The Boracay Beach Club is a family-owned island resort and one of the top beach resorts in in Boracay. Opened and introduced to the public last 2008 and with help of relatives and fr...
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Riley's Hot Spring Resort is a private spring resort located in a High End Subdivision in Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines. The resort offers the perfect package for families, b...
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The Penafrancia Resort was started as a family vacation house. Due to public demand, the owner decided to open it to the public during the Fiesta of Our Lady of Penafrancia. The R...
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George Guest House is one of the popular place to stay in Sagada, the place is calm, clean and affordable. Source:Visitsagada.com
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The Quijano Windsurfing Retreat is located at Cuyo Islands. Quijano Windsurfing Retreat is one of the best resorts in Palawan because of their surroundings, beautiful...
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Catanauan - March (3 days before Ash Wednseday) |Catanauan, Quezon, Philippines. Boling-Boling Festival is an old age practice particular to Catanauanins, which is celebrated annually starting S...
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Barotac Viejo - Good Friday – March | Barotac Viejo, Iloilo A yearly depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Source:Corporate.mozcom.com
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Baguio - March or April, movable date | Baguio City, Philippines. Kicks off the Philippine Summer Vacation (SUMVAC - April to May) festivities with a large influx of visitors arriving to escape oppress...
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San Fernando (La Union) - Holy week | San Fernando, La Union, Philippines. A yearly Holy week celebration spearheaded by the Provincial Government f featuring water sports, band concerts, fluvial parade and reena...
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Iloilo - March 9| Passi City Pintados de Passi is a festival in honor of the Pintados that once inhabited the small city. The festival is made visually appealing by the Pintados, or painted street dan...
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Sipalay City - Every last week of March | Sipalay City, Negros Occidental Sipalay City has been the copper belt of southern Philippines for more than five decades. The first industrial mining of co...
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Siquijor - Lenten Season l San Antonio, Siquijor Philippines The Folk Healing Festival takes place every lenten season in Siquijor, where herbalists from both Visayas and Mindanao convene at San Antonio ...
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Tapaz - no specific date l Tapaz, Capiz Philippines The Mundo Dance is an ancient Indonesian fertility rite that consists of carefully choreographed dance moves. This was brought into the region by th...
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Compostela Valley - March 1-8 | Nabunturan, Compostela Valley The Anibina Bulawanon Festival celebrates the bountiful gold harvest and the founding anniversary of Compostela Province. Compostela Valley is k...
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Pasig - March 1- 31 | Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines Participants vary from singers, pianists & violinists, bandleaders and music teachers whose common goal is to keep classical music and &...
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Muntinlupa - March 1 | Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. One of the highlights of Muntinlupa City’s Cityhood Anniversary. It usually features colorful parade of floats followed by street d...
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Davao City - March 2- March 14 | Davao City Sugbahan is a food fair that features Davao's grilled specialties such as tuna. Source:travelmart
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Palawan - March 4 | City of Puerto Princesa City Foundation Day Celebration Commemoration of City’s Foundation Day. Every 4th day of the month with a series of Sports, cultural and other events....
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Laguna - 6-12 March | Laguna Provincial Capitol Complex Anilag is a shortened word for “Ani ng Laguna," which literally means "harvest of Laguna." Initially launched to mark the...
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Donsol - Every first week of March | Donsol, Sorsogon, PhilippinesTo welcome the return of the Butandings, which usually come in droves during this time of the year, and to officially signal the opening of ...
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Tagum - March 7 | Tagum City Panagtagbo Festival coincides with Tagum’s founding anniversary. The term "panagtagbo" refers to a meeting. The festival describes a celebration whe...
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Manila - March 8-12 | Clamshell I, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines A weeklong exhibit organized by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) showcasing numerous products and servic...
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Abra - March 9 | Abra, Philippines. Celebrates the creation of the province on March 1917 by virtue of Act 2683. Cupped by a grand cultural parade depicting Abra in its historical stages starting, fr...
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Mayoyao - March 13-15 | Mayoyao, Ifugao, Philippines. Town fiesta adopting the cultural festival "Ikghumtad" similar to the "Gotad of Hingyon & Kiangan". Source:Philtourism...
