Iloilo City and Province - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 58

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 04:42 AM

eversince hotel occupancy during Dinagyang Festival is a major problem. I think it's the most ferocious problem for any visitors who wanted to take part of the festival especially for those who are late decision makers. June pa lang kung kaisa, nagapa-book na ang iban kapin pa kung layo imo ginhalinan. January to March are the busiest months for Iloilo City. It's starts with Dinagyang's upbeating the acitivies on the first or second week of January all the way through Dinagyang Festival itself, then after Dinagyang, there's the Iloilo Chinese New Year, considered to be the grandest Chinese New Year celebration outside Metro Manila. Then, we have the Jaro Fiesta or the Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria Feast, the biggest pageantry in Western Visayas in honour of Mother Mary. The flurry of activities doen't die down after the Jaro Fiesta, it even extends to the famous Paraw Regatta Festival, the biggest boat race in Asia right now. So all in all, Iloilo City is teeming with so many activities and visitors for the first quarter of the year. So any travels going to Iloilo will be planned earlier if possible especially if one needs hotel accomodation.

Eric, do try emailing inns or pension houses around the city and see if there's still vacancies. I'm sure bigger hotels are fully-booked right now.
aga pa to announce of hotel occupancy rate. More than a month pa siguro before Dinagyang. Subong pa lang bal-an na nila nga wala na rooms. Anyways, maayo man guid ini matuod para maka-prepapre maayo ang bisita. I hope Ilonggos with spare space/s will help accomodate guests and visitors para sa Dinagyang. I'm sure kadamo sila dira nga balay ma-tap sa Iloilo. Tani ang mga balay nga ini or bed and breakfast will have a direct contact sa DOT para official guid sila nga ma-recognise as safe and clean. Guests and visotrs who have relatives in nearby towns surrounding the city like Oton, Pavia, Sta Barbara, Leganes, Tigbauan, Zarraga, San Miguel or as far as Alimodian, Guimbal and Pototan, puwede guid siguro maka-accomodate sang iban nga bisita to help cushion the impact visitor's flock in the city during Dinagyang. Also, Guimaras and neighbouring Bacolod, Roxas and Passi cities can also help with occupancy problem. Paano na ang plano nila nga floating hotel? Dayon pa to?

True. Kaya whenever I invite people for Dinagyang. I'll accommodate them to my lola's house. Just in the outskirts of the city and one ride away to downtown. :D
good Bern. I know you'll play a very good host sa mga visitors mo. Mas maayo pa tuod and mas safe. Pavia is just 30-minute by jeepney to Iloilo City. Indi guid tuod dako nga problema ang travel going to Dinagyang performance sites. Cheers amigo.

Beautiful UPV's Lantern Displays.
Merry Christmas and Hala Bira to all !
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
nice one from UP Visayas. I hope all schools will have its lantern displays or festival of lights every december. It's always nice to see the glittery campus. It feels like Christmas.:)

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 04:56 AM

Cool. So the first one to rise is one of the twin buildings. Ahaay... San-o pa ayhan matindog ang ikaduha kag ikatlo nga buildings. :)
first of the triplets Shy. Kadugay gani masundan. Pero the building is operatinal na and may occupats na, so hopefully next year, maumpisahan na nila ang pangaduha nga building sang Medicus. We don't know kung basi may mga buildings pa sa palibot sang Medicus nga magpatindog next year. The Diversion area is already starting to fill up. Hopefully, more and more building will rise soon.

Mga isa na katuig guro.. hehe.. naganami nga naganami na guid ya gali ang Diversion Rd. :) Tani makatukod pa sang mas damo kag lapad nga kalsada sa Iloilo.
NOt bad for year no? Sa sulod sang isa katuig, damo na nagbag-o along Diversion. Pero kung tan-awon mo Al, the three corners of Iloilo City is teeming with new buildings, etc. Area going to Leganes is also starting to fill up with the coming of new subdivisions along the area. And if projects will push through next year, another mall will be erected along the highway. Then we have area going to Pavia. Indi na man guid siguro ma-deny that the impending opening of new airport in Sta Barbara stirs economic activities sa area nga ini. From Jaro to Pavia to Sta Barbara. Definitely, another economic belt of Iloilo in a very near future.

