The
Philippine province of ILOILO ( Part 3 )
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Capital:
Iloilo City
No. of towns: 44
Location: Occupies the southwest portion of Panay Island.
Panay Island maps
:::
REGION 6 ::: (click for region 6 map)
:::: Points of Interest
::::
(Historical)
Plaza
Libertad.Located
right at the center of Iloilo City, where the flag of the First Philippines
Republicwas
raised in triumph after Spain surrendered Iloilo her last capital
in the islands, to the revolutionaries led by Gen. Martin Delgado
on Dec. 25, 1898.
La
Villa De Arevalo. Located 6 kms. southwest of Iloilo City,
seat of the Alcaldia of Panay; first Spanish settlement in Panay to
be attacked in 1588 by the English privateer Sir Thomas Cavendish,
third circumnavigator of the world.
Jaro.
Located 3 kms. away from the city proper. Old colonial houses
of sugar barons and Hispano-Filipino houses of the elite still stand,
antique shops; seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas.
Jaro Belfry. Located 3 kms. northwest of Iloilo City proper, ruined
by an earthquake in 1948, one of the few belltowers in the country
which stand apart from the church.
Guimbal
Watchtowers.
Located 29 kms. southwest of Iloilo City, 5 stone watchtowers called
Bantayan by the natives during the Spanish era to warn the townspeople
of marauding pirates.
Miag-ao
Church.
Located 40 kms. southwest of Iloilo city. Built in 1768, (native facade,
a unique explotion of botanical motif of reminiscent of Aztec Art)
declared a national landmark in 1973 by PD 260.
Sta.
Barabara Church. Located 16 kms. north of Iloilo City, a neoclassical
church where Gen. Martin Delgado of the Visayan revolutionary government
covened the hunta that raised the first cry of revolution against
Spain in Iloilo.
Sta.
Barbara Golf Course. Located 16 kms. north of Iloilo, 18 hole,
37 hectare golf course which is the oldest in the country, built in
1907.
San
Joaquin Church. Located 53 kms. southwest of Iloilo City, the
only church in the Philippines sporting bas relief of historic battle
between Christians of Spain and Moors of Morocco in Tetuan in 1857.
Tigbauan
Church. Located 22 kms. southwest of Iloilo City, baroque
facade, behind the rectory was the first Jesuit school for boys in
the Philippines established in 1592.
Panay
Liberation Marker.
Located 23 kms. southwest of Iloilo City, commemorates American liberation
of Panay from the Japanese in 1945.
Buenavista
Wharf. Accessible
by 20 minutes ride by pumpboat from Iloilo City, built by Lt. Douglas
MacArthur in 1903 while on duty with the US Corps of Engineers.
Old
Buildings At Downtown Area.
Downtown Iloilo, JM Basa St. or Calle Real boasts of buildings that
date back during Spanish and American colonial periods.
Muelle
lonely. Port of Iloilo named after British Nicholas Lonely, Father
of the Sugar Industry of Panay and Negros. Considered one of the safest
harbors because of Guimaras Island that protects it from drastic winds
first opened to foreign trade in 1855.
Molo
District. Called Parian in the olden days. It was the Chinese
quarters of La Villa de Arevalo, Athens of the Philippines which has
produced many intellectual and political leaders.
Spanish
Bailiwick (Brgy. Carmelo).
Located 300 meters away from Banate town proper, a historical landmark
known as the hiding place of the Spanish authorities from the Moros.
Japanese
Fortification (Cabanatuan). Concrete
structure during the Japanese occupation. Built on a hill 20 ft. high
with a diameter of 9 feet. Used as a lookout by the Japanese soldiers
guarding the road and the approach to the airfield in Tiring, Cabanatuan.
Wall are still intact.
Guimbal
Church. Yellow
sandstone church built by Fr. Campos, Spanish Filipino vintage tower
and stonewalled cemetery built by Fr. Agustin Llorente.
Janiuay
Church. Ruins of the old beautiful church at the town´s
plaza where it had been built. Bell of JD Reyna found in Iloilo in
1871 and 1898 are still in use.
