ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Mpox is a viral infection that is currently on everyone’s radar. Should we be concerned? Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control project (EpiC) Philippines, a project  funded by  USAID and PEPFAR and led by FHI360, presents everything the public, especially people living with HIV (PLHIV), needs to know about this disease. What is  mpox ?   Mpox is  a  disease caused by the monkeypox virus. According to the World Health Organization, mpox causes symptoms that are  similar to  smallpox.  The  key difference between the two infections is that mpox causes swelling of the lymph nodes. The most common symptoms of mpox include a rash with blisters on the face, hands, feet, or even the genitals, fever, headaches, muscle pain, back aches, and fatigue. How  is  it spread?   Mpox is primarily spread through close physical contact with someone who has the monkeypox virus, especially direct contact with the rash. This includes hugging, kissing, and sexual contact, such as penetrative sex o

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, further strengthens its Visayas and Mindanao network by operating a total of 18 additional routes, expanding its inter-island connectivity and providing passengers with more accessible and affordable air travel across the airline’s domestic and international destinations. By December, CEB will operate a total of 73 routes serving Visayas and Mindanao as it opens new routes from its Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, and Clark hubs. This expansion will bring the airline’s capacity on Visayas and Mindanao flights to 2.1 million seats from 1.4 million in January 2024 and increase the number of flights operating across the same network to an average of 12,000. To support this growth, CEB is set to accept a total of 18 aircraft this year, of which 11  have already arrived. On top of this, the airline has also placed an order for up to 152 aircraft from Airbus -the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history - deliveries of which will st

This serene and picturesque view is one of the many reasons why Roca Encantada is among the top tourist attractions in Guimaras. The summer house of the illustrious Lopez clan of Iloilo is built on a rock that juts out into the sea earning its nickname - the Enchanted Rock.  More than 100 years old now, it  was built in 1910 in honor of Dona Presentacion Hofilena Lopez.  It was declared a “Heritage House” in 2002 by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly National Heritage Institute.) The stairs not only serve as entry way to the house but a perfect backdrop for countless selfies and photo-ops. But it's the grand balcony of the heritage house that offers the most photogenic views - so better get your cameras and batteries ready. A perfect place not only to relax after that climb but also to get that picture perfect snapshot. It offers a  picturesque view of the sea (Iloilo Strait) and beach front (Navalas beach/El Reti

Sta. Barbara is a colorful, romantic town with rich history and culture. Visitors should check out its historic center , the town’s most eye-catching architecture , the  Baroque-Renaissance architectural style of  the Sta. Barbara Parish Church and Convent. Constructed in 1849 and finished in 1878. The convent was built the same time as the church. Materials used in the construction of the church and convent were of adobe and coral stones quarried from Alimodian and red bricks used for the flooring, walls and posts. Materials were transported to the town through carts drawn by carabaos.  Connected to the side door of the church is its L-shaped convent of Antillan architectural style. The church served as the headquarters for the Ilonggo Revolutionary Forces in Western Visayas under General Martin Delgado in 1898. It was untouched during World War II and had withstood the 1948 earthquake. It was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute in 2013.