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La Trinidad - March 14- March 20 | La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines.The municipality of La Trinindad in Benguet, known as the Strawberry Capital of the Philippines, will feature the baking of the largest strawb...
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Pasig - Third Saturday of March | Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines The Pista ng Batampasig is a project of the City Government of Pasig, which aims among others to promote programs and activiti...
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El Nido - March 15-18 | El Nido, Palawan An annual celebration of townsfolk dressed in Kulambo (mosquito net), parading around the town. Source: Palawan Government
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Lugait - March 16 | Lugait, Misamis OrientalThe Lugahait Festival celebrates the history and the founding of the municipality of Lugait. The event is celebrated through native street dancing, showca...
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Davao City - March 16 | Davao CityAraw ng Dabaw literally means "Davao Day" in English. Ironically, the celebration lasts for a week with trade fairs, parades, and cultural presentations. The highlig...
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Lucena - March 17 | Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines. The most famous life story ever written on Jesus Christ will be staged in Quezon. This Lenten Season, Quezons governor, Governor Raffy P. Nantes, ...
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Alaminos City - March 17 - 24| Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Philippines. This is a weeklong celebration that starts on March 17 and highlights various fun-filled activities such as concerts of famous artists, ...
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San Francisco,Camotes Is. - March 18 | San Francisco, Camotes Island This Cebu festival takes place in the Camotes Islands off the coast of Cebu. Named after the soli-soli plant abundant in and along Danao Lake near...
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Albay - March 18-20 | Albay, Philippines Mayon Conquest is a mountain expedition to the country’s most popular volcano, Mount Mayon. The event is to encourage mountain-climbing enthusiast...
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Dingras - March 23-30 | Dingras, Ilocos Norte, Philippines The rice grannary of Ilocos Norte, thus, they celebrate harvest in a festive way. Activities include Thanksgiving Mass, Agro-industrial fair, ...
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Canlaon City - March 19 | Canlaon City Honors patron St. Joseph with street dancing giving thanks for the harvest that makes the city the Province's rice and vegetable bowl. Source:Sinlakan Tours &...
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Sagay City - Sagay City |March 19 An annual thanksgiving in honor of St. Joseph, showcasing the best of Sagay’s arts, culture, products, and people. Source:FlyPhilippines
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San Fernando (La Union) - March 19 | Bacsil, San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines. To commemorate the bravery of the Filipinos during the Battle in Bacsil Ridge in the year 1945 that led to the complete liberat...
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Bongabong - March 19 | Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro A religious festival in honor of St. Joseph. It is celebrated by way of the Sulyog (Suli and Niyog) Festival through dances, flats, and cultural shows.&...
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Cainta - March 20-22 | Cainta, Rizal, Philippines. A stage presentation that highlighted the judgement of Jesus Christ. Source:Wowphilippines.ca
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San Fernando (La Union) - March 20 | San Fernando City, Philippines. The celebration of the Founding Anniversary of San Fernando as a City ratified during a plebiscite on March 20, 1998 subsequent to Republic Ac...
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Tapaz - March 21-27 | Tapaz, Marinduque, Philippines A festival of the moriones, colorfuly garbed and masked soldiers and centurions; culminates in the reenactment of the beheading of Longinus. The en...
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Paranaque - Good Friday | Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Parishes in Parañaque performs the way of the cross on Good Friday during Lenten season, enacting Christ’s arrest, mo...
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Cebu City - March 21-26 | Cebu The Buhing Kalbaryo Festival is a Cebu festival held during Lent by the Buhing Kalbaryo Foundation Inc. During this festival in Cebu, several key events of the life of Je...
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Victorias City - March 21 | Victorias City The festival is in commemoration of the city’s Charter Anniversary which falls every 21st of March and goes with week-long festivities. Source:FlyPhili...
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Calapan - March 21 |Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines From “sining-kalabaw”, a creative artistic painting competition with no less than the carabaos as “canvasses”. Thi...
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Calapan - March 21 | Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines The city was once an importer of rice but now rice is the most important export of Calapan. According to statistics, the increase in ...
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Lala - March 22 | Lala, Lanao del NorteThe Alimango Festival features a display of different sizes of alimango (crab). The celebration includes a fluvial parade that passes through a strip of mangrove tre...