Concrete
Pillboxes. Built by the Japanese forces during the war. They rise
on both ends of Janiuay bridge on the way to Lambunao. One is about
25 ft. tall with a diameter of 9 ft. Both pillboxes are intact. These
were named by Japanese soldiers who were later flushed out by the
Filipino guerrillas. Barely 1km. away from Janiuay town proper.
Siwaragan
River. According to Legend, ten Bornean datus landed here in the
middle of the 13th century. They bought the island of Panay with a
beaten gold hat and along necklace from the Negrito chieftain Maricudo
long before the Indians sold Manhattan to European settlers. With
the Barter of Panay, the Negritos decided to live in the mountains
while the Malays occupied the lowlands.
Cabauan
Church. Neo-classical, built in early 1880´s. Every side
is a facade in itself. Walls are overlaid with bricks.
Forth
San Pedro. Built by the Spaniards in the early 1600´s. Attacked
by Dutch, British American and Japanese troops. Birthplace of the
first Filipino commercial air transportation, the Iloilo-Negros Air
Express Co., founded by the Lopez brothers on February 3, 1933.
Molo
Church. Located 3 kms. away from the city proper. Gothic
Rennaisance church of coral rocks, completed in the 1800´s.
Asilo
De Molo. Located 3.5 kms. south of Iloilo City proper. An orphanage
where princely vestments worn by church dignitaries are made, designed
and hand-embroidered by little orphan girls under the supervision
of the nuns.
Jaro
Cathedral. Located 3 kms. away from the city proper. Seat
of the Jaro Archbishop embracing Western Visayas.
Balaan
Bukid. A 30 minute walk from Jordan wharf. Atop is Bundulan Point
with a giant cross and chapel. Offers a commanding view of the city
across Iloilo Straits.
Janiuay
Cemetry. Famous
Hispano-FIlipino cemetry built in 1875 of cut stone and fossil rock
sprawling on hilltop with 3 imposing stairways and 2 Gothic doors,
Located 32 kms. away from Iloilo City.
Pavia
Church. Located 13 kms. northwest of Iloilo City. It is a red
brick church of Byzantine style built by Spanish Augustinians and
used as garrison by the Japanese who drew guerilla raids that pockmarked
the walls.
San
Joaquin Cemetry.
Located 53 kms. southwest of Iloilo City. Built in 1892 of coral rocks.
A hexagonal chapel crowns. A 20-steps staircase flank by stone ballustrades.
Rose windows at the main entrance.
::::
Cultural ::::
Museo
Iloilo. A repository of Iloilo´s cultural heritage.
Exhibits include scientifically dated fossils, shells and rocks indicating
the age of Panay Island. Stone-age flake tools; native pottery; ornamented
teeth; jewelry excavated from pre-Spanish burial sites and trade pottery
from China, Annam and Siam; secondary burial coffins found in forbidden
cave; rare pictures, momentos and relics of wars; relics from a sunken
British wreck; Spanish period Filipino sculpture; and modern art by
Ilonggo artists.
Antique
Collections. Collection of Philippine colonial sculptyre, wood stone
and irory saints. Chinese porcelain wares and other artifacts.
::::
Art Galleries ::::
Iloilo
Society of Arts Gallery
Museo Iloilo
Lourdes Dellota
Letecia Jesena
::::
Natural ::::
Sicogon
Island. A
1,104 hectare white sand palm-fringed island gradually sloping down
to some 350 feet beyond the shoreline. Located 5 kms. away from the
town proper of Estancia or 137 kms. northeast of Iloilo City.
Isla
De Gigantes. Site where 15th century burial caves are still found.
One cave has a stone elephant and a natural swimming pool. Located
12 kms. east of Estania.
Nadsadjan Falls. Found in Igbaras, 39 kms. southwest of Iloilo
City. A 50-foot high falls dropping on a giant cauldron-like natural
swimming pool.
Alubihod Bay. Found in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. Ideal site for swimming,
excursions and picnics. It has white sand beach. Accessible twenty
minutes by car from the town proper or an hour ride by pumpboat from
Iloilo City.
Isla Naburot. A 2.5-hectare coral island
off the western coast of Guimaras Island. White sand. Well-stocked
with colorful tropical corals and marine life. It can be reached forty-five
minutes by pumpboat ride from Iloilo City.
