ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

“This is a very significant and noble cause which I really want to be part of and I’m glad for the opportunity to help in providing classrooms for our school children.”   That’s AzKal’s Emelio “Chieffy” A. Caligdong  responding during a press conference yesterday at Esca’s Garden Restaurant during the launch of “Globe  Football sa Bayan” here in Iloilo. This annual football competition is expected to be participated in by more than 1,000 students, ages 6-16, from at least 10 public and private schools in Iloilo. With the desire to train potential football players and at the same time, raise funds to build new classrooms, Globe Telecom through its sports ambassador “Chieffy” A. Caligdong is set to hold a football festival in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo from February 22 to 24, 2013. Another component of the festival is the football clinics to be conducted by Chieffy, who aside from being the left winger for Green Archers United Globe is also considered a Philippin...

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- The two-day highlights of the 41st Iloilo Paraw Festival kicked off Saturday with more than 50 sailboats parading at the stretch of Villa Beach in Arevalo this city for the Slalom Race.   Slalom served as an added attraction to the main highlight on Sunday that would showcase sailboats racing in the more than 28-kilometer stretch of the Iloilo to Guimaras Strait. It was aimed at enhancing the seamanship of the crew in handling and maneuvering the ‘Paraw’ under all wind conditions in a preset race course. Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog and Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation Inc. (IPRFI) chairman Manny Villa Jr. are expecting that this year’s sailing event would be more successful. Paraw Regatta has become a symbol of Iloilo City even as the P450-million Iloilo Convention Center project architecture will incorporate in its design the sails of native outrigger boat showcasing the oldest sailing event in Asia, stressed Mabilog. He also...

Western Visayas will soon see the rise of a boom town, as Megaworld constructs a boutique hotel and commercial district, a lifestyle mall, BPO office buildings, deluxe hotels, and a convention center in the anticipated Iloilo Business Park located in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. “As we extend our 'live-work-play' formula to Iloilo, we're expecting a breakthrough in Western Visayas' in terms of business and tourism, which will be brought forth by the world-class developments that Megaworld has always been known for,” shares Jericho Go, Megaworld's First Vice President for Business Leasing and Development Group. Aligning the expansive Megaworld Boulevard, this 54-hectare mixed-use development will house the Megaworld Center Mall, Festive Walk, the international brand Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Richmonde Hotel, and the Iloilo Convention Center.  The Megaworld Center Mall will be Iloilo's first upscale future shopping mall. The Festive Walk is a wide strol...

Mga Kaibigan Ng Mga Kabataang may Kanser (KKK, Inc.) is a non-stock, non-profit corporation formed in 2007 in iloilo by a small group of doctors and other concerned citizens, with the objective of providing financial support for chemotherapy to cancer-stricken children, who come from indigent Filipino families that can even barely feed their members. These poor families never had a budget for medical needs, more so for expensive chemotheraphy and/or radiotherapy. In fact, most of these children with cancer die because the necessary treatments were not availed of, due to financial constraints. Costly cancer treatment forces many children and their families to drop their plans for the future and just focus on surviving in the present. KKK was formed not to fight against children’s cancer, but to fight against the hopelessness that the kids with cancer and their family feel. I guess that’s the most important intangible contribution that KKK gives. We try to help them financially for...

Dinagyang Festival Ati-ati Competition Major Awards: Champion - Tribu Panayanon 1st runner-up - Tribu Ilonganon 2nd runner-up - Tribu Salognon 3rd runner-up - Tribu Milagrosa 4th runner-up - Tribu Atub-Atub Minor/Special Awards: Best Choreography - Tribu Panayanon Best Choreographer - Tribu Panayanon Best Music - Tribu Ilonganon Best Musical Director - Tribu Ilonganon Best in Costume - Tribu Ilonganon Best in Costume Designer- Tribu Ilonganon Best Performance - Tribu Panayanon  Best in Street Dance - Tribu Salognon Best Headdress -Tribu Panayanon Best in Discipline -Tribu Salognon Opening Salvo Awards: Best in Costume Opening Salvo - Tribu Ilonganon Best in Performance - Tribu Panayanon Best in Discipline - Tribu Panayanon -------------------- Kasadyahan Cultural Dance Results Major Awards: Champion - Salakayan – Miagao, Iloilo 1st runner-up - Tribu Kaing – Leon, Iloilo 2nd runner-up - Tribu Bayluhay – San Joaquin, Iloilo 3rd runner-up - Trib...

Lording over the Molo plaza is one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines – St. Anne’s Church. More popularly known as Molo Church, it was constructed in 1831 under Fr. Pablo Montano, with the imposing edifice is made of massive white coral rock. It is the only Gothic church in the entire country outside of Manila. The Gothic character of the church is manifested not only in its two pointed towers but also on the pointed arches at the main altar and four side altars, pulpits and confessionals. Its two belfries had around 30 bells of different sizes ranging from small hand bells to big campaniles making a musical tone. Church interiors from www.jennydayao.com On August 4, 1886, national hero Jose Rizal dropped at Molo on his way back to Manila from exile at Dapitan in Mindanao. He went to see his friend, Raymundo Melliza who showed him the church. In his diary, Rizal wrote, " We went to Molo to see the church painted by a lad who has left the l...

Anhawan Beach Resort in Oton, Iloilo will be having its 1st Anhawan International Regatta which will also be hosting the PHINSAF’s (Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Foundation) 14th Philippine Hobie Nationals on February 1 to 3, 2013. These events will bring sailors from all over the Philippines, Australia and our surrounding ASEAN neighbors, together, to sail and compete for coveted titles. Here's the schedule for the three-day event:

Globe Telecom has partnered with the Iloilo City Dinagyang Foundation once to provide FREE WiFi internet service and Libreng Tawag at the Freedom Grandstand to the thousands of visitors in the culmination of Iloilo’s grandest festival from January 25-27. The FREE WIFI Service will give revelers the chance to take pictures and post via social media, video stream or blog about the festival real time. This will enable millions of people around the world to experience one of the country’s most colorful festivals.  Globe is also launching a special online contest with Dagoy, the official mascot of Dinagyang. Learn more about Spot Globe’s Dagoy contest by visiting http://www.facebook.com/dinagyangsailoilofestival. Globe and TM subscribers will also be treated to a grand party with Tattoo as it teams up with the ultimate party club Republiq, for the grand Dinagyang party at the Flow Superclub in Smallville on January 25 and 26. Globe is also offering lots of Dinagyang ...

Iloilo City with its rising new Central Business District in Mandurriao is teeming with great potentials in terms of real estate developments, globally renowned urban planners affirmed. “We are honored to be given an opportunity to develop this promising city. Hopefully (we could start) next year, if not last quarter of this year,” stressed Makati-based T. I. Vasquez Architects & Planners Inc. (TVA&P). Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said the big project is a welcome development and a clear manifestation of investors’ confidence on the positive business climate in the metropolis. He added the private investment would generate more employment opportunities for the Ilonggos and create multiplier effects boosting the city’s economy.  The ambitious Manhattan-like 16-hectare Gaisano Iloilo Center project in West Diversion Road, Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, is envisioned as a mixed-use development of commercial, residential units and offices by mall chain Gaisano ...