Iloilo is pretty much where I spent my whole life before I ventured to Bacolod for college. Though the city may not be that big as the others, its provinces has a lot to offer. From the way I see it, Iloilo is like a humongous secret nook just waiting to be discovered. Even if I’ve been here for the longest time in my life, it never fails to surprise me with its beauty.
It was very hard for me to choose only four specific places. I feel a tinge of guilt for I know that every place is worth the spotlight. But so as to make our lives easier especially if you’re planning to visit Iloilo, here are my personal top four places that I’d be more than glad to take you to:
The province is just 15 minutes away from downtown Iloilo and would only cost you around 14php for the boat fare. Guimaras is known for its fine beaches and have claimed to have the world’s sweetest mangoes. There are jeepneys for public transportation but if you opt to get to your destination faster, you can rent a multi-cab or a tricycle. Beaches can be reached within a minimum of 45 minutes. They have fine white sand and in some areas are live coral gardens. You can also take a tour of nearby islets and visit caves or turtle sanctuaries. If you want to relax or you’re looking for some spiritual solitude, you can visit the Trappist Monastery for some me-time. Also, they sell the most tasty jams in the province.
Now for the total gastronomic adventure! Locals and outsiders alike visit the stretch of Villa Baybay/beach for seafood, beer, and all sorts of inasal. We don’t usually go there for a swim but imagine yourself devouring a gigantic grilled pork belly over a round of drinks with your friends with the background noise of the waves. Sweet, isn’t it? It is best to go there from mid-afternoon until night because not all restaurants or eateries are open for lunch. As with the cost that you’d be spending, it really depends on where you would choose to eat but locals would always recommend classical but timeless restaurants like, Breakthrough and Tatoy’s. They may be a bit pricey but they serve quality dishes. Go there if you have a hyper-sensitive stomach. We don’t want you rushing for the toilet during meals.
If you plan to just roam around the City (near the port and the airport) Jaro is the place to see. In its center stands the iconic Jaro Cathedral aka the Parish of Our Lady of Candles. The statue of the Lady of Candles is said to have grown in size through the years. The statue was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in the 1980’s during his visit to the parish. Every February, a fiesta is celebrated in honor of the Lady of Candles. Another thing fascinating with the Cathedral is its belfry as it is standing just across the church, being the only one of its kind in the country since they are mostly attached to the main edifice.
Jaro is also home to numerous mansions or really old ancestral houses. Some are even labeled as hunted houses as they seem to be unoccupied through the years. Also, most delicacy stores are to be found in Jaro. It is always wise to bring a little something as pasalubongs so make sure to drop by and buy a few packs of Biscocho or Barquillos.
For those who’d love to hike and see natural spots in the Iloilo, Bulabog Putian National Park in Dingle is the best place to visit. I went there for our field trip when I was still in secondary school and I wished we had enough time to fully explore the place. It has almost 30 caves to explore and is dubbed as a museum of floral and fauna. Inside some of the caves were text inscribed by war heroes as it was used as hiding places during the war against the Spaniards. It is best to hire a tour guide because the nature park covers a huge area. There are labels, yes, but it’s just so easy to get lost by just wandering around. Also, the trails are all covered in bits and pieces of lime stones so it is very important to wear sturdy and comfortable shoes to make your trek easier.
PHOTO CREDITS: (1) marxtermind, leahcarlita, outoftownblog (2) exploreiloilo, paparazz0, skyscrapercity (3) junsphoto, rammmpa, iloiloonfoot (4) eksalife, exploreiloilo
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