Clear up your schedules on the second week of February and head on over to Iloilo City for a fun experience at the Paraw Regatta Festival 2011. Now on its 39th year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta is the oldest traditional craft event in Asia, and the largest sailing event in the Philippines.

Samba de Regatta Dance Competition

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).

Luces by the Sea Fireworks Display

Here’s the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2011 Schedule of Activities:

February 13, 2011 (Sunday)

February 15, 2011 (Tuesday)

February 16, 2011 (Wednesday)

February 17, 2011 (Thursday)

February 18, 2011 (Friday)

February 19, 2011 (Saturday)

February 20, 2011 (Sunday)

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.

Read the rest of Marbuena Island Resort (24 comments)

To get to Concepcion from Iloilo City, commuters can take a bus in Tagbak (Northern Iloilo) Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. HPQ buses are highly recommended, the fare is P110. Travel time takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The first trip leaves Iloilo at 7am and last trip from Concepcion is around 4pm.

To get to Concepcion from Roxas City, take a bus going to Ajuy and from the terminal in Ajuy, take another bus to Concepcion.

How to get to the islands in Concepcion

There are daily passenger trips going to the major islands in Concepcion. They mostly leave in the morning and there’s only one trip per day. For large groups, visitors can go to the fish port or the wet market and search for boatmen willing to rent out their fishing boats. Sandbar Island Beach Resort in Bulubadiangan Island have their own pumpboat service for guests, the rate is P800 for the round trip transfers. For reference, the round trip transfers to Pan de Azucar Island is around P1,000 and P1,200 for Agho and Malangabang Island (P2,500 for a big boat).

Boat Tours of Concepcion Islands

Guests of Sandbar Island Beach Resort can also rent the resort’s pumpboat for a tour of nearby islands for P800. Several resorts in the mainland and fishermen at the fish port also rent our their boats for P1,000 – P1,500 for a half-day tour.

Pan de Azucar is the biggest and most popular among Concepcion’s 16 islands because of the enchantingly tall and steep mountain, called Mt. Pan de Azucar or Mt. Manaphag, standing like a towering sentinel in the center of the island.  Tampisaw is also the name of the festival of Concepcion held in the island on the fourth week of April to celebrate Earth Day.Read the rest of Pan de Azucar Island (9 comments)

The New Iloilo Airport is of International Standards and is one of the most advanced and best looking airports in the Country.

By Air – airlines at the Iloilo Airport

Air Philippines

Office in Iloilo City: General Luna St., City Proper (Near Tijuana Restaurant and Bar)
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3208048 / (+63)(33)3208049 / (+63)(33)5085513

Cebu Pacific

Office in Iloilo City: SM City Iloilo, Diversion Road, Mandurriao District
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3208017 / (+63)(33)3206889 / (+63)(33)3206582 / (+63)(33)3294660

Philippine Airlines

Office in Iloilo City: Diversion Road, Mandurriao District (Beside SM City)
Contact No.: (+63)(33)3203030 / (+63)(33)3203131 / (+63)(33)3207151

Zest Air

Office in Iloilo City: Martmart Mall and the New Iloilo Airport
Contact No.: Mobile: (+63)9178911049 / (+63)9173051038

How to get to and from the Iloilo Airport:

There is a shuttle service to and from the airport with the drop-off and pick-up points at SM City Iloilo.
There are also taxis, which can be hired to take you to any point in Iloilo/Panay or to the Airport if you’re from the City.

