4 things to do in Iloilo City

by Angelo G. Garcia

Posted at Jul 14 2018 01:00 PM

ILOILO -- Iloilo City is the vibrant capital of Iloilo province in Western Visayas.

The city has one of the fastest-growing economy in the region and its ultra modern business and commercial districts, continuous infrastructure development, and booming business sector underscore this vibrant outlookj.

Iloilo City is a coastal city located on the southeast portion of Panay island. It borders the municipality of Leganes in the northeast and Pavia in the north. To its west is Oton, while on the southeast side is the province island of Guimaras.

Founded in 1581 as La Villa Rica de Arevalo, Iloilo is one of the oldest cities in the Philippines. Yet despite its rapid transformation as one of the top investment hubs in Western Visayas, Iloilo harmoniously combines the old and the new, the future and the past.

Planning a visit to the city soon? Here are four things to do in Iloilo city.

1. CHURCH HOPPING

Jaro Cathedral.

One way to explore a city's history is through its heritage churches. Two of the oldest and most popular are Jaro Cathedral and Molo Church.

Jaro Cathedral or the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles is located in the district of Jaro. The original church structure was completed in 1874 but it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1948. Repairs were completed in 1956. Its most interesting feature, however, is the detached belfry located outside the church compounds. The belfry is situated across the street just outside Jaro Plaza.

Molo Church.

Molo Church or St. Anne Parish Church, on the other hand, is known as “The Feminist Church” because it houses a collection of all-female saints statues. The neo-gothic church was built in 1831 with a distinct white coral facade.

2. FOOD TRIPPING

La Paz batchoy is a must-try in Iloilo.

Iloilo City has a rich food culture that should be taken advantage of. The district of La Paz is home to the famous La Paz batchoy or pork noodle soup. There's an area in La Paz, near the market, that is lined with batchoy restaurants but the most famous eateries are Netong's and Ted's Oldtimer. Both have branches in different parts of the city.

Then there's the pancit molo of Molo district. It's another noodle soup dish but this variety has dumplings or wonton and uses wonton wrappers as “noodles.” It's basically a Filipino version of a wonton noodle soup.

Biscocho Haus specializes in biscosho and other pasalubong products.

And for some snacks and pasalubong, Iloilo's biscocho is one of the best. Bicocho Haus is a bakery and pasalubong shop that specializes in biscocho, a toasted bread brushed with butter and topped with sugar. This crunchy snack is best paired with coffee or tea.

3. EXPLORE THE NEW DISTRICTS

The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art at Iloilo Business Park.

Iloilo City's newest commercial district is the Iloilo Business Park. It's an ultra modern central business district developed by Megaworld Corporation. The park is located in Mandurriao district, specifically the old airport.

The Iloilo Convention Center is located in the park, as well as Courtyard by Marriott.

The Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated here, as well as the Festive Walk Parade and the newly opened Festive Walk Mall. There are also several office and residential towers in the area that is reshaping Iloilo City's skyline.

Just a few minutes outside the city is Pavia, an agro-industrial area where most of the new developments are rising. The newly opened Robinsons Place Pavia is the first mall in the country to open its own water playground, Aquafun.

4. HOP TO AN ISLAND

The beautiful and uninhabited Ave Maria islet in Guimaras.

For a more nature-centric tour, Guimaras island is just a few minutes away from Iloilo City. The city is the main jump-off point to the island, which is just 15 minutes away by motorized banca. Guimaras is known for its sweet mangoes, beautiful beaches, and rich marine life.

Try visiting the beautiful uninhabited islet of Ave Maria island, one of the small islands that surround Guimaras.

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in Guimaras takes care of injured marine creatures like this sea turtle. Photo by author

There's also the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center at Igang Marine Station. It's a research facility that houses rare marine animals like giant milkfish, sea bass, giant groupers, and more. It also serves as recovery facility for injured animals like sea turtles.

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Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/14/18/4-things-to-do-in-iloilo-city