LIST: Enjoyable Things to Do in Iloilo When It Rains

Where: Decos, Teds, Netongs, Popoys, Kap Ising

As one of UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Gastronomy, Ilonggo offers a wide variety of food. Heartwarming bowls of batchoy, kansi, pansit molo, or even a KBL with a cup of rice are perfect for rainy weather.

Batchoy is everywhere in Iloilo. It’s a noodle soup dish with pork meat, liver, and kidney. The soup itself is so flavorful based on the flavor of the pork innards boiled for a long time. There are several popular places where you can try batchoy in the city. Among the famous ones are Decos, Teds, Netongs, and Popoys. Another must-try for batchoy is Alicia’s Restaurant in the Jaro district. Your bowl would be overflowing with toppings.

Kansi and KBL are best paired with rice. Kansi is beef soured with batwan fruit, which is popular in Ilonggo dishes. Usually made with beef shanks, it combines bulalo with the sourness of sinigang.

Batwan is also the secret to a good KBL or an acronym for kadios (pigeon peas), baboy (pork), and langka (unripe jackfruit). Usually made with pork legs, it is first grilled before being cooked into a hearty soup.

If you prefer a milder soup, Pansit Molo is the best option. The light soup with molo balls is the best to pair with their puto or rice cake. The most popular place to eat Pansit Molo is Kap Ising, which has a branch at Atria Park.

Where: National Museum of the Philippines, Brandy Museum in the Philippines

With its rich history and culture, visiting several museums within the city is a must. Most of these museums are pretty even on the inside; you will surely still enjoy your indoor photos here.

First on your list should be the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in Western Visayas. This museum is a must-visit not only for its picturesque facade but also for its historical value. The building has a history since it’s the former prison of Iloilo province and has been restored by the NMP. You can check out their regular exhibits, including Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas and the Geology and Paleontology Exhibition. Admission to the museum is free. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you want to explore the world of brandy, then you are lucky because Iloilo is home to the first and only Brandy Museum in the Philippines. Located at Festive Walk in Megaworld Complex in Mandurriao district. Even if you are not a fan of alcohol, you will still love the experience of learning how hard liquor is made. As you enter, you will see a display of equipment to make the liquor, letting you know the brandy-making process. A chronology of how the local Filipino liquor brand Emperador evolved through time up to the present. After your informative stroll inside the museum, you can also try their cafe, which serves coffee with brandy. The Brandy Museum is open daily for free. They are open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Where: Zuri Hotel, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

If you hate to get soaked in the rain outside, staying at your hotel may be exciting. There are Iloilo hotels with complete amenities; you don’t have to leave anymore. You can stay at the Zuri Hotel, beside SM City Iloilo. The hotel has spacious rooms, an in-house restaurant, a gym, a rooftop bar, and a swimming pool. So even if it rains, you can do many things for your staycation.

Regarding staycation, Richmonde Hotel Iloilo should be on your list too. The hotel is within the Megaworld district in Mandurriao. You can enjoy a relaxing stay with their in-room massage. They also have a fitness center operating 24/7. The hotel likewise has an outdoor pool with a view deck. You can also indulge in sumptuous Ilonggo delicacies and international delights at their in-house restaurants and bars.

Where: Smallville 21, Club 21, Diversion 21 Hotel, District 21 Hotel, Empire KTV Bar

You don’t have to worry if the rain won’t stop your singing since Iloilo has many options for your karaoke session. You don’t need pitch-perfect vocals or high notes, just a list of your songs. There are a ton of karaoke bars in the city that you can rent for your group. Those in the Mandurriao district have ample options, including Smallville 21 and Club 21. Along Diversion Road, you can also go to the Diversion 21 Hotel or the District 21 Hotel along Donato Pison Avenue. Those in the City Proper district can go to the Empire KTV Bar at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel. Rentals for the KTV rooms at these places range from 1,500 to 1,500 for food and drinks. So, if you are in a group, you will forget the rain outside and have a good time.

Visit Yoorekka to learn more about exciting things to do in the top tourist destinations in the Philippines!