Posts Tagged ‘iloilo’

Iloilo city Philippines

Iloilo city is one of the largest cities in the Philippines and at the Western Visayan Region as well. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo Philippines. It is 55 minutes away from Manila Philippines if you happen to took a flight from Manila into this city. However, if you like sea adventure trip, it will take you 19 hours before you reach it if you travel from Manila Philippines.

Iloilo city Philippines is said to have a strategic location for business opportunities, thus Iloilo city is now known for it very robust Banking industry. Did you Know, Iloilo city host a variety of banking institutions? That is, from small into large bank companies, from commercial into universal, from thrift banking into saving, from rural or cooperative. And from local banks into foreign banks, all are in the heart of Iloilo city Philippines. Thus, it is now a hub for most trades, commerce, and industry business.

Iloilo city Philippines has two largest local banks and three foreign banks, namely the Valiant Bank and Queen City Development Bank, and Citibank, Maybank, and Standard Chartered Bank, respectively.

However, aside from banking and commercial industry, Iloilo city is also one of the largest Fishing Industry in the Philippines. That is because of its rich fishing grounds. Its Fish Port is funded in a multi-million budgets. For it is where the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center conducts aquatic research. Moreover, the center for marine and aquatic studies in the Philippines is in it. Did you know that the Iloilo Commercial Port complex is the first island Pier to exist in the Philippines?

However, if you love beaches, Iloilo city has also beaches you could enjoy. You could see it white sand beaches at Sicogon Island. Sicogon Island is of the Higantes Island within the municipality of Carles. Carles is a municipality at Iloilo Philippines. To get to Sicogon Island, if you happen to be at the Iloilo city itself, you can take a public transportation toward the municipality of Carles. The travel is 3-hours. And from the municipality of Carles, you could ride a motor boat to get into the island. However, if you happen to be at Manila Philippines, you could take the Roxas city route for it is said that it is near the municipality of Carles. Moreover, did you know that the beaches at Sicogon Island is more older and most famous beaches among tourist before Boracay Beaches is discovered and known?

There are also some historical sites one could visit at Iloilo Philippines, like the For San Pedro site,the La Villa Rica de Arevalo where Spaniards rule at that time.The Museo Iloilo where one could witness the preserved sunken British ship and Spanish artifacts memorabil,as well as the Local ILonggos crafts.

Aside from Museo Iloilo as a landmarks you could saw at Iloilo city, you could also see Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the Molo Church, the Jaro Belfry, the Calle Real, the Arroyo Fountain, the Distrito Jaro, the Muelle Loney, and other beautiful landmarks which your eyes could feast.

From the Philippines’ conglomerated culture into its division island per island, the Philippines sprang up a multitude of colorful variety of festivals within the entire archipelago. Each island and places in the Philippines are proud to have their respective colorful festivals they could contribute to Philippines’ culture and tourist’s attractions. Their respective festivals have sprung up in accordance to the culture they have influenced by the conquering foreigners then.

So therefore, if you are planning to discover what festal activities Filipinos are busy of Here are our lists of them that you could reckon.

January Festivities

1. First of All, the Sto.Nino Festival – this festival is held almost nationwide, however it is mostly revel at Cebu Philippines. In Cebu Philippines it is called Sinulog Festival. This festival is held by dressing a two hundred Sto.Nino statue (they called Child Jesus) in many different ways and parades them on the streets or held processions of them.
2. The Bulaklakan Festival – this Philippine festival is held during January 01 at Muntinlupa City Manila Philippines. It is a yearly parade of different flowers.
3. The Feast of the Black Nazarene – this feast is held at Quiapo Manila Philippines during January 09 at Quiapo church wherein a black Nazarene statue is being parade and millions of devotees of it flock into this statue to ask blessing. Believing that this black Nazarene statue have powers to heal and bless them once they touch it.
4. Biniray Festival – this Philippine festival is also called Ati-Atihan Festival. This festival is held every January 09 at Romblon Philippines. This festival is similar with Sto.Nino festival – a feast in honor of Sto.Nino. However, there are also similar festivals like this across the Philippines. That is, Ati-atihan in Aklan, Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo Philippines, Halaran Festival of Capiz Philippines, Binirayan Festival of Antique Philippines, and MassKara Festival of Bacolod Philippines. It seems they copied one another, but anyway it is still in the Philippines.
5. The Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary or Commemoration – this activity is held at Lingayen Pangasinan during January 09. This celebrates the return of General Douglas MacArthur at the shore of Lingayen on January 09, 1945.This historical return marks the liberation of Pangasinan Philippines from Japanese occupation.
6. Coconut Festival – this Philippine festival is held at San Pablo Laguna Philippines. It is celebrated in a “mardi-gras celebration” to pay tribute to Laguna Philippines’ main crop – the Coconut.
7. Caracol Festival – held every January 19 at Glorietta Makati city Philippines. This festival invites anyone to come out of their respective shell (Caracol : Spanish term for snail) and make revelry and merrymaking.
8. Chinese New Year – held at January 30 –February 2 at almost nationwide but basically at Binondo Philippines and at Chinese garden at Rizal Park at Manila Philippines.

February Festivities

1. National Arts Month –tribute to Filipino talents and creativity, held at Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Philippines.
2. Kite Festival – held during February 02 at Dumaguete City Philippines in Mariano Perdices Memorial Coliseum. Every year a kite flying competition held here.
3. Pamulinawen – this festival is held in honor of Saint William the Hermit at Laoag city, Ilocos Norte Philippines during February 2 -11.
4. Chinese Food Festival – in celebration of Chinese New Year held at Makati city during February 03 -05.