ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

According to the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan) in 2018, there are over 140,000 new cancer cases in the Philippines. Iloilo Bosom Friends, Inc. members with TMC Iloilo Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debbie Noblezada-Uy (2nd from left), TMC Iloilo Physician Engagement and Development Unit (PEDU) Head Dr. Maria Sancha Pauline Apolto-Garcia (4th from left); TMC Iloilo CEO Dr. Felix Ray Villa (5th from left); and TMC Iloilo Oncologist Dr. Jay-ar Palec (6th from left). In line with the call of beating cancer, The Medical City Iloilo has launched a campaign that highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of this illness which is considered as a “silent disaster”. Iloilo Bosom Friends, Inc. President Ma. Aleddie Penaranda shares a testimony on how she surpassed cancer. Dubbed as “#YOUCANCERpass”, the said campaign aims to educate the public about the cancer treatment options available and to relay the message that there is a hope to win the battle a...

GMA Network, through GMA Regional TV, amps up this year’s celebration of Dinagyang Festival with no less than the cast of ‘Descendants of the Sun' Philippine Adaptation’—led by Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado together with Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis-Smith—gracing one of the Philippines' biggest and most colorful festivals this weekend. On January 26, the powerhouse cast of Descendants of the Sun (DOTS) Philippine Adaptation banners the Kapuso celebration of Dinagyang Festival with no less than Big Boss (Dingdong), Beauty (Jennylyn), Moira (Jasmine), and Wolf (Rocco) meeting their fans in two simultaneous Kapuso Mall Shows. Dingdong and Jennylyn will lead the cast in a Kapuso Mall Show at SM City Iloilo at 5 p.m. Reporting for duty with them are their co-stars Lucho Ayala, Prince Clemente, Jon Lucas, and Hailey Mendes. Meanwhile, the tandem of Wolf and Moira is set to make hearts flutter as Rocco a...

Grand Xing Imperial Hotel marketing assistant Christine Georgia Flores, foodpanda regional managers Anne Eliseo and Peter Romanillos; Iloilo City Councilor Lady Julie Grace "Love" Baronda; foodpanda city manager Tricia Garcesto, and Iloilo Hotels Resorts and Restaurants Association (IHRRA) past president and current board member, and owner of Love and Kisses— Pizza Happy Mapua Abenir HALA BIRA! foodpanda, the biggest online food ordering and delivery service in the Philippines, has finally landed in Iloilo! Hungry for more? foodpanda is ready for you. With over 100 food and beverage establis partners, you can now order any time of the day from milk teas, coffees, with local and international options from your favorite fast-food chains and restaurants.  With the delivery service available in Iloilo since Jan. 2, 2020, Ilonggos do not need to stress out looking for parking or walking in the scorching heat on a sunny day or  in rainy weather! foodp...

Grand Parade of Lights, fireworks display and musical performances highlight annual township-wide celebrations  Megaworld's Iloilo Business Park township is all geared up as Iloilo celebrates the world-renowned Dinagyang Festival 2020, staging a lineup of fun-filled festivities and spectacles. As Iloilo's biggest festival soars to greater heights with its grandest edition yet, Iloilo Business Park once again positions itself as the newest destination for more exciting activities that will exude the vibrancy of the Ilonggo way of merrymaking. Revelers will be treated to an array of activities that capture the rhythm, colors, and flavors of Iloilo. For the third year in a row, the most-anticipated Dinagyang Grand Parade of Lights will brighten up the entire stretch of Megaworld Boulevard, with bigger and grander floats expected to illuminate to the 72-hectare township. Starting from Diversion Road, the night parade of lighted floats will culmina...

Pulling out all the stops to give subscribers the best festival experiences around the country, mobile services provider Smart Communications is leveling up Dinagyang this weekend with Viva Music Festival 2020, a big music and dance celebration at Iloilo Business Park of Megaworld, Mandurriao, Iloilo City from Jan. 24 to 25. This is the third consecutive year that Smart is mounting Viva Music Festival, which is headlined by some of the country's biggest bands and DJs. Since 2016, it has become one of the highlights of Dinagyang Festival, whose jampacked activities include a fluvial procession, street dance parties, concerts, and cultural exhibits.  Rock it out with Slapshock, party with DJ Ace Ramos and MC Pao For Day 1 of Viva Music Festival 2020 on Jan.24, festivalgoers can rock it out with Slapshock, Valley Chrome and Typecast and witness rising local bands at the Battle of the Bands. For Day 2, it’s a party all-night with the country’s fave DJs – rave with t...