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Dipolog - March 24- March 25 | Dipolog CityKatkat Sakripisyo is a mountain-climbing activity conducted in observation of the Holy Week. It is a venue where Catholics pay penance for their sins. The eve...
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Bantayan - March 24 | Bantayan Cebu's Bantayan Island comes alive every March, when the Pasko Kasakit sa Bantayan festival in Cebu takes place. A truly remarkable Cebu festival, Pasko Kasakit sa Banta...
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Binangonan - March 25 | Binangonan, Rizal, PhilippinesIt is a play executed every Good Friday by replaying the funeral of Jesus Christ through a procession. Due to the influx of tourists, devotes and other peop...
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Ilog - March 25 | Negros Occidental Kisi Kisi is a dance parade which imitates the way fishes flip-flop and twitch as they are hauled during the bountiful harvest. Participating groups wear co...
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Tabaco - March 21-26 | Tabaco City, Philippines A week-long activity held in time with the City’s Foundation Anniversary. Street presentation depicting the city’s legend, trade fairs of ...
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Angono - March 26-27 | Angono, Rizal, Philippines. Black Saturday is highlighted by 3-hour presentation of “Vigilia na Muling Pagkabuhay” at the patio of the church. On Easter Sunday, a ce...
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Guimbal - March 27-31 |Guimbal, Iloilo A celebration of the birth of a new history and culture of the people of Guimbal as a tribute and reverence to the triumphant struggle of its ancestors for meaningful...
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Minglanilla - March 27 | Minglanilla This simple Cebu fiesta in Minglanilla highlights the town's popular 'sugat.' Source:Cebu Central.com
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San Pablo - March 27 | San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines. Grand parade of various and colorful floats participated in by both government and private sectors while the tribal groups are on the streets dancin...
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Marcos - March 27 | Marcos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The town is a purely agricultural area dominated by farmers and farming is their main occupation. Expect agri-trade fair and other related activi...
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Dipolog - March 28- April 3 | Dipolog City Katkat sa Dipolog is an annual mountain-climbing activity at Linabo Peak and Cogon Eco-Park. Nature trekkers conduct the activity during th...
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Butuan - March 31 | Butuan CityThe First Easter Mass Celebration in the city features a re-enactment of Magellan's landing and planting of the cross on March 21, 1521 in the area. Magellan's Cross&nb...
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Iloilo was historically one of the major agricultural centers of the Philippines, exporting sugar, copra, bananas, mangoes and other natural resources during the Spanish and American colonial periods.
History
Even before the Spanish colonizers came, Iloilo had a flourishing economy. Lore has it that in the 13th century, ten Bornean datus came to the island of Panay and gave a gold hat (salakot) and a long golden necklace as a peace offering to the gods and goddesses of the plains and valleys of the island. One datu, named Paiburong, was given the territory of Irong-Irong.
In 1566, as the Spanish conquest of the Philippines was underway and moving north toward Manila, the Spaniards under Miguel López de Legazpi came to Panay and established a settlement in Ogtong (now Oton). He appointed Gonzalo Ronquillo as deputy encomiendero, a position which would later become governor in later years.
In 1581 Ronquillo moved the town center approximately 12 km east due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates and Dutch and English privateers, and renamed the area La Villa de Arevalo in honor of his hometown in Ávila, Spain.
In 1700, due to ever-increasing raids especially from the Dutch and the Moros, the Spaniards again moved their seat of power some 25 km eastward to the village of Irong-Irong, which had a natural and strategic defense against raids and where, at the mouth of the river that snakes through Panay, they built Fort San Pedro to better guard against the raids which were now the only threat to the Spaniards' hold on the islands. Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong was shortened to Iloilo and with its natural port quickly became the capital of the province.
In the late 18th century, the development of large-scale weaving industry started the movement of Iloilo's surge in trade and economy in the Visayas. Sometimes referred to as the "Textile Capital of the Philippines", the products were exported to Manila and other foreign places. Sinamay, piña and jusi are examples of the products produced by the looms of Iloilo. Because of the rise of textile industry, there was also a rise of the upper middle class. However, the introduction of cheap textile from UK and the emergence of the sugar economy, the industry waned in the mid-19th century.