Tiniguiban Pulang Pasayan Beach. On
western side of Tiniguiban Island, Guimaras. White sand. Ideal for
picnicking, swimming and scuba diving. Red shirmps of rare specie
abound in its adjacent small lake. Interestingly, the shrimps come
out of their hiding place only on high tide.
Igang Point. Noted for its white-sand
beaches, multicolored fish and corals. Accesible by car from Nueva
Valencia, Guimaras and by pumpboat from Iloilo City. The SEAEDEC Research
Sub-station is located in Igang. Embracing four islets, the station
maintains laboratory facilities, floating cages and fishpens between
the islets as well as offices and guest houses. The islets are connected
with floating bridges.
Cataan Cave. Found in San Joaquin town,
60 kms. southwest of Iloilo City. It has beautiful marine gardens.
Ideal site for scuba diving.
Nagarao Island. A small tropical island
between Guimaras and Negros. White sand. Shoreline and milti-colored
corals. Accessible 2 hours pumpboat or jeepney ride.
Daliran Springs and Cave. Accessible
in a 20 minutes ride by pumpboat from Iloio City or 30 minutes by
jeep from Buenavista wharf. A pond collects water from several springs.
The cave has abundant stalagmites and stalactites.
Siete Pecados and Roca Encantada. Siete
Pecados or Isles of Seven Sins are seven picturesque islands. Roca
Encantada is the summer house of the Lopez family built in 1910, off
the northeastern coast of Guimaras Island, forty five minutes ride
by pumpboat from Iloilo City.
Catilaran Cave. A 1/2 kilometer cave.
Accessible in a 1hour ride by jeepney from Jordan wharf. Pre-Spanish
inhabitants used the cave as hide-out.
Taklong Island. A 24-hectare white sand
and coral reef island. At southern tip of Guimaras Island. A national
reservation and first marine park of the University of the Philippines
in the Visayas. Craddle of marine science research. Bird sanctuary
of Western Visayas.
Tatlong Pulo. Found in Jordan, Guimaras,
45 min. boat ride from Iloilo City. With small caves. Ideal haven
for swimming, snorkeling, camping, boating and island hopping. With
white sand shoreline.
Nasidman & Calabasa Islands. The
two islands are located 150 meters away from each other. 7 kms and
1 nautical mile from Ajuy poblacion. Calabasa is government owned.
Both islands offer solitude, land and sea playgrounds, fishng and
other water sports.
Punta Buri. Found in Brgy. Punta Bari, 6 nautical miles from Ajuy
poblacion. Ideal sports paradise.
Darangkulan Waterfall. Found in Sitio
Bagingbong, Brgy. Balabag, 8 kms. from the town proper of Ajuy. Lush
vegetation, situated at the foot of Mt. Manyakiya, the highest peak
in the municipality.
Nagpana Fall. 12 kms. from B. Viejo
poblacion swimming hideaway overlooking beautiful sceneries. Forest
abundant with wildlife. Ideal place for hinting. Near it , is the
place where Aetas (cultural minority group) live.
Moroboro Springs. Located in Dingle
town, 41 kms. from Iloilo City. It has swimming pools fed by springs.
There are pavilions for excursionists.
Tinagong Dagat. A lake situated at the
outskirts of Lambunao, Iloilo near the Iloilo-Antique boundary. 16
kms. from the poblacion or about 25 kms. from the Iloilo National
College of Agriculture (INCA) campus by mountain trail. 2,000 ft.
above sea level. Surrounded by 40 hectares of rolling hills. Abounds
with eels, edible snails, carps and other fisth.
Mt. Napulac. 60 kms. from Iloilo City
or 5 kms. from Agdum, Miag-ao, town´s nearest barangay to its
base. It has virginal forest and abundant wild life.
San Juan Falls. 6.2 kms. from Sara town
proper. A series of falls and pools located in a valley of lush vegetation.
Accessible by road. Approximately 100 ft. high.
Rumaganggang. 43 kms. from Jordan wharf.
White sand beach. Cave. Clear, blue waters. Abundant marine life and
many others.
Onisan Isle. 20 minute pumpbeat ride
ro Rumaganggang. measures 1/4 hectare. White corals. Abundant marine
life. White sand beach. Uninhabited. Underwater during high tide.
