Iloilo City and Province - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 2

wecky

March 21st, 2005, 03:30 AM

Wow ang galing.....I'm glad it has been restored properly.....Chymera there are two more watchtowers/bantayan in Guimbal.....

is this replica for good? looks really great !

by the way, Guimbal is on the business spotlight again this year with Garin declared as entrepreneur of the year ... too many great improvements in Guimbal ... the Racsus, The Garin Farm, etc ...

Garin chosen ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’

ILOILO City - Former First District Congressman Oscar “Oca” Garin has been chosen “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines, a program of the SGV Foundation Inc. in cooperation with the Bankers Association of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Business for Social Progress, University of the Philippines (UP) and the Business World.
It is produced globally by Ernst & Young.
The winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2004 will be formally awarded at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on February 24.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines will represent the country in the 2005 World Entrepreneur Of The Year in Monte Carlo, Monaco on May 28.
A FARMER AT HEART
In a coastal town 40 minutes south of Iloilo City is GARINFARM- the latest and most ambitious venture to date of Garin.
“When I was in Grade 1, while kids my age played bahay-bahayan (house), I built my own bahay-bahayan, turned it into a store, and sold candies to my fellow kids. Then, when I was in Grade 4, I tended three cattle and asked my mother to allow me to stop schooling because I computed that what I earn from tending the cattle will be enough to feed myself with noodles all year round,” Garin amusingly remembers.
He went on to earn a degree in civil engineering.
In the early 1980s, he pursued his passion and started raising sows in his backyard. This came naturally for Garin, who has cared for animals and plants since he was a child. The piggery gradually grew to become a commercial hog farm with 500 sows in 1990. He named his business Octagon Farm Products and Supply.
As the piggery became profitable, Garin added other livestock including goats, cattle and sheep. He also went into poultry production with turkeys, ducks and game fowls.
Octagon Farm Products and Supply is now a major source of high quality breeders for small hog farmers and backyard growers in Southern Iloilo. The hogs produce high quality pork. About 30% of the hogs are sold in the province while the remaining 70% are sold in Metro Manila. Organic fertilizer from solid hog manure is sold or given away to poor farmers in the community.
His earnings from Octagon allowed Garin to develop RACSO’s Woodland-a sanctuary and breeding station of exotic animals, birds and fishes. RACSO’s Woodland is registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It is an eco-tourism destination.
While running both Octagon and RACSO’s Woodland, Garin continued to expand his knowledge in farming and innovated along the way.
“My engineering background helps me create innovative ideas on process simplification and waste management,” he said.
With a strong desire to share his knowledge with others, particularly farmers, Garin was inspired to build GARINFARM, which opened in May 2004.
GARINFARM is a farm, training and livelihood center and resort rolled into one.
As an integrated farm, it houses livestock and poultry production, aquaculture and fruit tree production. The farm produces virgin coconut oil, fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, processed meat, homemade ice cream and fruit juices.
Inside GARINFARM is the Urban Garden that features unique recycling ideas. There is also the hydroponics building where plants are grown in a multi-level system without using soil; and the probiotics area that produces indigenous microorganisms, fermented fruit juice and fermented plant juice. These probiotics are used for the growing of plants and animals in the farm and have helped increase production by 67% to 78%.
For crops, these probiotics have also lowered the costs of fertilizers and pesticides, allowing the shift from chemical to organic farming. Zero waste management is widely practiced in the farm.
As a learning and livelihood center, GARINFARM is a one-stop-shop for farmers and anyone interested in agriculture, providing demonstrations of basic and innovative methods of vegetable farming and animal production.
A former congressman of the first district of Iloilo, Garin also runs the Gugma (meaning “love”) Foundation that has been selling basic consumer goods at lower costs to the indigents of the first district of Iloilo. The program has benefited about 5,000 families.
The country boy who loved animals has become an advocate of environmentalism. While he continues to build profitable enterprises, at the heart of his business remains the desire to help improve the lives of those around him.

--------------------------------

hope Garin will open more and more businesses in the first district of Iloilo province .... i've heard that his family will open "Garin Food Products" in Mary Mart Mall in Iloilo City selling all Garin farm products .... great job, former congressman !

wecky

March 21st, 2005, 03:43 AM

with the advent of progress in the first district of Iloilo province especially in Guimbal and Miag-ao towns .... what happen then to the lone component city of Iloilo ... the PASSI CITY (Sweet City of Panay)? Any developments around the area? The last business news I've read about it is that Mr Chan is putting 1B worth of new sugar central. Otherwise, no further news noted about this small city.

PASSI CITY

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

The City has a projected population of 76,327 as of 2003, with an average density of 286 persons per square kilometer. Annual population growth rate is 5.4 percent with a rural-urban population distribution of 14-86 percent respectively.

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Major Industries

Industrial development is one of the priority concerned of the Municipality being one of the five districts which was elected as one site for people’s Industrial Enterprises (PIE’s) District Agro-Industrial center (DAIC). The PIE’s DAIC will either provide intermediate processing of indigenous raw materials produced in their respective influence area for final processing at the DAIC. They can also manufacture finished goods if their comparative advantage for such manufacturing activities would prove viable.

chymera00

March 21st, 2005, 02:56 PM

that's good Chymera ... it looks very small in the pix, that's why ... pero with 8-9 storey, okay na yan. About the classy resto, okay talaga yan. Hope more to come.

Okay, Chymera .. just give infos that you only knew .. no probs, my friend ... but really I am very glad of your extensive knowledge about Iloilo's development. Btw, saang nursing school ka pumapasok?

Sa West Visayas State University Po, currently its the #1 nursing school in its category in the country with 99% passing rate, mataas ang standard nga pero ok lng. Hindi ko sna mag nursing, gust2 ko sana PC course pero di2 na na ako ...

ryanr

March 21st, 2005, 02:59 PM

Nice pictures of Iloilo City:okay: It is quite nice...better developed than some other provincial cities of the same size.

chymera00

March 22nd, 2005, 06:43 AM

Pumunta ako sa roof ng Hall of Justice kahapon, it had a really nice view bsta makikita mo and downtown, Iloilo River, Lapaz District at Guimaras Island sa likod. Ganda sana magawan ng panoramic, maghahanap lng ako ng digi cam pwede hiramin :)

whyte

March 22nd, 2005, 08:50 AM

:wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:
to this thread's REGULARS

* if former Cong. GARIN could make better in his business side, it'll surely "erase" some of the negative images his political career made

* i was there during the palaro in 1991 and heard the booing of former mayor ganzon.nakakahiya it was infront of PRES CORY

* It was only AFTER the term of GANZON that fastfood giant Jollibee has iuts 1st branch in the visayas yata. rumours had it that the former mayor has some other things in mind that jollibee cant do

* CHYMERAs pic of the new provincial capitol is the best ive seen so far maong the many pics of the said bldg. good job.

* if the 1st distict could be made into an COMMERCIAL-INDUSTRIAL area, hopefully the 2nd district can be the RECREATIONAL-COMMERICAL AREA.

* the current governor is plagued with BAD media publicity.

* The plan before of dividing Iloilo in to 2 provinces (Iloilo Norte and Iloilo Sur) has not gained popular support. Estancia could have been made the capital of the north

chymera00

March 22nd, 2005, 09:29 AM

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/03/18/article_124233_03-18-2005.jpg

Wow ang galing.....I'm glad it has been restored properly.....Chymera there are two more watchtowers/bantayan in Guimbal.....

Yes, I've heard but this is the only watch tower in Guimbal that I've been too, it being close to Bantayan Beach Resort and everything. There used to be a ladder so visitors can go up the tower but now they took it away... Regardless, last time I was there I climbed it anyways :p

chymera00

March 22nd, 2005, 09:46 AM

:wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:
to this thread's REGULARS

* CHYMERAs pic of the new provincial capitol is the best ive seen so far maong the many pics of the said bldg. good job.

http://www.freespaces.com/chymera/images/photos/iloilocapitol1.jpg
Hehe thnks ... I tried to include the garden thingy and old Capitol in the shot

sandrin

March 23rd, 2005, 01:31 PM

sugarboy

March 23rd, 2005, 01:50 PM

sandrin

March 23rd, 2005, 02:03 PM

I wish I do. I grew up in Manila. Only my older relatives speak it.

whyte

March 23rd, 2005, 03:04 PM

:wave::wave::wave::wave::wave:

* so the the ROTARY AMPITHEATRE had to give way for a parking lot and a mini park.
* wish to see more GREENS in the city and roads/streets along the river.

* the CITY HALL is a disgrace IMO. (kakahiya)

* i really the city could have a restoration project just like what mayor atienza of manila is doing.

sugarboy

March 23rd, 2005, 04:34 PM

I wish I do. I grew up in Manila. Only my older relatives speak it.

Ahaayyy. There seem to be very few people left who have the following traits...

-Ilonggo roots
-speak Ilonggo
-speak Spanish
-have a Castillan surname (with an original Coat of Arms from Spain)

I think Virtute fits the bill.

Anyway, with all the Ilonggas around in North NJ, you have the rest of your days to learn the dialect. :)

kiretoce

March 23rd, 2005, 07:35 PM

I'm half Ilonggo (the other half is Ilocano) and I understand the dialect but I can't speak a lick of it! I guess that's what my lot in life is, a half-breed (or was that "hybrid?") that grew up in Metro Manila. ;)

Thunderflip

March 24th, 2005, 12:27 AM

I am Ilongo by ethnicity, I speak the language, have Ilongo roots, have a Castillan surname, my Spanish is limited though.

Skyblade

March 24th, 2005, 09:10 AM

We're really glad for your plan to visit our city.

Thanks! Even though it's always by default that I visit Iloilo in all my trips to the Philippines since....well....both my parents are Ilonggo. :D (Mom from Miagao and dad from Duenas) Practically I spend almost all of the time of my stays in the Philippines @ Iloilo. It's the Philippine city I feel more aquainted with and I love it! :D

La Paz Batchoy....aye my mom and dad love the stuff! My dad would always go down there from CPU to have some...unfortunately the only thing I had remotely close was the instant stuff. :(

Anyhow the LAX-NGO sale is over so no cheap fares for me...I guess I'll have to wait till June. :cry:

Sunday, March 20, 2005
Greatest Pinoy war heroes were Ilonggos

A NUMBER of Ilonggos were among greatest heroes during the World War II, according to Senator Richard Gordon.

In fact, the first Filipino who received the "Medal of Valor" for fighting the Japanese was a native of Leon, Iloilo.

Jose Calugas, who was born in 1907, was a mess sergeant of the Philippine Scout Ranger in Bataan when he "grabbed a machine gun and saved his entire unit from annihilation," Gordon said during the 60th Commemoration of Victory Day in Panay, Guimaras and Romblon at the Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City Friday.

A descendant of Calugas was present during the program.

Gordon also mentioned Agustin Martin, a native of Jaro, Iloilo City, who was a "most wanted guerilla."

Martin drove an armored truck and ran over the Japanese troops.

During the rites at the Freedom Grandstand, the Filipino war veterans and government officials were joined by military envoys Major Paul Rosenzweig of Australia, Group Captain Jim Mc Millan of New Zealand, Lieutenant Steve Walker of United Kingdom, Colonel Terry Cook, Lieutenant Colonel Bruce West and Captain Tim Keating of the United States and Japanese military attache Yukio Yasunaga.

Local officials were led by Governor Niel Tupas and Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin was also among the guests.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News online)
My dad would love to see this... My grandpa fought in WWII w/ USAFFE and stuck it through the entire war...unfortunately he got Malaria and other factors that led to his death in November 45...at least he got to see it end...

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=1608450&popcount=1&tcount=18

Geronimo Mendez Pallon

BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Army

HOMETOWN
Duenas, Iloilo, PI
HONORED BY
Grandson
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ASSIGNED TO U.S. ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST IN THE PHILIPPINES. AFTER THE FALL OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR, SERVED AS A GUERILLA AND CONTINUED TO FIGHT AGAINST JAPANESE OCCUPATION FORCES. FOUGHT IN PANAY AND MINDANAO DURING THE OCCUPATION.

renell

March 24th, 2005, 10:51 AM

thought i'd share this for yous ilonggos... :)
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/img/user/69/66/3466966/41.jpg

I dunno what year.... I dunno if shown before either:D

whyte

March 25th, 2005, 06:03 AM

My favorite religious places
STARBYTES By Butch Francisco
The Philippine Star 03/22/2005

Religious sites as tourist destinations? There’s a lot of that all over the world (in Lourdes, France, Fatima in Portugal, etc.) and even here in the Philippines. This Holy Week inspired me to go over my list of favorite religious places here in Manila and in the provinces. ( I haven’t had the chance to go on a religious pilgrimage abroad.) Here is my list below:

The Grotto in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan – I was really just a small kid when I first visited this site and this place was very different from how it looks like today.

Even the rules enforced by the grotto administrators were different then: No jeans for women. I remember this very well because my Mom came in jeans and she was not allowed in the grotto area. To be able to pray to the image of Our Lady of Lourdes, my Mom had to borrow the skirt of my aunt (actually her sister), who fortunately came on this trip properly attired. My poor aunt had to sit at the back of the car only in a pair of half slips sweating profusely and worried that other people may pass by (the car windows were not tinted) and see her wearing just that.

The grotto then seemed so remote and isolated — unlike now when there are so many subdivisions that have sprouted all around.

Antipolo Catherdral — Although local tradition dictates that devotees trek to Antipolo in May, my family never went there on that month to avoid the huge crowd that gathered there especially for the Sunday morning Masses. We went there instead in July (I’m telling you we in the family are such strange creatures) because that is the birth month of my Dad.

Sometimes, we also went to Antipolo to have a new car blessed since Catholics pray to the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje for safe trips. Unfortunately, our family never went on side trips to that then sleepy town. No, we never visited Hinulugang Taktak (which I haven’t seen to this day) because even then (and this I swear was a long time ago) it had already been left to deteriorate.

But I remember the food–the most memorable of which was the rice suman that had to be dipped in white sugar (brown sugar was deemed to be of low quality then) because it would have tasted too bland to be eaten just like that. Oh, there was free tasting that time. But you had to bite into a piece of suman that had already been inside the mouth of a previous prospective customer. Thanks but no thanks.

My favorite, however, was the brown calamay that had sandy texture and I came back for it last year — only to be disappointed that it was no longer the same.

One childhood frustration I had during our trips to Antipolo was that we never got seats in church every time we heard Mass there. Yes, even in the supposedly lean month of July–the time when my family made the annual pilgrimage–the church would always be full.

Paco Park–I must really be that old because I remember going there as a kid when it was called Paco Cemetery (but it was soon changed to Paco Park). I remember the tomb of Dr. Jose Rizal surrounded by a fishpond–with goldfish (or were those carps?) in it. The surroundings then were still poorly-maintained–unlike now when the place is fully-manicured. The interior of the circular chapel dedicated to St. Pancratius hardly changed–at least that’s how I remembered it.

Eventually, it became a fashionable venue for weddings and I recall tagging along with my parents to these social functions. The last time I was there was to stand as best man in my former classmate’s wedding.

San Sebastian Church–It should be on every tourist’s destination list — Catholic or not — because of its significance in architectural history. Done in the gothic style, it’s an all-steel church in prefab and shipped piece by piece from Belgium in the 19th century.

Its significance to our family is that it was here where we would always hear our New Year’s Day Mass. I do not know how that happened because we lived a bit far from the Quiapo area. But I do remember entertaining myself by looking at those series of stained glass all over the church. Maybe that was why my family went there–to keep myself from getting bored and becoming a nuisance during Mass.

There are religious sites that in time become tourists’ destinations. I’ve listed down some of my personal favorites the last time. Here are some more below:

The Manila Cathedral – I’ve read just recently about how the Department of Tourism is pushing for the Manila Cathedral to be a tourists’ destination – which I think is a right move because we should tell the world and even our fellow Filipinos about its historical significance.

Personally, I’m amazed at how it had collapsed (due to natural calamities) many times over, but somehow would always rise up – on the same spot. During the Second World War, it was reduced to rubble and was rebuilt over decades. (In its place, San Miguel, beside Malacañang Palace, served as the pro-Cathedral.) Now, the Manila Cathedral – dedicated to the Immaculate Conception – stands again in its glorious splendor for the world to see.

San Agustin Church – I always marvel at its antiquity and I always feel a little sadness (actually I am horrified) thinking about all the people who perished there (and the women who were raped) at the height of the liberation for Manila in 1945.

Lourdes Grotto in Baguio – A devotee (although not a rabid one) of Our Lady of Lourdes, I will gladly climb those hundreds of steps leading to her grotto. Up there, I pray to the image of the Blessed Mother and more often than not, I always get answers to my prayers.

The Baguio Cathedral – A couple of years ago when I tried to be a Baguio resident (although I’ve given up on it since I got tired driving back and forth), I always heard Sunday Mass at the Baguio Cathedral since there was no church near my residence. Even if parking is difficult, I always feel good hearing Mass there all wrapped up in my jacket.

Convent of the Pink Sisters in Tagaytay – I go there for the peace and tranquility. And yes, I also look forward to buying jars and jars of oatmeal cookies baked by the good sisters as pasalubong for my city-dwelling friends.

Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation in Tiwi, Albay – The Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia in Naga City is the patroness of the whole Bicolandia. But it is said that the Our Lady of Salvation is the patroness of the province of Albay. Whenever I go to Legaspi, I always try to make an effort to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Salvation up on a hill in the nearby town of Tiwi. The church is usually deserted when I visit (usually at mid-afternoon on a regular day). I was told, however, that on the Lady’s feast day, the traffic is horrible there.

The Cross of Magellan in Cebu City – There is so much question about the authenticity of the cross there, but whenever I get the chance to visit that place in the middle of Cebu’s busiest street, I still look up at the cross and try to convince myself that it is the real cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century.

Jaro Cathedral – The first time I went to Iloilo, the first church I got to visit was the Jaro Cathedral and I was surprised that all the images of the saints lined up all the way to the altar are male. How chauvinistic. But surely it makes for a very nice topic of conversation among the tourists and their hosts.

The Molo Church – If there is an all-male saints church, there is also an all-female saints parish – with St. Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary) as patroness. Like the Jaro Cathedral, the Molo Church is also a beautiful place of worship and you will marvel at its antiquity.

The one thing I like about visiting Iloilo is that I don’t only get to see wonderful and old architecture, but I also get to taste the wonderful delicacies the different towns offer: Pinasugbo, piaya, biscocho, butter scotch, pancit Molo, puto Manapla and of course, Ted’s batchoy. With every visit to Iloilo, I don’t only get spiritual nourishment, but nourishment in the real sense of the word. Amen to that.

whyte

March 25th, 2005, 06:04 AM

thought i'd share this for yous ilonggos... :)
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/img/user/69/66/3466966/41.jpg

I dunno what year.... I dunno if shown before either:D

eto na sya ngayon

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p4b6ead28654f398ff09f9adca61a827a/f4c63af2.jpg

whyte

March 25th, 2005, 06:09 AM

2005: CPU's Centennial Anniversary

CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY - ILOILO
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/index.htm

http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page1.jpg
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page2.jpg
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page2d.jpghttp://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page4d.jpg
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page8b.jpghttp://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page9b.jpg
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/aerial_1.jpg
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/aerial_4.jpg

sugarboy

March 26th, 2005, 09:19 AM

I am Ilongo by ethnicity, I speak the language, have Ilongo roots, have a Castillan surname, my Spanish is limited though.

Congrats Thunderflip! You're part of a rare breed. Make sure you teach your kids how to speak Ilonggo and Spanish even while they're young (just don't start with the bad words :) ).

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:05 PM

Sa West Visayas State University Po, currently its the #1 nursing school in its category in the country with 99% passing rate, mataas ang standard nga pero ok lng. Hindi ko sna mag nursing, gust2 ko sana PC course pero di2 na na ako ...

Way more to go, Chymera .... I have friends here who graduated from WVSU as well. Indeed, WVSU is doing really well in their nursing curricula ... really the best nowadays. Keep it up my friend ... soon you will be glad you take the course. Just learn to love it.

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:07 PM

Nice pictures of Iloilo City:okay: It is quite nice...better developed than some other provincial cities of the same size.

Thank you, GreyX ... i hope more and more developments will come to our city in the next few years ... as we are trying our best to help provide jobs, etc to our fellow Ilonggos, Western Visayans and the whole Filipino community. Cheers !

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:10 PM

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:29 PM

:wave: :wave: :wave: :wave: :wave:
to this thread's REGULARS

* if former Cong. GARIN could make better in his business side, it'll surely "erase" some of the negative images his political career made

I hope he'll be more focused in this area. He might be a key to the Iloilo's first district progress. Negative images go hand and hand with politics most of the time ... but we should not dwell too much on the bad publicities, etc ... at times, we "too" must try to look at the positive sides of things ... that includes good projects, etc that our politicians are doing to further our developments.

:* i was there during the palaro in 1991 and heard the booing of former mayor ganzon.nakakahiya it was infront of PRES CORY

oh my ... Ganzon left very bad legacy for the city ... he was a political champion during 70's ... i don't know what happened to him on a later part serving as the mayor of the city.Really, it's a shame. What fate he made of Iloilo during his regime made most Ilonggos really annoyed.

:* It was only AFTER the term of GANZON that fastfood giant Jollibee has iuts 1st branch in the visayas yata. rumours had it that the former mayor has some other things in mind that jollibee cant do

indeed, whyte .... he had different motives, I guessed ... he shooed all the businesses away ... it was during his time when Iloilo is at its feet.

:* CHYMERAs pic of the new provincial capitol is the best ive seen so far maong the many pics of the said bldg. good job.

I agree.

:* if the 1st distict could be made into an COMMERCIAL-INDUSTRIAL area, hopefully the 2nd district can be the RECREATIONAL-COMMERICAL AREA.

Good idea, whyte ... I hailed from second district as well ... i hope it will be realised!

:* the current governor is plagued with BAD media publicity.

as always ... hehehe ... but let's not lost our hope.

:* The plan before of dividing Iloilo in to 2 provinces (Iloilo Norte and Iloilo Sur) has not gained popular support. Estancia could have been made the capital of the north

I won't agree as well ... i remember those times ... hehehe ... I'm glad it did not happen. It was during that time that Mayor Malabor posted streamers all over the city saying "UNITED ILOILO ON THE GO!".

Dividing Iloilo will definitely divide its resources. And like other Cebuanos fear nowadays, the first class province will soon be second or third class only. Northern Iloilo will sure make Passi City as their provincial capital and not Estancia, I guess.

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:34 PM

Keep it up Chymera.
My friend, a mortgage specialist in North NJ said that most nurses living in her area are Ilonggas. And that most Filipino homeowners are native of Western Visayas and of upper middle income group. I often go to that town and guess what, the parlor owner, the photography studio, and the convenient store/restaurant owner are all Ilonggos/as sporting their sweet chic accent. Not only that, I was browsing a Pinoy newspaper last month and there was a big feature of IloIlo on the center page complete with Dinagyang festival and other upcoming events.

That's nice of them, Sandrin. There are also many Ilonggos here in London and the rest of UK. Most of the time, we keep on "chit-chatting" with each other ... hehehe. But really I was glad to know regarding your info. Hope they can start putting up business in our province as well.

Sandrin, if you still got the feature article, will it be possible for you to post it here?

Thank you so much.

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:44 PM

:wave::wave::wave::wave::wave:
* so the the ROTARY AMPITHEATRE had to give way for a parking lot and a mini park.

I think so ... it looks grand daw, whyte.

* wish to see more GREENS in the city and roads/streets along the river.

I agree as well ... more trees to be planted along highways. (just like Europe ... hehehe)

* the CITY HALL is a disgrace IMO. (kakahiya)

yes ... the plan to rebuild City Hall was like 10 years ago .. what happened to it? Was it a plan all along? The design and area are okay na ... bakit kaya hindi natuloy talaga? No funds ... ?hmmm ...

* i really the city could have a restoration project just like what mayor atienza of manila is doing.

Manila is on its way for restoration, whyte ... we are still developing as a metropolis .. we rather focus more in the development first than its restoration. I've seen Quiapo last year ... really improving. And the Roxas Boulevard ... wow ... impressive ! We ate along the seaside ... ganda !

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 09:53 PM

Ahaayyy. There seem to be very few people left who have the following traits...

-Ilonggo roots
-speak Ilonggo
-speak Spanish
-have a Castillan surname (with an original Coat of Arms from Spain)

I think Virtute fits the bill.

Anyway, with all the Ilonggas around in North NJ, you have the rest of your days to learn the dialect. :)

hehehe ... hi sugarboy ... i think we are on the verge of extinction then ...hehehe (just a joke). Not all Ilonggos can speak Spanish at all ... though some of our wordings have Spanish background or are very Spanish in nature. But the Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) language are still revolving ... too many words were changed from its origin.

Actually (and speaking of Spain), I just came from Barcelona today. Went there for a tour and at the same time, have a pilgrimage in Montserrat. The city is really great. Been there for twice already but as if there is always something new that Barcelona can offer. I just hope, I, too can learn to speak their language well.

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 11:31 PM

I am Ilongo by ethnicity, I speak the language, have Ilongo roots, have a Castillan surname, my Spanish is limited though.

wow, Thunderflip .. great to know, amigo! And thanks for being proud of it. I barely speak Spanish myself. Few words though.

anyways, hope to see you more in Iloilo thread.

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 11:39 PM

Thanks! Even though it's always by default that I visit Iloilo in all my trips to the Philippines since....well....both my parents are Ilonggo. :D (Mom from Miagao and dad from Duenas) Practically I spend almost all of the time of my stays in the Philippines @ Iloilo. It's the Philippine city I feel more aquainted with and I love it! :D

La Paz Batchoy....aye my mom and dad love the stuff! My dad would always go down there from CPU to have some...unfortunately the only thing I had remotely close was the instant stuff. :(

Anyhow the LAX-NGO sale is over so no cheap fares for me...I guess I'll have to wait till June. :cry:

My dad would love to see this... My grandpa fought in WWII w/ USAFFE and stuck it through the entire war...unfortunately he got Malaria and other factors that led to his death in November 45...at least he got to see it end...

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=1608450&popcount=1&tcount=18

Nice of you, Skyblade. Pure Ilonggo ka pala? with both Ilonggo parents .. that's really great. Anyway, hope you can visit Iloilo once more this coming June. I'll be home in Iloilo myself by end week of July to 3rd week of August for my school's centennial (CPU). Anyhow, enjoy and hope to see you here in Iloilo thread often.

cheers !

wecky

March 26th, 2005, 11:41 PM

sugarboy

March 28th, 2005, 10:55 PM

hehehe ... hi sugarboy ... i think we are on the verge of extinction then ...hehehe (just a joke). Not all Ilonggos can speak Spanish at all ... though some of our wordings have Spanish background or are very Spanish in nature. But the Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) language are still revolving ... too many words were changed from its origin.

Actually (and speaking of Spain), I just came from Barcelona today. Went there for a tour and at the same time, have a pilgrimage in Montserrat. The city is really great. Been there for twice already but as if there is always something new that Barcelona can offer. I just hope, I, too can learn to speak their language well.

My apologies for having a title which is short of a rip-off from An American Werewolf in London. Anyway, I used to live in London too. Just like you, went out to Spain during the summer and it was really amazing how in a matter of 2 days, the rusty Spanish immediately clicks in and reverts to "fluency level". Thanks to all the Spanish vocabulary contained within the Ilonggo dialect.

Send my regards to all the Ilonggos out there. I surely miss the place. Surely miss eating the food direct from the late Princess Diana's table. Ask me about it :)

Hope to see more Ilonggos on this thread!

chymera00

March 29th, 2005, 07:43 AM

Way more to go, Chymera .... I have friends here who graduated from WVSU as well. Indeed, WVSU is doing really well in their nursing curricula ... really the best nowadays. Keep it up my friend ... soon you will be glad you take the course. Just learn to love it.

That's what my CIs told us, well i hope I would do too ... I wouldn't want to waste 4 years of my life :p

chymera00

March 29th, 2005, 07:45 AM

http://panaynews.com.ph/images/pn_logo_b.jpg
Capitol surplus reaches P137.2M

ILOILO City - The Iloilo Provincial Government recently obtained a very high surplus of P137,296,362.08 for calendar year 2004.
Gov. Niel Tupas said the amount was culled from General Fund which amounted to P79,943,287.30; 20 percent Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), P12,496,408.61, and Special Education Fund of P44,856,666.17.

Tupas said good fiscal management was one of the factors for this huge budget surplus ever recorded since his reign as governor of the Province of Iloilo.

He added that the extension of tax amnesty has contributed in this budget surplus and credited the same to Provincial Treasurer Melba Sullivan.