The waning textile industry was replaced however by the opening of Iloilo's port to world market in 1855. Because of this, Iloilo's industry and agriculture was put on direct access to foreign markets. But what triggered the economic boom of Iloilo in the 19th century was the development of sugar industry in Iloilo and its neighboring island of Negros. Sugar during the 19th century was of high demand. Nicholas Loney, the British vice-consul in Iloilo developed the industry by giving loans, constructing warehouses in the port and introduced new technologies in sugar farming. The rich families of Iloilo developed large areas of Negros, which later called haciendas because of the sugar's high demand in the world market. Because of the increase in commercial activity, infrastructures, recreational facilities, educational institutions, banks, foreign consulates, commercial firms and much more sprouted in Iloilo. Due to the economic development that was happening in Iloilo, the Queen Regent of Spain raised the status of the town into a city, honored it with the title La muy leal y noble ciudad de Iloilo, and in 1890, the city government was established.
In 1896, the initial reaction of Ilonggos in the outbreak of the Revolution in Manila was hesitant. Yet because of the Spanish colonizers blow by blow defeat by at first with the Katipunan and later by the Americans, Ilonggos later on got involved with the fight for independence. On the other hand, after surrendering Manila to the Americans, the Spanish colonial government moved their seat of power to Iloilo.
In October of 1898, the Ilonggo leaders agreed to revolt against the Spaniards. By December 25, 1898, the Spanish government surrendered to the Ilonggo revoltionaries in Plaza Alfonso XVII (Plaza Libertad today). Although the Ilonggos were victorious, the American forces arrived in Iloilo in late December 1898 and started to mobilize for colonization by February 1899. Resistance was the reaction of Ilonggos upon the invasion which went up until 1901.
The Americans reverted the city's status into a township again, yet because of the continuous commercial activities and because it was an important port of call in the Visayas-Mindanao area, it gained cityhood status once more in July 16, 1937 incorporating the towns of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, La Paz and Villa de Arevalo. During the Commonwealth era, Iloilo was prosperous and was popularly known as The Queen City of the South.
However, prosperity did not continue as the sugar's demand was declining, labor unrests were happening in the port area that scared the investors away and the opening of the sub-port of Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, has moved the sugar importation closer to the sugar farms. By 1942, the Japanese invaded Panay and the economy moved into a standstill.
During World War II, Iloilo was controlled by several Japanese Battalions, Japan's ultimate goal was to entrench itself deeply into the Philippines so that at the close of the war they could occupy it just as the Spanish and the Americans had years before. However, when Filipino & American forces liberated Iloilo from Japanese military occupation on March 25, 1945 the remnants of these battalions were held in Jaro Plaza as a make-shift detention facility.
By the end of the war, Iloilo's economy, life and infrastructure were damaged. However, the continuing conflict between the labor unions in the port area, declining sugar economy and the deteriorating peace and order situation in the countryside and the exodus of Ilonggos to other cities and islands that offered better opportunities and businessmen moved to other cities such as Bacolod and Cebu led to Iloilo's demise in economic importance in southern Philippines.
By the 1960s towards 1990s, Iloilo's economy progressed in a moderate pace. The construction of the fish port, international seaport and other commercial firms that invested in Iloilo marked the movement of the city making it as the regional center of Western Visayas.
Political Subdivisions
Iloilo City is politically subdivided into 180 barangays. The barangays are grouped into six districts:
* Arevalo (13 barangays)
* City Proper (45 barangays)
* Jaro (42 barangays)
* La Paz (37 barangays)
* Mandurriao (18 barangays)
* Molo (25 barangays)
All of the districts of Iloilo City were once individual towns. They were incorporated into Iloilo when it became a city in 1937. All districts have their own churches, which are part of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
Economy
The strategic location of Iloilo City at the heart of the Philippines, makes it an ideal hub for trade, commerce and industry. Its universities and colleges provide the skilled and talented labor which together with its port facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and utilities have a major impact in attracting businesses and industries focused mainly in banking and finance, retail trading, and customer service - BPO.
The city draws on the region's extensive range of raw materials and its large consumer market. The local government has provided incentives to business in preferred investment areas, such as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses.
Trade and Industry
There are 8,407 business establishments as of December 2003 in Iloilo City, of which 1,182 are new. Total capital investments for new business establishments is P365,506,020.92. However, both new and renewed capital investments for the year 2003 amounted to Php 13.02 billion.