Other attractions by municipality
Ajuy:
Hilltop.
Offers scenic panorama of islets between Negros and Iloilo. Located
in Brgy. Gulasi, 10 kms. away from the town proper. Cool breeze hovers
the area.
Darangkulan Waterfalls sitio Bagongbong (Brgy.
Balabag). Located 8 kms. from the poblacion. Surrounded by
trees and boulder of rocks. Situated at the foot of Mt. Manyakiya,
the highest peak in the municipality.
Sta. Ana waterfall. Located 5 kms. from
the poblacion. It boasts of its small cave and a small enchanting
waterfall.
Brgy. Dangula-an. Located 4 kms. away
from the poblacion, along the national road overlooking the sea. Ideal
campsite.
Dumingding Cave. With free-flowing spring
found in Sitio Dumingding, Brgy. Balabang.
Barotac
Viejo:
Balaring Beach (Brgy. San Francisco).
Located 9 kms. away from the poblacion. Rocks and colored stones beautifully
laid along the shore and under the sea.
Carles:
Balbagon.
A flat, palm-fringed island with white sand beach. Found near Gigantes.
Molupulo or Seagulls Point. Found near Sicogon Island. It has thousands
of seagulls perching on the point which is a fish area.
Dumangas:
Lacaran Beach (Brgy Ermita). Offers
a view of Roca Encantada and Siete Pecados of Guimaras Island.
Guimbal:
Beaches. Coconut palm shades and cottages make them popular
weekend retreats.
Sara:
Ardemil Valley (Brgy. Ardemil). Located 8 kms. away from town
proper. Scenic spot. Beautiful valley atop a mountain as seen from
the road. Offers a panorama of ricefield, trees, hills and mountains
especially during sunrise and sunset. It has cool atmosphere.
San Rafael:
Mt. Lolo (Brgy. Aripdip). Located 8 kms. away from the town.
Ideal site for hunting due to the abundance of wild pigs, monkeys,
deers and wild chickens in its prostine forest.
San Joaquin:
Beaches. Talisayan, Tara, etc. Clean beaches
on which scattered with multi-colored pebbles. Chert rocks, now deposited
at the museum, had been excavated in Nasigpit River in San Joaquin.
Jordan, Guimaras Island:
Puting Balas. Accessible in a 15 minutes
pumpboat ride from Jordan wharf. Ideal campsites. Its nearby mountains
offer untold adventures to those who love mountain climbing.
Biri Cave. Located 1 1/2 kms. from Brgy.
Poblacion. It can be reached 30 minutes by foot along the river beds
and mountain trails. It has narrow entrance, and is spacious inside.
Cool atmosphere invigorates inside the cave.
Ambakan Falls. Natural cascade of clear
water. Beackons a tight and uptight individual. Ideal site for swimming,
camping and even just plain sightseeing. Favorite rendezvous of local
folks who love peace and quiet.
Mocopo Falls. Located 8 kms. away from
Jordan wharf. A beautiful Falls with two crystal clear water pools
fed by mountain springs.
Barotac Nuevo:
Lamintao Beach. Located 9 kms. from
town proper, an ideal picnic ground. Offers Salihid Mountain &
Caves found 1 kms. from town proper. It has lush vegetation. Attracts
the adventurous.
Religious
Trappist Monastery. Located in Brgy. San Miguel, 45 minute
ride by jeepney from Jordan town proper, Guimaras Island. Considered
as the first and only Trappist Monaster in the Philippines.
Barotac Nuevo Church. Neo-classical church
that has Roman arches. Its facade has ionic pilasters, square columns
above and Doric pilasters below.
Dingle Church. Church of yellow sandstones
built in the early 1880´s.
Dumangas Church. Constructed of Bricks
in 1887 but time and wars caused severe damage to it. Restoration,
however, was undertaken.
Leon Church. An imposing edifice fronting
the beautiful and well-kept town plaza. Ruins of the old church are
found at the back.
Alimondian Church. An old church fronting
the town plaza of Alimondian.
Man-made
U.P. in the Visayas Campus (Miag-ao). A
thousand hectare school campus. Centers on fisheries.
Oton Amphitheater Green. The "People´s
Amphitheater", a lovely park for outdoor cultural presentations
and relaxation. Has a high relief mural depicting high points in the
town´s history.