It can be recalled that the Provincial Treasurer’s Office was cited as Most Outstanding Provincial Treasury Office for Calendar Year 2004 during the Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors (Regata VI) Inc. recently.

PTO obtained the highest performance evaluation rating of 94.08 percent among provincial treasury offices in the region in the evaluation conducted by the Bureau of Local Government Finance Regional Office No. 6.

The assessment was based on the PTO’s collection, disbursement, tax enforcement, cash receipt operation, cash disbursement operation, field operations and Internal Control System operation.

Tupas said upon his assumption of office in 2001, the province has a deficit of P60 million but gained the province’s momentum later in 2002 with P70 M surplus and P87 million in 2003.

He said the “lion’s share” of this surplus will be allocated to infrastructure projects, hospital equipments, allowances of volunteers (Day Care Workers, BSPO, BHW), agriculture (irrigation facilities) and health services.

wecky

March 30th, 2005, 12:13 AM

My apologies for having a title which is short of a rip-off from An American Werewolf in London. Anyway, I used to live in London too. Just like you, went out to Spain during the summer and it was really amazing how in a matter of 2 days, the rusty Spanish immediately clicks in and reverts to "fluency level". Thanks to all the Spanish vocabulary contained within the Ilonggo dialect.

Send my regards to all the Ilonggos out there. I surely miss the place. Surely miss eating the food direct from the late Princess Diana's table. Ask me about it :)

Hope to see more Ilonggos on this thread!

cheers, sugarboy! I just wish there will be more Ilonggos to join our discussions here, too. But you know, everybody's busy with their overtime and holidays at this time of the year as summer is fast approaching na. We even changed our time also. We are back on eight hours delayed from the Philippine's time.

So you were in London before? And were touring Europe as well? Really glad to know that. Loved to see my fellow Filipinos roaming around the globe. This month, I went to Barcelona with my classmates in elementary school pa and some of my friends here, too. All of us Ilonggos ... really had a great time! you simply cannot deny the forever utterance of the word "palanggas" that could be heard all over the street of Barcelona ... hahaha ... of course, we met some Filipinos working there as well.

wecky

March 30th, 2005, 12:16 AM

That's what my CIs told us, well i hope I would do too ... I wouldn't want to waste 4 years of my life :p

wasting a year of our life depends all on us, Chymera .. we simply decides what we want .. it's all our choice ... no one else. But try to love what you are doing right now. Soon, you will reap its fruit. Cheers!

wecky

March 30th, 2005, 12:19 AM

wecky

March 30th, 2005, 12:27 AM

Saturday, January 29, 2005
Iloilo City to host RP-Spain Friendship Day

ILOILO City will host this year's celebration of the Philippine-Spanish
Friendship Day on June 30, a report from the office Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

The Ilonggo senator said Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz will visit Iloilo City to participate in a series of cultural activities organized by the Instituto Cervantes Manila in coordination with the University of San Agustin and the Western Visayas Tourism Regional Office.

Iloilo was selected the main venue for the celebration as the city was the last Spanish capital in the Philippines and Asia in 1898.

Drilon said the friendly relationship between Spain and the Philippines has developed into a more lasting concern for the general welfare of both countries, citing Madrid's role in championing Manila's interests in the European Union.

"Iloilo, which became the last Spanish capital not only in the Philippines but also in Asia, is proud to host this year's Philippine-Spanish day activities," he said.

Congress enacted the bill declaring the Friendship Day in line with the policy of strengthening "the relationship between the Philippines and countries with which it has shared history, values and traditions."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the first annual Philippines-Spanish Friendship Day on June 30, 2003 to mark warmer relations with the former colonial power.

June 30, the day chosen for this commemoration, marks the day in 1899 when President Emilio Aguinaldo commended Spanish soldiers besieged in the church of Baler in Quezon Province for their loyalty and gallantry.

Aguinaldo then issued a decree declaring that the Spanish prisoners should be treated as friends and provided passes to return to Spain.

During the entire month of June, fitting commemorative activities will be held throughout the country related to the Philippine-Spanish friendship theme, particularly on important days celebrating Philippine Independence, the birthday of Jose Rizal, the grant of a royal title to the City of Manila, and the foundation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Navy.

(from SunStar Iloilo News Online)

wecky

March 30th, 2005, 02:33 AM

Wednesday, March 30, 2005
McDonald's Phils. now entirely Filipino firm

* GADC operates in Iloilo City the McDonald's restaurant at SM City Iloilo, which is open for acquisition by any interested local franchisee

* Local franchisees own the McDonald's stores at Mary Mart Mall and at The Atrium

ALLIANCE Global Group Inc. (AGI), a Philippine investment holding company, purchased a substantial block of 49 percent in Golden Arches Development Corp. (GADC), which holds the Philippine franchise of McDonald's Corp. (MCD).

The buyout now makes McDonald's Philippines a 100 percent Filipino company.

GADC operates in Iloilo City the McDonald's restaurant at SM City Iloilo, which is open for acquisition by any interested local franchisee. Local franchisees own the McDonald's stores at Mary Mart Mall and at The Atrium. They pay royalties to GADC.

The AGI-GADC merger makes McDonald's Philippines more open to a Filipino customer-driven approach geared to provide the best fast food product lines and the best quality customer service to the local market, a GADC statement said.

"We (GADC) have always been very customer-oriented as a company, providing the best product as well as service for our customers," noted George Yang, GADC chairman.

"Now, this merger with Alliance Global has strengthened our commitment to give our customers even more by being more sensitive and responsive to their changing tastes and wants and by adding a local flavor to our product range," Yang added.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Alliance Global said it has paid US$7.55 million out of the total US$15.05 million price for 49 percent of GADC and its two units, Golden Arches Realty Corp. and Y&M Development Corp.

The balance of the purchase price will be paid by Alliance Global six months from March 17, the day the transaction was closed, it was reported.

Businessman George Yang, who is also chairman of Alliance Global, holds the 51 percent controlling stake in GADC. His son Kenneth is the company's managing director.

"Now that we (in GADC) are a full-fledged Filipino company, we're ready to take on the challenge to become the Filipinos' fast food brand of choice," remarked Kenneth Yang.

"We may be considered an American brand, but our service is definitely 100 percent Filipino at heart," he declared.

Alliance Global is the exclusive distributor of Campbell Soup Company's products and E&J Gallo Winery Inc. wines in the Philippines.

It also handles the international marketing of McKester PikNik International Ltd.'s food products.

Aside from food products, Alliance Global also has interests in property development and glass manufacturing.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

sandrin

March 30th, 2005, 04:58 AM

@Wecky....I couldn't find the newspaper article anymore. The IloIlo feature was the centerfold and it woudn't fit on my scanner.

The CPU school reminds me of UPLB.

sugarboy

March 31st, 2005, 12:26 AM

cheers, sugarboy! I just wish there will be more Ilonggos to join our discussions here, too. But you know, everybody's busy with their overtime and holidays at this time of the year as summer is fast approaching na. We even changed our time also. We are back on eight hours delayed from the Philippine's time.

So you were in London before? And were touring Europe as well? Really glad to know that. Loved to see my fellow Filipinos roaming around the globe. This month, I went to Barcelona with my classmates in elementary school pa and some of my friends here, too. All of us Ilonggos ... really had a great time! you simply cannot deny the forever utterance of the word "palanggas" that could be heard all over the street of Barcelona ... hahaha ... of course, we met some Filipinos working there as well.

wecky, bisitahan ta ka dira kun makalabay naman :) by the way, do you know if there exists a discussion board for ilonggos abroad apart from SSC? there ought to be one wherein participants could feel free to ramble in ilongglish without offending the other parties and thereby receiving the oft-repeated accusation that ilonggos are clannish :)

wecky

April 2nd, 2005, 03:42 AM

@Wecky....I couldn't find the newspaper article anymore. The IloIlo feature was the centerfold and it woudn't fit on my scanner.

The CPU school reminds me of UPLB.

no probs, sandrin. Ta.

wecky

April 2nd, 2005, 03:51 AM

wecky, bisitahan ta ka dira kun makalabay naman :) by the way, do you know if there exists a discussion board for ilonggos abroad apart from SSC? there ought to be one wherein participants could feel free to ramble in ilongglish without offending the other parties and thereby receiving the oft-repeated accusation that ilonggos are clannish :)

by all means, sugarboy. You are very much welcome here in London. Let me know in advance. About Ilonggo forums/boards .. I know there are few but can't remember the sites ... I'll post the link here once i've got it. For the meantime, you can use the Iloilo universities forum:

Central Philippine University (CPU) - www.cpu.edu.ph
University of the Philippines in the Visayas - www.upv.edu.ph
University of san Agustin - www.usa.edu.ph
University of Iloilo - www.ui.edu.ph
West Visayas State University Medical Association - www.wvsumedaa.com

I'll update the other links from time to time.

cheers !

wecky

April 2nd, 2005, 03:57 AM

Friday, April 01, 2005
US embassy exec to speak at CPU graduation rites

RONALD J. Post, counselor for public affairs of United States Embassy, will be the commencement speaker of Central Philippine University's 77th Graduation Ceremony of Colleges on April 3.

Around 1,230 graduates will receive their diplomas during the rites, starting at 3:30 p.m. at CPU Parade Grounds.

Forty-three will receive the cum laude and magna cum laude honors and other distinctions.

Post is concurrently chair of the Philippine-American Educational Foundation and had served as public affairs official for the US Embassies in Vienna, Seoul, Abidjan and Vientiane.

The invitation for Post to speak before the graduates is relevant to CPU's centennial year celebration.

One hundred years ago, American missionaries headed by Dr. William Valentine founded the Jaro Industrial School, now the Central Philippine University.

The legacy of the American missionaries lives on while CPU continues progressively in all its academic fields.

It is known for its vision as a "University with an Exemplary Christian Education for Life."

(from Sunstar News Online)

sugarboy

April 2nd, 2005, 06:40 AM

by all means, sugarboy. You are very much welcome here in London. Let me know in advance. About Ilonggo forums/boards .. I know there are few but can't remember the sites ... I'll post the link here once i've got it. For the meantime, you can use the Iloilo universities forum:

Central Philippine University (CPU) - www.cpu.edu.ph
University of the Philippines in the Visayas - www.upv.edu.ph
University of san Agustin - www.usa.edu.ph
University of Iloilo - www.ui.edu.ph
West Visayas State University Medical Association - www.wvsumedaa.com

I'll update the other links from time to time.

cheers !

May I know what are the main nursing schools in Iloilo?

wecky

April 2nd, 2005, 10:54 AM

May I know what are the main nursing schools in Iloilo?

Here are the Nursing Schools in Iloilo City ...

Central Philippine University (C.P.U.)
College of Nursing
(first school of Nursing in the Philippines - the Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing)
www.cpu.edu.ph

St Paul's University of Iloilo (S.P.U. - Iloilo)
College of Nursing
(ranked No. 2 in the Philippines - 2005 CHED - Center of Excellence in Nursing Education)
www.spuiloilo.edu.ph

West Visayas State University (W.V.S.U.)
College of Nursing
(ranked No. 4 in the Philippines - 2005 CHED)

University of San Agustin (U.S.A.)
College of Nursing
www.usa.edu.ph

University of Iloilo (U.I.)
College of Nursing
www.ui.edu.ph

Iloilo Doctor's College (I.D.C.)
College of Nursing

Virtute

April 3rd, 2005, 08:03 PM

Congrats Thunderflip! You're part of a rare breed. Make sure you teach your kids how to speak Ilonggo and Spanish even while they're young (just don't start with the bad words :) ).

Sugarboy, sadly I can name you at least 7 relatives that were over their 80s who spoke fluent spanish that have died the last several years. Their generation is almost gone and their spanish with it. There are only a few left in my family now. A few aunts/cousins here and there have some cousins who speak it very well that are in their 20s but that's it. I have an aunt who speaks it well but we expect to her live for a few more months. She is close to dying also. She particularly speaks spanish with a thick ilonggo accent while the others had the castillian accent.

chymera00

April 4th, 2005, 12:27 PM

Mukhang natagalan na ang Picture posting di2 sa thread ... eh to .. summer gift ko sa inyo ... enjoy :tongue3: :tongue3: :tongue3: Ang ilan kinuha ko sa 6th floor ng Provincial Capitol sa may "view deck nila" ganda doon kaso lng sobra init!!! some kinuha ko sa 4th floor roof deck ng Hall of Justice ... These are all rare views of the city so you're lucky you get to see these :p

You can see Downtown(right) and Muelle Loney (left). Some rusty roofs are ruining the picture, but hey ... I guess they add to the "old town" ambiance :) You can see Guimaras Island in the backgroud .. cool
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/Downtown1.jpg

Taken on top of the Hall of Justice, you can see the U/C Castle Hotel, Gaisano City, JD/Grand Dame Building (Yellow), Hall of Justice (Right), IRC (Iloilo Rehabilitation Center, Lower Right) and the DOT R6 Building (Lower Center). Didn't Realize Iloilo to be a Green City.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/downtown2.jpg

There's The Atrium Mall, PNB Building, and the newly constructed Iloilo Ampitheather ... Its kind of small don't you think? But I guess it serves its purpose anyways, being in front of the capitol ....
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/downtown3.jpg

Provincial Capitol, Iloilo River, Guimaras Island (Back)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/downtown4.jpg

chymera00

April 4th, 2005, 12:32 PM

Its nice to see my photography skills a bit improving ... BTW, I found this today P5,200 a piece for garbage cans ...

Mayor defends purchase of P5-T garbage cans

ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas defended the Office of the Public Service's purchase of the controversial garbage receptacles at P5,200 each, saying it was above board.

Treñas said in a radio interview into the weekend the bidding committee reported to him proper procurement procedures were followed.

"I think tanan nga procedures nasunod sang Pbac (Pre-qualification Bids and Awards Committee); we're very certain it was followed," he said.

The 40 units of medium density polyethylene garbage receptacles were purchased in February but the City Government has yet to pay for it.

Aside from what some quarters consider as an extravagant purchase, the bidding procedure was also questioned as Izeem Commercial owned by Avelino Auyong was the sole supplier considered.

Moreover, it was reported that the Pbac did not use the electronic procurement system.

Still, the mayor justified the purchase. He said the street sweepers need the equipment to efficiently collect garbage.

The other cities already use it, Treñas added.

Public Services Chief Raul Gallo also said that as a highly urbanized city, Iloilo needs to use modern equipment in collecting garbage.

chymera00

April 4th, 2005, 01:48 PM

Taken inside the Provincial Capitol ... The Interior of the building looks like that of a mall, and architect nito yung gumagawa ng Rob malls daw
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/eb9d7665.jpg

Similar to the Pic #4 I posted earlier but diff angle ..
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/downtown5.jpg

When I went to the Iloilo Sports Complex, they had a major maintenance so I couldn't take a good shot coz of the bulldozers. I managed to get this one, you can see part of the 400m oval track ... but I didn't take one of its olympic-size swimming pool :(
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/sportscomplex.jpg

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 01:47 AM

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 01:49 AM

Chymera, what is the brown building in your first picture ?

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 01:51 AM

such a lovely promenade ! (see the fourth picture)

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 01:52 AM

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 01:53 AM

Again, thank you chymera for posting all those pictures ! really nice and great !

tyronne

April 5th, 2005, 02:12 AM

ang ganda ng capitol tsaka yung waterfront :okay: tsaka mukhang malinis.

chymera00

April 5th, 2005, 09:34 AM

Chymera, what is the brown building in your first picture ?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/Downtown1.jpg

Its the Imperial Building they sell electronics and stuff

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 10:16 AM

Thank you, Chymera ... think The Imperial building wasn't finished june last year ... or was I not paying much attention along that street? .... hehehe ... I barely frequented the main thoroughfares of the city due to heavy traffic and very hot, humid weather at day time ... so most of the time, I just stayed in SM City along Diversion and Robinsons in the afternoon til night. Most of my days trip (if ever) were having lunch in Tatoy's and Breakthrough in Villa. But this July I promised myself to tour the entire city ... and of Guimaras as well.

Thanks.

PS.... do you have pictures of the new SM in Delgado? If ever, please post it here.

-ditto-

chymera00

April 5th, 2005, 01:38 PM

chymera00

April 5th, 2005, 01:52 PM

I have a question ... does the pictures look a bit unnatural? Coz I modified the brightness/contrast to bring more color and edited the hue/saturation of the sky so they appear bluer...

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 02:56 PM

I think the Imperial Building was there even before last year ... I'll try and neak inside maybe it has a nice view. I hope its not heavily guarded :) :) :)

I have no picture of the new SM Delgado yet ... I'll be borrowing my friend's camera so I hope I can take one of it tommorow. Its not that impressive anyways, there wasn't really any large increase in mall space only larger parking area. I was hoping they would build 3 floor or more, but they settled with just 2.

oh i bet, I did not see it then ... anyway, hope you can take photos of what's inside of Imperial building ... I know that some mall / store owners are not too happy of anybody's taking photos of their exhibits, arrangements, etc. Goodluck to you !

About SM Delgado ... yeah, bit small for two-storey mall .. I am expecting at least three or four storey as well but hey, it's the owners choice to make it mini ... hehehe. I hope in years to come, they'll start considering additional level/s for more lease and space to roam around. Even SM City in Diversion is nice and good ... I still prefer the old SM in Delgado. Some of the displays (shirts, etc) were better in Delgado compare to the one in Diversion.

Thanks again, Chymera. And ooopss ... looking forward for your SM photos. Cheers !

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 03:02 PM

ang ganda ng capitol tsaka yung waterfront :okay: tsaka mukhang malinis.

Hope they'll maintain the cleanliness of the city. It's one thing most Ilonggos are proud of Iloilo City nowadays ... it's cleanliness. The Old Capitol building were nice, too. I heard that they will renovate it and make it the site of the Department of Land Reform Main Office. It's right in front or side of the new Iloilo Provincial Capitol. As you know, part of GMA's thrust is to relocate central/main governmental offices to other provinces as well. Hope it will be realised soon.

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 03:04 PM

I have a question ... does the pictures look a bit unnatural? Coz I modified the brightness/contrast to bring more color and edited the hue/saturation of the sky so they appear bluer...

it's looks great and stunning ... it's not too unnatural at all ... actually, it made the photos clearer. cheers!

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 03:06 PM

LEGANES - West Visayas pilgrim town

EVERY Sunday throughout the year, hundreds of devotees of San Vicente Ferrer flock to Leganes church, praying for cure of their sickness or to thank for favors obtained thru the intercession of this saint. During its town fiesta (April 5) honoring this saint, thousands attend the Masses.

This once red brick church plastered with stucco cement in Doric-neoclassic architecture was built in 1858 by Augustinian friars Fr. Andres Novis and Fr. Eladio Zamora. Its recent innovations were effected by Msgr. Melineo Braganza (now deceased) and Msgr. Higinio Velarde.

San Vicente Ferrer is a 14th century saint born in Valencia, Spain. He is considered the greatest of Dominican preachers. Traveling all over Europe, he lectured to his fellow priests: “In your sermons, use simple language and precise examples. Each sinner in your congregation should feel moved as though you were preaching to him alone.”

On confessions, he instructed them: “When hearing confession, you should always radiate the warmest charity. Whether you are gently encouraging the fainthearted or putting the fear of God into the hardheaded, the penitent should feel that you are motivated only by pure love.”

In his sermons, his favorite topics were sin, hell, eternity and the speedy approach to the day of judgment.

As to the town of Leganes, its original name was Guihaman, after a very destructive wild boar (baboy talonon) in the barangay destroying crops. When it was created a pueblo (town) in 1958, it was named Valencia, after the hometown of San Vicente Ferrer.

Later, two Valencia families fought, each claiming that the town was named after them. This irritated the Spaniards who renamed it Leganes - a “town of fools” in Spain.

(from PanayNews Online)

chymera00

April 5th, 2005, 03:51 PM

Fiesta in Leganes ... food ... party ... drinks ... too bad im stuck here otherwise I'd be having fun with my classmates :( Pardon me for taking the spiritual value out of the event ... lol :) :) :)

wecky

April 5th, 2005, 07:21 PM

here's two articles about Iloilo from Inquirer Online :

ILOILO: From textile
to sugar country

WHEN my teenage niece offers to prepare her father's coffee, I take note of the quantity of sugar and cream added to the steaming mug of brewed coffee, comparing this with the way my mother prepared coffee for my father -- two teaspoons freeze-dried imported instant coffee in boiling water, garnished with an eighth of a teaspoon of sugar. Descended from a long line of diabetics I understood my father's caution. Failing numerous times to get the right amount of sugar into father's coffee, I advised him to just take it black since the sugar seemed so negligible anyway.

Having grown up this way I was shocked, on my first trip to the sugar-producing province of Negros Occidental, to see my hosts dumped a dozen teaspoons of sugar in a cup of coffee, without stirring it. They explained that when I was old enough to take coffee I must contribute to the sugar economy by doing the same. Times have changed since then; now people prefer sugar substitutes in coffee and diet soft drinks. No wonder the sugar industry is a pale shadow of what it once was in the late 19th century.

Passing Muelle Loney last weekend made me re-read the personal correspondence of Nicholas Loney, who is credited with turning Iloilo City, in Panay Island, neighbor of Negros Island, from marshland to the second most important port in the Philippines. Iloilo used to be the "Queen City of the South" with direct trade to Britain but that is now history. To see how this happened, I read Alfred McCoy's revisionist essay "A Queen Dies Slowly: The Rise and Fall of Iloilo City." Loney's personal correspondence provided a glimpse into his lonely life in 19th-century Jaro while McCoy put everything in context showing how Loney killed a thriving textile industry by importing machine-made cloth from Manchester and encouraged sugar plantations to provide cargo for empty ships returning to Britain. Such is globalization for you.

Textile weaving in Iloilo goes back to pre-Spanish times, probably bartered with Chinese merchants for the 14th-century oriental ceramics that continue to be excavated in the islands of Panay and Negros to this day. Its peak began in the 18th century and ended in the 19th century as shown by trade and population figures. Writing to his family in 1856 Loney described:

"Some of the native textures [textiles?] made in this province are very beautiful, that is, as to quality. The designs, though in some instances good, are not as a rule in very good taste, but it is surprising what admirable articles the women turn out on these rude looms. I have heard the number of looms in this province estimated at 50,000, but I think this is rather over the mark. All the female population appears to be employed in weaving, and in almost every house there are three or four looms, in some as many as a dozen; but I am wasting all my available writing ground on something very like dry statistics."

In a Consular report of 1857, Loney observed that: "Considering that the Philippines are essentially an agricultural rather than a manufacturing region, the textile productions of Iloilo may be said to have reached a remarkable degree of development. Nothing strikes the attention at the weekly fairs held at the different towns more than the attendance of native-made goods offered for sale; and the number of looms at work in most of the towns and villages also affords matter for surprise. Almost every family possesses one or two of these primitive-looking machines, with a simple apparatus formed on pieces of bamboo. In the majority of the houses of the mestizos [of mixed Spanish-Filipino blood], and the more well-to-do Bisayans [natives of the Visayan region], from six to a dozen looms are kept at work. I have heard the total number in this province computed at 60,000 and though these figures may rather over-represent the actual quantity, they cannot be much beyond it. All the weaving is done by women whose wages usually amounted from 75 cents to 1.50 dollars per month. In general -- a practice unfortunately too prevalent among the natives in every branch of labor -- these wages are received for many months in advance, and the operatives frequently spend years -- become virtually slaves for a long period-before paying off an originally trifling debt. There are other workwomen employed at intervals to set up the pattern in the looms, who earn from 1.00 to 1.50 dollars per day in this manner. I should add that Capiz and Antique [provinces in Panay] produce in a lesser degree than Iloilo a proportion of manufactured goods."

It was an intricate business. Women were held in debt and traders from the towns of Molo and Jaro made all the money selling the cloth in Manila and returning with: Batangas cotton, Chinese silk and machine-made British cloth of a value that equaled Iloilo textile exports to Manila. Panay textiles were so popular as exports, generating a sale of one million Mexican dollars at one point. Then Loney had local designs manufactured in Manchester, then flooded the market with them, thus sending the local industry to extinction. Cloth exports from Panay dwindled from a high of 30, 673 piezas in 1864 to a mere 5,100 piezas in 1873. Sugar replaced woven textiles changing the urban landscape forever. Population moved to sugar plantations and the port of Iloilo filled with foreign trading houses. The once busy looms became obsolete. There was a new boom industry but the province and people did not profit. As in the experience in hemp production in the Bicol region, what occurred in Iloilo, to use historian Norman Owen's phrase, was simply "prosperity without progress."

Market day in Iloilo,
circa 1856

ILOILO prides itself on the title "Queen City of the South," whatever that means. I don't know where this title came from, who made it up, or how old it is but if Iloilo is the Queen, what is the "King City of the South?" Perhaps there was a time in the past when Iloilo was such a busy port it was second only to Manila in importance?

Whenever you mention Iloilo to a modern Filipino many things come to mind (none of these historical, of course), among them sugar, haciendas, sugar barons and different types of cookies. Last weekend I tried to find some historical resonance in the city especially in many of its grand old houses, many of which are falling apart or offered for lease or sale. It is quite sad that the first landmark you see when the plane touches down is an SM Mall. While this is an indicator of economic progress, one would wish Iloilo heritage were more visible.

One thing I noticed in Iloilo is that there was not a single Fernando Poe Jr. campaign poster in the place. There were a handful of Loren Legarda posters no match for Noli de Castro whose TV smile was everywhere. There were many posters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, some of Eddie Villanueva's, and none of Raul Roco's. Then there were Uswag Iloilo posters from Mayor Treñas. One wonders how the election results will be in Iloilo, which is home to many university and college students.

Unable to explore the city I at least witnessed: the conferment of an honorary doctorate in Technology Management on tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan by the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology; and the installation of heritage markers on two landmarks: the beautifully restored Roca Encantada [Enchanted Rock] on Guimaras Island, and the white art-deco "Boat House" built by the late business magnate Eugenio Lopez in Iloilo in the 1930s. Getting to and from these places, we passed by Muelle Loney, the port named after Her Britannic Majesty's Vice Consul Nicholas Loney who lived in Iloilo from 1856 till his death in April 1869.

Naturally, Loney left serious consular dispatches that I have not found the enthusiasm to read till now. What has been published though are a series of letters to his family written from 1852 to 1866, covering his stay in the Philippines and the trip from Manila to Iloilo. These charming letters have since become a primary source for historians trying to piece together the history of Iloilo. In late November 1856, Loney described the public market in what is now Jaro City, thus giving us a glimpse of life in those times:

"I should like to show you the plaza of Jaro on a market day at about two in the afternoon when the movimiento reaches its apogee. On Thursdays, the usually empty stalls are furnished and decked out by their proprietors with attractive goods. Showy handkerchiefs, dresses, gauze and blond kerchiefs of the head, lace, ginghams (all of a check or plaid pattern), sarongs, Chinese silk, trouserings, cotton twist, jacanettes, muslins, blue and white shirtlings, etc., etc. with a sprinkling of hardware, glassware and 'all sorts' calculated to overcome the aboriginal mind and make it shell out its hard-earned real[e]s and quartos. These stalls represent capitals from 50 to 500 British pounds in stock.

"Temporary shops of bamboo and of palm leaves are also improvised for the sale of different native products comprising of leaf tobacco in assorted bundles, earthenware, woven baskets, hats of straw and bamboo, mats, hemp of a very fine quality used in the native textures, coarse cakes of sugar, rice, dried beans, peas and other vegetables, pineapple leaf fibers, cotton twist made from native cotton, oils, vegetable pitch, cowries, skins, nondescript eatables and other heterogeneous rummy-looking things. The square becomes a perfect Babel on market days, and looking out from my windows which command the whole scene, you behold a congeries of confused groups where camisas are mingled with sarongs, civilians with principales, sombreros with pañuelos, and the subdued-looking Indian damsel with the more noble and self-asserting (though somewhat porcine) mestiza...

"Sallying forth into the scene of action you forthwith find yourself tumbling over long rows of brown and canary colored damsels seated on the ground each with a small heap of silk and cotton sarongs (a sort of large pillow slip open at both ends in which the women envelope themselves), kerchiefs, trouserings etc. of native fabric. Besides these vendors of indigenous goods you also observe swarms of other daughters of 'our general mother' perambulating the different shops and offering their delicate piña and sinamay goods to the critical examination of the mestizo purchasers. Conceive this with the usual gabble of a multitude intent on the absorbing process of buying cheap, and selling dear, under the shadow of a thousand umbrellas with which they vainly endeavor to ward off the glare of a noonday sun when the tall cross in the plaza scarcely leaves an atom of shadow. Consider the bright colors, and the shifting groups, the strings of jaded horses and oxen, the confused rows of primitive vans and vehicles, the church tower looking scorched up and ready to topple down with the heat... then conceive the done up, irresolute-looking figure of Nicholas Loney mooning across the square, armed with a silk umbrella, a self-expatriated Briton, the only specimen of his race on the islands."

sugarboy

April 6th, 2005, 05:06 PM

Back in the late 1980's, someone stuck a piece of explosive at the back of the head of Nicholas Loney's statue at Muelle Loney. I believe that blowing off the head of Loney was an appropriate gesture which he deserved. Often touted as the "Father of Commercial Sugar", Nicholas Loney wasn't a real genius inasmuch as having flooded the local textile market with cheap British cotton so as to start the "new" sugar boom.

