Read the rest of Bali Suites Hotel Construction – December 2010 Update (11 comments)

As 2010 draws to a close, a new chapter of Iloilo’s progress and development beckons. Much needed infrastructure projects were completed, which has prompted a construction boom of sorts all over the city and province. Many of them, like the New Iloilo City Hall is rapidly shaping up and is already due for completion next year.

Read the rest of New Iloilo City Hall – December 2010 Update (5 comments)

Experience an explosion of sound, color, and dance.

The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural celebration in Iloilo City held on the fourth Sunday of January, the week after the Sinulog In Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan.

The Dinagyang Festival is held both to honor the Santo Nino and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.

Here’s the Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 Schedule of Activities:

January 4, 2011 (Tuesday)

• 2:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Presentation

January 7, 2011 (Friday)

• 2:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Talent Competition

January 9, 2011 (Sunday)

• 1:00PM – Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Finals

January 14, 2011 (Friday)

• 2:30PM – Mass for Opening Salvo of Tribe Dancers (San Jose Parish Church)
• 3:00 PM – OPENING SALVO (Judging Area)

January 14-16, 2011

• Iloilo Dinagyang Golf Competition 2011 (Sta. Barbara Golf Club)

January 15, 2011 (Saturday)

• 7:00:00AM – SQUEAK (Parade Route)

January 16-23, 2011

• Dinagyang Photo Exhibit

January 16, 2011, Sunday

• 10:00AM – 3:00PM (DRESSING UP DAGOY)

January 19-23, 2011

• 2:00 P.M.-12 MN Iloilo Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association (IHRRA) Food Festival (Delgado St., Iloilo City)

January 21, 2011 (Friday)

• 8:00AM – TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA (Freedom Grandstand)
• 7:00 PM – LUCES IN THE SKY Part I

January 22, 2011 (Saturday)

• 7:00:00AM – Mass for Kasadyahan (San Jose Parish Church)
• 8:00PM – 2011 KASADYAHAN Competition (Freedom Grandstand and other stages)
• 2:00PM – SPONSORS MARDI GRAS (Judging Area #4 to Freedom Grandstand)
• 7:00PM – LUCES IN THE SKY Part II
• 7:00PM – Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño (San Jose Parish Church)

January 23, 2011 (Sunday)

• 6:30AM -  Concelebrated high mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov’t. Officials, LOMAS in attendance (San Jose Parish Church)
• 8:00AM – 2011 Dinagyang Ati CONTEST (Freedom Grandstand and other stages)
• 7:00PM – Awarding Ceremonies (Freedom Grandstand)

January 24, 2011, Monday

• 5:30PM – Thanksgiving Mass with all members of 2010 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Working Committees (San Jose Parish Church)

The Visayas Blogging Summit 2010 is co-presented by SM City Iloilo, which provided the use of their Cinema 2 for the whole day of November 27. The goal of the Visayas Blogging Summit is to gather ideas from bloggers and explore the potential impact of blogging on society, business and politics in the Visayas and beyond. Some of the most visible and influential bloggers in the Philippine blog-o-sphere will be joining the event to share their knowledge and tips about a wide range of topics. So register now to partake in this special opportunity!

During the evening of the same day, the party will be brought to The Venue in The Avenue Complex for the Visayas Leg of the Philippine Blogging Summit. The Philippine Blog Awards aims to recognize notable Filipino-owned blogs in their respective niches. With topics ranging from the arts, culture, technology and politics, Filipinos have become more abreast because of the fast growing blogging industry here and abroad. The Philippine Blog Awards is a venue to showcase notable blogs with quality content that engages readers from around the globe. Official Philippine Blog Awards Website.

Considered as new media, blogging proved itself a strong marketing medium as well as a political channel that connects the company or person with their intended audience, something TV and radio do not provide. For this reason, many businesses have signified their interest in sponsoring the event. Some have even gone as far as offering their full services in return for a portion of the pie in online advertising.

If you are interested in a sponsorship for VBS, contact:

Junelle Caravana
Event Manager & Vice President of Iloilo Bloggers, Inc.
09279898999 | admin@iloilobloggers.com

MassKara is coined from two words: Mass, which means “many, or multitude,” and Kara, a Spanish word for “face,” thus MassKara is a mass or multitude of smiling faces.

Bacolod Masskara Festival 2010 Schedule

• October 1, 2010 - Opening of the Festival Site (Public Plaza,SM MassKara Village
• October 9, 2010 - MassKara Queen (University of St. La Salle Coliseum)
• October 15, 2010 -  Electric MassKara (Tourism Strip, Lacson St.)
• October 16, 2010 - MassKara Street Dance Competition – School Category (Araneta St. to Public Plaza
  • Electric MassKara (Tourism Strip, Lacson St.)
• October 17, 2010 - MassKara Street Dance Competition – Barangay Category (Araneta St. to Public Plaza)
• October 18, 2010 -  Countdown to the Charter Day Giant Street Party Celebration (New Government Center)
• October 19, 2010 - 73rd Charter Day Anniversary

Daily fastcrafts or fast ferries ply the Iloilo City (Muelle Loney River Wharf) to Bacolod City (BREDCO Port). Travel time is 45 minutes to one hour. There are also roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessels or slow ferries plying the Dumangas Port to Bacolod City (BREDCO Port) daily. The van terminal going to Dumangas is located at Baldoza Terminal in La Paz, Iloilo City. Travel time from Iloilo City to Dumangas is 20 minutes and from Dumangas Port to Bacolod via RORO, it is around two and a half hours.

