February is a good time to visit Iloilo. A restaurant built out of upcycled container vans has just opened. A mountaineering course and other fun activities await tourists and locals. Ilonggos look forward to a new bridge that will be built, as well as to a proposed monorail transport system. All these make staying in Iloilo exciting and worthwhile.
Iloilo mega bridge project
A bridge connecting Iloilo, Guimaras, and Cebu will soon be built.
A mega bridge will soon connect the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros. The Chinese government will finance the construction of the bridge, the timeline of which is yet to be announced.
What is certain about the project is that Phase 1 will be a bridge connecting the entire Panay Island through Iloilo and Guimaras. Phase 2 will be a bridge from Guimaras to Negros Island, and the last phase will be a bridge from Negros Oriental to Cebu.
The proposed 2.6-km. bridge connecting Iloilo to Guimaras is expected to make travelling easier to these tourist destinations.
Food plus music at Central Park Iloilo
Central Park Iloilo, a new food and entertainment hub (Image: Miner Del Mundo)
Mandurriao is not only an entertainment district, but a food destination as well. Central Park Iloilo in Taft North, Mandurriao, Iloilo City is the newest destination of hungry Ilonggos and tourists. Here, diners can find burgers, back ribs, pork steak, fried, chicken, and more all in one place.
What makes Central Park Iloilo unique from other food hubs in Iloilo is its architecture. It is made from upcycled container vans painted by local artists. Customers can also find arts and crafts, as well as designs by local tastemakers. Diners can also catch bands perform live at the park.
Old mansions and churches
Molo Mansion, a reminder of the genteel past of Iloilo (Image: Molo Mansion Iloilo)
Iloilo is popular to many tourists because of its history and rich culture. When visiting the city, one recommended activity is seeing the ancestral houses of prominent families. One of the most popular heritage houses in Iloilo is the Molo Mansion or the Yusay-Consing Mansion across Molo Church. Other houses that tourists can see are Balay na Bato (Stone House) in Arevalo, Casa Mariquit, and Nelly’s Garden in Jaro, among others.
If one wishes to see old Catholic churches in Iloilo, Molo Church, Miagao Church, Tigbauan Church, and the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral are also good places to visit.
Pasalubong from Iloilo
Biscocho, a simple but tasty treat from Iloilo (Image: Original Biscocho Haus)
A popular take-home gift or pasalubong from Iloilo is biscocho. Biscocho is bread that is baked to a crisp which is then topped with butter and sugar or garlic. Biscocho can be readily found everywhere, from the airport and malls to public markets and terminals. This local delicacy is one of the most convenient gifts for friends, family, and loved ones.
Outdoor adventure
The Habagat Basic Mountaineering Course is slated for the weekend. (Image: Habagat Outdoor Equipment Inc.)
Happening this weekend at Nature’s Trail Camp and Resort in Sibunag, Guimaras is the Pundok Habagat Mountaineering Course for Iloilo. The event will take place on February 10 to 11, 2018. At this outdoor activity, participants can learn skills like basic compass and map reading, basic knot tying, and outdoor cooking, among others. Registration fee is at PhP1,000.
Travel tips
Traveling by port to Iloilo will now be more expensive. (Image: Sui Soy Balajadia)
Vessels coming to and from Iloilo and Bacolod will increase their charges due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law implemented by the government this 2018. Passengers who often cross Iloilo Strait will feel the brunt of the PhP30 fare hike. Previously, fare rates ranged from PhP220 to PhP320, but these have now increased to PhP250 to PhP350.
Proposed monorail transport system
Ilonggos may soon have an alternative mode of transportation.
Ilonggos are looking forward to the proposed monorail transport system to be implemented in Iloilo. Chinese Firm BYD revealed that it is possible to build a monorail in Iloilo, based on their pre-feasibility study. The project is hoped to address the traffic situation from Iloilo City to the Iloilo International Airport. Once finished, the monorail will provide commuters with three points of entry and exit to the city: a line from Ungka to City Hall, another line from Jaro to the city center, and a third one from Mohon to the city proper.