Private building constructions totaled 822 in 2003 with a total construction cost of P 1,005,443,542.74 Business names registered at Dept. of Trade & Industry (DTI) totaled 1,911 with the total investment of P 4,116,492,305.95.
Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is 66.0 % (April, 2003). 79.5 % of the Labor Force are employed where 20.5 % constitute unemployment rate; while visible underemployed rate is 11.9 %. Of the employed person by type of industry from primary occupation 82 % belongs to service sector, 14 % belongs industry sector and only 4 % are in agriculture (as of April 2003 FIES, NSO).
Average Annual Family Income (at current prices) is P 283,604 or a percentage increase of 32.3 between 1994 to 1997 while Average Annual Family Expenditures is P 226,887 or a 25.6% increase (2000 FIES). Average per Capita Income is P 65,036 and Average Per Capita Expenditures is P 51,557 (FIES 2000). Average Inflation Rate is 3.2, the Average Purchasing Power of the Peso is 0.62 and the Average Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 162.6 in 2003. (Source: NSO, Prices Section).
Volume of Fish Unloaded and Auctioned at Iloilo Fishing Port Complex is 28,037,695 kg While Volume of Finished Fish Products shipped out is 241,863 kg in 2003. Also a total of 345,335 kg of materials was also processed at Iloilo Fishing Port Complex (IFPC).
Source:
On the northern part of Iloilo lies the Municipality of Ajuy. It is 87 kilometers away from Iloilo City. It extends from Piliwan, its southernmost sitio, to Serruco River on the north. Ajuy Bay bounds its jurisdiction in the south, in the north by the town of Sara and in the west by the town of Barotac Viejo. More info about Ajuy | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Anilao has recently become a potential tourist destination in the province of Iloilo with its promising historical and cultural heritage and a number of interesting places to visit. More info about Anilao (Iloilo) | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Barotac Viejo is politically subdivided into 26 barangays. More info about Barotac Viejo | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Cabatuan lies at the heart of the island of Panay. It is some 24 kilometers from Iloilo City to which it is connected with a national highway that passes through the towns of Pavia and Sta. Barbara. More info about Cabatuan | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Calinog is politically subdivided into 59 barangays. More info about Calinog | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Carles is a 4th class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. Its main attractions are the vast white-sand beaches that rival even that of Boracay. More info about Carles | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Guimbal is a 4th class municipality located in the province of Iloilo. It has been awarded as one of the cleanest and most peaceful towns in the country. A number of unique and inviting tourist attractions abound in the municipality of Guimbal. More info about Guimbal | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Home of the famous Dinagyang Festival and La Paz batchoy. More info about Iloilo City | Hotels & Resorts
Mandurriao is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, located in the Philippines. More info about Mandurriao | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Pavia is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. More info about Pavia | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
Pototan is politically subdivided into 50 barangays. More info about Pototan | Hotels & Resorts | Events & Attractions
March 9| Passi City Pintados de Passi is a festival in honor of the Pintados that once inhabited the small city. The festival is made visually appealing by the Pintados, or painted street dan... 
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More commonly known as the “bat cave” of Igbaras. The temperature and crevices of this cave makes an ideal habitat for bats. Bats of different sizes seek shelter inside Passi Cave... Read more
Seek refuge from the summer heat at Balaring Beach. A unique feature of the beach is its carpet of multi-colored stones. Locals frequent Balaring Beach for its cool crystal clear waters. Dive in t... Read more
December | Iloilo City This annual musical extravaganza brings out the best of Ilonggo music and musical talent. The Ilonggo music speaks of their culture, history, passion, and love. ... Read more
Iloilo Vacation Packages and Vacation Rentals Compare Vacation Packages and Vacation Rentals rates in Iloilo
Experience the tranquility and beauty of the Visayan beaches at the Carles Shangri-La Family Resort. Carles Shangri-La Family Resort offers golden, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Gat... Read more
The hotel with a heart…in the throb of the city. The Amigo Terrace Hotel and Mall in Iloilo City is where guests readily feel the signature warmth and verve of the local folk amid... Read more
Apart from its classy French architecture and daily buffet of international fare, Grand Dame Hotel can be the perfect place for people with an appetite for various ethnic foods. The Gran... Read more