Lest people think Loney should be credited for the expansion of the sugar industry out of his own devise, sugar was already around when Loney came into the scene. It just so happened that the demand for sugar increased as this was the preferred cargo for the backhaul (i.e. ships with British cotton coming into Ylo-ilo (as it was spelled then), had to be loaded with some produce on its journey back to England or Australia). So began the escalation in the demand for sugar.

While a lot of people have indeed benefitted from the expansion of sugar, thanks to Nicholas Loney, Loney should simultaneously be remembered as the man who killed the local textile industry. I just wonder why we should keep his statue around. The culprits who blew off Loney's head in the 1980s should have blown off the entire statue :)

chymera00

April 6th, 2005, 06:58 PM

lol ... I never knew that, that's very insightful, but I guess we could give him even just little credit for increasing sugar demand.

This is just like the title found in the city's seal - “La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo" given by Spain’s Queen Regent, Maria Cristina after Ilonggo troops helped in defeating Aguinaldo's forces (Correct me if I'm wrong :) ). Even today the city is still "The ever loyal city to Spain"

This country is full of contradiction ...

wecky

April 7th, 2005, 01:55 AM

http://geraldika.ru/images/115/iloilo_city_seal.gif

THE ILOILO CITY'S OFFICIAL SEAL

sugarboy

April 7th, 2005, 01:56 AM

Actually, yes. Loney did somehow increase the demand for sugar. But he is better off remembered as the man who killed the sinamay industry of Iloilo rather than the "Father of Commercial Sugar".

My next story....Pancit Molo (somewhat connected to the rise in sugar and the migration of planters to Negros) :)

wecky

April 7th, 2005, 07:54 AM

http://geraldika.ru/images/115/iloilo_prov_seal.gif

OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO

wecky

April 7th, 2005, 08:02 AM

more on Nicholas Loney from Bruce Curran:

Piecing the Looney Puzzle

"Come and have a look, there's a statue of an Englishman down by the water front," Randy's American twang rang out full of surprise, and he was clearly amazed by his find.

All nine of us sauntered down the street from the handicraft shop like a troop of schooled children in a hurry in case we might miss something. Sure enough, around the corner in front of a curved whitewashed wall was indeed a larger than life statue of a man, poised with hand on hip dressed like a Victorian gentleman.

The inscription announced this somebody as a certain Nicholas Loney, British Vice Consul. We were all in a kind of stupor of disbelief. This was some Englishman from the mid 19th century. It was all the more intriguing since it was some 150 years earlier that this smart looking man had held sway in these parts. The whitewashed wall glistened blankly in the glare of the mid morning sunshine, and seemed almost threatening in its emptiness, telling us nothing of this man in a frock coat, and acting as a kind of challenge to our wondering minds.

It was time for us to move on since we had a day's traveling to complete, and we left the statue reluctantly, all befuddled and quizzical about who on earth this man was, why he was still represented there ,and what had he been up to those many years ago to warrant a place in modern day Iloilo.

Three months later I was none the wiser, and was in Basco in Batanes sipping a cold drink while being introduced to a French writer for the famous magazine Figaro. It turned out that he had been in the Visayas recently researching a Frenchman who had been instrumental in the development of sugar exporting from Panay and Negros islands in the mid 19th century.

"Oh yes, he was a friend of a Mr. Loney, the Englishman who caused the rise of the sugar industry." The Frenchman volunteered.

"Who did you say Looney, I mean Loney?" I interjected cuttingly.

"Oh Oui, oh yes, Mr. Loney, very important man of sugar."

The conversation wiggled off in another direction, but I vowed to find out more about this mysterious gentleman from the British Isles. Another two months passed, and still this man of sugar stirred in my mind, remaining in undissolved thoughts within layers of ignorance and intrigue.

Then the International Book Fair arrived at the World trade Center. My mind twitched into search mode as I spied the booth of the National Historical Institute. I asked about Mr. Loney, but drew a blank.

"He had something to do with sugar?" I offered in dismay.

"Oh, Sugar is Sweet!" he smiled, and I thought he was pulling my leg in jest, and having a go at playing with words.

He turned his back on me, and walked away. I was despondent at his flippant reaction to my spirited inquiry, and defensively turned to look at the shelves of books such as Mga Tula ni Rizal, Memoirs of Artemio Ricarte, and Minutes of the Katipunan, and other obscure works. I then admitted to myself that my hunt for Loney information was pretty obscure in itself, and was just beginning to think about casting out my chase when the man returned and tapped me on the shoulder.

"Sugar is Sweet" he repeated, shaking his hand brandishing a book the yellow-brown color of molten sugar.

Bruce and Former British Consul Nicholas Loney -- Photo by Kevin Hamdorf

I grabbed the book, and read the title, "Sugar is Sweet, the story of Nicholas Loney." My mouth dropped, and I resisted the urge to dance with glee, although I did prance about a bit and ejaculated verbally for an instant. It cost me a hundred pesos for my hundred days of searching, and I got home and devoured the 150 pages in no time.

The son of a British Admiral who fathered 10 children, our Mr. Nicholas Loney was in the Philippines working in Manila when his life's path changed. He was about to return home to Plymouth in the southwest of England, but found himself being voted in by traders to represent their interests and the interests of Britain in Iloilo. In 1855 the Philippine Spanish government had just declared three ports outside Manila as being open for foreign traders, and besides Port Sual in the Lingayen Gulf, Zamboanga in southwest Mindanao, Iloilo in Panay island was marked for a commercial future.

Nicholas Loney became the man that sparked a remarkable change in the fortunes of sugar, initially by importing iron ploughs and steam-driven farm machinery, assisting in the introduction of wooden coastal steam ships for carrying bulk sugar, setting up stone warehousing, and instigating the port facility in Iloilo. Direct exporting and importing from foreign lands finally started in Iloilo, and the fortunes of Panay and Negros changed almost overnight. The volume of the sugar trade through Iloilo, as the 'sugar center', increased 25 times in the first seven years of Loney's injection of commercial structures, commercial practices, and diplomatic successes through his contacts at home and abroad.

It was no wonder that after he died while climbing his favorite mountain, Canlaon volcano in central Negros, his funeral attracted more than a 100 horse drawn carriages from the well-to-do, as well as many carabao-drawn carts with many of the farming fraternity aboard turned up to pay their respects. He spoke Ilongo, and commercially was the man who had assisted the farmers by giving them interest-free loans at planting time so that they could buy farm machinery together with a guaranteed buyer of their sugar crop. Ingenious to the hilt, this Englishman had won the hearts of many in the community in Panay and Negros.

The monument to his life had the inscription in four languages, clearly reflecting a man of universal acclaim. His epitaph read in Ilongo, Spanish, English and French:

In Memory of
NICHOLAS LONEY
of Plymouth, England
Who was HM Vice Consul in this Port
Died the 22 April 1869
Age 41 Years

This monument is erected by his numerous friends, Spanish, foreigners and natives, as a slight testimony of the esteem and remembrance in which his memory will be held by all who knew him.

This monument was destroyed during WW2, although I understand that his remains may lie near Bondulan Point on Guimaras island. That part of his tale still remains a mystery to me.

His statue stands in the waterfront district of Iloilo, called Muelle Loney, and even in Silay north of Bacolod there is a street named Loney in this day and age.

It all goes to show how incredibly cosmopolitan the Philippines was and is, with people from very many nations adding their ingredients to the pot of life that still drives these beautiful tropical islands.

The book "Sugar is Sweet" by Demy Sonza states that "the people of Panay and Negros have not forgotten Loney. They cannot. It matters not now whether he was a foreigner or a native. What is important is that he was a benefactor of the Filipino people."

Loney himself said in a poem:

"Glow on, thou tropic sun, and ripen the crops
On Negros isle that grow, and let them bask
In thy warm, smile,
O! On it beam and quicken every cane
Pregnant with sweetest juice -- sweet as the lips
Of the brown maiden whose encircling arms
Oft bind my willing neck the while she rains
Ripe kisses on my mouth!"

An Englishman abroad, a romantic at heart, a beaming entrepreneur, and a man clearly at home in these fair islands. A man clearly missed, an inspiration to all who happened, and happen, to step into his path, Visayan, Filipino or foreign. Curiosity and the imagination will always continue to add pieces to the puzzle.

sugarboy

April 7th, 2005, 11:08 AM

Nicholas Loney was an opportunist.

He knew how to make money on the margins by bringing in British companies like Ker & Co. which supplied boilers etc. Yes, he is credited for being a catalyst to the early stages of "commercial sugar". Nevertheless, he is not the supposed "Father of Commercial Sugar". No single person can lay claim to this title as these were all a result of people working together such as the Iloilo landowners, the Negros migrants, and yes, Loney too. With respect to the previous post, I think Loney was very much a benefactor...that is undisputable....but for him to be called the Father of Commercial Sugar,.....tell that to the people whose ancestors broke their back loading sugar on British vessels bound for England and Australia. Most likely, these people who were the descendants of those loading sugar onto British ships were actually the ones who blew off the head from Loney's statue.

As such, Nicholas Loney can never be credited as the visionary he is often touted to be.

chymera00

April 7th, 2005, 03:02 PM

chymera00

April 7th, 2005, 03:04 PM

I can see the potential of building a fly over that will connect directly to the Diversion road, but I doubt it will push through ...

wecky

April 9th, 2005, 01:42 PM

wecky

April 9th, 2005, 01:48 PM

After lounging with my friends at Coffee Break (In front of jalandoni Bridge sa Left side ng San Agustin). I saw some people crossing the bridge hehe, so me and my friends did2. The bridge is narrower than it looks, it is almost finished. Only thing left to do is build the roads and paint the bridge. It wasn't really a great experience, as you can smell the fumes of the river sinking into your nostrils (lol), I could see SM City from there, and the swamp area surrounding the bridge (malawak sya pala). When you reach the end of the bridge the road turns right I dont know where it will be connected

hehehe ... above anything else, it's the smell in your post that catches me ... hope it will be eliminated na ... hahaha ... hopefully the bridge will be ready for passersby in the next few months .. it's lovely to walk passed the bridge in the late afternoon... i love walking, too ...

wecky

April 9th, 2005, 01:50 PM

I can see the potential of building a fly over that will connect directly to the Diversion road, but I doubt it will push through ...

I hope they will ... we really need the flyover to ease the traffic around the city.

wecky

April 9th, 2005, 02:00 PM

Specialty coffee calls shots in Iloilo City

Posted 01:49am (Mla time) April 09, 2005
By Hazel P. Villa

COFFEE is getting stranger these days. In Davao City, they have durian coffee. Iloilo City is not about to get left behind and so, one enterprising specialty coffee shop came up with the ultimate competition-mango coffee.

Before you say "yuck!", this mango coffee served as a frapp‚ called Mangonilla is one of the three bestsellers at Blue Jay Specialty Coffee, one of the many coffee shops that have sprouted in suddenly coffee-crazy Iloilo City.

Blue Jay, located at the new yuppie watering hole that is Smallville Business Center on Pison Street, Benigno Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road), has catered to the Ilonggos' need for variety in their coffee.

Blue Jay managing director Arlene See Juan Tong said that in the course of operating the coffee shop since Oct. 28, 2004, she found that Iloilo coffee drinkers differed from the typical ones in that they actually wanted theirs "drowned" in other flavors. And it's not just the coffee, said Arlene. She made sure that Blue Jay, at 105 square meters and designed with a contemporary touch, would be a place where after-dinner people, their friends or clients can go for intimate conversations, unhampered by loud music and cigarette smoke.

While coffee shops of the homey, undisturbed touch are a dime a dozen in other metropolises, the type where you can actually bring that client you are trying to impress and talk serious business with and relax at the same time, is rare in Iloilo City.

"This specialty coffee shop came to be because there came a time that my husband and I wanted to entertain businessmen-friends and we wanted to go to a place where they offered everything under one roof-good coffee, comfortable ambiance and delicious food, and we had a hard time looking for one," said Arlene, an accountant who is also into the distribution of consumer items.

The Juan Tongs answered their own need and, thus, put up Blue Jay Specialty Coffee, often reminding clients that it is definitely not a franchise. They sell hot coffee, blended ice drinks, chilled coffee, smoothies and crushes, Blue Jay originals, cold coffee cocktails and hot coffee cocktails.

Definitely no alcoholic drinks, because the Juan Tongs are Baptists.

To make Blue Jay stand out from other coffee shops which have become a profitable business in the city, Arlene created their own Blue Jay blend from a combination of different coffee beans. With much trial and error, research on the Internet, books and consultations with professionals in the coffee business, she came up with the Blue Jay originals, mostly frapp‚s.

Thus was born Mangonilla with the tagline "mango like you've never tasted before;" Saigon Kick, which is Vietnamese coffee "chilled out;" Vanilla Bean, and Swiss Avalanche, which is coffee with a "landslide of white choco cream."

Among these originals, it's the Swiss Avalanche, Mangonilla and Saigon Kick that are the bestsellers. These cost from P65 to P85.

The only hot original Blue Jay blend as opposed to the frapp‚s is Romano CrŠme, which is espresso with white chocolate and cream, and is priced at P55.

Teaming up with a chef from Manila, Arlene also came up with Blue Jay's original desserts to go with the coffee, such as Banoffee Tart, Baked Ice Cream Brownie and Chocolate Cointreau, among others. She also has pasta and pies and, in February, offered breakfast to customers.

With the stiff coffee competition from hotels, malls and other watering holes, Arlene priced her coffee at P35 for a 1.5-oz. shot of pure coffee, while frapp‚s ranged from P65 to P85. Blended ice drinks run the gamut of P120 to P180.

Customers drink up 150 to 200 cups a day, while orders for pasta and deserts reach up to 100.

Since opening day, Arlene said there had been no major slump in earnings. Among her strategies in keeping up with competitors is constantly evolving her products, introducing new ones, maintaining good service and building a base of loyal customers.

Every quarter, Blue Jay changes its pastries, sandwiches and pasta, but the coffee variety remains almost the same.

In mango country, the sweet fleshy fruit has to reincarnate in strange ways to be appreciated all over again.

(from inq7.net - April 9, 2004)

chymera00

April 9th, 2005, 02:19 PM

KulasKusgan

April 9th, 2005, 03:02 PM

kiretoce

April 9th, 2005, 09:43 PM

There's a bakery here in town, it's called The Grain Chain, and they sell mango cheesecake! It's really, really, really good! I once asked what type of mangoes they use and they said they use the yellow variety from Mexico. Too bad our Philippine mangoes aren't really making a dent in the mango consumption market here in the US.

tyronne

April 10th, 2005, 12:03 AM

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 01:47 AM

out of topic, sorry.

wecky, you're in london, right? correct me if im wrong. there was this controversial donut with the brand name "Filipino/s" sold in UK before. is it still sold? have you tried it? is it good?

thanks.

ty

okay lang, tyronne. About your query whether I'm in London ... the answer is a big YES ... hehehe ... been working here for bloody 5 years and a half already ... but I am sorry to tell you that I don't know about this donut thingy in UK ... probably it is sold not within the London area ... baka sa mga countrysides ... I haven't been to Filipino resto at all ... may area dito (earl's court) where most Filipino products were sold pero malayo ako ... so hindi ko talaga yon napuntahan ... but don't worry, I'll try to ask other Filipinos around if they know about this matter as I am very interested din. Anyways, thanks for the info ... it really made me curious as well.

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 01:53 AM

I believe mango coffee would sell good since almost everybody prefer mango than other fruits. Be it ice cream, ice candy, etc... Mango is pinoy's perennial favorite. Nabenta nga ang durian na iilan lang ang may gusto.

I believe so, sleepwalker ... i haven't tasted it yet .. I'll try when I goes home this end week of July to August.

sugarboy

April 10th, 2005, 04:12 AM

at some point we need to be grateful from his contribution as well, sugarboy .. he might be an opportunist at some point but he had a kind heart to help our kababayan find jobs and infuse money back in Iloilo by opening the Iloilo's port commercialism into Europe and the rest of the world. I do believe he just right to be recognised as a great contributor to Sugar Industry, not only in Iloilo but to the entire Philippines.

Yes, I do recognise Loney's contribution to Iloilo, Negros, and to the Sugar Industry. I don't think that was ever disputed. Throughout the thread, I did concur that he was a benefactor to the industry. A great benefactor at that. What I felt as out of line though was the undue adulation given to Loney as "The Father of Commercial Sugar" as stated in so many history books about the sugar industry. Again, no single person can lay claim to this title. In addition, the commerce of sugar was very much active long before Loney came into the scene and played the role of a catalyst. How then can we call him "The Father of Commercial Sugar" ?

Lastly, while still sticking to the issues brought about by the first post on Loney, he still had a hand at killing the Iloilo textile industry.

Cheers!

Francis20

April 10th, 2005, 07:40 PM

Guys, thanks for sharing the photos...
Chymera's efforts in taking these shots are commendable...and you did a great job on the editing part. i learn so much about Ilo-ilo. Pwede na one stop source itong SSC pag nag reresearch about Ilo-ilo ah.

Hope to see more photos...
I dunno if i mentioned this yet, anong cam ang gamit mo dun sa latest photos na kuha mo? They look nice and clear Guimaras island is only a bridge away from Ilo-ilo City, tama ba yun? sobrang strict nga ba sa pagpasok ng visitors dun? - to protect their export quality mango from pests (fruitfly) ?

Sino nga ba ng post ng CPU pics? I agree with Sandrin. they remind me of UPLB as well. Tho it seems like mas mainit sa CPU. Or was it because it's a midday when the photo was taken? Saka parang medyo magkakatabi and mga buildings - unlike sa UPLB na kailangan mo pang mag-jeep para sa next class mo - which is hassle kung minsan. buti na lang me policy to dismiss the class 10 minutes before end of class.

keep them on coming! you seem to be very proud of your city, which is of course, nice to hear! hopefully you could feature not only city shots...but also shots of individual structures, na me caption...etc...etc. what do you think?

mysaong03

April 10th, 2005, 10:24 PM

out of topic, sorry.

wecky, you're in london, right? correct me if im wrong. there was this controversial donut with the brand name "Filipino/s" sold in UK before. is it still sold? have you tried it? is it good?

thanks.

ty

i found one news article recently & says there filipinos brand are being sold in spain, UK wasnt mentioned tho. there are 2 product versions, one in choco candy & one in choco mini donut or biscuit, parang ganon, & spaniards daw just loved it so much that it eventually became one of the leading snack brands in spain. yon ang pagkakasabi hah :)

tyronne

April 10th, 2005, 10:35 PM

oh, so it's in Spain not in UK. thanks mysaong :) i remember it sparked anger to some groups back home before.

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:09 PM

Yes, I do recognise Loney's contribution to Iloilo, Negros, and to the Sugar Industry. I don't think that was ever disputed. Throughout the thread, I did concur that he was a benefactor to the industry. A great benefactor at that. What I felt as out of line though was the undue adulation given to Loney as "The Father of Commercial Sugar" as stated in so many history books about the sugar industry. Again, no single person can lay claim to this title. In addition, the commerce of sugar was very much active long before Loney came into the scene and played the role of a catalyst. How then can we call him "The Father of Commercial Sugar" ?

Lastly, while still sticking to the issues brought about by the first post on Loney, he still had a hand at killing the Iloilo textile industry.

Cheers!

probably, he was touted as the prime mover of sugar industry that's why he is named as the Father of Commercial Sugar in Iloilo and the entire Philippines. Anyway, I agreed with you that long before Loney came into the scene, sugar industry in Panay was active already. However, it was with Loney's contribution that sugar from Panay Island and the entire Philippines were opened to the world and was recognised. It might be during his time that the exportation doubled or tripled contributing to the robust economy of Iloilo, making it the second most important city next to Manila. Hereby, the title Queen City of the South was given to the city. I maybe right or wrong about this matter, but I do believe that this title given to Loney will be of no great importance and significance, hitherto debatable to its very essence. We cannot be of sure the definiteveness of history written as the affluency of sugar exportation from the province were mostly based from Loney's letters, etc to his family, friends and relatives here in England.

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:24 PM

Guys, thanks for sharing the photos...
Chymera's efforts in taking these shots are commendable...and you did a great job on the editing part. i learn so much about Ilo-ilo. Pwede na one stop source itong SSC pag nag reresearch about Ilo-ilo ah.

I agree with you, Francis ... Chymera's efforts are simply commendable !

Hope to see more photos...
I dunno if i mentioned this yet, anong cam ang gamit mo dun sa latest photos na kuha mo? They look nice and clear Guimaras island is only a bridge away from Ilo-ilo City, tama ba yun? sobrang strict nga ba sa pagpasok ng visitors dun? - to protect their export quality mango from pests (fruitfly) ?

hoping to see more photos as well .... paging Chymera ... keep all your photos coming !

Sino nga ba ng post ng CPU pics? I agree with Sandrin. they remind me of UPLB as well. Tho it seems like mas mainit sa CPU. Or was it because it's a midday when the photo was taken? Saka parang medyo magkakatabi and mga buildings - unlike sa UPLB na kailangan mo pang mag-jeep para sa next class mo - which is hassle kung minsan. buti na lang me policy to dismiss the class 10 minutes before end of class.

It was whyte who posted CPU pictures. Been to UPLB as well when my mom and I went for tour ages ago na ... hehehe ... mga college pa ako nun ... UPLB in terms of land area is way, way more big than CPU. CPU at present is a veritable community itself with around 30 buildings in its 24-hectare campus in Jaro, Iloilo City. I went to CPU myself for my secondary education and college, and is still a very active alumni member (Centralians) across the globe. There's a lot of difference though within the campuses kung titingnan mo lang.

keep them on coming! you seem to be very proud of your city, which is of course, nice to hear! hopefully you could feature not only city shots...but also shots of individual structures, na me caption...etc...etc. what do you think?

All Ilonggos are really proud of Iloilo City ! And hopefully, we will continue to show our love for Iloilo by helping our city to be more presentable, livable and tourist-friendly for the rest of the Philippines and of the world to see.

Cheers !

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:32 PM

i found one news article recently & says there filipinos brand are being sold in spain, UK wasnt mentioned tho. there are 2 product versions, one in choco candy & one in choco mini donut or biscuit, parang ganon, & spaniards daw just loved it so much that it eventually became one of the leading snack brands in spain. yon ang pagkakasabi hah :)

thanks, mysaong03 ... i think sa Spain talaga ... because if its popular here in London, I'm pretty sure everybody knows it. Well, I hope I can taste it too. I bet masarap yon! or they can even exported it here in London so that Filipinos here can have a try of how delectable these two products are.

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:34 PM

oh, so it's in Spain not in UK. thanks mysaong :) i remember it sparked anger to some groups back home before.

tyronne, I'm curious about your last statement. Why then ?

tyronne

April 10th, 2005, 11:46 PM

tyronne, I'm curious about your last statement. Why then ?

...because to some it's offensive to use the term "Filipinos" to name a mere snack food.

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:46 PM

PHILIPPINES' SOUTHERN GATEWAY

Iloilo province, and its beautiful city, ranks as one of the country's foremost centers of culture, industry and trade. Located on the southwestern tip of Panay Island between the Iloilo River and the GuimaraS Strait, its attributes as the repository of architectural and artistic legacies, as the promising point of progress in aquaculture, and as a trove of unexplored tourist attractions give it an allure so bewitching as not to be missed.

Iloilo is the cradle of early Philippine civilization. The telltale marks of such cultural influences live on in the century-old houses, the period churches, the colorful festivals, and in the enterprising bloodline of its people. Iloilo has a glorious past as the land's great sugarbowl and the locale of the haciendas of the old rich - whose scions and daughters turned down the centuries into the dons and donas of powerful economic dynasties.

Some of the testimonies to this awesome heritage are the churches. Nowhere else can church tours prove so rewarding. The Miag-ao Fortress Church is a grand example of a medieval bastion church with onrnate floral designs on the facade; another colossal monument is the San Joaquin Church and cemetery known for its bas relief featuring the Castilian and Moorish wars, while its cemetery is picturesque for its hexagonal chapel with rose windows and twin-tiered balustrades that lead to its entrance; meanwhile, three staircases lead to the historic rock; whereas the Rennaissance - inspired Molo Church and orphanage, the Asilo de Molo, are unique for their architecture as well as for a rare product, hand-embroidered barong Pilipino in pina cloth; the Pavia Church is a red brick and coral windows cases and rightfully deserves a place in one's travelogue. These churches are no farther than two hours' distance from each other.

Iloilo's is a byword for its famous festival - the Dinagyang, a local mardigras. Held every January in honor of the Infant Jesus, the festival is a major tourist attraction. Another even Iloilo is known for is the Paraw Regatta. Which is participated in by local and foreign sportsmen.

Iloilo is a trove of historical sites. Tour the province's famous sunset strip, Fort San Pedro or the flower-decked La Villa Rica de Arevalo, site of the Hispanic governance. Or one can visit another historical landmark, Plaza Libertad in the central city district where the flag of the Philippine revolutionaries was first raised upon Spain's final surrender. Old paintings, tapestries, furniture and memorabilia may be viewed in the Museo Iloilo and also in private galleries deeo in the heart of the city.

Iloilo may be relished by nature trips to its delightful beaches that are best for swimming, snorkeling and other water sports.

Igbaras, an hour and fifteen minute's drive from the city is sure to captivate visitors with its waterfalls, climbing hills, crystal caves and springs. Another cave haunt is Dingle, only 35 minutes from the city proper - it also boasts of a number of religious shrines and healing springwaters. Sicogon Island and the Islas de Gigantes are nearby isles which are laced with shimmering sands and deep blue waters that teem with marine life and corals. Pavia, a ten minutes drive by jeepney, is noted for its red brick Church while memories of the past may be evoked by visits to Janiuay, where ruins of abbeys, cemeteries and watchtowers still stand to mesmerize the traveller. For a view of grand mountain canyons, a drop-by at Bucari Mountain Ranges in Leon 28 kilometers away is simply thrilling.

Visits to the colleges of agriculture in Leon and Lambunao, and the fisheries college of Barotac Nuevo. Show that the province is a hive of economic progress.

Today, Iloilo still reigns as the gateway to the Visayan belt. Its riches are more plentiful than ever on the combined merits of industrial significance, historical antiquity and natural poetry.

(from ILOILO TRAVEL INFORMATION website: http://www.asiatravel.com/iloinfo.html)

wecky

April 10th, 2005, 11:52 PM

...because to some it's offensive to use the term "Filipinos" to name a mere snack food.

well then, it's true ... but isn't it more offensive when at one time they say that the word "Filipina" in Oxford dictionary were used to describe or mean "domestic labourers"? I don't know how true is this hearsay? I have the 2004 Oxford English Dictionary and I can't find this certain printout ... hmmm ... it's wierd.

tyronne

April 11th, 2005, 12:00 AM

well then, it's true ... but isn't it more offensive when at one time they say that the word "Filipina" in Oxford dictionary were used to describe or mean "domestic labourers"? I don't know how true is this hearsay? I have the 2004 Oxford English Dictionary and I can't find this certain printout ... hmmm ... it's wierd.

yup i've heard about that too. i believe the government took action to protest the inclusion of that definition. i can't remember, but yeah... i've heard about that as well.

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 12:04 AM

yup i've heard about that too. i believe the government took action to protest the inclusion of that definition. i can't remember, but yeah... i've heard about that as well.

well and good that the government had been assertive to take this matter seriously ... it is so degrading (no pun intended!) ... how i wish it will never happen again.

Thunderflip

April 11th, 2005, 12:25 AM

Well, the word "filipineza" in the modern Greek dictionary mean maid and it has always been like that. Many words from the English dictionary like "Boondocks" or "carnap" come from Filipino.I think I remember the case where in Hong Kong, there was a Barbie doll marketed, it was a brown-skinned Filipina dressed in a maid's attire holding a passport and on the label it said "Can You Please sing my Passport?". It also broke into an outrage at the Filipino community there.

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 12:26 AM

ILOILO CITY: The QUEEN MOTHER of the SOUTH
By Tessa C. Mauricio

“Welcome to the Queen City of the South!”

A visitor to Iloilo City is bound to receive this greeting several times—at the airport tarmac, even in quaint, little pastry shops where the city’s famed barquillos and galletas are made.

