ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

In the flourishing heart of Iloilo City, where heritage meets forward-thinking innovation, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo stands as the premier destination for business, events, and meaningful connections. Whether you’re hosting a large-scale conference, an exclusive workshop, or sealing a deal over coffee, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo offers thoughtfully designed spaces that elevate the way we meet, work, and celebrate. At the core of its offerings is the Iloilo Grand Ballroom —a majestic, pillarless space tailored for elegance and scale. With high ceilings, sophisticated lighting, and flexible configurations, the ballroom transforms effortlessly from corporate summit to social soirée. It’s where major moments are staged, and lasting impressions made. For more focused gatherings, the Arevalo Function Room presents an ideal setting. With modern amenities and an intimate ambiance, it’s perfect for strategic meetings, seminars, and private events. Personalized layouts and dedicated suppor...

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 ...