ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Bikers here, there and everywhere Photo courtesy of  Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog Facebook Page Around 3,000 bikers from Iloilo City and nearby provinces joined the much-anticipated “City Fun Ride" to highlight the 1st Iloilo Bike Festival. The weeklong bike festival kicked off at Megaworld's 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao District. Mayor Jed Patrik Mabilog leads the 1st Iloilo Bike Festival Photo courtesy of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog Facebook Page Government officials led by Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, vice-mayor Joe Espinosa III, and congressman Jerry Treñas; together with environmental advocates and Megaworld executives, participated in the 25-kilometer scenic bike ride which started from the Iloilo Business Park township to the various scenic locations in Iloilo.  Environmental advocate and lawyer, Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr. and Senate president Franklin Drilon also graced the opening of the bike festival. "The purpose of this ...

Nowhere you can find sleek and "futuristic" jeepney designs that not only looks good but really works. Most Ilonggo jeepney designs are adapted from popular car and vans designs and one can just stare in awe when seeing them for the first time. But now, its looks like tricycles are about to transform the game! Introducing the BUMBLEBEE by Abella Transport Manufacturing Industries of Arevalo, Iloilo! For a tricycle, these new breed of designs are superb and makes you want to be in them a longer period of time. It's like riding on a brand new car, with everyone you pass by look and stares.  Here are some snippets of the feature published by GMA NEWS ONLINE  about these futuristic tricycle designs. Profitable and convenient Having a similarly-sloped front glass window for its passenger's side are the sleek sidecars from Abella Transport Manufacturing Industries. The Bumblebee, a 4-seater trike by Abella Transport Manufacturing Industries. Photo...

Like an oasis in the middle of a dessert, Urban Sands Iloilo is a respite from the hustle and bustle of citylife. Hidden but convenient, the mini-resort offers their guests privacy at the same time convenience as it is located n the middle of the city. The dipping pool is the main attraction that's why all the rooms are built around it. Tastefully designed in a manner that is both sophisticated but not intimidating, Urban Sands beckons especially as summer begins. Accommodations include 7 rooms that are either Superior or DeLuxe having King, Queen or double sized beds. Overnight rates range from PhP2550 to Php 3550 with complimentary breakfast and use of the pool Here are some more photos with brief description of the place courtesy of Urban Sands Iloilo Facebook Page The picturesque scene, the stunning ambiance, the sophisticated interiors, the feel of authentic sand in your toes – all within the confines of the city, enclosed in a realm that is undeniably urb...

The recently successful Iloilo Business Summit in Makati held at the Hotel Incercontinental Manila revealed some of the big projects Iloilo is going to have in the next 5-10 years. From an article entitled Iloilo draws PhP150B worth of investments , published in the Manila Bulletin, it says Gaisano Group to build 40-storey skyscraper in Iloilo City. The country’s top six business conglomerates and foreign investors are investing over P150 billion in ongoing and future projects, one third of which goes to power ventures, in Iloilo, drawn by the province’s right business environment, quality human resources and quality of life. The confirmed investments are from Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), Phinma Corp., SM Investments Corp., Megaworld Corp., and In Japan Investments Inc. All these investors, who come from the province, cited Iloilo’s good governance policy, skilled manpower, good infrastructure facilities, good education, rich natural resources, and ...

An action-packed weekend kicked off Globe Football Para Sa Bayan 2014 Visayas held in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.  Santa Barbara Mayor Doc Dennis Superficial (in yellow) pose with the Globe Football Para Sa Bayan organizers With more than 1000 participants from various football clubs across the island of Panay, the two-day event was led by Globe Sports Ambassador and Ilonggo National Football Team player "Azkal" Chieffy Caligdong. Globe Football Para Sa Bayan is a grassroots program for the youth from underprivileged communities and serves as an inclusive platform for socially advantaged and less advantaged teams to interact and work together. It also gathers key movers in the football scene such as the Green Archers United where Caligdong plays as a left winger. It is the second time for Globe to conduct the sports activity in Iloilo (last year it was held in Barotac Nuevo) and it followed the Metro Manila kick off last month. Earlier, Caligdong also conducte...

The last Sunday of March 2014 is all set to host the 1st Iloilo Bike Festival. So what's in store for this new kind of activity in Iloilo City? It is foremost a gathering of bike enthusiasts not only from Iloilo but from all over the region and some parts of the country. The highlight would be a fun ride designed to take advantage of the existing bike lanes and at the same time lobby for the construction of more. Anchored on tourism, the 25km route will showcase the major attractions of Iloilo at the same time giving sports tourism a major boost. I had the chance to have a little chit-chat with Rock Drilon, one of the proponents of the event and a cycling super enthusiast, during last Sunday's Calle Real Pedestrianization. Enjoying his cup of freshly brewed Guatemalan coffee in one of the stalls along JM Basa Street, he shared some of his insights of the festival. The current road development mainly in the Mandurriao area can be model to all upcoming projects in and around...