Eight out of 10 such visitors would then most likely scan the immediate vicinity, and check if the plane had landed in Cebu instead. And when the visitor is finally convinced that the sights and sounds are distinctly Iloilo’s, the inevitable question would follow: “How could there be two Queen Cities of the South?”

“The original Queen City is really Iloilo; not Cebu,” says the first-ever woman Tourism secretary of the Philippines; a true-blooded Ilongga by the name of Narzalina Z. Lim. And the manner by which she and her kababayans would make the claim— in the typical melodious Ilonggo voice and an amiable smile—can well, in fact, settle the matter immediately. But of course, facts need to be laid down, lest a conflict ensues between the two Visayan cities.

ILOILO'S REIGN

Iloilo, or Irong-Irong as it was called before the Spanish invasion, has always been a prosperous province. Its rich agricultural lands and numerous ports have been the major factors toward its continued progress. By the mid-1800s, Iloilo emerged as the biggest center of commerce and trade in the Visayas and Mindanao; second only to Manila.

Fast forward to the 1900s—the establishment of roads, a railway line, an airport, and the surge of the sugar industry in between—Iloilo rightly received her crown as the Queen City of the South. And not only did she prosper in agriculture and commerce, but she also regaled the rest of the nation with grand architectural structures, superior educational establishments, the most glittering of socials, and lively cultural festivities.

Soon, Her Majesty’s able sons became the country’s most important business pioneers, among them, Eugenio Lopez, Gregorio Araneta, and a host of other prominent family names, who reaped sweet success from sugar planting. Iloilo, of course, was proud of her children, but there was a price to be paid.

While these entrepreneurs and hacien*deros continued to spread their wings—whether to find more land in Bacolod, or to set up industries in Cebu and Manila—the dynamic progress that had long been synonymous to Iloilo eventually plateaued, and dulled the luster of Her Majesty’s crown. Thereafter, Cebu was anointed as the new Queen of the Visayas.

Her glorious past, alive and well

Despite Iloilo’s “dethronement,” a visit to the former Queen City of the South would explain why her sons and daughters refuse to let go of her previous title. She is still majestic, what with rich remnants of her glorious past that stand proud to this very day.

If Luzon boasts of Vigan as its Heritage City, then the Visayas should do the same of Iloilo. Spread around the province are ancient churches and vintage homes dating as far back as the 1800s.

Her churches. Truly breathtaking—and perhaps Iloilo’s greatest treasure—is the Miag-ao Fortress Church. Built in 1786, the church is included in the Unesco World Heritage List, and remains to be one of the most photographed landmarks in the Philippines.

While Miag-ao’s yellow stone structure is reminiscent of the great temples of Aztec art, the church’s details are unique for they bear touches of the local culture. The facade, for example, displays an intricate carving of St. Christopher with the boy Jesus on his shoulders, enjoying the shade of a bountiful palm tree. This very Filipino setting is guarded by two dissimilar bell towers, which according to history, once served as lookout points for piratical attacks in the province.

The church of Sta. Barbara is another well-restored old-world structure outside the city proper, while the cathedrals of Molo and Jaro near the center, are also crowd drawers. They too are architectural feats, made more interesting by unique concepts: Molo Cathedral is home to 16 statues of all-female saints, while Jaro houses an all-male counterpart.

Her homes. The old world feel of Iloilo does not end with her numerous churches. The Jaro District, which gave birth to the country’s first-ever millionaire’s lane, delights tourists with vintage houses at every corner. Most enchanting is the 200-year-old Javellana ancestral home, whose ownership is passed on to the eldest child of every succeeding generation.

Now under the care of solar power entrepreneur Robert “Pan*chito” Lopez Puckett, the restored Spanish house of wood and stone is referred to as “Casa Mari*quit”—Mariquit being Panchito’s grandmother, a third-generation Javellana and wife to former vice president Fernando Lopez Sr.

Panchito employed the services of restoration experts from Intramuros when he inherited the house in the late eighties, and they did excellent job in polishing Mariquit’s dark wood floors and balustrades, her wrought iron ventanillas, and colorful stained glass windows.

Lining Jaro’s main road, meanwhile, is Nely’s Garden, whose long, tree-lined drive leads to a decades’ old white mansion, the ancestral home of the wealthy Lopez clan; as well as the Boat House, a multilevel art-deco-inspired abode, which serves as the vacation house of the late Eugenio Lopez Sr.’s brood.

Her story. What enhances the pleasure of visiting Iloilo’s ancient treasures are the stories that her children are always eager to share at every destination. How Miag-ao became home to refugees during the war; the miracle of Molo Cathedral’s Virgin Mary when El Niño hit the province; and how Panchito’s grandfather happily leased the beautiful Javellana home to a school for a mere P300 in the mid-eighties.

These and more are the stories that have sparked a renewed vigor in the Ilonggos to give back the city her crown. “When we look around us,” they say, “we realize she never did lose her crown for Iloilo continues to be as rich as ever.” What she is, without a doubt, is the Queen Mother of the South. She gave birth to many economies in the Visayas, and she has, all these years, kept her treasures alive and well.

The city’s sons and daughters

More than ever, the Ilonggos are hopeful that they will soon restore their beloved city to her old glory. They find inspiration in the work of reelected mayor Jerry Trenas, who since his first term, has left no stones unturned in ensuring that Iloilo continues to prosper.

Trenas has rightly identified tourism as a potent force in furthering the city’s economy, and restoring the distinction she once had in the Visayas.

Thus far, the forward-thinking mayor has fueled an equally dynamic group of Ilong*gos to promote Iloilo as a rich tourist destination, as well as a city that can ably host international and national conventions. Formed only in the beginning of the year, the Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB) already shows much promise in fulfilling the task with Ma. Teresa S. Sarabia, Ph.D as president, former Tourism secretary Narzalina Lim as marketing representative and consultant, and representatives from Iloilo’s major hotels as members.

“The group is working together to come up with competitive rates and packages that will entice both tourists and those looking for convention sites to consider Iloilo, for the city truly has a lot of potential,” Lim asserts. “We have the facilities to cater to large convention groups, who after business is out of the way, can savor the original La Paz Batchoy; shop for lace and sinamay; visit the old churches and houses; enjoy young attractions like Casa Fiametta where they can go horseback riding or trekking; or even as a starting point for a trip to the beaches of Guimaras and Boracay.”

Gifted with such inviting possibilities, the ICCB and the people of Iloilo City are all set to welcome visitors to the province, and put her back on the proverbial map. And with sons and daughters like the members of the ICCB, there should be no reason why the original Queen City of the South cannot shine as bright as before in the island of Visayas.

The ICCB would like to thank Cebu Pacific for sponsoring the recent media familiarization tour to Iloilo City.

(from Manila Times Online: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/jun/18/yehey/life/20040618lif1.html)

Skyblade

April 11th, 2005, 03:08 AM

Just to clarify, Was it Mayor Trenas that had a slogan "Onward Ilonggos, towards a progressive Iloilo!"?

sugarboy

April 11th, 2005, 07:03 AM

probably, he was touted as the prime mover of sugar industry that's why he is named as the Father of Commercial Sugar in Iloilo and the entire Philippines. Anyway, I agreed with you that long before Loney came into the scene, sugar industry in Panay was active already. However, it was with Loney's contribution that sugar from Panay Island and the entire Philippines were opened to the world and was recognised. It might be during his time that the exportation doubled or tripled contributing to the robust economy of Iloilo, making it the second most important city next to Manila. Hereby, the title Queen City of the South was given to the city. I maybe right or wrong about this matter, but I do believe that this title given to Loney will be of no great importance and significance, hitherto debatable to its very essence. We cannot be of sure the definiteveness of history written as the affluency of sugar exportation from the province were mostly based from Loney's letters, etc to his family, friends and relatives here in England.

Sugar exportation did increase dramatically during Loney's time. On that note, did you know that the first Bank of the Philippine Islands branch was opened in Iloilo?

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 08:42 AM

Sugar exportation did increase dramatically during Loney's time. On that note, did you know that the first Bank of the Philippine Islands branch was opened in Iloilo?

That's true, sugarboy. Here is an article to support this claim.

153 Years of Banking Leadership

Philippine banking has a long and colorful history. It began in 1828 when, as the Philippines reaped the benefits of increased trade, King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a decree mandating the establishment of a public bank in the Philippines.

However, it took 23 years before that bank could become a reality. The man behind the actual organization of the bank was no less than the governor-general of the Philippines at that time, His Excellency Antonio de Urbiztondo y Eguia.

Gov. de Urbiztondo was a marquis of Solana in Spain who was named governor-general of the Philippines in 1850. His term of office was characterized by many administrative innovations, so it was not surprising that six years later, he would be called back to Madrid to take on a bigger role as Spain's new minister of war.

As the highest-ranking government official in the Philippines, Gov. de Urbiztondo called for the support of the Junta de Autoridades (a committee comprising of civil and ecclesiastical officials) in approving the bank's statutes and by-laws. The junta approved these statutes and by-laws on August 1, 1851, but it was understood that such approval had to be confirmed by the Spanish Crown.

The bank was called El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel 2, in honor of the reigning queen of Spain – Isabella II, daughter of King Ferdinand VII, who passed away in 1830. The bank's office was located at the Royal Custom house (Aduana) in Intramuros. (Intramuros was the original Manila, a European-style city enclosed by formidable stone walls.)

The first managers of the bank were Jose Maria Tuason and Fernando Aguirre, who each took turns serving as managing director every year. While the members of the bank's highest policy-making board were essentially civil and ecclesiastical officials, there was also a businessman whom the Spanish Crown named to represent the business community of Manila. The man was Antonio de Ayala of the prominent Casa Roxas, precursor of Ayala y Cia, which is now Ayala Corporation.

The royal decree that confirmed the creation of El Banco Español Filipino de Isabel 2 also gave the bank the exclusive privilege to issue paper money, which antedated the currency-issuing authority of the post-war Central Bank of the Philippines by about a hundred years. (The present central bank, the official issuer of Philippine currency, started operations only in 1949.) The original bank notes were collectively called pesos fuertes (PF), Spanish for "strong pesos."

The first bank notes (or paper money) in the Philippines had the issue date May 1, 1852 and could be redeemed in Mexican coins in gold or silver. Apart from carrying the name of the bank as issuer of the currency, the bank notes also bore the portrait of the woman for whom the bank was named – Queen Isabella II.

Coincidentally, the first transaction of the bank was a lending transaction recorded on May 1, 1852, in which the bank discounted a promissory note from a Chinese client. Three days later, the bank recorded its first deposit from its first depositor.

On September 3, 1869, the bank officially dropped the name of the queen after she was ousted from the Spanish throne during a revolution a year earlier. Like her father's reign, Isabella's rule had been stormy. Hence, since 1869, the bank was known simply as El Banco Español Filipino.

Decades later, the management of the bank decided to move out to where the business activity was. Binondo, on the northern side of the Pasig river, had emerged as the new center of business growth and, thus, gained more economic prominence than Intramuros.

The Chinese dominated the retail traffic while British merchants controlled the export-import business. Rosario Street (now Quintin Paredes) became the center of retail business while Escolta was the place for the finest of American and European shops. These were profitable sources of new business for El Banco Español Filipino after it relocated to No. 4 Plaza Cervantes in Binondo in January of 1892, on a piece of land acquired from the Dominican Order.

Through the years, the bank had a close link with the Spanish Crown that even the establishment of its first branch had to be approved by authorities in Madrid. In fact, it took a royal order in 1896 to enable the bank to open branches, although, again, this authority was still subject to clearance by Spain's minister of the colonies.

The bank originally planned to open its first branch in Central Luzon during the first decade of its operations, which was sometime in the 1850s. The reason for this was the emergence of the region as a sugar-producing area. During that time, sugar was exported from this region, making the product a major source of income for local producers.

But the plan to put up this first branch did not materialize. By the time the bank was ready in 1897, Central Luzon had been overshadowed by Iloilo and the Panay provinces in terms of economic prominence. This explains why the bank's first branch was established in Iloilo instead, on March 15, 1897.

Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, in which Spain ceded the Philippines and other territories to the United States, the bank promptly shed off its Spanish character and converted into a Philippine institution. Years later, in 1912, as a result of an earlier decision of the stockholders to rename the bank, El Banco Español Filipino became officially known as the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), or Banco de las Islas Filipinas. Under the American administration, the bank was allowed to continue issuing Philippine pesos, although no longer on an exclusive basis.

The period of rebuilding after World War II saw BPI getting actively involved in the development of industries. Although its conversion to a private bank during the American regime resulted in the loss of many privileges previously granted to it by the Spanish Crown, the bank continued to do its share in nation building.

In 1969, the Ayala Corporation, which had been associated with the bank since the start (either through a partner or a representative sitting on the board), became the dominant shareholder group. Following this change in the ownership structure, BPI soon became the financial flagship of the Ayala group of companies.

The ascendancy of the Ayala business house among the bank's shareholder groups led to significant changes in the way the first bank in the Philippines conducted its business during the latter half of the 20th century. For instance, the bank fast-tracked its growth by engaging in a merger with Peoples Bank and Trust Company in 1974. This was followed by the merger with or acquisition of Commercial Bank and Trust Company (1981), Ayala Investment and Development Corporation (1982), Makati Leasing and Finance Corporation (1982), Family Bank and Trust Company (1985), Citytrust Banking Corporation (1996), Ayala Insurance Holdings Corporation (2000), Far East Bank and Trust Company (2000) and DBS Bank Philippines (2002).
...
BPI officially became an expanded commercial bank (universal bank) in 1982, and thus started engaging in non-allied undertakings.

In 2000, BPI became the first bancassurance firm in the Philippines, after it acquired the insurance companies of the Ayala Group. These companies (under the Ayala Insurance Holdings Corporation) were FGU Insurance Corporation, Universal Reinsurance Corporation, Ayala Life Assurance, Ayala Health Care and Ayala Plans. FGU Insurance was later merged with FEB Mitsui Marine Insurance Company and is now known as the BPI/MS Insurance Corporation.

Also in 2000, the bank introduced its internet bank, BPI Direct Savings Bank, which launched BPI into 21st century banking.

Today, BPI has maintained a leadership position in consumer banking, trust banking and asset management, corporate banking/corporate finance and bancassurance. With over 700 branches and around 1,100 automated teller machines, BPI boasts of having the largest combined network of branches/kiosk units and ATMs, servicing some 3 million depositors.

For years, international publications and rating agencies have given annual awards to BPI as one of the best banks in the region. Among these are the Far Eastern Economic Review, The Banker, Euromoney, Asiamoney, BusinessWeek, The Asset, Global Finance, Finance Asia, and The Asian Banker.

BPI has been consistently cited for its above-average profitability, sufficient capital/assets, low-cost funding base and manageable non-performing loan levels. Fitch Ratings noted that BPI has a comprehensive risk management which is superior to that of its peer banks, and this serves as an important element in keeping BPI better positioned in Philippine banking in the years ahead.

(from BPI website: http://info.bpiexpressonline.com/bpiprod/BPIAbout.nsf/History+and+Tradition/History&Tradition?OpenDocument)

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 08:52 AM

Just to clarify, Was it Mayor Trenas that had a slogan "Onward Ilonggos, towards a progressive Iloilo!"?

I'm not too sure about this, Skyblade ... probably is, I think so. I wasn't in Iloilo anymore from the time Trenas won his first election. It was Mayor Malabor's slogan that kept on popping out my mind. The "United Iloilo On The Go". It was during Malabor's time when the plan division of Iloilo into two provinces were at its height, thereby this slogan was made. Anyway, we will wait for Chymera to post his reply about this matter as he is the one currently living in Iloilo City.

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 08:55 AM

speaking of banking ... here's another one:

About HSBC in the Philippines

The HSBC Group is represented in the Philippines through The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; and its subsidiary, the locally-incorporated HSBC Savings Bank (Philippines) Inc. HSBC opened its first branch in the Philippines in Binondo in November 1875. In 1883, a second branch was opened in Iloilo to serve the growing sugar industry. In 1971, the branch in Binondo was moved to Makati City. Ten years later, in 1981, the Iloilo branch was closed and a new branch in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, was opened.

Following the issuance of the Foreign Bank Liberalization Act of 1994, HSBC reopened a branch in Binondo in 1995 and established a branch in Cebu in 1996. In 1999, HSBC became the first foreign bank to open a branch in Quezon City, bringing the total number to five branches.

In December 2000, HSBC acquired PCIB Savings Bank, a locally-incorporated thrift bank. Renamed HSBC Savings Bank (Philippines) Inc, it operates 16 branches in Metro Manila.

HSBC in the Philippines provides a comprehensive range of financial services: personal, commercial, corporate, trade services, cash management, treasury and capital markets services, trust services; and custody services.

HSBC is committed to the well-being of the communities wherein it operates. In its work in the community, HSBC has focused on education for underprivileged children and the environment. While it considers other causes, the Bank aims to concentrate at least 75% of its charitable funding to these two areas.

(from HSBC website:http://www.hsbc.com.ph/ph/aboutus/hsbc_ph/hsbcph.htm)

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 09:22 AM

Here's a pic I took of the Church in Miagao.

http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/miagao_church.jpg

I always love to look at this picture .... Miag-ao church is truly one of a kind!

wecky

April 11th, 2005, 09:46 AM

Phividec to bid out Panay rails in Q2

Philippine Investment and Development Corp. (Phividec) is set to open the bidding for the $658.41-million rehabilitation of the Panay Railways Inc. by the second quarter of 2005.

Ofelia Bulaong, chair of Phividec, which has the Panay Railways as a subsidiary, said the bidding will be opened by the second quarter of 2005 to achieve the target completion of the rehabilitation project.

Phividec expects the rehabilitation to last for about three years from 2005 to 2007. It wants the transit system to be operational by 2008.

Under the proposed project, the 117-kilometer railway transit system from Iloilo City to Roxas City, Capiz would be rehabilitated. This includes the construction of 46 steel bridges.

The project also involves the procurement of eight trains, consisting of three passenger cars and a cargo trailer for every train unit for long distance traffic.

An additional four-kilometer stretch would also be built to connect the new Iloilo airport to the railway line.

Once the railway system is operational, it is expected to cut down travel time from Iloilo to Roxas City to only 70 minutes.

The railway is also seen to have 25 million passenger trips a year.

Feasibility studies conducted by the consortium of Siemens from Germany, Systra of France, and Voest Alpine of Austria showed that the rehabilitation of the Panay Railways Inc. would cost $658.41 million.

This amount would cover the $164.71 million for civil works around the facility, $168.97 million for the rolling stock, $104.67 million for engineering and maintenance and $50 million to $60 million for the compensation of households that will be affected by the rehabilitation project.

Other costs include the $12.55 million for right-of-way acquisition, $25.79 million in interest payment and some $100.94 for other miscellaneous costs.

Bulaong said that several investors have already expressed interest to bid for the Panay rehabilitation project including those from the United States, China and Europe.

However, she said that since the Panay railways rehabilitation is an unsolicited project and that the consortium of Siemens-Systra and Voest Alpine was the proponent, the group will be given the option to start the project.

This means that the consortium need not participate in the bidding and will have the right to match the highest amount that any company raises in the bidding during the second quarter of the year.

Bulaong said that the undertaking will also work for the compensation of the 1,500 families who are expected to be dislocated by the project.

She said that these families will not be relocated but will be allowed to stay in a community, which Phividec intends to construct near the Panay railway.

“If there is no housing project, there is no rehabilitation,” Bulaong said.
--Niel V. Mugas

(from Manila Times Online:http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/jan/26/yehey/business/20050126bus6.html)

chymera00

April 11th, 2005, 10:04 AM

Guys, thanks for sharing the photos...
Chymera's efforts in taking these shots are commendable...and you did a great job on the editing part. i learn so much about Ilo-ilo. Pwede na one stop source itong SSC pag nag reresearch about Ilo-ilo ah.

Hope to see more photos...
I dunno if i mentioned this yet, anong cam ang gamit mo dun sa latest photos na kuha mo? They look nice and clear

Thanks ... I wanted to make sure I gave justice to Ilolilo in those shots. Its nice you learned a lot of Iloilo, that was certainly the prime intention of this thread and I hope this one lives for a long time :p I certainly have learned a lot lot lot from research and from other posters here as well like Wecky, Sugarboy, Sandrin, and Whyte. I hope to share more shots as well. The cam is a Sony PowerShot A400, I borrrowed from my classmate (I would like to take advantage this moment to thank her!!!)

Guimaras island is only a bridge away from Ilo-ilo City, tama ba yun? sobrang strict nga ba sa pagpasok ng visitors dun? - to protect their export quality mango from pests (fruitfly) ?

Hindi nman sobrang strict to the point that they check all the visitors bags when they enter but the first sign that will greet you when you reach Jordan, Guimaras is of a no-mango seed weevil campaign and they give out fliers that educate the visitors of the constitutionality of a it ...

keep them on coming! you seem to be very proud of your city, which is of course, nice to hear! hopefully you could feature not only city shots...but also shots of individual structures, na me caption...etc...etc. what do you think?

I hopefully think so too ...

chymera00

April 11th, 2005, 10:07 AM

That's true, sugarboy. Here is an article to support this claim.

153 Years of Banking Leadership

That was very informative ... looking at the great advances at Central Luzon (esp. Subic and Clark) today it's a bit interesting that at the time they chose Iloilo than C. Luzon ...

Does anyone know where they built the first BPI Building??? f i have the chance I would like to take a pic of that

chymera00

April 11th, 2005, 10:14 AM

chymera00

April 11th, 2005, 10:16 AM

I agree with you, Francis ... Chymera's efforts are simply commendable !

All Ilonggos are really proud of Iloilo City ! And hopefully, we will continue to show our love for Iloilo by helping our city to be more presentable, livable and tourist-friendly for the rest of the Philippines and of the world to see.

Cheers !

Thanks .... amen to that :p (I meant, the last paragraph)

mysaong03

April 11th, 2005, 02:37 PM

chymera00

April 12th, 2005, 10:35 AM

Yes it is .... ever worse a lot of people around the world think that the world "filipina" means whore .... that's just awful, a clear sign of discrimination

whyte

April 12th, 2005, 12:32 PM

:wave:
great articles and info.

chymera00

April 12th, 2005, 05:05 PM

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/pbdf308b78afc4285d5e739db1bccd000/f4c63ae7.jpg

Just got back from a dinner @ Sunburst (The creamish building on the left). Their food was nice, and the price was very affordable, cheaper than most restos around the area. Since Blue Jay was around the block, figured I'd buy their specialty "Mangonilla" or Mango Frappe ... It costs P75 its was very delicious, they did a fine job at blending mango and frappe ... I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit ... I was quite impressed at how the area is shaping up ... 2 years ago that place was just an empy lot and now its becoming (or is already) one of Iloilo's better spots ...

Here I made a little sketch of Pison St. (Note: Actual name are not really "Feeler Bar", Just forgot the name and can't find anything else to describe it :P )

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/chymera00/iloilocitypics/PisonSt.jpg

amras

April 13th, 2005, 02:59 AM

Yes it is .... ever worse a lot of people around the world think that the world "filipina" means whore .... that's just awful, a clear sign of discrimination

that only show how the world can be very narrow minded... so it is a challenge for us to change how these people perceive Filipinos.

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:32 AM

This is a welcome development indeed ... i went to some sites of the railways recently for the Debut of my friend who was living like less than 10m from the actual railways. I went there before and I can still see the tracks but now they have already cemented it and everything. I'm really concerned at those families living in that area coz i have lots of friends there :( This particular friend has had their house rennovated and Its a shame if the have to leave now ... But i certainly would like to have the project to push through, I just hope those affected families are justly compensated

I can only empathize with your friend, Chymera however, if we want to make this thing happens, we need to sacrifice. Hopefully, families affected by the Panay Railways will be given enough justice for their locations, disbursement, etc. This project will be of great benefit to every Ilonggos and Panaynons as travelling time will be shorter, more products will be mobilised to big markets, etc. I just wish and pray that this project will be realised soon. With the advent of Iloilo International Airport coming, this railway system of is great use and importance indeed.

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:37 AM

Thanks .... amen to that :p (I meant, the last paragraph)

You are welcome, Chymera. It is likewise to give credit to anyone whenever it's due. Your effort in taking pictures around the city is simply awesome and requires dedication to work. Only those who love Iloilo truly will do that. Thanks as well.

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:39 AM

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:40 AM

Yes it is .... ever worse a lot of people around the world think that the world "filipina" means whore .... that's just awful, a clear sign of discrimination

we haven't come to that yet ... where Filipina is synonymised with "whore" .. it will be a pathetic insult to our race.

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:42 AM

:wave:
great articles and info.

hi whyte .. hope you can post more pictures of Iloilo here as well ... we simply need more photos to show to the world how beautiful our city and province is ... cheers!

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:45 AM

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 04:57 AM

that only show how the world can be very narrow minded... so it is a challenge for us to change how these people perceive Filipinos.

the world can be very discriminating amras if we allow them to. If you happen to read the news lately, one US official stated that "Mindanao is the next Afghanistan" ... well, such a statement that will destroy us to the world .... countries here in Europe considered the Philippines or included the Philippines in nations harbouring terrorism ... what do you think our government did say about the matter?

I don't think the first world countries' citizens are narrow-minded people .. they just simply show their love for their security, their affability, and their dignities upheld. Most of us Filipinos just simply don't care ... we are brought up with a mind of "bahala na" ... and "leave everything to heaven" ... that's the way we are ... unless there is a change in attitude, then we will progress.

It's just my piece of thought ... I don't mean to put our culture down. Ta.

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 05:00 AM

Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Capitol holds cooperative congress

THE 13th Cooperative Congress will be held Tuesday, starting 9 a.m. at the Conference Room of the New Iloilo Capitol.

Hosted by the Iloilo Provincial Government, the activity is part of the Semana Sang Iloilo, marking the province's 104th anniversary.

Mila Layog, provincial cooperative development officer-in-charge, said participants are mayors, councilors, municipal agricultural officers, municipal cooperative development officers and cooperative leaders of Iloilo.

Included in the program are the awarding of Presidential Social Fund dubbed "Isang Bayan, Isang Produkto, Isang Milyong Pisong Programa ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo" worth P1 million to the Iloilo Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (Ifedco).

Layog said the Ifedco is responsible in the processing and marketing of the Iloilo Dairy Fresh, the pure fresh milk produced by dairy farmers in Miagao, Igbaras, Leon, Oton and Tigbauan.

The project is developed by the Iloilo Provincial Government and five local government units with the technical assistance from the National Dairy Authority and Philippine Carabao Center.

Layog said nine cooperatives will also receive loan assistance from the province through the Provincial Livelihood Project Fund (PLPF), amounting to P1.575 million.

The recipient cooperatives are: De la Paz Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Napnapan IRF Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Caraudan Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Zarraga Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Catmon Credit Cooperative, San Salvador Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Kapisanan ng mga Mambubukid ng Tambal Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Lambunao Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The awarding, led by Gov. Niel Tupas, will be followed by updates and open forum concerning cooperatives.

Resource persons are Arturo Tolentino, chief, Legal Division of Bureau of Internal Revenue in Region XI, who will give a brief update about cooperative taxation and recent BIR guidelines/circular affecting cooperative movement;

Pedro E. Balundo, regional director of Cooperative Development Authority 6, who will talk on cooperative updates and programs;

Vivian Cañonero, head, Lending Center of Land Bank of the Philippines, who will discuss LBP's lending programs and windows for cooperatives;

Mario Nillos, officer-in-charge, Provincial Planning Development Office-Iloilo, who will talk on the Technology and Livelihood Development Center and Provincial Livelihood Project Fund; Rex Velarde, president, Philippine Institute of Public Accountant-Iloilo, on the standard audit systems for cooperatives; and;

Ricardo Fernandez, provincial agrarian reform officer, on programs affecting the agrarian reform beneficiaries.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/12/bus/capitol.holds.cooperative.congress.html)

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 05:02 AM

Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Province has become stronger, better: Tupas

GOVERNOR Niel Tupas lauded provincial officials and employees for their cooperation and support in the implementation of programs and projects for Iloilo.

Speaking during the opening rites of the Semana sang Iloilo Monday morning, the governor said for 104 years now, the Provincial Government has been in the forefront of the delivery of public service to Ilonggos.

"With each year that has gone by, the Provincial Government has become stronger, better and more effective in carrying out its mandate," Tupas said.

He also commended the officials and employees "who have become more professional and more competent and who have embraced a culture of excellence in serving the people."

Tupas further said this year's fete is the "celebration of continues success in our quest to provide better services to the people."

