Our 2018 has been filled with great adventures. Some had been smooth, some bumpy, but all these taught us much. 2019 looks just as promising, and there’s little time to look back before we’re off to our next great adventure.
Perhaps Iloilo is the perfect place to start; not too far for an escape, and not too close for comfort. Regardless if you’re a novice or a returning tourist, a journey to the Queen City of the South will always feel like your first. Every year, the list of things to do in Iloilo just keeps getting longer. So, break in the New Year by flying down south! When you’re there, here are five things to do in Iloilo this 2019 that you simply cannot miss.
1. Venture inside the caves of Bulabog Puti-An National Park.
Where: Municipality of Dingle and San Enrique, Iloilo Province
How much you’ll spend:
Entrance fee: PhP10 for local visitors, PhP100 for foreign visitors
Tour guide rates: PhP150 to PhP200
Helmet rental: PhP10
Start fresh by decluttering your mind amidst Bulabog Puti-an National Park’s serene atmosphere.
Image: DENR-Bulabog-Putian National Park Facebook page
After all the bang and bustle of the New Year, a slow, quiet retreat would probably suit everyone best. Enter the Bulabog Puti-an National Park in the Iloilo province. It’s a 854-hectare protected wildlife and natural park located in the municipalities of San Enrique and Dingle. The eco-tourism park draws hordes of tourists because of its unique limestone formations and its rich assembly of flora and fauna. It is also home to the Bulabog Puti-an mountains and the Puti-an Peak—the highest in Central Iloilo at 322 meters.
Aside from its natural splendor, the park also bears historical significance, for it is known as the venue of the Cry of Lincud, the event that set off the Philippine revolution in Iloilo in 1898. Its 13 caves also served as hideouts for local revolutionary forces during the Spanish occupation. Today, visitors flock to the national park to relish in the pristine mountain springs, or hike up the mining trails to watch in awe the diverse species of wildlife residing there.
2. Experience winter inside the Mobile Ice Skating Rink in Festive Walk Mall.
Where: Festive Walk Mall, Megaworld Boulevard, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
How much you’ll spend: PhP150 for 30 minutes
Christmas is extended inside Festive Walk Mall’s Mobile Ice Skating Rink.
Image: Iloilo Business Park Facebook page
If you’ve grown fond of the cold monsoon during the holidays, get ready to get real chilly inside Iloilo’s Mobile Ice Skating Rink in Festive Walk Mall. Opened in June 2018, the famed mall, which boasts to be “Iloilo’s most beautiful,” included the skating rink to its roster of pioneering amenities. Complete with its own simulated snow environment, the skating rink brings the Iloilo locals closer to a snowy experience.
Lace up your skates and glide with friends, families, through vast sheets of ice! If it’s your first time to skate, they offer a skating aid for the easy rate of PhP50. Practice makes perfect, so they say, and if you’re going to fall on the rink, might as well have fun doing it. Just make sure to bring the proper attire, including warm inner and outerwear, for a hassle-free and warm skating experience.
3. Amp your adrenaline with Adventure Central Indoor Climbing Center.
Where: Esplanade 1, R. Mapa Street, Tabucan, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
How much you’ll spend: PhP100 For adults (PhP150 with gear rental); for children, PhP120 (includes gear rental); for toddlers 3ft. and under, PhP100
Get back into shape and climb to the top of your goals with Adventure Central’s indoor sports facilities.
Image: Adventure Central
Need an excuse to burn all the Christmas calories? Then make your way down to Adventure Central Indoor Climbing Center in Tabucan, Mandurriao. Priding itself as an outdoor sports center, Adventure Central caters to the broader crowd of outdoor sports enthusiasts rather than just rock climbers.
Inside their hangar-like building stands colorful climbing walls, all configured based on difficulty and climbers’ competency. They also have kiddie walls for those who want to introduce their kids to the active lifestyle early on. Don’t sweat it if you don’t have prior climbing experience, as skilled and amicable instructors are present to guide you.
They offer monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual rates for those who want to be members, but walk-in visitors are more than welcome as well. They also rent out equipment, including climbing shoes and harnesses, which are added to the walk-in and long-term rates. There are plenty of bean bags in the area, as well as their very own snack bar, once you get tired from all the climbing.
4. Peer into Iloilo’s heritage inside Molo Mansion.
Where: Locsin St., Plaza Molo, Molo, Iloilo City
How much you’ll spend: Nothing! Entrance is free.
Usher in the New Year by doing some retrospection into Iloilo’s rich and colorful heritage.
Image: Molo Mansion Facebook page
An ideal simile to the New Year’s fresh start, Iloilo City’s Molo Mansion is the destination for all who wish to be captivated by the architectural grandeur and vibrant history of the region. The structure, built in the 1920s, used to host the nation’s biggest dignitaries and serve as the residence of the Molo elite. Once thought to be slated for demolition, the mansion has stood the test of time to showcase the rich heritage of Iloilo and the local Ilonggo craftsmanship of the province’s best artisans.
Inside, a Kultura store which furnishes every corner with all things native, greets visitors on their way in. Rummage through the vibrant exhibit of fabrics, barong (sheer embroidered shirt for men), fans, headwear pieces, and more for your souvenirs. There is also the Molo Mansion Café, located at the back, which welcomes diners to an al fresco dining experience.
5. Spoil yourself with Iloilo’s best Batchoy found in La Paz Public Market.
Where: Huervana St., La Paz, Iloilo City
How much you’ll spend: PhP70-PhP120
Nothing beats the warm and energizing broth of La Paz batchoy after the cool holidays.
Image: TOTO Batchoy Facebook Page
What better way to kick off 2019 than doing the thing we love most: eating! And if you’re hungry, Iloilo definitely isn’t backing down from offering you only their best: La Paz Batchoy. The ever-cherished batchoy (noodle soup in pork stock, rinds, and cracklings) has been invigorating Ilonggos since the 1940s, sprouting through small batchoy stalls all over the province.
However, if you want to sample the best batchoy in the land, you go to its roots. The La Paz Public Market is home to some of the best and most faithful carriers of the batchoy recipe. Netong’s, for one, has their original branch deep into the market still standing and serving. Ted’s, located in front of the market, has also been around since the 1940s, together with its veteran neighbor Deco’s.
Order a bowl of their special batchoy, which includes all the possible ingredients and add-ons to the soup. Or maybe you want to sip in the “super special” variant, which is really just a bigger serving, if you’re too shy to order twice. If eating noodles leads to a lengthier life, then Ilonggos have a sumptuous way of sticking to customs.
Discover Iloilo’s best spots and attractions through the Yoorekka Magazine.
Bring new life into the year, and make Iloilo the first of many destinations you’ll be conquering for 2019. Here’s to another year of discovering the country’s finest!
Which of these activities have you added to your itinerary? Tell us in the comments section!
