ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Gian Carlo E. Luna as its new Hotel Manager. With a distinguished career spanning three decades across diverse industries including retail, corporate sales, and hospitality, Mr. Luna brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. His proven track record in sales, marketing, hotel operations, and even the design and manufacturing sector positions him as a versatile and strategic leader. Prior to joining Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, Mr. Luna successfully led Golden Sands Destination Resorts, Inc. as General Manager for four years. His accomplishments include driving revenue growth, enhancing market share, and ensuring operational excellence across all departments. Gian Carlo Luna, new Hotel Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo In his new capacity, Mr. Luna will serve as a key leader of the hotel supporting Mr. Sherwin Lucas, Area General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod. Hi...

One the most elegant reminders of Iloilo's rich and noble past is the imposing Lizares Mansion in Tabuc Suba, Jaro. Situated in an almost 2-hectare lot, this mansion was built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife Conchita Gamboa. The mansion has three floors, a basement and an attic. It has a winding wooden staircase and big bedrooms with floor and doors made of hardwood. It has 59 doors which indicate the intricacy of its layout.  When World War II broke out, the family left for a safe hiding place in Pototan, Iloilo. The mansion was then used as headquarters of the Japanese army. It was believed that the basement became a dumping ground for tortured Filipinos. After the war, the family went back to live in the mansion, but life was never the same. In 1950, Don Emiliano Lizares died and his widow left for Manila, leasing the mansion to a businessman who turned it into a casino.  The city mayor later ordered that the casino be closed, c...

I LOVE BAMBOO! And who doesn't?  With its wide variety of uses - from what can be seen in and out of our homes to the actual materials most houses are made of plus its young shoots as popular ingredients in home cooking to the many things it can still be, it can give the coconut a run for its title as the Tree of Life. But the bamboo is actually a grass, the tallest grass species, so it can claim another title itself. But nonetheless, bamboo is among the most useful plants to mankind. And you've probably has dozens of things that ate made of or been created with the help of the bamboo. So much for this lengthy intro and let me show you CM Bamboo Craft Center in La Paz has made a lot of unique and beatiful things with the bamboo. The display center run by the Carmelite Missionaries ia located beside the Lapaz Catholic church in Iloilo City. This social project intends to give livelihood to the poor and out-of-school youths. ...