"Slowly, but surely, we are building an organization that responds effectively to the growing demands of a fast-developing province. We are putting up the human infrastructure that would propel our province toward greater prosperity, a prosperity that is equally distributed and shared by majority of our people who are willing to work hard and sacrifice," the governor said.

Tupas also challenged the Capitol officials and employees to fulfill "the unending missions that lie ahead of them."

The 104th anniversary of Iloilo, he said, only serves as a reminder that there is still much work to be done.

"Let our success give us confidence and motivation and inspiration to do more for our people. Let us push ahead and make Iloilo the best province in the whole country," Tupas added.

After the flag-raising ceremony and the thanksgiving mass, the governor and his wife Myrna led the opening of exhibit on disaster preparedness of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Black Panthers Volunteer Group and Dumangas Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council.

The Agri-Fair at the Capitol grounds also opened.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/12/news/province.has.become.stronger.better.tupas.html)

wecky

April 13th, 2005, 05:31 AM

http://www.iloilo.net/dot/iloilo111.jpg

I L O I L O

Located 238 statute miles from Manila, Iloilo is the gateway of the Western Visayas Region. The province comprises the southeastern part of Panay Island. Iloilo is 55 minutes by plane from Manila, 30 minutes from Cebu, 90 minutes from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and one hour 45 minutes away from Gen. Santos City. Should you opt to go by sea, Sulpicio Lines, Negros Navigation and Aboitiz have ships plying from Manila (19 hours), Cagayan De Oro City (16 hours), Zamboanga City (14 hours), Cotabato (26 hours), Bacolod (a 2-hour ferry service), and Guimaras (a 20-minute ferry pumpboat service).

Natural boundaries, such as mountain ranges with peaks as high as 7,000 ft., lie between Iloilo and Antique on the west and Capiz on the north. Mainland Iloilo is composed of plain interspersed with upland portions. The capital, Iloilo City, rests between the Iloilo and Batino rivers which from the angle of a nose. This location is the root of the province's old name, ilong-ilong which means "noselike".

The Province takes pride in being the "Food basket and Rice granary of Western Visayas." As a leading rice producer, Iloilo devoted 194.4 thousand hectares to palay in 1995 which yielded a harvest of 553.5 thousand metric tons. About 20,800 hectares are planted to corn and 17,000 hectares planted to sugar cane. Various legumes, root crops, cereals, fruits such as mangoes, pineapple and citrus are harvested in commercial quantities.

Iloilo is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. Its waters teem with grouper (lapulapu), tuna and blue marlin. Prawns, milkfish (bangus), shrimps and other popular marine varieties are cultured in fish farms. Marine resources are particularly abundant in the municipality of Estancia which has been called the Alaska of the Philippines.

Iloilo hosts the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), a multi-national aquaculture research facility located in Tigbauan. SEAFDEC has been successful in its spawning of prawns and milkfish under controlled environments.

Iloilo was once the Queen City of the South and is determined to regain its crown.
It was chosen as the site of the Regional Agro-industrial Center (RAIC) of Western Visayas. A special economic zone in the municipality of Pavia which is approximately 9-11 km from the Iloilo airport is being developed by the private sector.

The most feasible business to locate in Pavia include agri-based industries; garment manufacturing; houseware production and gift toys; machinery and equipment manufacturing; packaging and canning; and electronics and chemical products manufacture.

(articles taken from: Asia Travel Information and National Statistical Board websites)

wecky

April 14th, 2005, 11:00 AM

Thursday, April 14, 2005
Arroyo to grace Capitol testimonial dinner Friday

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be the guest of honor Friday afternoon during the Iloilo Provincial Government's testimonial dinner for distinguished groups and individuals capping the 104th Semana sang Iloilo celebration.

The dinner, to be held at Tatoy's Manokan and Seafoods, Arevalo, Iloilo City at 4 p.m., will pay tribute to distinguished Ilonggos, program development partners, retirees and clean and green winners.

To be honored are Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa, public service; Rene Catalan, sports; Valerie Maravilla, entrepreneurship; and Marina Imperial, health service.

The program development partners are: World Vision Development Foundation Inc., health programs of the province; I-Code NGOs, good governance; SM City Department Store-Mandurriao and Medicus, labor and employment;

Association of Disabled Persons-Iloilo Inc., social services; Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council, agri-fisheries; Kahublagan sang Panimalay, environment; Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, marine conservation;

Ilonggo Producers Association Inc., entrepreneurship; Save the Children Federation-USA, community development; and Dumangas Municipal Disaster Management Council, Black Panther Volunteer Group and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 601st Squadron, disaster management.

The clean and green awardees for the municipal level are New Lucena (first place); San Joaquin (second); and Dingle (third); Maasin (fourth) and San Dionisio (fifth) while in barangay level, Cabugaw, Lambunao (first); Dapuyan, San Joaquin (second); Pandan, Dingle (third); Buga, Leon (fourth) and Cudionan, San Dionisio (fifth).

Special awards for Best Communal Garden and Material Recovery Facilities will be given to Barangay Cudionan, San Dionisio and Barangay Bacan, Cabatuan, respectively.

The Province will also honor 42 retirees coming from different provincial offices.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

wecky

April 14th, 2005, 11:03 AM

Thursday, April 14, 2005
Iloilo, Guimaras tourism program launching set

TOURISM Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano will keynote the local Tourism Summit Wednesday at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

During the gathering, there will be a post-audit of the 2005 Dinagyang Festival and the official launching of the Visit Iloilo and Guimaras (VIG) 2006 project.

Representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will also share their observations and comments on the 2005 Dinagyang Festival. Gracing the event are Gener Caringal, head of the Committee on Dance, and Dr. Larry Gabao, president of the Philippine Folk Dance Society.

A joint undertaking of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) and the Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB), it seeks to set the direction for local tourism initiatives, make local tourism program responsive to the demands of the times and to enhance the capabilities of local participants of tourism-related activities.

IDFI executive director Ben Jimena will provide an insider's insights of the 2005 Dinagyang while Francis Cruz of the ICCB will present the proposed work plan for the VIG 2006.

The VIG 2006 is a collective undertaking among all sectors in Iloilo City, Iloilo and Guimaras provinces and the adjacent destinations as well as of Ilonggos in Metro Manila to promote Iloilo, Guimaras and adjacent destinations as a potential tourism, trade and investment destination.

The Tourism Summit is also expected to enable the organizers to come up with a comprehensive work plan for the twin projects.

During the summit, participants will break up into two groups - one will tackle issues of the Dinagyang critique to come up with the plans for next year's event and the other group will discuss plans for VIG 2006.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

wecky

April 14th, 2005, 11:06 AM

Thursday, April 14, 2005
Iloilo City strengthens ties with Ilonggo groups in Guam

ILOILO City Government strengthened its ties with the Filipino communities in Guam after Mayor Jerry Treñas's visit to the US territory last week.

Treñas said the Filipino communities in Guam where there are massive Ilonggo population pledged to provide assistance like medical services and agricultural seminars and establish tie-ups with educational institutions.

A delegation will arrive in Iloilo City to facilitate the projects.

"I'm very happy that we have a good relationship with Guam," the mayor said.

During his visit, time for the anniversary celebration of the Iloilo Association of Guam (ISG), Treñas signed a sisterhood agreement with Dededo City, which has become the second home of more than a thousand Ilonggos. There are about 80 Filipino associations in the area.

Dededo City becomes the fifth sister-city of Iloilo City. Other Iloilo City sister-cities are Makati City, Philippines; Stockton, USA; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; and Qing Dao, China.

The ISG have regularly donated medical supplies and equipment to the City Health Office and the Lapaz Maternity Clinic.

During the trip, Trenas was joined by Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo and General Services Chief Raul Gallo, among others.(LABB)

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

wecky

April 14th, 2005, 11:22 AM

Dinagyang ’05 champ off to Aliwan Festival

ILOILO City -- Dinagyang Foundation executive director and executive assistant to the mayor Benito Jimena confirmed that the grand champion for the Dinagyang 2005 (open category), Tribu Silak will be representing the city in this year’s Aliwan Festival in Manila.

The Aliwan Festival is an annual cultural event that brings together almost all the major festivals from the various regions of the country. This prestigious event is spearheaded by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

Jimena said Tribu Silak of the Iloilo City National High School is composed of 155 members who will be leaving Iloilo for Manila on Thursday, April 21st. They will be performing before an expected huge crowd on April 23rd at the Quirino Grandstand and at Star City.

Silak has been constantly practicing to ensure a flawless performance and will even have a dress rehearsal at the Freedom Grandstand on April 18th, 5 p.m., Jimena said.

The tribe will be accompanied to the Aliwan Festival by this year’s Miss Dinagyang, Shamie Marie de la Cruz, who will wear a gown made by renowned Ilonggo designer PJ Arañador.

The Iloilo float will be done by the Association of Tribes in Iloilo headed by Carlos Ebro and will feature various Ilonggo products and delicacies.

There will be 26 contingents coming from all over the country and Dinagyang Foundation officers are optimistic about the city’s chances of winning the championship.

Last year, Tribu Atub-Atub got the championship and the best performing group award with P1 million cash prize. In 2003, the tribe also garnered the first-runner up award and went home with a P500,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas wished the representatives good luck and said the Dinagyang Festival, which is already world renowned, is truly something the Ilonggos can be proud of. He also said the Aliwan Festival will certainly be a venue for promoting Iloilo City to the various spectators who will be on hand to witness the event.

(from PanayNews Online)

sandrin

April 16th, 2005, 12:52 AM

Philippine - Spain Friendship Week in IloIlo (Fil-Hispanic Week) - June 29-June30

¿COMO?
By Helen J. Camarista

¿Como? is a Spanish _expression which means “How's that?”. This and many other such terms and expressions punctuate Iloilo City residents' conversations as the provincial and city governments of Iloilo, Department of Tourism, University of San Agustin lead other local organizers in the preparations to celebrate the Philippine-Spain Friendship Week (Fil-Hispanic Week) on June 29-June 30, 2005.

Just two weeks, Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order No. 19 Series of 2005 as an _expression of the desire of the City of Iloilo to celebrate the Fil-Hispanic Week in Iloilo City. This executive order is based on the fact that the historical and cultural legacies of Spain as manifested in architecture, cuisine, dances and songs of Iloilo permeate every aspect of Ilonggo lifestyle. The celebration will be an appropriate occasion to trace Iloilo's Spanish legacy and strengthen Ilonggo-Spanish connection that could be both an inspiring and educational experience for the visitors and the local residents.

Mayor Treñas organized the working committee that will assume the responsibility of planning and implementing a program of activity in celebration of the Phillippine-Spain Friendship Week as follows:

Honorary Chairmen: Gov. Niel D. Tupas
.................................... Mayor Jerry P. Treñas

Chairperson: Mrs. Elena J. Golez

Vice –Chairpersons: Rev. Fr. Manuel Vergara, OSA
................................... President, University of San Agustin

.................................. Mr. Edwin G. Trompeta
................................... Regional Director, DOT Region VI

Hon. Merci Drilon-Garcia
................................... Chairman, Sangguniang Panglunsod
....................................of Iloilo Committee Tourism

.................... Members:

Mr. Manuel Mejorada, Iloilo Provincial Administrator

Mr. Gilbert Marin, Iloilo Provincial Tourism Officer

Teresa Sarabia, PhD, President,
................................... Iloilo City Convention Bureau
................................... Archt. Antonio Sangrador, Chairman,
................................... Iloilo City Cultural Heritage

Conservation Council

Mr. Eugene Jamerlan, ICCHCC

Eric Divinagracia, University of San Agustin

Arne Lubasan, “ “ “

Mrs. Gina Espinosa, Presiden, Museo Iloilo

Atty. Helen J. Camarista, Department of Tourism Region VI

Mrs. Heloise Javellana, Iloilio City Tourism Office

Iloilo Designers Guild

University of San Agustin

Iloilo National High School

Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association

Iloilo City Convention Bureau

Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council

United Architects association of the Philippines-Iloilo

The working committee has met three times already to plan the activities for the Fili-Hispanis Friendship Week. This coming Monday a representative each from the Spanish embassy in Manila and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce will join the local organizers in their meeting at the DOT Region VI Conference Room, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. The 2 guests will discuss about the Feria Español on June 29-30, 2005 which will be an important activity of the Fil-Hispanic Week in Iloilo City.

Hasta la vista.

Skyblade

April 16th, 2005, 06:06 AM

I'm not too sure about this, Skyblade ... probably is, I think so. I wasn't in Iloilo anymore from the time Trenas won his first election. It was Mayor Malabor's slogan that kept on popping out my mind. The "United Iloilo On The Go". It was during Malabor's time when the plan division of Iloilo into two provinces were at its height, thereby this slogan was made. Anyway, we will wait for Chymera to post his reply about this matter as he is the one currently living in Iloilo City.
Thanks for the input! :D I'll try to ask some of my relatives as well whom still live there. :)

chymera00

April 16th, 2005, 06:21 PM

Saturday, April 16, 2005
Palawan, Romblon part of WV soon

* Media Affairs Secretary Cerge Remonde says the plan to make Palawan and Romblon part of Western Visayas has long been in the drawing board
* Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomes the move

WESTERN Visayas will have two additional provinces soon--Palawan and Romblon.

This was disclosed by Media Affairs Secretary Cerge Remonde who said both provinces' inclusion in Region 6 would be formalized by an administrative order of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Remonde, who joined President Arroyo's visit to Guimaras and Iloilo Friday, said in a radio interview the plan to make Palawan and Romblon part of Western Visayas has long been in the drawing board.

"Matagal ng pinaplano ito (This has long been planned)," he said.

History shows, he noted, both provinces had a long-standing trade and commerce relations with Panay. Thus, making Palawan and Romblon a part of Western Visayas is a way of "restoring history."

According to Remonde, President Arroyo discussed the plan first with the people of Palawan and then she will visit Romblon.

It could be that "in a month or two," Palawan and Romblon will already be part of Western Visayas, he said.

(Welcome Move)

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, welcomed the move.

In fact, he said, during the terms of Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, Palawan and Romblon, together with Iloilo, were under one senatorial district.

"This would be advantageous for Iloilo. Because the regional center is here, it will improve business in the city," the mayor said.

"Everyone transacting with the regional offices will have to go to Iloilo. Mas maayo pa gid para sa Iloilo."

This is highly improbable, what will happen to Region IVb - MIMAROPA without Palawan and Romblon then? just MIMA ... lol

Western Visayas is already a big Region as it is, and adding Palawan and Romblon will only make things more complicated

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:06 AM

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:11 AM

Thanks for the input! :D I'll try to ask some of my relatives as well whom still live there. :)

You're welcome, Skyblade. I knew I did not answer your query the issue but I hope I added a little bit more of knowledge of what you already have about Iloilo. I believed your relatives who are residing in Iloilo at present will have a better view about this certain matter. Cheers!

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:24 AM

Sunday, April 17, 2005
Palawan, Romblon part of WV soon

* Media Affairs Secretary Cerge Remonde says the plan to make Palawan and Romblon part of Western Visayas has long been in the drawing board
* Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomes the move

WESTERN Visayas will have two additional provinces soon--Palawan and Romblon.

This was disclosed by Media Affairs Secretary Cerge Remonde who said both provinces' inclusion in Region 6 would be formalized by an administrative order of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Remonde, who joined President Arroyo's visit to Guimaras and Iloilo Friday, said in a radio interview the plan to make Palawan and Romblon part of Western Visayas has long been in the drawing board.

"Matagal ng pinaplano ito (This has long been planned)," he said.

History shows, he noted, both provinces had a long-standing trade and commerce relations with Panay. Thus, making Palawan and Romblon a part of Western Visayas is a way of "restoring history."

According to Remonde, President Arroyo discussed the plan first with the people of Palawan and then she will visit Romblon.

It could be that "in a month or two," Palawan and Romblon will already be part of Western Visayas, he said.

(Welcome Move)

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, welcomed the move.

In fact, he said, during the terms of Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, Palawan and Romblon, together with Iloilo, were under one senatorial district.

"This would be advantageous for Iloilo. Because the regional center is here, it will improve business in the city," the mayor said.

"Everyone transacting with the regional offices will have to go to Iloilo. Mas maayo pa gid para sa Iloilo."

Another WELCOME move for Region 6 (WESTERN VISAYAS) ... although it will complicate some things but I believe that ROMBLON and PALAWAN's inclusion to the region is more of an advantage than a disadvantage to both the new and incoming provinces and to the current provincial members of Region 6. Romblonons as we all knew traded with Capiz province more than that of other surrounding provinces within its area, and for a long time, too, Palawan had a direct flight to Iloilo City daily thereby trades and communications between these provinces had been existing way back then. I hope it will be realised soon.

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:39 AM

321 athletes vie for WVRAA medals

ILOILO City – The 2005 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet unfolds today -- until April 21 – with 321 athletes from Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan and Negros Occidental vying for gold, silver and bronze medals.

The athletic meet will officially begin with a parade at 4:00 p.m. today from the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on Bonifacio Drive to the competition venue, Iloilo Sports Complex, La Paz, Iloilo City. There, an opening ceremony will see Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas delivering the welcome addresses. Department of Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa is guest speaker.

According to Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Raymundo Lapating, 15 games are lined up for secondary school athletes, namely archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, baseball, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. The elementary school athletes will compete in 12 – that is, excluding archery, boxing and softball.

He lauded all governors of the participating provinces for personally attending to the needs of their athletes, who are now housed in different schools in the city and neighboring towns.

There will also be cultural; competitions, including declamation, vocal solo, impromptu speech, folk dance and dance sports.

Lapating said that the theme of the 2005 WVRAA Meet is “Athletes First, Winning Second.”

In his welcome message to athletes and delegates, he wrote that “the athlete mirrors man as the only creature made in God’s image. Hence, he is more important than the trophies and laurels he is capable of winning. Winning is his goal, but losing does not debase him while striving for better luck next time. Such is the spirit of sportsmanship that has descended from Greece, specifically Mount Olympus.”

(from PanayNews Online)

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:45 AM

Friday, April 15, 2005
Globelines opens services center at SM City Iloilo

* Globelines business center accepts bill payments and provides after sales assistance for existing subscribers

INNOVE Communications Inc. has opened up another Globelines Payments and Services Business Center (GPS) at the second floor of SM City Iloilo Thursday.

This means more convenience for new and existing Globelines subscribers in the city as well as in Leganes as the GPS center is ready to attend to their needs even on weekends and holidays, Globelines said in a statement.

The Globelines business center accepts bill payments and provides after sales assistance for existing subscribers.

New subscribers can also go to the GPS center to inquire about Globelines' products and services such as Globelines Broadband.

Globelines Broadband is Innove Communications' breakthrough service that was launched in June last year. It provides high speed Internet connection at affordable prices thus, allowing a subscriber to download more data, music and video.

Globelines Broadband enriches lives as it allows real time communication. Its starting packages offer download speeds of up to 384 kbps and upload speed of 128 kbps at a low price of only P995 per month.

Subscribers can choose from three packages - Express, Explore and Extreme - depending on their connectivity needs and budget and get to experience true interactivity.

To celebrate the opening of Globelines' 37th payments and services center, it is offering a weekend promo for applicants who will visit the SM City Iloilo GPS to subscribe to its postpaid and prepaid landline, and to Globelines Broadband.

New landline subscribers will take home freebies and giveaways while broadband subscribers will get a free mouse and CD case. Installation of Globelines Broadband as well as the first monthly service fee will also be free.

Leading the inauguration rites were Globelines Head Ramon Antonio Pineda, Customer Care Head Tina Marie Ortiz, Area Head for Western Visayas Ma. Alicia Aristorenas, Customer Care Operations Support Head Jasmine Garrido and SM City Iloilo GPS Center Head Ma. Erna Camacho.

Local officials who attended were Governor Niel Tupas, Vice Governor Roberto Armada, Iloilo City Representative Raul Gonzales Jr. and Councilors Jed Mabilog, Ramon Cua Locsin, Merci Garcia and Jeffrey Ganzon.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

wecky

April 17th, 2005, 01:58 AM

few of pictures from "googling" of ...

DINAGYANG FESTIVAL of ILOILO CITY

http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/images/iloilo_dinagyang1.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/1421964-Travel_Picture-Dinagyang.jpg

http://www.pilmap.com.ph/PILMAP%20(4th%20Issue)/Images/Dinagyang%202002_/DSC00100.JPG

http://www.pilmap.com.ph/PILMAP%20(4th%20Issue)/Images/Dinagyang%202002_/DSC00052.JPG

http://online.cri.com.cn/mmsource/image/2002-9-27/9-10.jpg

wecky

April 19th, 2005, 01:49 AM

Retailers seminar roadshow goes to Iloilo

ILOILO City – Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the country’s nationally recognized organization of retailers, brings to Iloilo the seminar “Creating Customer Service Standards for the Retail Industry.”

Retailers from Region VI will now have the opportunity to experience the information and values-packed seminar on April 27, 2005, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Amigo Terrace Hotel Ballroom. Mabuhay host certified trainor, Maan Palabrica, will be the seminar’s resource speaker.

The seminar aims to create awareness on the importance of setting customer service standards as a competitive strategy. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge in developing functional maps and service blueprints that help incorporate quality into the service system. As a result, enhancement of retail performance levels and professionalism in delivering service that exceeds customer’s expectations are met. In the highly competitive world of retail, excellent customer service standards and skills make a big difference in realizing robust retail growth.

In addition to the seminar, regional retailers will have the chance to learn more about the PRA and its biggest annual event, the National Retailers Conference and Stores Asia Expo, the country’s major event for retailers and retail suppliers slated in August 2005. PRA Vice President for National Affairs and Picture City President, Atty. Paul A. Sison, will present the PRA program.

Last year, the PRA seminar road show has its initial run in Cebu City. More than 300 retail managers and retail entrepreneurs from the city and nearby provinces of Region VII packed the grand ballroom of the Marriott Hotel to attend this half-day seminar.

This second seminar is sponsored by Globe/Innove and supported by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VI headed by DTI Regional Director Dominic P. Abad, DTI Iloilo Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr., PRA Iloilo Chapter President Francis Chung, SM City Iloilo, Robinsons Place Iloilo and the Iloilo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Interested participants may get in touch with the PRA Executive Secretariat in Manila at tel. no. (02)687-4180/81, telefax (02)687-4985 or email pra@nwave.net or DTI Region VI at tel. nos. (033)335-0548/1980 or fax (033) 335-0083 and look for ms. Rose Panes.

(from Panay News Online)

sandrin

April 20th, 2005, 04:54 AM

http://www.thenewstoday.info/20050419/corporate4.jpg
City Corporate Inn, the best value hotel in IloIlo

http://www.thenewstoday.info/20050419/corporate5.jpg

wecky

April 21st, 2005, 03:15 AM

ILOILO named anchor destination of
‘Island Paradise Adventure Race’

ILOILO City has been identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the anchor destinations of the Island Paradise Adventure Race slated on the third quarter of 2005.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said the adventure race is one of the programs of the DOT that promotes traveling to the country using the nautical highway, which he described as “the best way to experience the diversity offered by the Philippines.”

“This is our one way of promoting Iloilo City,” Durano said. “Iloilo City will always be a part and parcel of any program the Department of Tourism will have.”

The DOT chief also announced that his office has allocated P1.5 million to rehabilitate the Iloilo fountain. A historic one, this fountain was named after the grandfather of First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, the former Senator Jose Maria Arroyo. This is used to gauge how far the distance of one place is from Iloilo City.

Durano, who was the keynote speaker of the recent Tourism Summit organized by the Iloilo City Conventions Bureau (ICCB) and the Dinagyang Foundation, also took the opportunity to explain his non-appearance in various festivals here.

He expressed his apology to Mayor Jerry Treñas who early on, manifested his disappointment with the “non-inclusion” of Iloilo City festivals in DOT’s programs.
Durano assured Treñas that DOT will never neglect Iloilo City, especially now that an Ilonggo has been appointed to assist him at the DOT.

Businessman Salvador Sarabia was recently appointed as undersecretary of the DOT, a post which makes him in charge of national security and political alliances.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

April 21st, 2005, 03:17 AM

http://www.thenewstoday.info/20050419/corporate4.jpg
City Corporate Inn, the best value hotel in IloIlo

http://www.thenewstoday.info/20050419/corporate5.jpg

Thank you very much for posting this picture, sandrin. Actually I have no idea that there's a City Corporate Inn existing in Iloilo. Do you know where's the exact place it is located in the city?

Thanks.

sandrin

April 21st, 2005, 03:27 AM

@Wecky:
Looking for a place to stay for vacation, business trip or seminar? Discover a new home right in the heart of the city just across one of Iloilo 's big universities ( University of Iloilo ). The City Corporate Inn, the best value hotel in the city, is conducive for your specific need.

A three-storey building with 42 guest rooms from Suite, De Luxe, Standard, Economy and Single Rooms equipped with air condition, private bathroom, hot and cold shower, cable television, refrigerator (in all Suite rooms) and a mini-bar upon request.

City Corporate Inn is strategically located at Rizal St. fronting University of Iloilo and is beside Gaisano Iloilo. It is surrounded by prime establishments and easily accessible to all important government offices, malls, restaurants and bars, supermarkets, universities, hospitals and banks.

Other than these, City Corporate Inn also has other facilities and services to make your stay comfortable such as banquet best for seminars, functions and other gatherings. Two function rooms which could accommodate up to 60 participants each, with 2 exits in each floor, a terrace for chat small group discussions, 24–hour room services, IDD/NDD PABX System, laundry and pressing services, hotel shuttle service rental and 24-hour stand–by generator available at your convenience.

Prices ranges from Single Php 495, Economy (2 pax) Php 595, Standard (2 pax) Php 695, De Luxe (3 pax) Php 795, Suite (3 pax) Php 1200 and Php 200 for every extra bed. For inquiries and reservations you can contact CCI at 033-508-1976, 033-509-8388, 033-335-0166, Cell Number: 0915-6502122 and 0918-4837911 or email: cci_iloilo@yahoo.com. If you want a comfortable, relaxing stay in Iloilo at an affordable price visit and enjoy City Corporate Inn's services.

Virtute

April 21st, 2005, 02:09 PM

chymera00

April 21st, 2005, 07:24 PM

wow that's a nice pic ... a great addition to the collection :)

chymera00

April 21st, 2005, 07:35 PM

Iloilo named anchor destination of
‘Island Paradise Adventure Race’

ILOILO City has been identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the anchor destinations of the Island Paradise Adventure Race slated on the third quarter of 2005.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said the adventure race is one of the programs of the DOT that promotes traveling to the country using the nautical highway, which he described as “the best way to experience the diversity offered by the Philippines.”

“This is our one way of promoting Iloilo City,” Durano said. “Iloilo City will always be a part and parcel of any program the Department of Tourism will have.”

The DOT chief also announced that his office has allocated P1.5 million to rehabilitate the Iloilo fountain. A historic one, this fountain was named after the grandfather of First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, the former Senator Jose Maria Arroyo. This is used to gauge how far the distance of one place is from Iloilo City.

Durano, who was the keynote speaker of the recent Tourism Summit organized by the Iloilo City Conventions Bureau (ICCB) and the Dinagyang Foundation, also took the opportunity to explain his non-appearance in various festivals here.

He expressed his apology to Mayor Jerry Treñas who early on, manifested his disappointment with the “non-inclusion” of Iloilo City festivals in DOT’s programs.
Durano assured Treñas that DOT will never neglect Iloilo City, especially now that an Ilonggo has been appointed to assist him at the DOT.

Businessman Salvador Sarabia was recently appointed as undersecretary of the DOT, a post which makes him in charge of national security and political alliances.

chymera00

April 21st, 2005, 07:37 PM

Thursday, April 21, 2005
Airport project probe continues

THE House resumes its inquiry Thursday on the alleged anomalies in the construction of the P6.2 billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project in Cabatuan town.

Post your prayers to the Sun.Star Pope Watch section. Click here.
2005-04-01 19:04:06
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The inquiry, the third since February, will be held at Centennial
Eon Hotel starting 9:30 a.m.

Third district Representative Arthur Defensor, who chairs the committee, said 10 to 15 persons were summoned to testify but he refused to name them yet.

He said officials who already testified during the inquiry of committee on transportation and communication in the last Congress were also summoned.

But there are new personalities, private persons, Defensor said.

The inquiry stemmed from the exposé, of third district Board Member Emmanuel Gallar in a privilege speech last year, accusing Governor Niel Tupas of involvement in questionable deals relative to the airport construction.

Defensor said Tupas, whom he defeated in the 1998 gubernatorial elections, should be present in his nature as respondent.

Former Capitol executives, once closely associated with Tupas, were also invited.

For his part, Gallar said he "expects a deeper probe" on the alleged anomalies.

The board member said the committee has invited to appear today the eight or nine resource persons he requested to be summoned.