^^ ^^ I think this is the other side of Iloilo Flood Control Project. If the culvert by China Waters something is starting in LaPaz, the stage 2 by Korean company is starting to drill on the other side of the area as well (in Mandurriao). Good job! Hope they'll fasttrack the Iloilo Flood Control Project as it very very vital support to Iloilo City's soaring economy. Less flood, more businesses and investments and less relocation budget for city's residents.
Dapat guid man dasigon na nila kay basi maabutan naman kita sang baha. I think this is the right time to get the works together kay indi guid maulanon. Mas madasig ang obra, time for rainy season na next year.

BYAHILO

December 19th, 2006, 05:03 AM

[saan 'to sa Iloilo?
http://static.flickr.com/118/297294772_c4379b88ce.jpg?v=0
I think this is in Alubihod, Guimaras. Few of the white sand beaches in the island-province. But in saying this, I am not really sure the excat location but the place looks so familiar. It might be somewhere in Guimaras Siete Pecados area, too.

thats the island right in front of raymens resort in alubihod , nueva valencia guimaras

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 05:04 AM

See the 2007 Miss Dinagyang candidates at SM City-Iloilo

The presentation of the candidates for Miss Dinagyang 2007 is set to happen December 20, 2006, 4pm, at the 3/F Events Center of SM City-Iloilo.

The Miss Iloilo Dinagyang pageant is considered to be one of the most prestigious regionwide, attracting domestic and international tourists.

The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation intends to establish the pageant as a social and cultural activity for special projects that will boost the tourism industry of Iloilo.

The pageant will also provide young Ilongga women the avenue to develop their personal and professional goals aside from becoming an agora to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.

The yearly Search for Miss Dinagyang has become the biggest and most awaited local beauty event with aspirants from all over the City of Iloilo.

See it first and witness this one-of-a-kind event only at the Ultimate Shopping and Entertainment Destination—SM City Iloilo.

link: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories6.php
source: The Guardian Iloilo

Palace pledges P10M for Graciano shrine

MALACAÑANG has pledged P10 million for the construction of a proposed memorial shrine in honor of leading Ilonggo patriot, Dr. Graciano Lopez-Jaena during the commemoration of his 105th birth anniversary yesterday.

The Palace’s commitment to help build the Lopez-Jaena shrine was announced by Presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor who was the keynote speaker for the commemoration rites at the Jaro Plaza where the hero’s blackened bronze statue was erected.

The shrine will house the memorabilia of Lopez-Jaena and other Western Visayan heroes.

Prior to the celebration rites, members of the Dr. Graciano Lopez-Jaena (GLJ) Foundation, Inc. spearheaded the groundbreaking of the P15-million memorial shrine-cum-museum on a 419-square-meter lot at Fajardo St., Jaro where Lopez-Jaena’s ancestral home once stood.

A famous orator and journalist, Lopez-Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 to Placido Lopez and Maria Jacobe Jaena of Jaro.

He was the founder and first editor of La Solidaridad (Solidarity), a paper of the Propaganda Movement that paved way for Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonizers,

Historians hailed Lopez-Jaena as the first reformist and among the early Filipino patriots who dedicated their lives for the country’s freedom against an oppressive government.

Defensor represented President Arroyo to the tribute activity which was also attended by Lopez-Jaena Shrine’s fund campaign chair, Antique Governor Sally Perez, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and GLJ Foundation president Demy Sonza.

“Ilonggo heroes should also be emulated and known to the public especially to the young people because many of them are not really aware (of the heroes). Most of them knew Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio – although very limited. They don’t know other heroes that we have. I think it is also fitting that we recognize our Ilonggo heroes,” Defensor said.

In a press conference with the local media, Defensor said he was asked by Perez to help raise some P10 million for the shrine.

“We are committed to raise this fund. I still cannot say where exactly it will come from but we hope it would help augment whatever is needed. We hope to do this not only for Lopez-Jaena but for the other heroes so that the Filipino youth will remember them,” Defensor said.

Perez said the Antique provincial government allotted P200,000 while the Iloilo City and provincial governments contributed P250,000.

The fund-raising will end Dec 18. 2007.

