ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Known for having the sweetest mangoes in the world, the island of Guimaras capitalizes on this fruit to boost its image to tourists. So it's no wonder, why this fruit became the motif when Gov. Felipe Nava requested a custom made mode of transport to be used by the Capitol to ferry guests to and from various attractions on the island. Our group was fortunate enough to have been accommodated in this stylish jeepney of our way to Camp Alfredo. The jeep can seat 13 people comfortably (not including the driver) but can go maximum with 18. It even has a space at the back to put some bulky thing that may take up the leg room.The seat covers, ceiling, exteriors and interiors play with a lot of mangoes (both green and yellow) that you'll feel the sweetness of it during the travel. This jeepney was specially built be Pasajero Sosyal industries of Pavia, Iloilo (as the sign said) and small wonder since the company is known to make stylish jeepneys back in Iloilo. You explain, they desig...

From its humble beginnings as a fishing community along the swamps at the southeast end of Panay Island, Iloilo has become one of the country’s most important provinces. It has long been considered the cultural, religious, educational, commercial, manufacturing and transportation center of Western Visayas. After the Spanish colonial government opened the seaport of Iloilo to international trade in 1855, Iloilo proved to be an important trading post. With its harbor protected from the open seas by the scenic Guimaras Islands, many traders found Iloilo’s serene and calm waters safe for navigation. When former British vice-consul Nicolas Loney introduced modern sugar farming in the province at the turn of the century, Iloilo further solidified its reputation as the center of trade in the region. The whole world was doing business in the port, especially during the heyday of the sugar industry. With sugar in abundance in the province, many made their fortunes as they cashed...

Megaworld Corporation, the country’s #1 residential condominium and business process outsourcing (BPO) office developer, is set to break ground today, May 6, on its Iloilo Business Park project. The company is setting aside P2.5 billion initially over the next two years to develop the road network within the 54.5-hectare IT park and for the construction of Richmonde Hotel Ilo ilo and Richmonde Tower plus two more BPO office towers within this time frame. The first retail component of the project, Festive Walk, will be completed in the latter part of 2012, after which M egaworld is set to invest more to bankroll the development until 2020. The site of the project is the former Iloilo Airport, which Megaworld acquired from the National Government in 2007 for P1.2 billion in cash. “With our groundbreaking rites today, we affirm the strong business prospects of Iloilo City and the Western Visayas region in particular. The Iloilo Business Pa rk is an important component...