ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

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...

Taguig City, April 24, 2026 – In a testament to operational excellence and unwavering commitment to transparency, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded plaques of appreciation to MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) for their timely and full compliance with critical reportorial requirements. The recognition highlights the two distribution utilities’ adherence to DOE Department Circular No. DC2023-03-0005. This circular provides supplemental policies for the systematic management of DOE reportorial requirements in the electric power industry, ensuring accurate data flow for participants - distribution utilities, for the year 2025. Plaques, signed by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra, Ph.D., were presented at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City. It underscores compliance’s vital role amid rising power demand from industrialization, renewables, and climate risks, enabling better grid monitoring, outage p...

More than just a place for shopping for daily essentials, public markets are the windows of a city’s soul. It is a shared space for the community and a living connection between the past, present, and future reflecting how the city and its people continue to evolve.  A visit to the markets gives one a close view of everyday life and a taste of cultural heritage through the food, crafts, produce, and commodities offered to shoppers. These retail spaces are also a hub for small businesses as well as homegrown brands and local products. Countries around the world are leveraging their local markets as destinations as part of their tourism strategy. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey, for example, is often cited as one of the oldest enclosed markets in the world, dating to the 15th century. The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey   Stock photo from Dreamstime.com It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and remains to be a must-see attraction in Istanbul, drawing ...

Calinog, Iloilo  is an underrated gem, and as you will see there is always something new to discover. The town  boasts a wealth of exciting destinations. Clean townscapes and natural wonders, architectural highlights and lovely man-made attractions, there is something for everyone to discover here. The town center is a historic streetscape and a walk through its streets is a must when visiting Calinog.  History is there to see, touch and experience, practically everywhere in the area. Walking along the main streets, or exploring other areas around, you will encounter a variety of historic sites from different eras, each one adding an individual piece to a historical mosaic that spans the centuries. The Calinog Municipal Building in Quezon street was completed in 1937 under the leadership of Municipal President Geronimo Celo and Javier Celo as Vice President. It is the only municipal building in the entire province designed with a watchtower. The histor...

More than 200 kilograms of fresh vegetables were harvested during the Harvest Festival in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, marking another successful collaboration between local farmers and private partners. The activity was headed by the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office and Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association under the program of Mayor Raisa Treñas, in partnership with Iloilo City's sole electricity distributor MORE Power. A total of 204.9 kilograms of assorted vegetables were gathered during the event, including string beans, radish, okra, corn, squash, watermelon, bananas, melon, tomatoes, and other crops. Employees of MORE Power participated alongside members of the farmers’ association in harvesting the crops. The vegetables were then immediately transported to the company’s office, where they were sold to employees—demonstrating a direct farm-to-market approach. In addition to the harvest, members of the Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association received 160 packs of seeds...

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...