“We are going to tap other governors (of Capiz and Aklan) because Lopez-Jaena is a Western Visayan hero. We will try that we could get more from Negros Occidental because Lopez-Jaena stayed there during his time,” she added.

Perez said the shrine will host a room for each of the provinces and their respective heroes.

“The Foundation members are working together. We’re also wooing not only Ilonggos to help but other sponsors (as well). As far as the national government is concerned we could allocate P10 million,” Defensor said.

Will Lopez-Jaena’s birthday (currently a regional holiday) be declared a national holiday?

“We consider that with so many heroes. It would be hard when every time there is commemoration, we call for a holiday. But what we can do is to have one holiday for all the Ilonggo heroes so that they would all be recognized,” Defensor explained.

Defensor added: “Let’s study how we can best commemorate the heroes, their death anniversaries or whatever special occasions that they have to be recognized.”

“We have to really collate, validate and document our heroes. When I said documented, I didn’t mean that they were not heroes but what I knew is that they were not recognized as much. We just knew them in particular.”

link: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories2.php
source: The Guardian Iloilo

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 05:19 AM

thats the island right in front of raymens resort in alubihod , nueva valencia guimaras
that's right, Eric. Alubihod guid ina iya. It's Alubihod, my Alubihod. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: (reminiscing college memories ... hehe)

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 05:26 AM

Belated Happy 150th Birthday, Dr Lopez-Jaena !

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 05:27 AM

Palace pledges P10M for Graciano shrine

MALACAÑANG has pledged P10 million for the construction of a proposed memorial shrine in honor of leading Ilonggo patriot, Dr. Graciano Lopez-Jaena during the commemoration of his 105th birth anniversary yesterday.

The Palace’s commitment to help build the Lopez-Jaena shrine was announced by Presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor who was the keynote speaker for the commemoration rites at the Jaro Plaza where the hero’s blackened bronze statue was erected.

The shrine will house the memorabilia of Lopez-Jaena and other Western Visayan heroes.

Prior to the celebration rites, members of the Dr. Graciano Lopez-Jaena (GLJ) Foundation, Inc. spearheaded the groundbreaking of the P15-million memorial shrine-cum-museum on a 419-square-meter lot at Fajardo St., Jaro where Lopez-Jaena’s ancestral home once stood.

A famous orator and journalist, Lopez-Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 to Placido Lopez and Maria Jacobe Jaena of Jaro.

He was the founder and first editor of La Solidaridad (Solidarity), a paper of the Propaganda Movement that paved way for Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonizers,

Historians hailed Lopez-Jaena as the first reformist and among the early Filipino patriots who dedicated their lives for the country’s freedom against an oppressive government.

Defensor represented President Arroyo to the tribute activity which was also attended by Lopez-Jaena Shrine’s fund campaign chair, Antique Governor Sally Perez, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and GLJ Foundation president Demy Sonza.

“Ilonggo heroes should also be emulated and known to the public especially to the young people because many of them are not really aware (of the heroes). Most of them knew Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio – although very limited. They don’t know other heroes that we have. I think it is also fitting that we recognize our Ilonggo heroes,” Defensor said.

In a press conference with the local media, Defensor said he was asked by Perez to help raise some P10 million for the shrine.

“We are committed to raise this fund. I still cannot say where exactly it will come from but we hope it would help augment whatever is needed. We hope to do this not only for Lopez-Jaena but for the other heroes so that the Filipino youth will remember them,” Defensor said.

Perez said the Antique provincial government allotted P200,000 while the Iloilo City and provincial governments contributed P250,000.

The fund-raising will end Dec 18. 2007.

“We are going to tap other governors (of Capiz and Aklan) because Lopez-Jaena is a Western Visayan hero. We will try that we could get more from Negros Occidental because Lopez-Jaena stayed there during his time,” she added.

Perez said the shrine will host a room for each of the provinces and their respective heroes.

“The Foundation members are working together. We’re also wooing not only Ilonggos to help but other sponsors (as well). As far as the national government is concerned we could allocate P10 million,” Defensor said.

Will Lopez-Jaena’s birthday (currently a regional holiday) be declared a national holiday?