Newly Renovated Facade of the Jaro Cathedral

The major works involved general repairs and improvement of the actual structure of the Jaro Cathedral especially the roof, dome, and ceilings. The damaging effects of time and the elements had already taken a toll to the antiquated Jaro Cathedral and it became a concern to replace and improve the Cathderal’s structural integrity. Aesthetic changes are also being done. Its more of a renovation than a restoration. In consolation, the Jaro Cathedral General Repair Project Team reports that careful study and consultation was done to adhere to a tasteful makeover with regards to cohering with the architecture and period of the building’s construction.

The Central Nave

Choir loft

Aisles

Central Altar

Central Dome

View of the Jaro Belfry from the Main Portal

The Visayas Blogging Summit Promises to be the Biggest Gathering of Bloggers in the Visayas Region.

Preparations are now in full swing for the First Visayas Blogging Summit (VBS) which will be held in Iloilo City. The event is slated November 27, 2010 in SM Cinema, SM City Mandurriao. Alongside the VBS, Iloilo City will also host the second edition of the Philippine Blog Awards – Visayas. More than 200 bloggers from all over the Visayan Region, as well as bloggers from Luzon and Mindanao are expected to attend these two events. After the VBS and the blog awards, the delegates will be treated to a day-long sightseeing tour of Iloilo in November 28th.

Read the rest of Iloilo to Host the 1st Visayas Blogging Summit on November 27-28, 2010 (3 comments)

Some of you might recall that Iloilo was already a city even during the Spanish colonial Period. Back in the 19th century, the present day City Proper or Downtown district solely comprised the Municipality of Iloilo (also call “Punta” back in the day). The Districts of Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo, Molo, and Mandurriao were all separate towns alongside Iloilo. Governor General Don Valeriano Wayler created the Ayuntamiento or City Council of Iloilo on January 31, 1890, the date adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod as “Araw ng Lungsod ng Iloilo” or the Iloilo City Foundation Day.

Former Jaro City Hall, presently occupied by the PNP Regional Office

A week after, the Becerra Law of 1889 was approved and established Iloilo’s cityhood together with Jaro, Cebu, Batangas, Albay, Nueva Caceres, and Vigan. By virtue of the Royal Decree of 1896, Iloilo City was given the coat of arms with the inscription: “La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo” in recognition of the people’s loyalty to the Spanish crown.

Former Iloilo Municipal Hall, donated to and now occupied by University of the Philippines in the Visayas (Iloilo City Campus)

Iloilo (including Jaro) was, however, reverted back to being a municipality sometime in 1901 when the American’s took over the Philippines. In July 16, 1937, Iloilo (Punta) was merged with the towns of Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo, Molo, and Mandurriao to form present day Iloilo City on July 16, 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 158. The parade and celebration was postponed 40 days later pending the formal inauguration of the City Government of Iloilo on August 25, 1937.

73rd Iloilo City Charter Day – Schedule of Activities

• July 16, 2010 – Thanksgiving Mass (Fountain Area, Robinson)
• August 11 – 25, 2010 – Iloilo City Charter Day Exhibit (SM City Iloilo)
• August 20, 2010 – Iloilo City Hymn Writing Contest
• August 21, 2010 – Goodwill Basketball Games (University of San Agustin Gym)
• August 21, 2010 – Iloilo River Clean-up (Whole stretch of Iloilo River, Station 2 to 3; 6:00AM)
• August 23, 2010 – Dagoy Dolls Auction Sale (SM City Iloilo)
• August 23, 2010 – Bloodletting (Robinsons Fountain Area)
• August 23, 2010 – Mass Wedding (Robinsons Foodcourt; 2:00PM)
• August 24, 2010 – Mangrove Planting (Treñas Boulevard; 6:00AM)
• August 24, 2010 – Sport Fishing/ Swimming
• August 24, 2010 – Boat Rowing and Kayak Exhibition
• August 24, 2010 – Search for Mr & Ms. Iloilo City (Freedom Grandstand; 6:00PM)
• August 25, 2010 – Mass Assembly (La Paz Church, La Paz Plaza; 7:00AM)
• August 25, 2010 – Civic Military Parade (La Paz Plaza to Freedom Grandstand)
• August 25, 2010 – Oratorical Contest (SM City Activity Center)
• August 25, 2010 – Medical Mission (Robinsons Place Iloilo; 7:30AM)
• August 25, 2010 – Dance to the Max Iloilo! (Robinsons Place Iloilo)
• August 25, 2010 – Dungog sang Dakbanwa sang Iloilo (Nelly’s Garden or Punta Villa or Plaza Libertad)
• August 25, 2010 – Job Fair
• August 25, 2010 – Iloilo City Tours
• August 27 to 28, 2010 – Food Festivals of Ilonggo Dishes (Delgado St.)
• August 28, 2010 – Iloilo Got Talent
• August 28, 2010 – SM City Night Run (SM City Iloilo Carpark)
• August 28, 2010 – SM Food Festival (SM City Iloilo)

Here’s the latest photo of Smallville21 Hotel located in Smallville Complex, Iloilo’s entertainment and nightlife center. It looks like they’re already finishing up on the exterior works and will probably finish the hotel well before the Dinagyang season. A new render of Smallville21 has been posted in their construction site and the development now features a smaller 4-5 storey building beside the main building:

Read the rest of Smallvile21 – August 2010 Update (4 comments)

Following Ayala Land’s announcement of constructing the “Iloilo Technohub,” the Philippines’s biggest real estate developer will also introduce its residential Avida brand in Iloilo. Their witty tagline “ILOve ILOve” posted at their website has already attracted a substantial online following. Ayala Land’s subdivision property in Iloilo is located in Pavia (near Providence). The lot is already fenced off and construction works are ongoing. Here are more details of Avida Village Iloilo:

Read the rest of Ayala Avida (Subdivision) Iloilo – August 2010 Update (2 comments)