Iloilo City is bustling with things to do. Aside from excellent food choices, there are also various types of attractions that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Check out our roundup of entertainment spots in the City of Love to experience something distinctly Ilonggo.
Boating by the river
One can catch the sunset while boating at the Iloilo River Esplanade. (Image: Esplanade River-Ride)
Locals and tourists can now enjoy sailing in Iloilo City through pedal and electric boats at the Iloilo Esplanade. The Esplanade River-Ride project of the City of Iloilo has been awaited not just by kids, but by teenagers and adults as well. Iloilo’s riverside attraction aims to raise public awareness for the rehabilitation and protection efforts for the Iloilo River, as well as showcase the beauty of the river to Ilonggos and visitors.
The Esplanade River-Ride is also the starting point of the city’s Iloilo River Tour. Tour guides who accompany locals and tourists make the ride not only entertaining, but informative as well.
For those who want a do-it-yourself ride, they can rent colorful pedal boats in the Esplanade. These can be found in the docks near the Carpenter’s Bridge. These six-seater boats allow you to go boating 25 up to 25 meters away from the Diversion Bridge. Riders will be provided with a walkie-talkie and life jackets. Pedal boat rental costs PhP480 per boat for 30 minutes.
Rave at a party, or read a poem
Party by the night lights at Prism (Image: Joshua Enriquez for Prism Nightlife Iloillo)
The Smallville Complex is known as the nightlife district of Iloilo City. Wherever you may go during Fridays and Saturdays, there are parties everywhere at Smallville, Atria Park District, or at any place along Donato Pison Ave. in San Rafael, Mandurriao. Entertainment at night here varies from acoustic solo guitarists, bands, disc jockeys, and other acts.
Aside from clubs, there are laid-back options in Smallville, too. Jam nights are occasionally staged at The Mango Tree Restaurant in Mandurriao. Singers entertain clients of the restaurant as they eat a moonlit-dinner below the mango tree.
On the other hand, there are occasional street parties and concerts sponsored by major companies. The trend now as well is having campus tours within the city. Disc jockeys would schedule visits in schools for major events and party with students right on campus.
Performers at the Open Mic Recap (Image: Fuel.ph)
Lately, a new breed of entertainment style was introduced by the ‘90s kids: oral poetry at coffee shops. Third wave specialty coffee shop Fuel.ph has an Open Mic Recap session on Fridays where anyone can take on the microphone and perform. Ilonggos or even tourists who are interested in sharing some of their talents may volunteer to be the entertainer of the night. Fuel.ph also hosts move nights and improv nights as well.
Laser tag at Funatix
Since you can play with strangers, playing laser tag at Funatix lets you meet new people. (Image: Funatix)
Another form of entertainment that can be enjoyed in Iloilo City is laser tag. The game involves the use of infra-red laser targets worn by each player. This new and exciting way to bond with friends and family can be played at Funatix at the 2nd floor of Plazuela de Iloilo.
Funatix claims to be the first edu-tainment or educational entertainment amusement center in Iloilo. Aside from laser tag, they also offer laser maze and an adventure game called Escape Room in their 2,000 square-meter space. Groups may try the maze or laser challenges along with friends or strangers. They can set the difficulty of the game to easy, medium, hard, or expert. In the Escape Room, guests are locked in a room and they have to solve puzzles and find clues to get out of the room in 60 minutes.
Funatix is open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Monday-Friday), 10:00 AM-10:00 PM (Saturday), and 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Sunday).
Hoverboard riding
Hoverboards are an unconventional way of enjoying the cityscape of Iloilo. (Image: City Hoverboard)
Hoverboards are one of the biggest trends to hit the country. At City Hoverboard Rental, where friends and families can bond together and enjoy something other than the usual kind of entertainment.
City Hoverboard Rental can be found at the Bike Lane of Diversion Road in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Riders are provided with gear to ensure their safety. They are open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Monday to Sunday. Rates start at PhP150 for 30 minutes and PhP300 for one hour. Rental is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Play with kids
Kids can enjoy go-kart riding at The Play Hub-Iloilo. (Image: The Play Hub Iloilo)
Are you travelling with kids as you visit the City of Love? Then, you must know that there’s a new haven for kids in Iloilo City where they can play and celebrate special events.
At The Play Hub Iloilo, kids can frolic in their outdoor playground. They have slides and swings in the play area, as well as trampolines. Active and adventurous tykes can also ride on different types of pedal go-kart bikes as appropriate for their age.
Play Hub can also be a place to celebrate your kid’s birthday. They have party packages for kids with entertainment and games.
The Play Hub Iloilo is open Monday to Sunday from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Drop-in play rates range from PhP60 to PhP180, while go-kart rates range from PhP40 to PhP80 per 20 minutes.
The Department of Tourism Region VI’s (Western Visayas Region) campaign slogan goes, “Experience Western Visayas First.” True to this, one should take a look at what local attractions have to offer, especially when these entertainment spots offer a unique local flavor one can only find in Iloilo.
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Promo dates/Prices may change without prior notice.