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
A multi-national aquaculture research center. Undertakes artificial
breeding of prawns and milkfish.
Good Shepherd Fold Orphanage. (Buenavista,
Guimaras Island). A 45 hectare orphanage offering high school
and vocational training, practical arts and sciences. Built by Philip
Trabon in July 1946.
Cadagmayan Norte Camp (Sta. Barbara). A
65 hectare camp site with rolling hills and lush vegetation.
Camp Pasica (Dingle). Located 40 kms.
away from Iloilo City. Straddles on 3 barangays, namely, Pandan, Sinibaan,
and Calicuang, hence, the name.
Camp Higher Ground. Located 4 kms. away
from the poblacion. Beautiful scenery directly facing the town of
Victorias, Negros Occidental. There is an existing building which
often houses seminars and trainings of government agencies and religious
organization from the city and neighboring towns.
Festivals:
Iloilo City
Dinagyan
Festival. Celebrated
every fourth weekend of January. A frenetic mumbo-jumbo spectacle
characterized by stomping of feet and hypnotic drumbeating. It is
a colorful whirl of thousands of people dressed in unique costumes
dancing and chanting all day and night. Held every 4th weekend of
January to celebrate the Catholicism of the natives. Dinagyang is
the most unusual form of Ilonggo worship. The Sto. Niño is
the object of dramatized offerings and prayers. It is a colorful cavalcade
in honor of the Holy Child Jesus amid the cracking beats of drums,
shots of Viva Señor Sto. Niño and thundering Hala Bira!
of the tribe members. An Ilonggo term for revelry and merry making.
Dinagyang is Iloilo´s version of the world famous Ati-atihan
Festival. It may not be as ancient as the one in Kalibo but Dinagyang
is defenitely more impresive in choreography and equally colorful,
reflecting the ingenuity, craftmanship and artistry of the Ilonggos.
Paraw Regatta. Celebrated every 3rd
Sunday of February. The Regatta is a race among native outriggers
in the strait between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island. Instituted
in 1973, it reenacts what has been an entertainment for Ilonggos since
as early as the late 16th century. Called Paraw in the Ilonggo vernacular,
these native outriggers faithfully copy sailboats which carried to
Panay the first settlers from Borneo fleeing a tyrannical ruler. The
sailboats survived the centuries and have become a vital part of the
Ilonggo economic and social life. In the last war, Paraw-borne guerillas
like hornets kept enemy offshore and harmless. Until the 1920´s,
there had been no season for regattas. A regatta could take place
any time in a year given two or more boustful paraw owners with Guimaras
Straigt, always where it was since creation. The Regatta today is
an activity every summer, hedged with rules, umpires and kibitzers.
But for a seafaring people that Ilonggos are, the sport in the regatta
has never died down.
Fireworks Display and Contest. Held
in Arevalo, Iloilo City every 3rd Sunday of January. Featuring giant
multi-colored fireworks, Arevalo´s skyline become a celebration
in dazzling display of sparkles and blazing lighting effects that
is visible within a radius of several kilometers. The pyrotechnics
skill is a proud tradition of the people of Arevalo developed during
the late 16th century when the village was a Spanish capital of the
alcadia of Panay and a naval station.
Feast of Our Lady Of Candles. Held in
Jaro, every 2nd day of February. The Feast of Our Lady of Candles
or Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is the biggest and the most
populent religious pageantry in Western Visayas. Since time immemorial,
people from the other parts of the country flock in pilgrimage to
Jaro every February 2. Crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1981. Our Lady
of Candles was officialy declared by the pope as the patroness of
Western Visayas. The blessing of Candles of different sizes, shapes
and colors and the yearly procession of the patroness followed by
the fiesta queen and her court, highlight the celebration.
Although primarily a religious affair, Jaro fiesta is also the time
for agro-industrial exhibits, garden shows, traditional coronation
of the carnival queen, carnival show and grand cock derbies that make
Jaro fiesta the symbol of Iloilo´s affluence and love for great
celebrations.
