotels, BPOs, publication offices, and even construction firms are among the diverse sectors now served by MORE Power, as the company continues to expand its reach. In the first quarter of 2026, MORE Power accommodated the migration of several major accounts seeking reliable service, cost efficiency, and customer-friendly support for their thriving operations. The latest to make the migration is Waffle Time Inc., a prominent Ilonggo business franchise, for its commissary in Brgy. Pagsangaan, Pavia, Iloilo. The company successfully transferred its load to MORE Power as its primary power source. Just last month, Taytay sa Kauswagan (TSKI), a major finance firm and hotel operator, along with Gateway Hotel, completed their migration on March 27, 2026. TSKI CEO and President Mr. Peter Talbanban and Gateway Hotel Chief Operating Officer Mr. Wendell Hofanda led the migration ceremony. “The primary expectation is better service and lower costs, especially am...

As an SG first-timer, excitement was in the air even days before this upcoming flight. I will be part of the maiden voyage of Cebu Pacific for the resumption of its Iloilo to/from Singapore flights. Together with my fellow Iloilo Bloggers Inc travel buddies, it was time for another adventure outside the country. A month before, we were also part of the Iloilo to-from HongKong maiden voyage, so it'll be another fun and unforgettable travel in the making. Good thing immigration at ILO is just a breeze so it was a great start for our SG adventure.  And just after a little more than 3-hour flight (enjoyed my 1A seat), we touched down at Changi Airport, proving that the airport is among the very best in the world - efficient immigration, spotlessly clean everywhere, conducive to arriving passengers plus a whole lot more! As tiredness kicked in,  we were ready to recharge. We just took a Grab ride from Changi all the way to Downtown SG and  checked in in our "home away from hom...