HomeIloiloPlaces to go this December for a Merry Christmas! in IloiloThe Christmas and New Year season is a busy time for Iloilo. A lot of Ilonggos from all over the Philippines and abroad go back to their hometowns to spend the celebration together with their loved ones. If you’re spending the holidays this December in By Marcos Detourista on December 23, 2009The Christmas and New Year season is a busy time for Iloilo. A lot of Ilonggos from all over the Philippines and abroad go back to their hometowns to spend the celebration together with their loved ones. If you’re spending the holidays this December in Iloilo, here are a few places you might want to visit to get a feel of Iloilo’s festive spirit.Pototan’s IWAG Festival of LightsDeemed by the Department of Tourism as the “Christmas Capital of Western Visayas”, Pototan fills its sprawling plaza with a flurry of colorful lights every December, attracting people from all over Iloilo and nearby provinces in Panay Island.Central Philippine University (CPU)The Opening of Lights remains to be one of the best features of CPU before the end of the year. The event celebrates the switching on of Christmas Lights in CPU, which is on display for the whole month.Angelicum School / Lizares MansionA wondrous sight to behold is the Lizares Mansion, now the Angelicum School, known as one of Iloilo’s most iconic heritage houses. The Lizares Mansion stands in testimony of Iloilo’s booming sugar industry during its heydey. Every year, the main building of Angelicum becomes the subject of amusement as thousands of Christmas lights adorn every inch of its facade further enhancing the charm of this magnificent edifice.Tultugan Festival of MaasinThe Tultugan Festival is celebrated in Massin Town on the 4th week of December. Tultugan, a native bamboo percussion instrument used by natives long ago as a tool for communication and as a musical instrument. With its ultimate reputation as the Bamboo Producer in the Region, Maasin the festivity with a rich display of Bamboo Products attracting investors, collectors and aficionados from around the country. the gem of the exhibition is the tribe competition that utilizes bamboo as their primary material for costumes and even musical instruments. (Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office)Town Plazas all over Iloilo ProvinceAlthough not as grand as Pototan, most towns in Iloilo also adorn their plazas with sparkling Christmas lights. Janiuay, Alimodian, Guimbal, Lambunao, Cabatuan, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin and Calinog are some of the towns which have nice Christmas lights displays.Shopping Centers in the MetropolisMalls in Iloilo City go all out in attracting a slice of the huge inflow of holiday shoppers. These Malls are adorned with beautiful Christmas-themed decorations and offer great sales throughout the month. Not forgetting the small shops of the city, Calle Real composed of J.M. Basa, Iznart, and Aldeguer Sts. is the prime place to go for shopping and bargain hunting for very affordable items.Smallville – Iloilo NightlifeThe nightlife is as lively as ever during December. If you like to checkout the party scene in Iloilo, Smallville Complex is the best choice to enjoy the night away. If you like the night to be a bit mellow, excellent restaurants all around the city are open for a gastronomic delight.Iloilo’s Centuries old Churches – Simbang Gabi“Simbang Gabi” is a practice deeply rooted in Ilonggo’s faith. Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace. The experience of sunrise at Iloilo’s old churches is just divine.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment *Name * Email * Website ΔThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments jaery saysJanuary 4, 2010 at 11:46 ami would recommend Bennch Transport..they have clean and fully air-conditioned vans..you can hire them per hour or for a day depending on your itinerary.. just present to the driver your list of destinations…:)Reply Marcos C. saysDecember 25, 2009 at 10:05 pmAngelicum, CPU, Smallville, and Shopping Centers are just within the City Proper so you can just take a taxi from one destination to the other. There are buses and jeepneys parked in Tagbak Terminal, Jaro if you want to go to Pototan … you have to remember though that the last trip is only until 9-10pm.I’m not sure about tour operators offering this kind of itinerary but here’s a list of DOT Accredited van/car rental companies and their contact numbers:Ark Cars Sarabia Manor Hotel, Gen. Luna St. Iloilo City Tel. No. (033) 335-1021Bennch Transport Services Tel. Nos. (033) 336-6190 / 336-5574Neschelle Liner Gran Plains Subd., Jaro,Iloilo City Tel. No.: (033) 320-5734 Cell Nos.: 0916-9054566 / 0920-7210615Totong Villaruz Commission Civil St., Jaro, Iloilo City Tel. Nos.: (033) 300-6801 / 857-2906Reply Vivian saysDecember 24, 2009 at 11:30 pmI really want to visit those places on Christmas, but don’t what the transportation must be, please kindly add on the contact no. of the van company if ever you have, so that we can call for tour. Thanks so much! Merry X’mas.Reply Shannon S. saysDecember 24, 2009 at 10:34 amMy goodness, Iloilo ans banwa ko… how I long to be back. In time…Reply Estela saysDecember 24, 2009 at 12:11 amYou can add San Joaquin now starting its Centennial Celebration..the plaza is so beautiful..etc.Reply Marcos C. saysDecember 24, 2009 at 2:11 amthanks for the tip. I’ve added San Joaquin to the list. I’ve recently visited the town, and I was surprised with the many new developments.Reply Joy saysDecember 30, 2006 at 8:24 amVery nice pics! Hoping to see more new pics . Great job!Joy/USAReply
jaery saysJanuary 4, 2010 at 11:46 ami would recommend Bennch Transport..they have clean and fully air-conditioned vans..you can hire them per hour or for a day depending on your itinerary.. just present to the driver your list of destinations…:)Reply
Marcos C. saysDecember 25, 2009 at 10:05 pmAngelicum, CPU, Smallville, and Shopping Centers are just within the City Proper so you can just take a taxi from one destination to the other. There are buses and jeepneys parked in Tagbak Terminal, Jaro if you want to go to Pototan … you have to remember though that the last trip is only until 9-10pm.I’m not sure about tour operators offering this kind of itinerary but here’s a list of DOT Accredited van/car rental companies and their contact numbers:Ark Cars Sarabia Manor Hotel, Gen. Luna St. Iloilo City Tel. No. (033) 335-1021Bennch Transport Services Tel. Nos. (033) 336-6190 / 336-5574Neschelle Liner Gran Plains Subd., Jaro,Iloilo City Tel. No.: (033) 320-5734 Cell Nos.: 0916-9054566 / 0920-7210615Totong Villaruz Commission Civil St., Jaro, Iloilo City Tel. Nos.: (033) 300-6801 / 857-2906Reply
Vivian saysDecember 24, 2009 at 11:30 pmI really want to visit those places on Christmas, but don’t what the transportation must be, please kindly add on the contact no. of the van company if ever you have, so that we can call for tour. Thanks so much! Merry X’mas.Reply
Shannon S. saysDecember 24, 2009 at 10:34 amMy goodness, Iloilo ans banwa ko… how I long to be back. In time…Reply
Estela saysDecember 24, 2009 at 12:11 amYou can add San Joaquin now starting its Centennial Celebration..the plaza is so beautiful..etc.Reply
Marcos C. saysDecember 24, 2009 at 2:11 amthanks for the tip. I’ve added San Joaquin to the list. I’ve recently visited the town, and I was surprised with the many new developments.Reply
Joy saysDecember 30, 2006 at 8:24 amVery nice pics! Hoping to see more new pics . Great job!Joy/USAReply