Megaworld, the country’s largest developer and lessor of office spaces, is adding 78,000 square meters of office spaces in Iloilo Business Park with two new office towers. “The demand for office spaces in Iloilo Business Park has been steadily growing the past years." explains Roland Tiongson, first vice president, Megaworld Premier Offices. "Most of the companies that want to set up operations in Iloilo prefer the township concept that we offer because it helps ensure convenience and comfort necessary for the retention of their employees,” he further said. The two new office towers - Enterprise One and Enterprise Two, each 12-storeys high will be located right along the bustling stretch of Megaworld Boulevard in the city’s modern business park.  Sporting modern architecture, the two office towers will offer around 78,000 square meters of fresh office spaces and will be applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification...

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Regatta has recently opened the nominations for The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards (TOSIA) 2020. Considered as the flagship program of JCI Regatta, TOSIA aims to give honor and recognition to well-rounded Ilonggo students who excel in academics, leadership, community involvement and faith in creating positive change.Moreover, it is also a salute to schools for molding their students to be young active citizens. TOSIA is open to Junior High School and College students in both private and public schools in the province of Iloilo. The nominees were endorsed by the Principal for the Junior High School level and Dean of Student Affairs (or its equivalent) for college level. The first stage of the program is the Bidbook Screening wherein applicants are asked to submit a bidbook of their accomplishments tailored to the four pillars of TOSIA. After the bidbook screening, the semi-finalists will undergo the Essay Writing...

Santa Barbaranhons celebrated the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, 2020 with a solemn procession after the daily 5pm mass. Townsfolk went around town reciting their prayers following the life-sized image of a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ carrying the Cross. The procession ended where it started - at the gates of the Santa Barbara Catholic Church where it was blessed and devotees climbed the image for the miraclous touch. This local observation of the much celebrated religious Feast of the Black Nazarene has been  for over 5 years now.

Iloilo Dinagyang Ati warriors in performance Photo by Manny Librodo It’s all systems go for the Opening Salvo of Iloilo Dinagyang 2020 on January 10, Friday, starting at 3 PM at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. Must watch are the 3-5 minute “teaser” performances of the eight Dinagyang 360° competing tribes, which are vying for the championship with a total prize of 5 million pesos in cash and projects. As a dry-run for the main competition, all eight tribes – Baybayanon, Baryohanon, Dagatnon, Hugponganon, Ilonganon, Paghidaet, Panayanon, and Salognon, will perform at the three other designated judging areas: Solis-Iznart, Valeria- Ledesma, and Central Market. Also adding more color and fun are six of the barangay tribes who are making a comeback during the Dagyang sa Calle Real on January 25 namely: Tribu Angola, Aninipay, Molave, Sagasa, Sagrada, and Parianon. The event is made more beautiful with the first public appearance of ...

Philippine Airlines (PAL) marked another milestone on January 3, 2020) with the launch of a brand new daily service between Davao and Iloilo. The maiden Davao to Iloilo flight PR 2539 took off at 6:32AM and touched down at 7:42AM while its return journey PR 2540 from Iloilo to Davao departed at 8:40AM and arrived at 9:42AM. The modern 86-seater Dash-8 with registry number RPC-5907 was utilized for the brand new service which will help promote trade and tourism between the two cities and will support the Department of Tourism's program making Iloilo the MICE (Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions) destination of 2020. "It provides the Davaoenos and Ilonggos better travel options with affordable and competitive rates. It allows the market to maximize their time with the early morning departures out of DVO and ILO," says PAL Area Head for Vis/Min Harry Inoferio.  Aside from serving this brand new domestic route daily, PAL also fl...