ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

"Centuries-old houses and massive developments  -- all these can be seen in Iloilo, where the past is always present!"  Proclaims the latest advertisement of the Department of Tourism for its VISIT PHILIPPINES 2015 campaign. For this shot, its features the seamless transition from the old Iloilo from its majestic mansions and landmarks to the new. Photo collage from THE PHILIPPINES Facebook Page Featured are the mansions (  The Antillan House , Nelly's Garden , Casa Mariquit, Camiña Balay nga Bato and Eagle House), Jaro Belfry and Calle Real representing Iloilo's illustrious past. Portions of Diversion and the  Iloilo Esplanade  capped the 32 second video representing the balanced dynamism and development the Ilonggo's are currently experiencing.  Check this nostalgic video. 

Megaworld, the country’s leader and pioneer in developing integrated urban townships, is opening two new hotels this year in its two townships in Metro Manila and Iloilo.  Richmonde Hotel Iloilo Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, which will occupy eight levels of the 12-storey Richmonde Tower in the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, is set to open in June this year. The business hotel will be the first Richmonde Hotel outside of Metro Manila and will have 151 guest rooms.  It will house a restaurant and deli, function rooms, business center, fitness gym as well as a lap pool with its own pool bar. Megaworld has commissioned world-renowned architectural firm Gettys to design the hotel’s façade, grand lobby, restaurant and guest rooms. Gettys took inspiration from the city’s rich agricultural roots for the hotel’s design concept. The same firm has designed some of the world’s prestigious hotels such as The Peninsula Hong Kong; Hyatt Regency in Ca...

The ambitious PhP12B 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 Capital and its property developer arm GoldPeach Properties. It will be closely similar to Metro Manila’s Eastwood, Rockwell, Greenbelt or Filinvest Alabang. Ample open spaces, outdoor dining (facilities and amenities) and tree-lined streets are of top priority. Read more about Gaisano Iloilo City Centre . Here are some latest perspective of the Gaisano Iloilo City Centre from their Facebook Page . Be updated with the latest through its master planner TVAPartners . Mall Facade Canals envisioned to be Iloilo's little Venice Boardwalk restaurants and cafes  Promenade More cafe and resto scene Perfect for a stroll People-watching Boardwalk with one of the several bridges Reflecting Iloilo's rive...

More shopping and dining thrills are coming to Iloilo City as Ayala Land's Iloilo development (unofficially) launches The Strip at Atria. Set to complement The Shops, which is now on a dry-run/soft opening, The Strip at Atria would likely be rows of dining and shopping possibilities.  The Strip and The Shops, meanwhile are both accessible and convenient to Seda Hotel Iloilo which is now under construction for a 2016 grand opening. Photos by Datu Marikudo from UrbanScape Philippines Forum

Travelers going to the island of Guimaras from Iloilo will soon have a new and world class ferry terminal as DoubleDragon Properties Corporation will undertake a PhP 135M ferry terminal project. Known as G.I.F.T. (Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Temrinal), it is also a literal "gift" to the Ilonggos as the company of Mang Inasal founder Edgar "Injap" Sia will put up the entire structure and operate it in the next 25 years with option to renew. The city government will not shell out counterpart funding to the project but will even earn from revenues and taxes from the operations of the improved terminal, according to a report by The Daily Guardian . G.I.F.T.  will be located at the old Rotary Park in Fort San Pedro area. Facilities that will rise include a world-class terminal building, People’s Plaza Mall and fuel refilling station (for pump boats) - all in  a fully landscaped 1.3 hectare complex.

Accommodation plays a big role on how one’s vacation turns out to be. Different travelers have different reasons when choosing their “second home” no matter it may be. Most consider their budget and the rates, others the proximity to transport and purpose, while some to the sights and attractions a particular place has. One the most frequent inquiries is “ Is it near the airport ?” and the usual answer is “F orget about it. The airport is much farther away that almost all hotels are within the same distance ”. Besides, Iloilo City is just a small city that one can easily commute via public transportation. As this blog is a guide to anything and everything Iloilo (and beyond), here’s a guide of some selected accommodation in I loilo City . From first class hotels to inns and pension houses, this will surely be an important guide for travelers to Iloilo City. LIST OF ILOILO HOTELS, INNS, RESORTS, PENSIONS A Moritz Hotel, Lelac Inn  B Jaro Bellevue Pension,  C Vista I...

Flocked with big developments from the likes of  Megaworld , Ayala , SM and Gaisano , among others, the former salt beds in Mandurriao cut through by the Jaro West Diversion Road is fast becoming the new heart of business  and development in city. With combined development worth of around PhP70 billion, this is Iloilo City's new CBD - on the rise! Plazuela de Iloilo (left) will add an annex building while SM City Iloilo aside from its on-going Northwing expansion mall, will also build a hotel (Park Inn by Radisson), entertainment/dining (Southpoint)strip and a BPO tower rumored to be 24 storeys beside Injap Tower. Viewed from the current tallest building in the region, the 21-storey Injap Tower Hotel,  t he Iloilo Diversion Road (Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr Avenue is currently undergoing massive road widening and beautification that stretches all the way to the Iloilo International Airport - 20kms away! Megaworld's PhP35B Iloilo Business Park, in the...

2015 Dinagyang Festival List of Winners Ati-Ati  Tribes Competition MAJOR AWARDS: Champion  – Tribu Panayanon – Iloilo City National High School 1st runner-up  – Tribu Paghidaet – La Paz National High School 2nd runner-up – Tribu Ilonganon – Jalandoni Memorial National High School 3rd runner-up – Tribu Salognon – Jaro National High School 4th runner-up – Tribu Ilawodnon – Fort San Pedro National High School MINOR AWARDS: Best Performance – Tribu Panayanon Best Music – Tribu Ilonganon Best Choreography – Tribu Panayanon Best in Street Dancing – Tribu Salognon Best Costume – Tribu Paghidaet

  National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman, Ma. Serena Diokno, PhD. together with Architects Reynaldo Lita and Veronica Dado also of NHCP visited the Santa Barbara Church and Convent and they were accompanied by Hon. Mayor Dennis Superficial, M.D. and Municipal Tourism Officer Ms. Irene S. Magallon. Chairman Diokno was happy and pleased with the progress of the restoration works.  The NHCP is supervising the restoration works of the church and convent making sure that it must be finish before the Philippine Independence Day Celebration. The 2015 National Independence Day will be held in Santa Barbara and to be attended by the President of the Philippines His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III. ( Text and Photos with no watermarks from Santa Barbara Ugyon Facebook Page ) NHCP Chairman Diokno and Mayor Superficial of Santa Barbara, Iloilo.