Gallar had "exposed fraud in the enactment of the amendment to the Provincial Quarry Ordinance and the execution of an amended memorandum of agreement (MOA) dated Dec. 22, 2003 without the necessary authority from the Iloilo Provincial Board."

On the supply of quarry materials to the airport contractor, it is "alleged that there are favored quarry operators and suppliers, some of which have interlocking directors and officers and without the required ECC, enjoying huge purchase orders from the airport contractor Taise Shimizu Joint Venture."

All operators are "allegedly controlled by Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., his family members and associates."

There were also issues raised on lot pricing and relocation problems as well as the burrow pit site in Barangay Camumbugan, not the original site as the initial site is now unoccupied in Barangay Tiring.

sugarboy

April 23rd, 2005, 09:47 PM

GOTTA POST this

http://tinypic.com/1eaqs3

LINTE!!!! Sin-o ni ya nagpost sini nga ginpalaway nya ako for Batchoy in the middle of the night!

hehehe :nuts:

Thunderflip

April 23rd, 2005, 10:08 PM

I heard that siopao is also a culinary speciality in Iloilo.

sugarboy

April 23rd, 2005, 10:09 PM

And now, the Pancit Molo story I promised a few posts ago. Sometime in 1999, the broadcastjournalist Daphne Osena (who also has some roots from Iloilo) made a "Video Postcard" on Studio 23's News Central. She was in Iloilo at that time and went to Molo to look for the best Pancit Molo in town. She scoured all the restaurants and carinderias to look for it thinking that she'd find a "Pancit Molo version" of Ted's La Paz Batchoy. As I'd expected, she didn't find it.

I quickly emailed her to say that the reason why she was unsuccessful was because the best Pancit Molo cannot be found in a restaurant. Heck it can't even be found in Iloilo.

As per Virtute's post on January 18th, 2005, 09:09 PM (post #63 on this thread), the Jaro illustrados migrated to Negros at the turn of the century bringing along their entire household (kusineras included) to later become the hacenderos. The kusineras were the real masters of Pancit Molo and through the years, handed down their recipes to be identified as their own unique blend of Pancit Molo for the particular family/household they worked for.

As such, the best Pancit Molo in Iloilo is actually in Negros (Irony! Irony!). Unfortunately, it's not served in a restaurant but at regular Saturday family lunches where family members gather at the ancestral home in Bacolod for the weekly laid back lunch.

When in Bacolod, try to get yourselves invited to a Coscolluela Saturday lunch and you'll swear by the Pancit Molo. :)

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 11:51 AM

LINTE!!!! Sin-o ni ya nagpost sini nga ginpalaway nya ako for Batchoy in the middle of the night!

hehehe :nuts:

hahaha ... my sentiment as well ... hehehe .. the picture says it all, sugarboy .. i can smell La Paz batchoy already ... hehehe

sugarboy

April 24th, 2005, 11:54 AM

Now this is more of the Iloilo I know.....

Without Batting An Eyelash : Majestic coronation and party in Iloilo

Posted 03:01am (Mla time) April 22, 2005
By Maurice Arcache
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page G1 of the April 22, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THERE are parties and then there are great parties. One of the really great and memorable ones recently to moi was given in Iloilo City, dahlings, by my palanggas, Rito Carlos "Judgee" Lopez-Peña and his wife, vivaciously adorable Sarah Opolencia-P.. The party was to celebrate their daughter's coronation as Queen of Jaro, a prestigious title bestowed on a young lady usually coming from the old-money gentry.

After all, Jaro, for your info, was considered as the country's "first millionaires row." This was during the early 1900s.

"Her Majesty," Rita Carla Peña, Ferdinandina I, Queen of Jaro for 2005, can be described as a girl truly made of sugar and spice and everything nice, the kind any parent would be proud to present to society.

Rita is brilliant and has accomplished tons of things, palanggas. She's a recipient of the Mother Marie Eugene Award in grade school and high school at Assumption-Iloilo.

She was also chosen as Girl Mayor of Iloilo City over 120 other
contestants. And Rita has just graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University, with a BS Management degree major in Legal Management and minor in International Business. She was a Dean's Lister, no less.

She also supports the education of 126 children through the foundation she has put up, with free school supplies and summer classes. Yes, go girl!

Rita is descended from the late Judge Remegio Montilla-Peña and Yolanda "Bobbie" Javellana-Lopez Vda. de Peña, daughter of the late former Vice President Fernando Hofilena-Lopez and Doña Mariquit Javellana-Lopez.

On the other hand, Rita's maternal grandparents were the late Cristino Villavicencio-Opolencia and Tarcila Lambot.

Rita has two younger sisters, Risa Maria Lourdes, a 16-year-old student at the Philippine Science High School in Iloilo City, and 8-year-old Rica Marie Isabel, an outstanding student who is incidentally the Queen of Jaro Children's Fancy Dress Ball for 2005.

The beautiful vast garden of Judgee and Sarah Peña in the exclusive Ledesco Village in Iloilo looked even more immense and beautiful. Everywhere you looked, you'd see hot namedroppables such as the radiant Elena Javellana with daughter Lee and hubby Alfred Palmeras.

Also there were the reserved but muy elegante First Lady of Iloilo, Rosalie Sarabia-Treñas, with her sister Gina Sarabia-Espinosa, who came with hubby Joe Espinosa III; violinist Gilopez Kabayao and Corazon Pineda-Kabayao; men-about-town Joemarie Treñas, Zafiro Ledesma Jr. and Tom Griffins; our very own religion chronicler, Josie Darang; Iloilo's top social writer and party organizer Nonoy D. Ybiernas; popular John Castigador; Martin Soriano; Bacolod's king of the smart set, Edouard Garcia; business magnate Henry Babiera, president and chair of the board of Lombija Wildlife Research Foundation Inc.; and international documentary filmmakers David and Hazel Andrea-Stuart.

http://images.inq7.net/news/lifestyle/images/2005/apr/22/maurice-jaro2.jpg (In photo: TWO QUEENS, their sister, parents and a consort)

Judgee P.'s biker pals from the VOG VMAX Owners Group Ltd, headed by Renato "Junjun" Osmeña, drove all the way from Cebu to Iloilo. They were ferried the next day to Tamsik, Guimaras, the Peñas' tres private island, for some more partying.

The grand coronation took place at the Jaro Plaza Auditorium. In the huge covered court, the Peñas once again entertained their guests, palanggas.

Rita was breathtaking in an off-white gossamer silk gown, traced in gold threads and embedded with thousands of Swarovski crystals created to perfection by her London-based uncle, Bobi Rodero, who works with one of the big fashion houses in London, frequented by the royal famille.

A velvet cape, a glittering tiara, plus her mom's sparklers completed the queenly ensemble.

And speaking of the mother. Sarah O. Peña, too, looked tres chic in a creamy satin confection, accentuated by a black feather, by Jojie Lloren.

Judgee was in a tux and tie.

Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzales Jr. proclaimed Rita Peña Queen of Jaro 2005, together with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas. They were assisted by Gerian Gallon Salcedo, Queen of Jaro 2004, and Msgr. Amadeo Esca¤an, parish priest of the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral.

The famous Jaro fiesta is in honor of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.

A trophy from President Macapagal-Arroyo was presented to the queen.

Enjoying the grand coronation were Ruth Javelosa, Baby Almeda, Sandra Sarabia-Gomez, Dr. Malbar Ferrer with wife Gina, Iloilo City councilor Jeffrey Ganzon, Jim Velez with wife Lolita, Nonoy Braga, Dr. Renato Alba with wife Lolita; and ballet dancer and figure ice skater Kristine R. Velez, palanggas.

Toward the end, a "de Valse de Honor" was participated in by the Who's Who of Metro Iloilo alta sociedad.

After the royal march and dance, Judgee Lopez-Peña and Sarah Opolencia-Peña closed the grand coronation with a short thank you. Gorgeous fireworks followed, while we all partook of the yummy hors d'oeuvres and overflowing delights by Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing of Al Dente Ristorante Italiano.

The guests applauded the social director, Bony Gaverza, and choreographers JP Libo-on and Julius Soliesta for a fab presentation, and the overall chair of the Jaro Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair, Juliet Diamante, for a job superbly done!

Later, an all-night rock and ballroom dancing to the music of the Totong Villaruz Band rocked the whole place. I could have imagined Queen Rita humming the tune, "I could have danced all night!" as she danced until past the crowing of the rooster.

Now, that's an awesome coronation, Southern style, palanggas.

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 12:01 PM

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 12:04 PM

I heard that siopao is also a culinary speciality in Iloilo.

Not that I know of, Thundeflip ... though we all love to eat siopao ... hehehe. But really fascinates me a lot .. most of the resto in Iloilo are serving siopao,too. As far as I know ... Iloilo have La Paz Batchoy and Pancit Molo.

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 12:12 PM

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 12:18 PM

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 12:21 PM

wecky

April 24th, 2005, 01:48 PM

DOT shells out P1-M for visit Iloilo and Guimaras 2006

The Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB) was assured of P1 million seed money from the Department of Tourism (DOT) to be used to market Iloilo and its cluster under the Visit Iloilo and Guimaras 2006 project.

DOT Secretary Ace Durano, who graced the tourism summit organized by the ICCB and the Dinagyang Foundation last week, said the amount would be replenished as it is spent.

Durano likewise assured his presence during the launching of the project here in Iloilo simultaneous with the celebration of Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day.

Francis T. Cruz, Director of the ICCB, said the project is a collective undertaking among sectors in Iloilo City, Iloilo and Guimaras Provinces and adjacent destinations, to promote these sites as potential tourism, trade and investment destinations.

The project was conceptualized in 2001 and finalized in 2005 after a discussion with former DOT Secretary Narzalina Lim. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas then requested the ICCB to look into organizing the said promotion event.

”The concept is to bring together the different sectors involved in the promotion of Iloilo and Guimaras to come up with a collective and well coordinated effort in tourism promotions. This would showcase the best these provinces could offer not only in terms of festivals but also in many beautiful places we have that are not widely promoted but has a high value for potential tourists,” Cruz added.

During the summit, members of the ICCB and other stakeholders finalized the list of events and festivals and list of places to visit in both provinces. Also, plans and strategies were ironed out preparatory to the launching of the project. PNA

(from News Today Online)

chymera00

April 24th, 2005, 04:54 PM

Thanks for Durano if the plan for rehabilitating the fountain will push through. It has been working on and off ages ago. At times, the water literally stops pouring in that beautiful fountain in front of the old provincial capitol probably due to the poor and very old technical stuff clinging to it. How I wish they'll start the rehabilitation the soonest.

Hopefully Mr Sarabia will be of great help as well in promoting Iloilo. Now, that's really a great addition.

Thanks to Durano and Sarabia. May they keep well in promoting the Philippines in international arena.

Yes, the fountain has been not been working lately ...
http://www.kalliomaki.net/philippines/kesa16/iloilo.jpg

I wish they rehabilitate other areas of the city too, like this one (taken inside the Plaza Libertad). Photo by me :)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p66522bf957032c864fc42a9ab46f5252/f8a9fa9f.jpg

chymera00

April 24th, 2005, 05:00 PM

Not that I know of, Thundeflip ... though we all love to eat siopao ... hehehe. But really fascinates me a lot .. most of the resto in Iloilo are serving siopao,too. As far as I know ... Iloilo have La Paz Batchoy and Pancit Molo.

I love siopao too! A well known place to eat siopao here in Iloilo is a resto called Kongkee (I hope I got spelling right). Its located in J.M. Basa St. As a child, My family always bring home siopao after attending sunday mass at San Jose Church ...

chymera00

April 24th, 2005, 05:04 PM

thanks for the info sugarboy .. hope the kusineras will come back to Molo, Iloilo for Pancit Molo making ... hehehe (just a joke) ... but really, Iloilo and Bacolod shares too many common things .. culture, foods, language (not dialect!), lifestyle, etc .... we simply regard Bacolod as our family extension. I have relatives residing in Bacolod City itself, Moises Padilla and Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. They all come from our town in Iloilo. Truly, both cities compliment each other. Being the two highly-urbanized cities of the Western Visayas region.

What do you mean "not dialect" ??? Both cities speak hiligaynon, its when you go out into the province that you start hearing variations. In Iloilo Province its a mix of hiligaynon/kiniray-a while In negros I'm assuming its hiligaynon/bisaya(Cebuano) ...

BTW, I have relatives in Negros too but they're in Bacolod City.

chymera00

April 24th, 2005, 05:12 PM

sugarboy

April 25th, 2005, 12:50 AM

sugarboy

April 25th, 2005, 12:55 AM

as mentioned in an earlier post, i hope there could be a different forum where ilonggos could converge online without being insensitive to the other members, or even appear snobbish by posting in ilonggo/hiligaynon. i searched the web and found one actually. it's http://ilonggonurses.hyperboards.com . for those want to continue raving in the local dialect, i'll see you there :)

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 02:53 AM

Yes, the fountain has been not been working lately ...
http://www.kalliomaki.net/philippines/kesa16/iloilo.jpg

I wish they rehabilitate other areas of the city too, like this one (taken inside the Plaza Libertad). Photo by me :)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid116/p66522bf957032c864fc42a9ab46f5252/f8a9fa9f.jpg

Oh bless you people ... that fountain will soon be cracked out into pieces if it is not used ... here in other European cities ( especially Barcelona), they made their fountains more picturesque with dancing lights, etc. In Rome alone, two many fountains found around the city, most notably is the famous Trevi fountain. Hopefully, that fountain in capitol area will mirror our glorious past as Ilonggos, where at one point in time, we became the centre of Visayas and Mindanao.

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 03:16 AM

I love siopao too! A well known place to eat siopao here in Iloilo is a resto called Kongkee (I hope I got spelling right). Its located in J.M. Basa St. As a child, My family always bring home siopao after attending sunday mass at San Jose Church ...

yup, yup, yup Chymera ... it's where the best siopao in town ... I used to frequent Kongkee restaurant for siopao way back from high school til I left Iloilo and the Philippines. Roberto's resto served good siopao as well and so with Fatima ... actually, posting this matter made me drool as well .. hahaha

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 03:19 AM

What do you mean "not dialect" ??? Both cities speak hiligaynon, its when you go out into the province that you start hearing variations. In Iloilo Province its a mix of hiligaynon/kiniray-a while In negros I'm assuming its hiligaynon/bisaya(Cebuano) ...

BTW, I have relatives in Negros too but they're in Bacolod City.

I am referring to Ilonggo/Hiligaynon shared by both Iloilo City and Bacolod City. Ilonggo or Hiligaynon is not a dialect but rather a language itself. We barely have common terms used by other provinces or regions in the country. Same through with Chabacano, Cebuano, Ilokano, etc.

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 03:24 AM

This thread thread is starting to get bigger ... when this thread reaches the 500th post mark you people think it would be a good idea to make a "Iloilo City and Province thread II"? Haha sounds so nice. I'm just concerned if this thread will get deleted coz of inactivity (like what happened the the previous Iloilo City thread). It will be really sad :cry: :cry:

I just want to take this opportunity to thank you guys for keeping this thread alive , I couldn't have done it myself ( :| :| :| ). Lets give ourself a :grouphug: .... cheers :drunk: I hope i get to meet some of you in the near future

are we on our way to 500th mark already? wow ... it's nice to have thread II but I prefer this thread instead. Hopefully, we will continue to post concerns, development, etc about Iloilo and Iloilo City here more.

thanks for starting the thread Chymera! Hopefully I can meet you too. I'll be home in July to attend the CPU's (Central Philippine University) Centennial Celebration.

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 03:31 AM

the fact that this thread will soon hit the 500th post mark is also an affirmation to the fact that ilonggos are simply clannish. look, here we are raving about iloilo and the surrounding areas kag ang iban naga amot-amot lang. this is not to say it in a negative manner but i guess it just goes to show how distinct the ilonggo can be at times.

i suppose that if this SSC were a party, all the ilonggos can be found in one corner huddling and talking in the native tongue.

TI ABI?!

I can't say more, sugarboy. Even here abroad, we do cling to each other (hahaha) as well. My circle of friends were way back my elementary, high school and college days in Iloilo. Few were from other provinces like Manila, Cebu, Davao, Pamapanga, Iligan, etc. We are not snobbish at all, it just seems nice to speak in your native language and have a jam with the news, etc about the place which most of you are familiar with. Not to mention some issues and concerns besetting your province as a whole. Hearing all the palanggas chit-chatting around, with an accent distinct from the rest is a music to the ear.

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 03:32 AM

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 02:00 PM

Monday, April 25, 2005
Ilonggo tribes hit big-time in Aliwan fest

THREE tribes from Iloilo bagged the top three major prizes in the annual Aliwan Festival tribes competition held in Pasay City.

Pintados de Pasi of Passi City bagged the first prize.

Another Ilonggo tribe, Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara, placed second while Dinagyang's Tribu Silak was third place. Pintados de Pasi received P1 million; Kahilwayan, P500,000; and Tribu Silak, P250,000.

Pintados de Pasi's presentation is reflective of Passi City's history and culture. It's where the Spaniards first saw tattooed men whom they called pintados or painted people.

Tribu Kahilwayan portrayed how the revolutionaries, most of whom came from Sta. Barbara, headed by Gen. Martin Delgado, struggled to liberate themselves from Spain.

Tribu Silak's presentation is based on the worship on Señor Santo Niño.(KVC)

(from Sunstar Iloilo Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/25/news/ilonggo.tribes.hit.big.time.in.aliwan.fest.html)

wecky

April 25th, 2005, 02:03 PM

Monday, April 25, 2005
Iloilo gears for Palaro '05 hosting

* Dr. Raymundo Lapating, provincial schools division superintendent, says the activities in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet were dry runs for the hosting of the national sports event

AFTER playing host to the just-concluded WVRAA 2005 Meet, Iloilo City and Province are now gearing for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2005 from May 8 to 14.

Dr. Raymundo Lapating, provincial schools division superintendent, earlier said the activities in the WVRAA Meet were dry runs for the hosting of the national sports event.

Both national and provincial governments are shelling out P10 million to refurbish the Iloilo Sports Complex.

According to reports, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through her social fund, already allocated P20 million for the event, but the weeklong, multi-event competition's proposed budget is P40 million.

It wasn't yet confirmed where the additional funding of P20 million will come from.

Almost 8,000 student athletes from 16 regions expected to participate in the meet.

The holding of the Palaro this summer came about after Education Secretary Butch Abad issued a memorandum prohibiting the staging of sports events during the regular school term, following the poor ratings Filipino elementary and high-school students showed in recent surveys.

The Palaro was last held in 2003 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte for only the second time in five years after being transferred through Republic Act 9155 from the Department of Education to the Philippine Sports Commission.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/25/sports/iloilo.gears.for.palaro.05.hosting.html)

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 05:04 AM

Here's a stiched up pic I took 2yrs ago of the Atrium. It's 3 pics I merged together. Sorry for the length.

First, it's this building. I cropped one of chymera's nice pics of the Atrium so I can show you it's this buidling inside it.
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/atrium_outside.jpg

Here it is.
http://www.montinola.org/pics/skyscrapers/Atrium.jpg

wow .. I really like these pictures ... miss The Atirum so much. I remember when it first opened ... it was during my college days then. We used to frequent this mall over and over again. Dining in the Aristocrat (I think its closed now), window shopping in the second-level where Dockers are located (wonder if the Dockers store is still exisitng), eating in Chowking til past midnight, simmering the coolest air-conditioned lobby, and at times, went to the fourth (of fifth floor I guess) of the Days Hotel just to use their comfort room ... hahaha. really missing this place!

whyte

April 26th, 2005, 10:06 AM

:wave:

* really enjoyed reading news articles and seeing pictures. almost a year na rin yata akong di nakauwi
* CONGRATS ILONGGOS for the 1-2-3 finish durign the aliwan festival esp sa KAHILWAYAN taga STA BARBS ako. :)
* I think that TOURISM Sec DURANO is making up with ILOILO with all these promos after the DOTs Musical PROMO featuring REGINE VELASQUEZ WITHOUT ILOILO caused a stir amongt he city officials. well better late than never
* speaking of sio pao. cant be sure if i already mentioned this. my mom said the QUEENS siopao is back. sikat na sikat daw ito dati.but they are only available 3X a month. yup. kong kee is an instituion. though I also like WEWINs and TIBIAOs sio pao
* Tourism will get be a big player in the WESTERN VISAYAS region once PALAWAN and ROMBLON becomes part of it. i really resented when GUIMARAS broke away from Iloilo
* With different conventions/seminars plus PALARO and CPUs centennial celebration, I think 2005 tourism/visitor receipts will be record breaking.
* re: ATRIUM. before it was built it was vacant grassy lot. And eveytime I pass there, I was really hoping that a mall would be built there. yess!
* Many thanks to the regulars of this thread. I really agree on making this thread a "ONE STOP SHOP" for eveything ILOILO

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 11:33 AM

* really enjoyed reading news articles and seeing pictures. almost a year na rin yata akong di nakauwi

time for you to go home to Iloilo, Whyte. Are you attending the CPU's Centennial Celebration as well? Hopefully you will, as most alumni around the world will converge during the two-week to a month celebration (at its peak!) ... the celebration started last December 2004 with the opening of lights but the peak of alumni homecoming will be by the end week of July to second week of August. Though the Centennial Celebration activities will run til end of December 2005, a whole year is too much for anybody working here. More funfares were scheduled til the Centennial U-Day in mid-September but people here abroad will definitely not stay longer than a month for this. With the feedback from the international alumni, (so far, so good) this one-month celebration will be of great success!

* CONGRATS ILONGGOS for the 1-2-3 finish durign the aliwan festival esp sa KAHILWAYAN taga STA BARBS ako.

really, really proud of them ... yepey ! ... would you believe that? First, second and third place were all captured by Iloilo participants! Arriva, Arriva !

* I think that TOURISM Sec DURANO is making up with ILOILO with all these promos after the DOTs Musical PROMO featuring REGINE VELASQUEZ WITHOUT ILOILO caused a stir among the city officials. well better late than never

I guess so, too. Hopefully he'll stick to his promises this time. Especially if he is sincere enough in helping Iloilo's promotion.

* speaking of sio pao. cant be sure if i already mentioned this. my mom said the QUEENS siopao is back. sikat na sikat daw ito dati.but they are only available 3X a month. yup. kong kee is an instituion. though I also like WEWINs and TIBIAOs sio pao

Wewin's siopao is nice as well and so with Tibiao. All of them have great taste especially when I'm hungry .. just like now ... hahaha.

* Tourism will get be a big player in the WESTERN VISAYAS region once PALAWAN and ROMBLON becomes part of it. i really resented when GUIMARAS broke away from Iloilo

I believe so as well. By that time, region VI (Western Visayas) is in the forefront of the Philippine's tourism. With Guimaras, well they asked for it. They want to break away from Iloilo province. Iloilo is just too good to let them go. We just hope and pray that they'll do great as the province as well. They're still our good ally. Sort of a brother or a sister.

* With different conventions/seminars plus PALARO and CPUs centennial celebration, I think 2005 tourism/visitor receipts will be record breaking.

hopefully more to come ... :)

* re: ATRIUM. before it was built it was vacant grassy lot. And eveytime I pass there, I was really hoping that a mall would be built there. yess!

yeah .. i remember it as well.

* Many thanks to the regulars of this thread. I really agree on making this thread a "ONE STOP SHOP" for eveything ILOILO

hopefully you can help post Iloilo pictures here as well, Whyte!
Cheers!

chymera00

April 26th, 2005, 11:35 AM

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 11:36 AM

Tuesday, April 26, 2005
UPV student to compete in London speaking tilt

PATRICIA Evangelista of UP Diliman made headlines last year when she won the English Speaking Union's (ESU) International Public Speaking Competition in London, England, besting contestants from 37 countries all over the world.

This year, Julie Estilo Prescott, a freshman Literature student from
UP in the Visayas, might just do another "Patricia Evangelista stint."

Public speaking is second nature to Julie Prescott. Since her elementary and high school years, she has been competing and making her mark in public speaking and extemporaneous competitions.

As a freshman student last year, she was the official debater of UP in the Visayas for the Inter-Collegiate Debate in the national level.

Prescott was then invited by ESU-Philippines to join its National Public Speaking Competition from February 28 to March 1.

She was then chosen as one of the two official representatives to the 2005 International Public Speaking Competition in Dartmouth House, London slated on May 12, 2005.

The English-Speaking Union or ESU is an international educational charity founded in 1918 to promote "international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language."

ESU has almost 40 branches in the UK and over 50 international branches in countries in every part of the world.

Its mission is to bring people together and share their experiences to achieve international cooperation and understanding among nations.

As a charity foundation, ESU aims to provide a forum for international friendship through regular conferences, seminars and meetings where current affairs and issues are discussed.

In addition, ESU wants to promote English in international public speaking and debate for the support of worldwide communication and dialogue as well as encourage the enjoyment and constructive use of the language through educational programs.

Other activities include international youth exchange and work experience schemes and provide and create cultural activities.

As Prescott prepares to leave for England for the May 12 competition, the Philippines is hopeful that she will bring her country pride and honor, as did her fellow UP student Patricia Evangelista.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/26/life/upv.student.to.compete.in.london.speaking.tilt.html)

chymera00

April 26th, 2005, 11:38 AM

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 11:48 AM

Well you beat me in posting this first ... This is really impressive, 1st 2nd and 3rd spots ... wow. I wish I could have seen those 3 tribes in the aliwan festival.. oh well

hehehe ... news here abroad is much faster though .. while you are "all" sleeping there in the Philippines, the updated online news are all available from midnight (Phil. time) via the net .. by that time, it's only 4pm in London, UK ... so by the time, you read the paper when you wake up in the morning, we already had it all. That's the power of the lovely "aol.co.uk" ... hehehe .. right into my laptop ... hehehe.

anyways, I am also impressed with the resultsof Aliwan Festival in MM, Chymera ... they (Ilonggo tribes) really rule the contest!

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 11:58 AM

I couldn't believe they actually (maybe intentionally) missed Iloilo in the song ... Its a clear sign of neglect (something that has happened for decades already), but I guess what's important is the DOT did something about it. And I hope through the efforts of our local officials the Nat'l gov't will take more notice of Iloilo and exploit its vast potentials

that's true, Chymera ... I think they should let Regine sing the song again .. this time with Iloilo on it ... hehehe .. just a joke. Iloilo's tourism had been neglected for ages already. Our local officials were not bothered during those times though .. they just simply let it be. Thanks for Mr Trenas. At least now, we are starting to hear our voice again!

Cheers!

(oh ... the downfall of Iloilo was really traced back during the time of "mr. arriva, timawa!" ... thank God, he was replaced by Mansing thereafter)

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 12:02 PM

Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Tupas: ILOILO destined to be 'Tourist Destination Capital'

* The Pintados de Pasi of Passi City bags the first place and fetches P1 million cash in Aliwan Festival
* Tribu Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara places second and receives
P500, 000 cash

GOVERNOR Niel Tupas lauded the excellent performances of Ilonggo tribes in the Aliwan Festival as he expressed optimism their major victories will highlight Iloilo Province as the "tourist destination capital" of the country.

The Pintados de Pasi of Passi City bagged the first place and fetched P1 million in cash prize.

The tribe was the grand prizewinner in the Kasadyahan competition of the Dinagyang Festival 2005.

Another winner is Tribu Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara, placing second and receiving P500, 000 in cash prize.

Tribu Silak of the Iloilo City National High School, champion in the Dinagyang 2005 Ati-ati contest, finished third and got P250, 000.

The Province extended a P200, 000 financial assistance to Pintados de Pasi and P100, 000 to Kahilwayan.

Tribu Silak

Aside from winning third place, Tribu Silak was also awarded P25, 000 for its float, which was designed by the Association of Tribes in Iloilo.

Dinagyang Foundation executive director Benito Jimena said that by joining the Aliwan Festival, Dinagyang tribes are now recognized as having the best folk choreography in the country.

"The festival also proved to be an appropriate venue for showcasing Ilonggo creativity and it has strengthened our claim as the festival capital of the Philippines," he added.

The winning tribes performed before a huge crowd on April 23 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and at Star City in Pasay.