By Sea

By boat, it takes 20 hours at most from Iloilo to Manila. From Zamboanga, 16 hours; Cagayan de Oro, 14 hours; Cebu, 12 hours. Bacolod City is a one-hour trip many times daily. To Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, it takes 38 hours, three times a month. Iloilo can also be reached by Roll-on roll-off (RORO) vessels via through President Arroyo’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Shipping Lines in Iloilo City:

• Negros Navigation
  Destinations: Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Iligan, Zamboanga
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3379882/ (+63)(033)3379759 / (+63)(033)3203430
  Website: www.negrosnavigation.ph
• Cokaliong
  Destinations: Cebu
  Office in Iloilo: Cor. De la Rama, Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3363322 / (+63)(033)3361122
  Website: http://www.cokaliongshipping.com/
• W G & A Superferry
  Destinations: Manila, General Santos, Davao, Ozamis, Zamboanga, Cotabao, Cagayan de Oro
  Office in Iloilo: De la Rama & Melliza Sts., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3372567 / (+63)(033)3350375
  Website: http://www.superferry.com.ph/

Iloilo River Wharf or popularly called “Muelle Loney”

Fastcrafts operated by the Phil. Fast Ferry Corp., Weesam Express, Bullet Express, and Royal Ferry Services serve the connection between Iloilo and Bacolod City on a daily basis.

Fastcrafts servicing the Iloilo – Bacolod route at Muelle Loney

Fastcrafts and RORO vessels servicing the Iloilo City – Bacolod Route:

• Bullet Express Corp
  Office in Iloilo: Domescon Bldg., Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3380618 / (+63)(033)3380619 / (+63)(033)3380620
• Weesam Express
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(033)3351572/ (+63)(033)3373282
• Montenegro Shipping (RORO)
  Office in Iloilo: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
  Contact No.: (+63)(034)7081322 (Bacolod)

RO-RO vessels at the Dumangas Port

There are also daily RO-RO vessels plying the Dumangas-Bacolod route. Dumangas, is a coastal town approx 30 minutes from Iloilo City. The Dumangas port can be accessed from Iloilo City by van at La Granja Terminal, in La Paz District.

It also takes less than 20 min. by pumpboat or 30 min. by ferry ride or RO-RO from Guimaras Island. Terminals to and from Guimaras from the City is at Parola Port (at the Mouth of the Iloilo River), Muelle Loney (Iloilo River Wharf), and Ortiz Port (Ortiz St., City Proper).

By Land

Iloilo is also accessible by land transportation to and from Aklan, Capiz, and Antique. it takes at most 3 hours to reach Iloilo from Kalibo in Aklan, Roxas City in Roxas, or San Jose in Antique.How to Get to Iloilo

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.

Read the rest of Schedule of Activities for Dinagyang Festival 2010 (10 comments)

One of the most exciting parts of the forum was a list of proposed major investments in Iloilo outlined in the “Tourism Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras” report presented by Ms. Narzalina Lim, President of  Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. Here are some of the investments mentioned in the report:

Kapideco Estate

Kapideco (Kauturan Pison Development Corp.) estate is a master planned mixed-use development currently being developed in the large area that was once salt beds and fish ponds in Brgy. Tabucan and San Rafael in Mandurriao. It is very accessible to Diversion Road and is located in between big commercial developments – Smallville Complex and SM City Iloilo. The whole area from Kapideco to the Old Airport Strip (Megaworld Site) is envisioned to be Iloilo City’s next Central Business District. KAPIDECO is also the home of Ateneo de Iloilo’s new campus, which is already near completion.

Read the rest of Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras Report (26 comments)

Transportation to Abelardos Beach Resort

• Location: East Valencia, Buenavista, Guimaras
• Origin: McArthur Port
• Approximate Travel Time: 35 minutes 
• Means of Transportation: Jeepney / L300 van

Contact Details of Abelardos Beach Resort

• Contact Person: Mrs. Aileen Javellana & Nancy Martinez
• Telephone: 09179910806 / 09108378915

Want to view more resorts? Visit the Guimaras Resort/Hotel Directory and browse through more than 30 resorts and hotels in Guimaras.

Disclaimer: Explore Iloilo is not affiliated with Abelardos Beach Resort, Guimaras. Content posted here are posted for informational purposes. If you would like to inquire more about this hotel/resort please contact them directly.