ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

A stone’s throw away from Molo plaza is the Dominican Sisters Motherhouse.  The religious complex houses a church, offices and residences for its congregation plus a well curated museum among others.  The latter displays religious artifacts as well as non-religious items from its world-wide networks of missions. But the highlight is everything about its founder Mother Rosario who used to tread the grounds of this sanctuary in which also one can find the crypt that houses her remains. There you’ll find relics, personals and other things associated with Venerable* Mother Rosario as well as other ecclesiastical artifacts as well as relics. ( Taking Photos in a specified area is NOT allowed) The museum is open MWF around 9 to 11am and 2 to 4pm.  Just contact Dominican Sisters of the Philippines Motherhouse - Molo, Iloilo City for inquiries.  * Beatification (and eventual Canonization) is currently being processed and in the hands of the Vatican for her called Blessed and...

As an SG first-timer, excitement was in the air even days before this upcoming flight. I will be part of the maiden voyage of Cebu Pacific for the resumption of its Iloilo to/from Singapore flights. Together with my fellow Iloilo Bloggers Inc travel buddies, it was time for another adventure outside the country. A month before, we were also part of the Iloilo to-from HongKong maiden voyage, so it'll be another fun and unforgettable travel in the making. Good thing immigration at ILO is just a breeze so it was a great start for our SG adventure.  And just after a little more than 3-hour flight (enjoyed my 1A seat), we touched down at Changi Airport, proving that the airport is among the very best in the world - efficient immigration, spotlessly clean everywhere, conducive to arriving passengers plus a whole lot more! As tiredness kicked in,  we were ready to recharge. We just took a Grab ride from Changi all the way to Downtown SG and  checked in in our "home away from hom...

San Enrique, Iloilo is a truly tranquil and peaceful town guaranteed to help you relax, slow down, and connect with nature. Visit small scale farms— sugar cane and rice fields, corn, water buffalo, and more. Meet happy, smiling people and enjoy their local cuisine. Amidst the bustling and progressive city pulsating with modern life, Pallon Farm is a unique haven for those who long for the solitude and enjoyment while communing with nature. Where the ambiance will surely soothe the senses and calm your nerves, allowing you to achieve one of the best farm holidays of your life. PallonFarm, a privately-owned farm in Barangay Bantayan is one of the unique places in Iloilo where you can come to recharge in beautiful scenery with peaceful silence in the farm fields. Only four (4) kilometers from the town center, Pallon Farm will remind you of a simple yet happy life. This 1.5 hectares developed area of the farm has a fishpond framed by fruit-bearing trees such as r...

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. ...