The Aliwan Festival is an annual cultural event, which brings together almost all the major festivals from various regions of the country. The Manila Broadcasting Corporation spearheads the prestigious event.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/26/news/tupas.iloilo.destined.to.be.tourist.destination.capital..html)

sugarboy

April 26th, 2005, 03:14 PM

I love siopao too! A well known place to eat siopao here in Iloilo is a resto called Kongkee (I hope I got spelling right). Its located in J.M. Basa St. As a child, My family always bring home siopao after attending sunday mass at San Jose Church ...

how true is it nga nagmanggaranon ang tag-iya sang roberto's kay may ginahalad adlaw-adlaw nga daga sa kama-kama/tamawo?

whyte

April 26th, 2005, 07:38 PM

:D sa "daga" commnetary above. who knows?
di ba robertos' is (in)famous for its hamburger.

whyte

April 26th, 2005, 07:43 PM

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 09:17 PM

ILOILO is Irresistible!

http://www.philippines-hotels.us/iloilo-hotels/images/paraw_dinagyang.jpgIloilo conjures images of a glorious past. In this side of the Philippines, manorial old houses sitting on acres of land brings back memories of centuries-old tales of the insulares and peninsulares. The province’s colossal churches rendered in Baroque and Neo-classic styles are enough to convert a non-believer to believe in the presence of a Supreme Being.http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/gaki/islanaburot.jpg
What better way to begin the unearthing of Iloilo than ex-plore the resort Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo City. An ele-gant manorial house converted into a resort, the idyllic Punta Villa Resort is strategically located between Villa Beach and Batino River Punta Villa resorts. Punta Villa’s center of attraction, aside from its antique structure, are its swimming pools set in a lush garden and aviary.

The residential houses of the Lopezes are sights to behold in the town of Jaro. Made of wood and stone, the houses are revered by the locals as a testament to the splendid days of yore. Driving through the major thoroughfares of the city – from Jaro to Molo, from Guimbal to San Joaquin – your senses will be greeted by many grand houses of antiquity that have been pre-served by their owners.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/specials/regatta2004/images/foto01.jpg
To better understand the history and culture of Iloilo, it is a must to visit Museo Iloilo which houses an impressive collec-tion of tradewares, heirloom pieces, relics and artifacts donated by civic-minded Ilonggos. Having viewed all the antique religious articles in the museum, you’re ready to see the grandiose churches all over Iloilo. The Jaro Church is truly splendid. The awesome Guimbal Church is another massive structure symboliz-ing the utmost faith of the Ilonggos. The San Joaquin Church prides itself in being the only militaristic-type church in the Phil-ippines.http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/gaki/iloilomu.jpg

Having toured Iloilo’s old houses and churches, it was time for you to sample the delicacies of Iloilo. When in Iloilo, it is a must to eat molo soup in the town of Molo where it all began. If you’re craving for La Paz batchoy, Ted’s is the place to be for your sotanghon batchoy that is truly delightful.
Iloilo indeed is a province rich in historical and cultural attractions. One can take home antiques, handicrafts, art pieces, native delicacies and a thousand and one more souvenir items. Iloilo is simply irresistible.

(from: http://www.atinitonews.com/aug2004/tourism.html)

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 09:20 PM

how true is it nga nagmanggaranon ang tag-iya sang roberto's kay may ginahalad adlaw-adlaw nga daga sa kama-kama/tamawo?

we don't know about it, sugarboy (hopefully not!)... but Roberto's foods/menus are truly delectable!

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 09:22 PM

:D sa "daga" commnetary above. who knows?
di ba robertos' is (in)famous for its hamburger.

as in, Whyte .... i'm not too keen with their hamburger actually but their sotanghon guisado .. wow ... kanamit gid ... my hunger pangs start to work na .. hmmm ..

wecky

April 26th, 2005, 09:29 PM

In my opinion, Iloilo is often neglected as a tourist spot because what it promotes/offers tourists IS NOTHING NEW/DIFFERENT.

* beaches - there are better beaches in other places
* dinagyang- same as ati atihan,etc
you get the idea

its a very :( situation.

Parang jack of all trades ang image. Hopefully the present government and people "like the ones HERE" can make a difference :)

that's true, Whyte ... but now we have too many to offer to our visitors and tourists .. the diversity of the iloilo's metropolis is developing well ... the churches (old and new) ... not only the dinagyang festival but the Chinese New Year, the Jaro Fiesta, several municipal festivals like Salakayan, Pasungay, Tultugan, etc as well ... not to mention the ever growing audience of Pintados de Pasi of Passi City ... old universities and colleges ... old mansions .. historical places .. and a lot more. Hopefully we can tap it all to help maximise our tourism potential. We are slowly awakening from our long slumber (huh!) ... hehehe

sugarboy

April 26th, 2005, 11:05 PM

:D sa "daga" commnetary above. who knows?
di ba robertos' is (in)famous for its hamburger.

whyte/chymera , kadto kamo bala sa roberto's and you will see that apart from a sto. nino, they have this weird looking framed foto of a guy who's reportedly the sorhano who led them into the daga-daga stuff.

check it out the next time you eat siopao

Virtute

April 27th, 2005, 03:30 AM

sugarboy

April 27th, 2005, 03:49 AM

wecky

April 27th, 2005, 08:44 AM

whyte/chymera , kadto kamo bala sa roberto's and you will see that apart from a sto. nino, they have this weird looking framed foto of a guy who's reportedly the sorhano who led them into the daga-daga stuff.

check it out the next time you eat siopao

hehehe ... that will scares everybody, sugarboy ... but look, for curiousity's sake .. pagpauli ko, I'll try to have a look it myself as well ... hahaha ... isn't it the man in the picture is the owner of the resto ... just wonderin' how they will react just in case I ask them who's who in the frame?

wecky

April 27th, 2005, 09:01 AM

J.M. Basa St. ........ doesn't anybody call it "Calle Real" anymore? As a kid in Iloilo, it was all I knew. Nobody I remember ever called it JM Basa St. Although officially it is JM Basa St. but I always remembered it as Calle Real, maybe I'm sentimental, maybe it is because the older people called it Calle Real, not JM Basa St. As a youth, I grew up surrounded by old folks, grandmother, granduncles/aunts, etc. They always called it Calle Real, never JM Basa St.

"Ma pa calle real kita!" :)

Don't worry Virtute .. I think more than 80% of Ilonggo still address JM Basa Street as "CALLE REAL" .... I still do, and the rest of my relatives as well. Not all old buildings were demolished in that area ... and some of mini-stores are there, too .. some of them had their businesses for the longest period of time already ... but there you go .. they are still existing ... remember the New Island Bazaar, the Seven-seven bazaar, Rose Pharmacy, etc. It's just like here in London (though their stores are much, much bigger than those in Calle Real) when you happened to frequent the place ... department stores are all lined-up in the streets ... only few malls noticeably here ... from the stretch of Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road to Oxford Street, etc ... you can't barely see the mall in place ... probably, it's the same old arrangement I guess ... hopefully, they'll start developing Calle Real in Iloilo ... I think the city had proposed a program that any investors or businesses erected along the area will have a lesser tax or some sort of tax incentives .. this is to counteract the sprawling of new malls around the downtown area and in the Diversion Road (Ninoy Aquino Ave).

wecky

April 27th, 2005, 09:05 AM

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Joint entrepreneurship dev't project set up

A JOINT project aimed to promote entrepreneurship development will be launched tomorrow, 8 a.m., at the Central Philippine University's Dr. Alfonso Uy Student Union Bldg. in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Dubbed "Sustainable Partnership for Energizing Entrepreneurship Development (Speed)," the project is a partnership between the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development Inc. (Append) and Central Philippine University (CPU).

The project aims "to provide technology and financial assistance to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (mSMEs) and at the same time help them gain access to markets through the Internet."

Mary O' Penetrante, Speed project coordinator-CPU, said, "We realize that access to technology, credit and markets will help spur economic activity in our area, facilitate countryside development and generate employment."

National and local officials from key-partner institutions have been invited to talk about the project. An open forum will follow.

After the program, the Speed Business Assistance Center for mSMEs will be inaugurated.

Free Internet access and business consultation will be provided during the day.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/27/bus/joint.entrepreneurship.dev.t.project.set.up.html)

wecky

April 27th, 2005, 09:08 AM

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Katagman Festival: A glimpse of Oton's history

THE town of Oton in southern Iloilo will celebrate its 433rd Foundation Day on April 28 to May 3 and along with it, the Katagman Festival.

This year's theme "Bahandi nga Maragtas Sang Kasaysayan Ipanubli sa Kabataan" is a week-long festivity, attracting tourists to its trade fairs, Laro ng Lahi, on-the-spot painting contest, fun-run, bomborador or its much anticipated kite-flying competition.

The highlight of the festival is the tribe contest, a fusion of dance and theater performance, blending choreography with theatrical production. Highlighting its identity is the introduction of a uniformed and distinct dance step and a mask---a replica of the golden mask dugout in Barangay San Antonio in 1973 and is currently on display at the National Museum.

One can take a glimpse of Oton's history with the celebration. In 1572, the municipality of Oton formerly known as "Ogtong," was the first settlement established in Panay during the Spanish Period which later became the seat of the Alcadia de Panay until the year 1581.

Oton today is only 10.6 kilometers away or 15 minutes drive from the city. It is the gateway to the southern part of Iloilo province. Its stately municipality is made up of 37 barangays distributed to its land area measuring to 8,456 hectares.

In a part of the country where histories tend to be ancient an rich, Oton is unique in having the earliest and richest in Iloilo.

History states that Oton was the seat of Madia-as Confederation in Panay under Datu Paiburong. It was then one of the few places in Panay where civilization first started and the Batiano River, then a flourishing Malay Port was where the trading among the Malays, the natives, and the Chinese merchants took place.(Provincial Tourism Office)

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/27/life/katagman.festival.a.glimpse.of.oton.s.history..html)

wecky

April 27th, 2005, 09:10 AM

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Capitol: All set for Palaro 2005
By Ruby P. Silubrico

ALL is set for Iloilo's hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2005 on May 8 to 14.

Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada said the repair and rehabilitation of the Iloilo Sports Complex, the Palaro's main venue, is underway.

Mejorada said P10 million has been allocated for the repair and rehab works.

Seven schools in the province and three in the city will serve as billeting areas for the athletes, coaches and technical staff.

We already repaired the seven schools, he said.

Mejorada said water supply will be adequate in the billeting areas as they also asked assistance from the Bureau of Fire Protection to supply water in the schools.

Opening ceremony

Mejorada said the opening ceremony will be held at the Capitol grounds.

Almost 8,000 student athletes from 16 regions expected to participate in the meet.

Budget

Malacañang is releasing P20 million for the Palaro but the Province of Iloilo is now soliciting more funds to meet the P40 million budget.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/27/sports/capitol.all.set.for.palaro.2005.html)

chymera00

April 28th, 2005, 10:50 AM

chymera00

April 28th, 2005, 10:52 AM

hehehe ... that will scares everybody, sugarboy ... but look, for curiousity's sake .. pagpauli ko, I'll try to have a look it myself as well ... hahaha ... isn't it the man in the picture is the owner of the resto ... just wonderin' how they will react just in case I ask them who's who in the frame?

We could go together :crazy: I honestly haven't gone there ... even heard of it lol :clown: :clown:

wecky

April 29th, 2005, 01:43 AM

Actually among my age group (YOUTH, HAHAHA!), I may actually be the only one who knows where Calle Real is ... adding to that, a lot of them don't even know prominent streets in Iloilo City (like J.M. Basa, Guanco, well except Ledesma St. coz there's S.M. Ledesma), its kinda sad.

Saying like "ma pa J.M. Basa ta!" is soOoO unthinkable, you'll even be put down for trying ;) I hope poeple do something innovative to attract more poeple there (and not just for business, maybe a quick stroll or something).

quite true though ... they don't know the street's name to be exact but just give few details and info especially nearest stores, etc ... then they know ... nowadays, they really are not particular with street names anaymore.

wecky

April 29th, 2005, 01:45 AM

We could go together :crazy: I honestly haven't gone there ... even heard of it lol :clown: :clown:

Okay Chymera ... wait for me this end week of July to August .. if you are free and I'm free with the Centennial Celebration, hopefully we can find time to meet personally .. and go to Roberto's ... hahaha ... it really raised my curiousity.

wecky

April 29th, 2005, 01:48 AM

Palarong Pambansa in Iloilo

BY EDDIE ALINEA

ILOILO City – The Palarong Pambansa, cancelled several times last year for lack of funds, will finally be held here on May 8-14, exactly 14 years since the seaside city last hosted the event.

As agreed upon by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Education (DepEd), this year’s edition and, perhaps the subsequent stagings of the event, will be held under the auspices of DepEd.

The PSC has managed and supervised the Games since 1998 until its cancellation last year.

The transfer of management and supervision was contained in a department memorandum signed by DepEd Secretary Florencio Abad and the PSC last April 19.

This year’s Palaro, according to Abad, is part of his department’s making of 2005 as the International Year for Sports and Physical Education as declared by the United Nations.
Dr. Raymundo Lapating, Schools Division Superintendent of the Province of Iloilo, is leading the Palaro preparations here.

Austerity and simplicity shall be observed in this year’s edition in accordance with Administrative Order No. 103 and DepEd Order No. 61, he said.

The memorandum was furnished to all of Abad’s undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau and regional directors, schools division superintendents, principals and administrators so as to avoid lavish opening and closing ceremonies.

Just like when the PSC took over the management of the event, competitions in this year’s Palaro are consigned only for secondary and elementary levels.

Sixteen events will be contested in the secondary division – archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

Arnis will be played as a demonstration sport.

Events with less than eight regional contingents participating will be cancelled.

Deadline for submission of entries will be April 30.

Only 12 sports will be disputed in the elementary level. These are athletics, badminton, baseball, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

This will only be the third time for Iloilo to host to the annual conclave among in-school athletes since its inception in 1948. The first time Iloilo hosted the Games was in 1955 when it was still known as the Bureau of Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association (BPSIAA) Meet.

The city also hosted the Games in 1991.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

April 29th, 2005, 01:50 AM

Friday, April 29, 2005
Pavia to host government jobs fair on May 1

GOVERNMENT agencies will hold a job fair at the Pavia Covered Gym in Pavia, Iloilo on May 1.

Job applicants will be entertained from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The jobs fair is sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Overseas Employees Administration and the National Statistics Office.

The sponsoring agencies said the jobs fair is an opportunity for professionals in various fields, as well as skilled workers, to find better job placements and find out where their academic and technical preparations are suited.

This is line with this administration's thrust on job creation and generation, Owwa officials said.

Overseas recruitment agencies based in Iloilo and Manila will also accept and process applications.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/29/bus/pavia.to.host.government.jobs.fair.on.may.1.html)

wecky

April 29th, 2005, 01:51 AM

Friday, April 29, 2005
Another manpower firm opens in Iloilo

FIL-HR Manpower Development and Services Specialist, a company responsible for successfully sending Filipinos abroad for employment, is now opening its doors to the Ilonggos.

Its office at the ground floor of Jiz Bldg., 10 Montinola St., Aurora Subd., Iloilo City will be inauguration Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Fil-HR specializes in recruiting nurses, physical therapists, medical technologists, radiologic technicians, occupational therapists for the United Kingdom and Ireland, caregivers for Canada, skilled workers for the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

It has branches in Makati and Baguio. Its main office in Cebu City is run by David Jacka and Lito Cubillas, while the Iloilo branch is owned by Attorney Leonardo Jiz.

Fil-HR was established because of the need of Filipino professionals to go to the right agency--one that can provide them opportunities in less time and less expense.

"Due to the decline of our economy, more and more professionals and non-professionals have decided to work abroad to give a better life for their families. This agency will provide you with the right job opportunities abroad. We dedicate ourselves in serving our fellow Ilonggos to the best of our abilities with love and care," said Maria Asuncion Cabillon-Lacson, Iloilo branch manager.

For more information, call tel. nos. (033)337-2050/509-3742

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ilo/2005/04/29/bus/another.manpower.firm.opens.in.iloilo.html)

chymera00

April 29th, 2005, 06:39 PM

[I][B]that's true, Chymera ... I think they should let Regine sing the song again .. this time with Iloilo on it ... hehehe .. just a joke.

Actually, another version of the DoT song was released and it had Iloilo on it. It didn't mention anything specific about the city, but the fact that it was mentioned is enough, I guess. I think the line was "Mamasyal sa Iloilo" or something like that.

sandrin

April 30th, 2005, 01:48 AM

IloIlo Capitol in Tigbuanan courtesy of Mph
http://photos.m-ph.com/albums/userpics/10026/normal_23july%20%20Ilo2%20Capitol0024.JPG

wecky

April 30th, 2005, 10:53 PM

Actually, another version of the DoT song was released and it had Iloilo on it. It didn't mention anything specific about the city, but the fact that it was mentioned is enough, I guess. I think the line was "Mamasyal sa Iloilo" or something like that.

that was a quick fix then ... hahaha ... hopefully I will hear Regine's DOT song when I go home this July ... just wandering ... I'm just so curious with everything's happening there .. like last year, they keep on telling me as an Ilonggo ... "ti suportahan naton" ... I don't know where the rest of my friends and acquaintances learned such phrase ... later I realised that it was from one commercial in tele back in the Philippines ... jeeezzz .. i thought I was going insane ... coz everyone's asking me where I came from then uttered this phrase .. and worst, not only here in London but from other European countries I visited ... til now I still hear this phrase ... truly media is such a big influence ... the Sarimanok Channel via Sky is all over the world na.

Thanks Chymera .. hopefully we will be included in all of Department of Tourism's programs. We really need the exposure and the promotion to be known. At least to tell the world that there's one place existing in the Philippines called Iloilo.

wecky

April 30th, 2005, 11:08 PM

IloIlo Capitol in Tigbuanan courtesy of Mph
http://photos.m-ph.com/albums/userpics/10026/normal_23july%20%20Ilo2%20Capitol0024.JPG

good Tigbauan municipal hall pic. Thanks sandrin. Tigbauan is the town just a few kilometers outside Iloilo City (next to Oton, which is part of the Metropolitan *metro* Iloilo) ... if I am not mistaken, the town is the host of SEAFDEC (SouthEast Asian Fisheries Development Center) in the Philippines. It is an autonomous intergovernmental body established as a regional treaty organization in 1967 to promote fisheries development in Southeast Asia. Also,Tigbauan is the home to the new Iloilo Fresh Milk Processing Plant and the ILECO I (Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1).

wecky

April 30th, 2005, 11:27 PM

here are the few informations about the upcoming PALARO 2005 to be held in ILOILO CITY!

from Sunstar Iloilo News Online:

Friday, April 29, 2005
Iloilo City shells out P1M for Palaro housing

* The amount will be used for improvement of the schools to be used as billeting areas

THE City Government will release P1 million for the improvement of the schools to be used as billeting areas of athletes and officials during the Palarong Pambansa 2005.

Iloilo City and Province are hosting the national sports event from May 8 to 14.

About 8,000 athletes from 16 regions will take part in the event.

The schools selected for billeting purposes are: Ramon Avanceña National High School, Jaro National High School, Pavia National High School, Arevalo National High School, Iloilo City National High School, Rizal Elementary School; Baluarte Elementary School, La Paz Elementary School, Jalandoni Memorial High School, Oton National High School; I. Arroyo Elementary School, Sta. Barbara Elementary School, Pavia Elementary School and the Iloilo National High School.

Except for Oton National High School, Sta. Barbara Elementary School, Pavia Elementary School and Iloilo National High School, the selected schools are under the jurisdiction of the Iloilo City School Board.

from The News Info Today Online:

City girds for 'Palaro'
Delegates to start arriving May 1
By Erly C. Garcia

Fresh from having hosted the West Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet, Iloilo City will again be busy these days as it will host this year's Palarong Pambansa.

“We can hardly say that we are really that prepared for this year's Palarong Pambansa but we are doing our best to leave no stones unturned in preparing for the country's biggest sports event,” says Palarong Pambansa 2005 Athletic Manager Dr. Eden Deriada, chief of the Physical Education and School Sports (PESS) of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6.

Deriada said various committees have been organized to ensure the success of this year's Palaro and proper coordination has already been made with the local government units of the city and province of Iloilo.

Deriada said approximately 8,000 delegates coming from the country's 17 regions will be coming over to Iloilo City for the weeklong Palaro which is from May 8-14.

She said the delegations would start arriving in the city May 1.

BILLETING AREAS

The delegations composed of athletes, coaches, school officials and some parents will be housed in 17 billeting schools.

Region I will be housed in Mandurriao Elementary School; Region II in Sta. Barbara National High School; Region III in Ramon Avanceña National High School; Region IV-A in Jaro National High School; Region IV-B in Pavia Elementary School; Region V in Arevalo Elementary School; Region VI in Iloilo National High School; Region VII in Rizal Elementary School; Region VIII in Baluarte Elementary School; Region IX in La Paz I Elementary School; Region X in Jalandoni Memorial National High School; Region XI in Oton National High School; Region XII in I. Arroyo Elementary School; CARAGA in Jaro I Elementary School; ARMM in Oton Elementary School; NCR in Sta. Barbara Elementary School; and CAR in Pavia National High School.

Deriada said the principals of the schools identified as billeting areas have already been instructed to ensure that the delegations would be properly accommodated.

She said part of the instruction is to make sure the availability of amenities such as toilets, water and power supply.

There would be City Councilors and local governments assigned to take charge of every billeting school.

SECURITY

In terms of security, Deriada said they have already coordinated with the Philippine National Police in the city and province of Iloilo.

Senior Supt. Norlito Bautista chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) assured police visibility in the different billeting schools as well as in the different venues of the sporting events.

He said ICPO policemen would be augmented by elements from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office.

The Police Regional Office 6 would also deploy personnel around the city to ensure the peaceful and orderly holding of the Palarong Pambansa.

It was learned that Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will grace the opening of the Palaro on May 8.

VENUES

Deriada said most of the events will be held at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

It was learned that the provincial government through Gov. Niel Tupas allocated some P4 million to refurbish the sports complex in preparation for the big event.

However, other venues would be utilized like the La Paz plaza for football and the fields of University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University, Western Institute of Techology, and West Visayas College of Science and Technology.

Deriada said they have also tapped the city's three big malls—SM City, Robinsons and Gaisano City—for several indoor games.

“RO-RO”

The News Today learned that delegations from far-away regions would be riding on buses from their respective areas through the “Ro-Ro” in going to Iloilo City.

A DepEd official said this is very beneficial on the part of the delegates since they would no longer have a hard time securing vehicles that would transport them from the pier to their billeting area and from the billeting area to the venues for different sporting events.

It was learned that Iloilo City last hosted Palarong Pambansa in 1991.

from Inquirer Net Online:

Iloilo hosts new Palaro

Posted 01:33am (Mla time) April 30, 2005
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer News Service

PALARONG Pambansa will be revived with a lean calendar solely under the reins of the Department of Education on May 8-14 in Iloilo City.

The DepEd, which used to stage the annual sportsfest among elementary and high school students until it was transferred to the Philippine Sports Commission, yesterday expressed confidence it could pull off this year's Palaro despite short preparations.

For its comeback this year, the Palaro will only have 15 events for high school and 12 events for elementary, according to DepEd national coordinator on school sports Len Toledo during the weekly Scoop sa Kamayan.

Archery, basketball, football, athletics, softball, swimming, chess, table tennis, taekwondo, lawn tennis, gymnastics, baseball, badminton, volleyball and sepak takraw will be on tap for the high school students, while baseball athletics, football, chess, badminton, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak tekraw, table tennis, takewondo, volleyball and swimming will be held in the elementary division.

Toledo said arnis, which is making a debut in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, will be held as a demonstration sport depending on the number of entries.

Since 1998, the PSC took charge of holding the Palaro, which went uninterrupted until last year when it was shelved to focus the agency's spending for the Athens Olympics campaign.

The last time it was held was in 2003 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte where more than 5,000 athletes saw action in the 16 sports disciplines played in both divisions.

But the DepEd re-assumed organizing the event following a Memorandum of Agreement forged between PSC officer in charge Butch Ramirez and DepEd Sec. Butch Abad last April 19.

Iloilo last hosted the Palaro in 1991, the same year the country staged the SEA Games.

Pagcor has released P20 million to help defray the cost of the Palaro revival.

from Manila Bulletin Online:

Palarong Pambansa in Iloilo
By eddie alinea

THE PALARONG Pambansa, cancelled several times last year for lack of funds, will finally be held in Iloilo on May 8-14, exactly 14 years since the seaside city last hosted the event.

As agreed upon by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education, this year’s edition and, perhaps the subsequent stagings of the event will be held under the auspices of DepEd.

The PSC has managed and supervised the Games since 1998 until its cancellation last year.

The transfer of management and supervision was contained in a department memorandum signed by DepEd Secretary Florencio Abad last April 19.

This year’s Palaro, according to Abad, is part of his department’s celebration, making 2005 as the International Year for Sports and Physical Education as declared by the United Nations and this was welcomed by vacationing students.

Austerity and simplicity, however, shall be observed in this year’s edition in accordance with Administrative Order No. 103 and DepEd Order No. 61. The memorandum was furnished to all his undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, bureau and regional directors, schools division superintendents, principals and administrators so as to avoid lavish opening and closing ceremonies.

Just like when the PSC took over the management of the event, competitions in this year’s Palaro are consigned only for secondary and elementary levels.

Sixteen events are on tap in the secondary division — archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. Arnis will be played as a demonstration sport.

Events with less than eight regional contingents participating shall be cancelled. Deadline for submission of entries will be April 30.

Only 12 sports will be disputed in the elementary level. These are athletics, badminton, baseball, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

This will be the only third time that Iloilo will play host to the annual conclave among in-schools athletes since its inception in 1948. The first time Iloilo hosted the Games was in 1955 when it was still known as the Bureau of Public Schools Interscholastic Athletic Association (BPSIAA) meet. The city also hosted the Games in 1991.

wecky

April 30th, 2005, 11:29 PM

DA turns over P6M worth of
agri projects to Alimodian

ILOILO City – Farmers in the municipality of Alimodian, located 24.6 kilometers south of Iloilo City, can now bring their harvest faster to the market.

This after receiving from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Port Harvest Research and Extension (BPRE) some P6 million worth of post-harvest facilities. These facilities include the agricultural tramline system, a storage system complete with cold facility and a greenhouse.

The town of Alimodian has been a major producer of vegetables in Iloilo. With these facilities now being operational, it is expected that farmers will be able to deliver their produce faster and with less expense. The tramline system, for one, could minimize the manual hauling, thus reducing the hauling cost.

During the simple ceremony held at Brgy. Cabacanan Proper, Seven Cities, Alimodian, town mayor Juanito Alipao said these agricultural projects will uplift the agricultural development of his municipality.

The Bi-cable tramline system in the “Seven Cities” of Alimodian was designed primarily to eliminate the drudgery of manually hauling the vegetable products from the mountain gardens to the access road. Seven Cities area now producing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) High Value Vegetables.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

May 1st, 2005, 05:01 PM

Aliwan victors to highlight Iloilo as country's tourism capital
By Ian C. Espada

The top spots won by tribes from Iloilo in the recently concluded Aliwan in Metro Manila will highlight Iloilo provinces as the country's tourism capital, Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. said.

The Pintados de Pasi of Passi City bagged the first place and went home with P1 million cash prize. They are the grand prize winner in the Kasadyahan category during this year's Dinagyang Festival.

Another Ilonggo tribe, the Tribu Kahilwayan of Sta. Barbara, clinched the second spot and received a P500,000 cash prize.

Dinagyang 2005 champion, Tribu Silak of the Iloilo City National High School finished third and got a P250,000 cash prize.

Tupas said these major victories brought by these tribes will highlight Iloilo Province as a “tourist destination capital” in the country.

The province through the Provincial Tourism Office is mulling advancing the festivities of the province's 42 municipalities and a component city to entertain tourists visiting Iloilo not just during the famed Dinagyang Festival.

The province has extended P200,000 as financial assistance to Pintados de Pasi and P100,000 to Tribu Kahilwayan. (PIO)

(from The News Info Online: http://www.thenewstoday.info/20050429/iloilonews8.htm)

sugarboy

May 5th, 2005, 12:53 AM

Does anyone have old photos of Sicogon Resort?

chymera00

May 5th, 2005, 09:22 AM

I wish I could see Sicogon :(

Thursday, May 05, 2005
Revenue exceeds tax take 2005

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional office in Iloilo City exceeded its tax collection target by more than P3.5 million during the first four months of 2005.

Philippine Information Agency 6 reported, as of April 30, 2005, local Revenue District Office collected of P275.177 million, exceeding its goal of P271.648 million by P3.529 million.

According to Revenue District Officer Ricardo Espiritu, the amount is still small but he expects an increase after all the collections have been remitted.

Based on BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno's directive, their office is now preparing the benchmark for their tax collection targets for the second half of the year.

Tax collection measures that local BIR office is implementing to continue on gaining ground, said Espiritu.

Taxpayers do not have to be afraid of the BIR because the agency is ready to help put their revenue accounts in order for them to avail of tax collection measures which are convenient and easy to comply with.

"More than just investigations on violations are measures, which are coupled with personal visitations and consultations," Espiritu said.

Espiritu is keen on fully informing the newly registered taxpayers of their responsibilities.