Santacruzan Festival. Held in Sta. Cruz,
Arevalo from April 24 - May 31. Features Flores de Mayo, 4 grand processions
and a contest of massive arches. Flores de Mayo is a display of local
art. It is an observance in honor of the Virgin Mary where small children
make fresh flower offering to her daily while singing hymns of praise.
Santacruzan, a Maytime procession- street
pageant recalls the search and finding of the Cross by Emperior Constantine
and Empress Helene.
Iloilo
Province
Pasungay.
Held in San Joaquin, every 2nd saturday of January. The festival of
bulls called Pasungay (bullfight) at the hillsides opens the thrilling
season of Festival in Western Visayas. Pasungay is a part of San Joaquin
Fiesta. The fighting bulls from the town and neighbouring areas are
chosen for the yearly affair accompanied by cheerers. In the Hillside
arena, the bulls fight each other till one tires or chickens out and
runs away. By process of elimination, the fight of bull champions
becomes the most exciting bouts for the fun-loving Ilonggos.
The horsefight and carabaofight are
other attractions of Pasungay . There is nothing gory about the Pasungay,
considering that it is a match among animals whose instincs tell them
when it is time to run.
Carabao - Carroza Race. Held in Pavia,
every 3rd day of May. In Pavia, as in all parts of the country, the
carabao is an all-weather beast of burden. If the carabao dissents,
he has yet to be heard from. The town of Pavia in Iloilo province
defuses dissent with a holiday where the carabao is king for a day.
It features a race among the carabao, each pulling a bamboo sled called
Carroza, on 400-meter course. The beast, muse and carroza are decked
with flowers, fruits, nuts, leaves, sometimes perfume. For the carabao,
this is much more than he bargained for. But the race is the 2-ton
carabao´s moment of glory though that is not a 100 percent sure
thing since he has to be in the lead pack to deserve the hurrahs of
the spectators.
If the carabao happens to lose the race, he would be lucky if after
his last catcall, his jockey does not take his humiliation out on
the carabao´s ration or the beast thick hide. But winner or
loser, the carabao has to hurry after the race to the field to resume
the flowing he had neglected during the afternoons, when he rehearsed
for kingship. Perhaps next year he would be lucky but until then.
The carabao of the neighboring field looks mighty attractive and worth
racing after.
Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras. Held every
Good Friday. Ang Pagtaltal sa Guimaras, a lenten presentation in Jordan,
Guimaras Island, is fast finding a place for itself among the top
tourist drawers for Iloilo province during the Holy Week. This annual
affair has attracted thousands of local devotees, foreign and domestic
tourists. They flock to the island to witness the celebration. The
trip is climaxed by a visit to Balaan Bukid (Holy Mountain) which
with a chapel and huge cross. It is a pilgrimage site of the Catholics.
Ang Pagtaltal, similar to the worlds famous Passion Play presented
every 10 years in Oberammergau in South Bavaria, Germany, is an experience
that draws one to what is folkloric in the native sense without neglecting
the thought that the faith for which it is celebrated is universal
in dimension. The reenactment Ang Pagtaltal
with the Filipino context of culture and tradition is a blending of
faith and folklore.
Special
Interest
Jonathan & David of the Phils. Inc. Manufacturer and exporter
of quality dolls.
Sinamay Dealer (Osmeña St. Arevalo, Iloilo City). For three
centuries now delicate jusi and piña cloths have been loom-woven
and hand-embroidered for export to foreign countries.
Flower Gardens (Arevalo, Iloilo City). Arevalo is flower village of
Iloilo City for supplies of leis, corsages, wreaths, bouquets, and
potted plants.
Asilo de Molo. Orphanage where princely vestments worn by church dignitaries
on special occasions. Beautiful barongs, hamdkerchiefs of piña,
jusi and many more are made, designed and hand-embroided by little
orphan girls under close supervision of the nuns.
Iloilo Shellcraft (Molo) Capiz shellcraft industry, where capiz shells
are processed into chandeliers, wind chimes, fruit trays, and other
decors. There are also woodcrafts, bamboo crafts and rattan crafts.
Items are primarily for export.
How to get there. One can reach Iloilo after an hour flight via Philippine
Airlines, which has five direct flights to Iloilo City daily.
By sea, shipping lines have trips direct to Iloilo City daily except
Saturday. Travel time is 24 hours.
ILOILO related greetings & links
END