ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

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 (Navala...

The Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo, convened on March 18, 2026, to deliberate on two franchises under Primelectric Holdings Inc. The session focused on the franchise extension request for Bohol Light Company Incorporated and the franchise expansion for MORE Electric and Power Corporation. Mr. Roel Z. Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of both utilities, presented the performance overview of the two companies. He detailed operational improvements and provided the justification behind these legislative requests. MORE Power: Expansion Amid Strong Performance Metrics MORE Electric and Power Corporation, which has operated under a legislative franchise in Iloilo City forsix years, is seeking to further widen its coverage area. The proposal includes seven municipalities in the First District of Iloilo Province, sponsored by Congresswoman Janet Garin following requests from residents. If approved, these areas will join the second and fourth dist...

  Hulot Gallery opens its first exhibition of 2026 on March 20 with Sovereign Faces , a solo presentation by French artist Henri Lamy at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), Iloilo Business Park. In celebration of Women’s Month, the exhibition brings together a compelling body of portraits and symbolic works that examine the many dimensions of feminine identity across cultures and generations. The series of artworks features Lamy’s principal use of a palette knife to create textured surfaces, complemented by a style described as kinetic expressionism. Influenced by the fluid movements of Capoeira, a Brazilian art form that combines dance, rhythm, and martial movement, Lamy’s gestures create dynamic slashes of color and a rhythmic dialogue between body and canvas. In Sovereign Faces , Lamy uses portraiture to explore identity through the human face, highlighting a person’s sense of self and ownership of their own story. By presenting each subject individually, Lamy a...

  The MORE Power expansion bill, authored by Representative Janette Garin, was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives of the Philippines during its session last Tuesday. The measure seeks to include the municipalities of Iloilo’s 1st District in the franchise area of MORE Electric and Power Corporation. The approval came after Jeffrey Ferrer, chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, presented the panel’s favorable recommendation to the plenary. House Bill 7647 proposes amendments to Sections 11, 16, and 21 of Republic Act No. 11212, as previously amended by Republic Act No. 11918. The original law granted MORE Power a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain an electric power distribution system in Iloilo City and districts two and four, ensuring the continuous and reliable delivery of electricity to consumers within its service area. During the plenary vote, the bill garnered overwhelming support, with 247 lawmakers voting in favor,...

Heritage and gastronomy are two of Iloilo’s main attractions and one can experience both in just one setting – at the Camiña Balay nga Bato.  A LIVING MUSEUM “Welcome and make yourselves feel at home” greets Luth Camiña. With husband Gerard, the couple are among the 4th generation descendants of the Avanceñas, and call this heritage house their home. It took them more than a decade to renovate the structure from its worn out state. “The old house had sawali (bamboo weavings) for ceiling which we replaced with pressed tin sheets as it was a fire hazard” reveals Ms Luth. “We just retained some original structures like the windows with ventanillas (air vents), the escalera (ladder-like stairs) and the stilt-like pillars on the ground floor.”  Eugene Jamerlan, who worked with the Camiñas in the restoration explains that the number of these pillars was a status symbol back in the 19th century. “This house has a total of 24 pillars making the household among the...