His office issues their certificates of registration only after taxpayers have attended the half-day seminar, scheduled every Wednesday morning at the BIR office.

Required to attend are the owners of companies or businesses.

BIR makes sure that no taxpayer complains of ignorance of the requirements and the procedures, whenever they are caught violating some terms.

Espiritu disclosed that the launching of the BIR's "No Audit Program" (NAP) generated positive response from the 400 companies and businesses that attended the orientation they conducted April this year.

NAP, as stipulated in the Executive Order signed by President Gloria

Macapagal-Arroyo on Jan. 17, 2005, seeks to encourage taxpayers to voluntarily declare and pay higher taxes, which results to reduced administrative costs may be brought about by the audit and investigations, which the BIR will conduct.

sandrin

May 6th, 2005, 02:43 AM

Remembering the battle of Dr. Abelardo Aguilar:
Cure for millions, deprived of millions

A Special Report by Florence F. Hibionada

He helped saved lives of millions following his discovery of what is now to be officially recognized as among the significant medical breakthroughs in history. The year was 1952. The drug an antibiotic called “Erythromycin,” the alternative for penicillin-allergic patients. The man was Dr. Abelardo B. Aguilar, an Ilonggo physician and then medical representative of American-firm, Eli Lilly and Company.

Assigned by said company with code number 12559, Dr. Aguilar's discovery was among the thousands of soil samples sent for testing. A memorandum dated June 28, 1952 sent by John H. Blair, then Far East District Manager to all Eli Lilly medical service representatives announced the results of the “source of a new antibiotic.”

“Preliminary tests and clinical trials establishes this antibiotic to be as effective as penicillin-like products without allergic manifestation and gastro-intestinal side-effects common to some other anti-biotics,” the memorandum entitled “Now it can be told” wrote. “Oral administration is effective in one hour and the drug is detectable in the bloodstream for eight hours.”

Today, millions more continue to benefit from said discovery – treatment of bacterial infections, respiratory tract infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infection, ear and skin infections, gonorrhea, syphilis, rheumatic fever, whooping cough and diptheria - as billions poured in to said company.

To date, Eli Lilly ranks as among the 100 Best Companies to work for in America (Fortune Magazine), the 15 th of 500 companies in the United States designated as the most innovative user of technology and as such, a top-ranked pharmaceutical company.

Dr. Aguilar's work has, in fact, become an integral part of the company's history as written in its official web site where following the erythromycin discovery, its Tippecanoe Laboratories started up operations in May 10, 1954.

Of late, the company has now expanded its operations – research and development factories in 9 countries, manufacturing sites in 19 nations and market of its products in 158 countries. Translated into number of employees, Eli Lilly holds the distinction as among the leaders in corporate governance with over 41,000 personnel on record.

Dr. Aguilar's employ as among the medical representatives dates back in October 1, 1948 with the islands of Panay and Negros as his ‘areas of territory.' Following the company memorandum, he got a letter from Blair dated July 2, 1952 that recognized his effort.

“Your associates from the Philippines and around the world I am sure, are appreciative of the importance of your submitting the soil sample responsible for the development of Ilotycin (Eryhromycin, Lilly),” Blair wrote. “The importance of this discovery is evidenced by the construction of the huge antibiotic Tippecanoe Laboratory representing expenditure of millions of dollars in anticipation of increased volume of sales. Numerous other as yet invisible improvements and changes are also in process. In the end of these changes will be the people that will be benefited by the curative properties of this new product. Your country will be publicized as being the source of the discovery.”

Four years later in September 16, 1956, Dr. Aguilar wrote to Eugene Beesley, Eli Lilly President formally introducing himself stating “I am proud to inform you that for eight years now, I have been faithfully and loyally working with Eli Lilly International Corporation as a Medical Representative assigned in Western Visayas, Republic of the Philippines.” Dr. Aguilar then went ahead to state how he was the same medical representative responsible for erythromycin discovery and how Blair promised him to work for “some form of recognition like a trip to Indianapolis and see for myself the vastness and greatness of the Lilly manufacturing plant.”

However with Blair's resignation came the undelivered promise.

“A leave of absence is all I ask as I do not wish to severe my connection with a great company which has given me wonderful breaks in life,” Dr. Aguilar added. The leave of absence nor the trip was never granted.

In the years that ensued, Dr. Aguilar pursued his profession in the medical field until his decision to leave Eli Lilly and the start of his private practice back in Iloilo City. He was to be known as the “doctor of the poor” having consistently displayed compassion to his patients most of whom unable to pay.

For years he tried albeit in vain to seek compensation from Eli Lilly that even up to his death bed, he left word to his only daughter, Maria Elena Aguilar-Paguntalan to continue his fight for a well-deserved recognition and compensation.

Dr. Aguilar then wrote months prior to his death in September of 1993, “I feel I am justified to be given a royalty because without using my scientific knowledge and sacrifices, the Eli Lilly Co. would not have been able to manufacture this antibiotic. I sincerely would like to ask for a $500,000,000.00 royalty from Eli Lilly Co. which I will put into a good cause like helping my poor and sickly Filipino countrymen which are by the thousands. I will put a foundation for them.”

Like his request for a leave of absence and trip to the Eli Lilly laboratories, Dr. Aguilar's wishes were again not to be granted.

In 1994, hopes were rekindled for the daughter of Dr. Aguilar when the national media took interest in the matter. Numerous exchanges were then made to and from the Office of then Senator Juan Flavier and Paguntalan that showed personal follow-ups to the office of Eli Lilly. Journalist Bobby Timonera of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) came up with series of articles alongside the column of Conrado de Quiros entitled “Greed.”

“Abelardo Aguilar discovered erythromycin. He died a poor man,” De Quiros then began in his column (PDI, November 10, 1994) where he went on to discuss the ills brought by the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

“In fact, the only thing the IPR's defenders have been able to say about it is that it sanctions God's law against stealing. True. But who's stealing? The IPR will not reward Filipinos with millions of dollars, it will deprive them of millions of dollars,” he added “That is not God's law. That is greed.”

The PDI articles eventually prompted a response from Filipino officials of Eli Lilly and in December 1, 1995, Dr. Aguilar's daughter got this response from John North, Director of Eli Lilly's International Corporate Affairs.

An “unusual compensation request,” North labeled Paguntalan's follow-up of her father's wishes as he further went on to write, “no company employee involved with research and development of any compound, regardless of where they are employed in our global organization receives royalties or compensation for that work beyond his or her salary and benefits. This policy was in effect during the time your father was an employee of our company and it is still in effect today.”

But former Eli Lilly employees tell a different story. In a letter received by the family August of 1996, inside information was relayed of how Dr. Aguilar was allegedly forced to resign by the company district manager “or get fired for various reasons.”

“This move perhaps could have been an understanding with the main office in Indianapolis to get rid of your dad before your dad gets any wiser. I know because I worked with Lilly for nine years and I witness this sad resignation of your dad,” the letter went adding how sad as well that instead of getting promoted to medical director, Dr. Aguilar was only made a detailman.

And the company allegedly discriminates against colored people, the letter went on to state citing how a black sales supervisor was not made sales manager with the post given to a mestizo, “an outsider who never sold a Lilly pill in his life.”

Integrity. Excellence. Respect. Eli Lilly lives with these “long-established guiding principles,” as so stated in their company profile. The core values that guides them toward better corporate governance.

Integrity equaled with honesty in their dealings. Excellence in the company's pursuit of pharmaceutical investments. And respect for the people “maintaining an environment based on mutual respect.”

Core values that to this day Dr. Aguilar's daughter lives on as well hoping that in every pill of erythromycin that brings cure to the sick, her father gains the kind of recognition he failed to secure in his lifetime.

As so distinctly included in the official web site of the Philippine Government's Department of Tourism trivia and “things to know” about the country, Dr. Aguilar holds the 20 th trivia spot out of the 90 stated – the Filipino scientist who has earned American drug giant Eli Lilly billions of dollars “neither Aguilar nor the Philippine government earned a royalty.”

The battle of Dr. Abelardo Aguilar. Now remembered.

----------------------------------------------------------

I hope it will never happen to any Filipino inventors again.

sugarboy

May 6th, 2005, 06:35 AM

Nganga ba-ba ko...as in :eek2: It's a very sad story.

Peksman

May 6th, 2005, 06:45 AM

ThisFire

May 6th, 2005, 06:55 AM

One thing seems to be missing in the story -- why did they not sue Eli Lilly? Shame campaigns will not get you anywhere. The family has to sue this company in US courts!! I am sure you can get some lawyer to do this pro-bono with the understanding that they will get a slice of the royalties. Call Erin Brockovich!!

Exactly. They could still do it right now and sue them hard! The chances of having a big case now and winning are higher than before because of the way the system is now.

chymera00

May 6th, 2005, 08:09 AM

I'm getting goosebumps .... such a sad story

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 12:50 PM

been out for awhile ... been busy with work and study .. and am glad to see everybody's posting here in Iloilo's thread ... a good day to all of you.

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 12:55 PM

Does anyone have old photos of Sicogon Resort?

I wish somebody can post any Sicogon picture as well ... I know the place but I wasn't able to go and visit the island .. probably someday ..... thing is, it's a private island resort now ... not much we can help in terms of promotion, etc ... the only thing I remembered about the Sicogon island was my mom telling that it was once a venue of a local film in late 70's ... it is also a white sand beach .. just like the Alubihod in Guimaras.

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 12:56 PM

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 01:13 PM

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 01:16 PM

Drilon to grace Palaro opening
By Erly C. Garcia

It is not Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but Senate President Franklin Drilon who will grace the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2005 at the Iloilo Sports Complex this Sunday, May 8.

Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada said the president has a prior commitment that is why she could not fly to Iloilo for the opening of the Palaro.

Aside from Drilon some governors, mayors, and congressmen from other regions would attend the opening ceremonies.

Iloilo Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Raymundo Lapating assured a grand opening event that will surely entertain the spectators.

Lapating said the organizers are working on an opening ceremony which can be compared to the opening program of the Olympics.

He said showbiz stars from Manila might join the opening parade. They would then stage a mini concert.

The top three winners in this year's Aliwan Festival in Manila—Pintados de Pasi (grand champion), Sta. Barbara's Kahilwayan (first runner-up), and Tribu Silak of Iloilo National High School (second runner-up) which incidentally all come from Iloilo, will showcase their winning performances.

Other famous festivals in the region like the Masskara Festival of Bacolod, Ati-atihan of Kalibo, and Binirayan of Antique will also be featured in the cultural show.

International balladeer Aris Demavivas of Pototan, Iloilo will sing the Palaro hymn.

Lapating said a fireworks display will cap the opening program.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo provincial government has committed to contribute P3.25 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) to help pay for the services of technical officials in the Palaro.

A press release from the capitol said the provincial government agreed to underwrite the fees of the technical officials to ease the financial burden of the DepEd and ensure the success of the Palaro which comes back to Iloilo after 14 years.

“The Province of Iloilo is just too happy to help the DepEd in putting up the money to defray the costs for the Palaro,” Tupas was quoted as saying.

The report said Tupas learned from Education Secretary Butch Abad that the national organizing committee of the Palaro still faced a P6 million deficit with less than a week to go before the national meet.

On Wednesday, Tupas convened the provincial school board and asked for the allocation of P3.25 million from its surplus in 2004 as the province's assistance to the Palaro organizing committee.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Sports Complex manager Francisco Heler, Jr. assured the security of athletes, coaches, school officials, guests and spectators during the weeklong sports competition.

He said the full force of the barangay police of Brgy. Magsaysay, where the sports complex is located, and the Philippine National Police will guard round-the-clock the surrounding areas in the sports complex and all the other sports venues. (with reports from R. Gumabong)

(from The News Today Online)

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 01:20 PM

City girds for grandiose Fil-Hispanic Week celeb
By Janice E. Esmane

Iloilo City is proud to host the Fil-Hispanic Week on June 29-30, 2005. It is a grand nationwide celebration held every year in different areas of the country which play an important role in the history of the Spanish conquest.

The event is quite phenomenal in a sense that it digs up the Hispanic legacy of Iloilo which has a big contribution in shaping the Ilonggo culture and heritage. The theme of the celebration is “Tracing Our Spanish Legacy, Strengthening Ilonggo-Spanish Connection”.

The activities involved in this occasion are the photo exhibit, Feria Española , heritage tour, tertulia y tapas , film showing and lectures, fashion show, gala night and street party along Calle Real where our Spanish heritage is remarkably manifested.

There will be a photo exhibit which depicts Spanish related events and architectural structures not only in Iloilo but also in the other parts of the nation. The photo exhibit will be mounted in Museo Iloilo by the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC). There will also be an exhibit of Spanish garments called ternos in Sarabia Manor Hotel and an exhibit of Spanish literature called Palimpsesto. The lecture will be delivered by the representatives from Instituto Cervantes and a film viewing will follow to show the moving picture of the Spanish experience in the Philippines particularly in Iloilo.

The Feria Española is a sort of trade fare participated in by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry which aims to find distributors and buyers and promote Spanish products in Iloilo City. There will also be a workshop on Spanish dancing and Spanish cooking as well as wine tasting and appreciation. Likewise, a tertulia y tapas is described as an easy afternoon smorgasbord of poetry reading, singing, guitar playing, etc. with tapas . In other words it is an easy afternoon delight.

Tapas are plates of authentic foods served up in Spanish wine bars. These are small portions of foods, both hot and cold, served in bars, bodegas and tascas to accompany a copa of fino (dry Spanish Sherry or draught beer). It is literally translated in Filipino as pulutan or sumsuman in Hiligaynon. However, the latter connotes a more informal setting wherein a group of friends shares a bottle of liquor or beer in a street-like venue.

Representatives from the Spanish Embassy, Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Instituto Cervantes will be coming to Iloilo to share with the Ilonggos the warm celebration of Filipino-Spanish friendship week and savor the Filipino way of commemorating a significant segment of history.

On the last week of June, together we are going to take a taste of Spain as we celebrate the Fil-Hispanic Week with all Spanish ambience and music.

iViva España!

(from The News Today Online)

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 01:22 PM

Iloilo City hosts YES Camp 2005

The Kabataang Sama-Samang Maglilingkod (KASAMA) Inc., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Education will be holding the Youth for Environment Summer (YES) Camp 05 from May 6-10 at the Punta Villa Resort Hotel in Arevalo, Iloilo City as per DepEd Memorandum No. 29, s.2005.

With the theme, “Kabataan, Kasangga ng Kalikasan”, the camp is optimized to consolidate the implementation of the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O), ensuring the active participation of the students towards the preservation and conservation of our fragile ecosystems.

Speakers for this year's camp will be lead by DepEd Secretary Butch Abad, DENR Assistant Secretary Jun Ynares and first daughter Luli Arroyo.

Over 1,000 student-leaders from various organizations, teacher-advisers and education supervisors from different public and private schools nationwide will be expected to attend the five-day event.

(from The News Today Online)

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 03:46 PM

Iloilo province extends
P3.25-M aid to Palaro

ILOILO – The Iloilo provincial government has committed to contribute P3.25 million to the Department of Education (DepEd) to help pay for the services of technical officials in the Palarong Pambansa 2005 which kicks off here at the Iloilo Sports Complex on Sunday, May 8.

Gov. Niel D. Tupas Sr. said the provincial government agreed to underwrite the fees of the technical officials to ease the financial burden of the DepEd and ensure the success of the Palaro which comes back to Iloilo after 14 years.

“The Province of Iloilo is just too happy to help the DepEd in putting up the money to defray the costs for the Palaro,” Tupas said.

Tupas said he learned from Education Secretary Butch Abad that the national organizing committee of the Palaro still faced a P6-million deficit with less than a week to go before the national meet.

Yesterday, Tupas convened the provincial school board and asked for the allocation of P3.25 million from its surplus in 2004 as the province’s assistance to the Palaro organizing committee.

Tupas also reported that the provincial government has spent nearly P15 million for the repair and refurbishing of the playing venues, particularly the Iloilo Sports Complex and its covered gym.

“This is the first time that a host LGU did not get financial assistance from DepEd,” Tupas said.

What happened is the other way around -- the province extending financial aid to the DepEd, Tupas said.

“This is possible because the province has a huge surplus in its special education funds in 2004,” he added.

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has ordered the local police to establish police assistance centers at the playing venues and billeting areas to ensure the security of the nearly 8,000 athletes, coaches and officials who have started to arrive here last Tuesday.

Treñas said the city is now ready to extend the hospitality of its people to the 17 regions that will take part in the Palaro and look after their needs.

Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada said all the repair and refurbishing work have been completed and the playing venues are now ready for the week-long competition.

The Iloilo Sports Complex has a well-maintained synthetic track oval that was put up in 1991 when Iloilo first hosted the Palarong Pambansa and an Olympic-size swimming pool, Mejorada said.

“Even though our facilities are 14 years old, we have succeeded in keeping them in top working condition through a continuing program to repair and rehabilitate the playing areas and equipment,” Mejorada said.

An inspection team from the DepEd national office visited the ISC recently and expressed great satisfaction at the condition of the facilities.

Other venues include the activity center of SM City, the Jaro plaza covered gym, Lapaz football field and tennis courts and several elementary and high school campuses in the city and province.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

May 6th, 2005, 03:48 PM

Palaro contingents arrive
By Lory Ann B. Bilbao

* With the motto, "Gold Medal Harvest: Golden Athletes, Golden Values and the theme, "Athletes First, Winning Second," the Palaro will open Sunday at 5 p.m.

DELEGATIONS from various regions started arriving in Iloilo City Wednesday for the Palarong Pambansa 2005 which will kick off May 8 at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

Athletes and officials from Regions 2, 4-B, 8, 9, 11, 12 and Cordillera Autonomous Region arrived Wednesday.

Those from Regions 3, 4-A, 5, 10, National Capital Region, Caraga Region and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao came to Iloilo City Thursday while contingents from Region 1 and 7 arrive Friday.

Billeting areas

The contingent from Region 1 are billeted at Mandurriao Central Elementary School; Region 2, Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School; Region 3 at R. Avanceña National High School; Region 4-A at Jaro National High School, 4-B at Rizal Elementary School;

Region 5, Arevalo Elementary School; Region 6, Iloilo National High School; Region 7, Pavia Pilot Elementary School; Region 8, Baluarte Elementary School; Region 9, La Paz I Elementary School; Region 10, Jalandoni Memorial National High School; Region 11, at Oton National High School;

Region 12, I. Arroyo Elementary School; Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), Oton Central Elementary School; CAR, Pavia National High School; Caraga Region, Jaro I Elem School; and NCR, Santa Barbara Central Elementary School.

Playing venues

Archery will be played at Sta. Barbara National Comprehensive High School; athletics, football, sipa, swimming and volleyball secondary, Sports Complex;

Badminton, ISC covered gym; baseball secondary, Pavia National High School; baseball elementary at University of San Agustin grounds; boxing, Jaro plaza gym; chess, table tennis and volleyball elementary, SM City;

Football elementary, La Paz plaza; gymnastics, De Paul College gym; sepak takraw, North Fundidor, Molo gym; softball, Santa Barbara Central School; taekwondo, Doctors' College; and throwing events, Western Institute of Technology New Site.

With the motto, "Gold Medal Harvest: Golden Athletes, Golden Values and the theme, "Athletes First, Winning Second," the Palarong Pambansa 2005 will open Sunday, 5 p.m., at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

It will be followed by a fellowship night at Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds at 7 p.m. The sports competition will kick off morning of May 9 and will end morning of May 14.

(from Sunstar Iloilo News Online)

tyronne

May 6th, 2005, 07:56 PM

GO! GO! GO! Ilocos Region! :D hehehe...

whyte

May 7th, 2005, 07:22 AM

chymera00

May 7th, 2005, 10:54 AM

I wish somebody can post any Sicogon picture as well ... I know the place but I wasn't able to go and visit the island .. probably someday ..... thing is, it's a private island resort now ... not much we can help in terms of promotion, etc ... the only thing I remembered about the Sicogon island was my mom telling that it was once a venue of a local film in late 70's ... it is also a white sand beach .. just like the Alubihod in Guimaras.

Actually, the movie is "Pinakamagandang Babae sa Balat ng Lupa"

chymera00

May 7th, 2005, 10:58 AM

Double post

chymera00

May 7th, 2005, 11:04 AM

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:42 AM

GO! GO! GO! Ilocos Region! :D hehehe...

Ilokano ka pala, Tyronne? ... wishing everyone's best ... the tournaments and plays will start tomorrow .. Monday ... all the best for all the athletes !

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:45 AM

PALARO 2005
* yung REG 2 at NCR hosted pala ng HOMETOWN ko. okay dun.
* sila yata ang pinakamalayo sa main venues. mga 30minutes (WALANG TRAFFIC) drive

** dalawa pala ang NATL "events" ngayon dun sa ILOILO. mabuti naman para constant exposure will do good sa tourism

I'm glad the province (include towns outside Iloilo City) are helping to make Palaro 2005 in Iloilo a successful one.

And Whyte, it's nice to know that we are starting to host major events and gatherings in the country nowadays ... part for promotion, business, and growth of the city and province of Iloilo.

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:52 AM

Actually, the movie is "Pinakamagandang Babae sa Balat ng Lupa"

That's right Chymera ... hehehe .. did you ask your parents about it?

Sicogon is one of the most beautiful islands in Northern Iloilo.

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~icp_natl/images/sicogon1.jpg

Sicogon Island is a 1,104 hectare white sand palm-fringed island located 5 kms from the town proper of Estancia, Iloilo.

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:53 AM

Whyte, by any chance do you happen to play gunbound??? Coz may mga ka guildmate ako kag most of them taga Sta. Barbs .. la lng

BTW, heres a pic of the ILOILO SPORTS COMPLEX

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid167/pb95d6500f7b6dd328fc09879972a27ec/f435b164.jpg

Pinalaki ko:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid167/p027e1f8325e384170a4c933161981478/f435af5f.jpg

Thanks for the pics, Chymera ... right now, the city and the province are both busy hosting the said event ... WELCOME TO ALL THE PLAYERS of PALARONG PAMBANSA 2005!

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:56 AM

Palaro 2005 opens today

Drilon, Abad lead guests

By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – Around 7,600 athletes, coaches, trainers, sports and education officials gather at the Iloilo Sports Complex today for the opening rites of the 2005 Palarong Pambansa.

The Palarong Pambasa is the biggest, school-based sports competition in the country. It returns to this city after 14 years.

Delegates from around the Philippines have been arriving here since last week.
A cultural showcase starting at 5 p.m. will preface the opening ceremonies that starts at 6 p.m.

“Athletes First, Winning Second” is this year’s theme of the Palarong Pambansa.
Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Florencio Abad will lead the opening ceremonies, with Ilonggo Senate President Franklion Drilon as guest speaker.

Public officials from other provinces, key cities and municipalities are gracing the affair.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose Cojuangco Jr. will also honor the occasion.
The last time this city and province hosted the Palaro was in 1991. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas lead local officials in welcoming the participants and guests in this year’s sporting event.

Also, key officials from the different parts of the region are expected to witness the program rites.

This year’s Palarong Pambansa is being handled by DepEd. In previous years, the PSC handled it.

“The Palarong Pambansa here will be the first to be managed by the DepEd after it was handled by the PSC,” DepEd Secretary Ramon Bacani told reporters during the Orientation Conference on Sports Management last Friday.

During the weeklong competition, sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the different sports events prepared to discover talented athletes from in-school youths – soccer football, basketball, baseball, lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton, athletics, gymnastics, boxing, archery, taekwondo, sepak takraw, volleyball, swimming and sipa.
Games will be held in different venues here and outside the city.

Palarong Pambansa, Bacani said, would be the breeding ground for the national athletes for international sports competition.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:58 AM

Villar to attend Iloilo fiestas today

ILOILO – Sen. Manuel Villa, president of the Nacionalista Party, will be the special guest of honor in the annual town fiestas in San Miguel and Pototan towns in his home province of Iloilo today.

“It is always a pleasure for me to be with my kasimanwas, so when my schedule permits it, I make it a point to accommodate invitations from my fellow Ilonggos, especially for their town fiestas which I enjoy attending,” said Villar.

Villar will crown the town fiesta queen in Pototan as a finale to the four-day celebration.
Pototan is an agricultural municipality and is the top rice-producing town in the province of Iloilo, thus it is dubbed as the “Rice Granary of Western Visayas.”

Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, will also speak before the residents of San Miguel.

San Miguel is strategically located in the western portion of Iloilo province. It is a prime producer of vegetables, supplying most of the requirements of neighboring cities and towns.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 12:59 AM

Iloilo City welcomes
2005 Palaro delegates

BY ADORA BANDORIO

ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas welcomes all delegates to the 2005 Palarong Pambansa which opens today at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

The school-based games will run until the 14th of May.

Treñas deployed personnel from the General Services Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office and Task Force Clean and Green to maintain the cleanliness of the city streets for the duration of the games.

He likewise ordered the temporary suspension of the implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” scheme of the city government and directed garbage personnel to collect all garbage, sorted or unsorted.

And because of the special event, the mayor farther decreed that streetlights must be on until 5 a.m.

In the area of peace and order, Treñas said uniformed and plainclothes police operatives will be deployed in the eleven schools provided by the city for billeting athletes.

Members of the city council were also assigned to coordinate concerns in the billeting areas to specific agencies and offices.

Treñas also asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here to ensure that prices be kept stable despite the probable rise in demand for basic commodities during the Palaro.

An intensified operation against illegal weights are now being conducted by personnel from the Special Services Unit to ensure that Palaro participants don’t get shortchanged in their purchases.

(from Panay News Online)

wecky

May 8th, 2005, 01:02 AM

CPU hosts the ACSCU 44th National Convention
Sec. Florencio Abad is one of the speakers

SIGNIFICANTLY and in time for her 100th Year of Founding, Central Philippine University will host the 44th National Convention of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU), on May 23-24, 2005, CPU Educational Media Center.

The theme of the Convention this year is “Spiritually Nurturing, Discipline, and Transformation through Exemplary Christian Education.” The Scriptural Basis is John 15:1-10 (NKJV): “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit…”

The Convention Objectives are namely, to address the need for spiritual nurturing, discipline, and transformation in the school community; and to challenge the member schools to take more seriously the teaching of exemplary Christian education.

Expected to attend the august gathering are the heads of the 120 participants/member schools including five universities namely Siliman University, Wesleyan University, Adventist University, Philippine Christian University, and Central Philippine University; 60 colleges; and the rest, small schools mostly elementary and/or high schools.

To serve as Resource Persons are Hon. Florencio B. Abad, Secretary of Education; Rev. Dr. Oscar S. Suarez, ACSCU Trustee & PCU President; Rev. Dr. Armand S. Kole, CPU Trustee & CPBC President; Atty. Ulpiano P. Sarmiento III, Practicing Lawyer; and Dr. Francis J. Kong, President, Business Matters Values Formation.

The CPU Steering Committee that is helping in coordinating the National Convention is headed by Mr. Edward P. Pormilos as Co-Chairperson and Dr. Patricio C. Dionio, Co-Chairperson and Overall Executive Director of the ACSCU and the COCOPEA; with members University Pres. Dr. Juanito M. Acanto (the immediate past president of the ACSCU), Engr. Dimpna C. Castigador, Prof. Perla G. Deocampo, Dr. Nathaniel M. Fabula, Dr. Alma A. Frondoza, Dr. Anita U. Illenberger, Prof. Felnor G. Importante, Prof. Leopoldo A. Millamena, Rev. Jerson B. Narciso, Prof. Ricardo C. Patricio, Mrs. Trinidad B. Rio, Mr. Prim C. Vergara III, and Dr. Fely P. David.

The CPU Working Committees are as follows: Ways & Means Committee with Dr. Juanito M. Acanto and Dr. Teddy A. Bernales as Co-Chairs; Food Committee: Prof. Perla G. Deocampo, Chairperson; Publications Committee: Pastor Jonan Castillon and Prof. Felnor G. Importante, Co-Chairs; Documentation Committee: Engr. Dimpna C. Castigador and Mrs. Lea A. Vergara, Co-Chairs; Physical Arrangements Committee: Prof. Leopoldo A. Millamena, Chairperson; Registration & Housing Committee: Mrs. Trinidad B. Rio and Mrs. Ellen R. Mamalias, Co-Chairs; Liturgy and Worship Committee: Rev. Jerson B. Narciso, Chairperson; Cultural Show Committee: Dr. Anita U. Illenberger, Chairperson; Medical Committee: Dr. Alma A. Frondoza, Chairperson; Tours Committee: Prof. Ricardo C. Patricio, Chairperson; and Facilitation Committee: Dr. Fely P. David – Chairperson, and Mr. Jason B. Pagunsan for Guest Relations. (-CPU Information Center)

(from Panay News Online)