ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

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 renamed, and new ones added.  Stur

Calinog, Iloilo  is an underrated gem, and as you will see there is always something new to discover. The town  boasts a wealth of exciting destinations. Clean townscapes and natural wonders, architectural highlights and lovely man-made attractions, there is something for everyone to discover here. The town center is a historic streetscape and a walk through its streets is a must when visiting Calinog.  History is there to see, touch and experience, practically everywhere in the area. Walking along the main streets, or exploring other areas around, you will encounter a variety of historic sites from different eras, each one adding an individual piece to a historical mosaic that spans the centuries. The Calinog Municipal Building in Quezon street was completed in 1937 under the leadership of Municipal President Geronimo Celo and Javier Celo as Vice President. It is the only municipal building in the entire province designed with a watchtower. The historic sunken plaza complex was built

“Getting there is half the fun”.  It depends whether you take it figuratively or literally. In my case, it is always a mix of both as I have discovered in my travels. While leisure travel is not essential right now, a #throwback trip will be as unforgettable. To continue, my most recent visit to Hong Kong was back in 2019, I really enjoyed my journey and discovered a lot - even before I reached my destination! “Asia’s World City” is my first trip abroad and to “celebrate” its anniversary, I went back to rediscover and uncover more, in 2017. Good thing, there’s a direct flight from Iloilo to Hong Kong (v.v.) and there are more to choose from if connecting via Manila, Cebu and Kalibo (to name a few). Once connected, the massive and modern Hong Kong International Airport welcomes you to the city that never sleeps - in this part of the world. And that’s where the discovery of the iconic rides of Hong Kong begins… One of Hong Kong's signature views as seen from The Peak I