Aerial view of the Iloilo Airport

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Traditional Paraw Sailboat at the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival

The main highlight of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is the thirty-kilometer distance sailing race on a course in the Iloilo Strait, running up the coast of Panay and then down the coast of Guimaras, before returning to the finish at Villa Beach.

Paraw Race across the Iloilo Strait

Over the years, Iloilo Paraw Regatta has grown from a half-day sailboat race into a week long multi-event festival that it is now. Side events include the Iloilo Paraw Slalom, Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta, Pinta de Layag Competition, Pinta Tawo Competition, Miniature Paraw Race, Rowing and Paddling Competition, Governor’s Cup Fishing Competition, Samba de Regatta, Beach Football Tournament, and the Beach Volleyball Tournament, Luces by the Sea (Fireworks Display).

Performers during the Samba de Regatta Dance Competition

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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)

Be prepared to witness the City of Iloilo revel during the Dinagyang Festival 2011 and 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. It 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. The highlights of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2011 will be on January 21 to 23, 2011.

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Iloilo’s rich heritage is showcased in multifarious festivals celebrated in the city and various towns of the province. Dubbed as the “Province of Festivals”, Iloilo is proud of its nationally acclaimed Dinagyang Festival.

A busy sunset rush hour with Iloilo City’s old structures “woven” into a modern lifestyle.

The capital city of the province of Iloilo is the City of Iloilo, which is also one of the major urban centers in the Philippines. Iloilo is a fast-growing modern city but has kept its old charm and unspoiled environment. Today, it is a popular convention and meeting destination, with its many first class accommodations and an airport of international standards. Iloilo also serves as the gateway to the region and a  favorite stopover for tourists heading to the beaches of Boracay, Palawan and the nearby provinces of Guimaras, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan.

Sandbar Island, one of Concepcion town’s 16 islands, with the towering Pan de Azucar as its backdrop

The busy City of Iloilo with the Island of Guimaras off its Coast.

Iloilo has always been one of the country’s most important provinces. Merchants from China and India have long traded with the Ilonggos even before the Spaniards came; evidences of this flourishing civilization are displayed in Museums and Private Galleries.

Museo Iloilo serves as a repository of Iloilo’s cultural heritage.

Even during the Spanish and American colonial period, Iloilo still proved to be an important trading post. Iloilo has a beautiful harbor with serene and calm waters, safe for navigation because it is protected from the open sea by scenic Guimaras Island. This excellent port facility made Iloilo the center of trade at the turn of the century, with the whole world doing business in this port especially during the heyday of the sugar industry. In fact, Iloilo was given the title of “Queen City of the South” for being the Philippine’s second city, after Manila.

You can still see the old buildings that surprisingly are European and American inspired such as stately mansions, majestic century-old churches, and heritage commercial buildings.

The Iloilo Customs House watches over Iloilo’s River Wharf. The building is a remnant of Iloilo’s glorious past

The Miagao Church is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Iloilo’s rich heritage is showcased in multifarious festivals celebrated in the city and various towns of the province. Dubbed as the “Province of Festivals“, Iloilo is proud of its nationally acclaimed Dinagyang Festival, together with smaller but similarly riveting festivities in the province, blends the pagan and the Christian in a street dance masquerade honoring Sto. Nino.

The famous Dinagyang Festival is held every 4th week of January

Iloilo is endowed with natural wonders. Highland attractions from the cascades and waterfalls of the mountains of Iloilo to rice terraces and heights in its hinderlands. Worth visiting are various islands and islets of Iloilo that abound with white sand beaches and ornamented with tropical palms. Experience breezy fun while on an island hopping getaway. Explorations in Iloilo’s northern coast such as the myterious caves of Gigantes island and the sea charms of Sicogon and nearby islets, as well as the splendid silhouette of Pan de Azucar in Concepcion town herald quaint stories and enchanting folklores.

Agho Island, one of Concepcion town’s 16 islands, with the towering Pan de Azucar in the background

Rice terraces and lush mountains of Bucari, Leon

Iloilo takes pride in being the Food basket and Rice Granary of the Region owing to its fertile lands and seas that yield plentiful harvest. Rice is the major crop in the province of Iloilo. Fish and marine products are considered the main source of livelihood in the southern and northern Iloilo. Tourists will find many restaurants offering a gastronomic treat of fresh sea foods and famous Ilonggo dishes such as La Paz Batchoy, Chicken Inasal, and Pancit Molo.

The La Paz Batchoy, which originated from La Paz District of Iloilo City, is an Ilonggo dish that has achieved nation-wide popularity.

Iloilo is a fast-growing modern city but has kept its old charm and unspoiled environment. Today, Iloilo is a popular convention and meeting destination, with its many first class accommodations and New Airport of International standards. Tourists will find sprawling malls scattered across the city wherein they can replenish supplies as well as their energies for the hectic sand-and-water environment that are soon to follow. Hotels and restaurants abound; a world-class golf course is located just outside the city proper in Sta. Barbara.

Bars, Restaurants, Clubs, Hotels, and Coffee Shops line “Smallville“, Iloilo’s most popular night spot

The Santa Barbara Golf Course located 30 minutes from the city is the oldest Golf Course in South East Asia

Iloilo serves as the gateway to the region. It is a stopover for tourists heading to the beaches of Boracay and Palawan and the nearby provinces of Guimaras, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan.

Iloilo boasts of a new airport, considered as one of the most beautiful and modern in the country

Ilonggos travel daily to Guimaras as if it was next door, and so with Guimarasnons to Iloilo. The trip across the strait taken only 15 minutes on a smooth sailing pumpboat, or 25 minutes by barge if you are bringing your vehicle.

Guimaras is a popular weekend destination because of its white sand beaches, tranquil waters, and peaceful countrysides

People from Iloilo are called Ilonggos. They are known for their charm and sweetness that comes from the musical tonation of their dialect, Hiligaynon. You would not be able to tell if an Ilonggo is mad at you by the way they speak, which always sounds like some one crooning a love song to you. Kiniray-a, which is a dialect very similar to Hiligaynon is used in Iloilo’s countrysides. English and Tagalog are also widely spoken and understood especially in urban areas.

A nightshot of General Luna St., one of Iloilo’s major roads

Metro Iloilo-Guimaras or MIG is a metropolitan area encompassing the highly urbanized city of Iloilo City, nearby towns, island of Guimaras. Guimaras Province assumes the role of agri-eco-tourism center; Pavia as the agro-industrial center, Leganes as the center for light industries, San Miguel as the agricultural basket, Oton as the dormitory and Sta. Barbara as the international air travel gateway. Iloilo City will remain as the residential, financial, commercial, governance and educational hub not only for Guimaras Island and the five satellite municipalities but also for the entire Region VI.

A busy sunset rush hour with Iloilo City’s old structures “woven” into a modern lifestyle.

Source: Department of Tourism – Western Visayas, Wikipedia, Iloilo Province Official Website, Iloilo City Official Website
Iloilo Province Brochure by Bombette Marin, Iloilo Provincial Tourism Officer.

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