“We consider that with so many heroes. It would be hard when every time there is commemoration, we call for a holiday. But what we can do is to have one holiday for all the Ilonggo heroes so that they would all be recognized,” Defensor explained.

Defensor added: “Let’s study how we can best commemorate the heroes, their death anniversaries or whatever special occasions that they have to be recognized.”

“We have to really collate, validate and document our heroes. When I said documented, I didn’t mean that they were not heroes but what I knew is that they were not recognized as much. We just knew them in particular.”

link: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories2.php
source: The Guardian Iloilo

spacewagon1

December 19th, 2006, 08:43 AM

after almost 2 days of absence, pagbalik ko damo na posts ba. Really great photos and articles of Iloilo. Madamo guid nga salamt for posting them here guys.

And to those new in visiting Iloilo Threads, WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. Thanks for the contrinutions guys !
:cheers: :cheers:
Tuod gid migs. Nice pictures and brilliant articles. Anyway, diin ka na naman naglagaw?

spacewagon1

December 19th, 2006, 08:46 AM

Historians want Dec 18 declared a national holiday
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 00:30am (Mla time) 12/19/2006

Published on Page A14 of the December 19, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

ILOILO CITY—Historians are calling for the declaration of Dec. 18 as a national holiday in honor of Ilonggo patriot Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena.

Ludovico Badoy, executive director of the National Historical Institute, said the institute would recommend to President Macapagal-Arroyo the declaration of the birthday of Lopez Jaena as a holiday in the whole country, not just in Iloilo.

Badoy said lawmakers, especially those from Panay Island, should also pass a law declaring December 18 a national holiday.

Lopez Jaena was honored yesterday in rites commemorating his 150th birth anniversary.

Historians, local officials, students, teachers and government employees attended the ceremony held at the Graciano Lopez Jaena Park (formerly the Jaro Plaza). His great-grand niece Grace Espina represented Lopez Jaena’s family.

Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, who represented the President, led the wreath laying ceremony along with government officials and representatives of the NHI, Department of Education, Western Visayas Historical and Cultural Council and the Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation Inc.

Historians have pointed out that Lopez Jaena, a distinguished orator and journalist, deserves the same recognition as Jose Rizal and Marcelo del Pilar as part of the “great triumvirate of the Propaganda Movement,” against Spanish colonial rule.

Lopez Jaena founded the fortnightly newspaper La Solidaridad, the publication of the Propaganda Movement, and was well known for his writings espousing freedom from Spanish rule.

At the age of 18, he published his first written work “Fray Botod” (Big Bellied Friar), which depicted the abuses and extreme greediness of the Spanish friars.

He was more distinguished as an orator and dubbed the “Demosthenes of the Philippines.” Spanish authorities feared him most for his speeches, which roused his audience and convinced listeners to believe in his cause.

Regino Paular, chief of the NHI historical education division, said Lopez Jaena is a good model for the Filipino youth, considering how he stood up for the truth.

Paular noted that Lopez Jaena’s oratorical pieces and articles advocated socio-political reforms in the country during Spanish colonial rule.

He said it is important to broaden the historical awareness of the people especially the youth.

“History offers lessons for everybody. But it seems we are doing it again like how graft and corruption is continuing,” he said.

Msgr. Joemarie Delgado said Lopez Jaena’s heroism is relevant to the current times.

source: The Philippine Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=39037)

spacewagon1

December 19th, 2006, 08:47 AM

spacewagon1

December 19th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Might pigeon droppings wear down portions of the church? I remember Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame.. the gargoyles were really annoyed by those pigeons. Anyway, I like this photo better if only it was lit up more. The silhouette effect gives it another flavor though.
http://static.flickr.com/135/325794192_da59a92bd3_o.jpg
eerieeeee .... parang sa horror movies. :lol:

spacewagon1

December 19th, 2006, 08:56 AM

aga pa to announce of hotel occupancy rate. More than a month pa siguro before Dinagyang. Subong pa lang bal-an na nila nga wala na rooms. Anyways, maayo man guid ini matuod para maka-prepapre maayo ang bisita. I hope Ilonggos with spare space/s will help accomodate guests and visitors para sa Dinagyang. I'm sure kadamo sila dira nga balay ma-tap sa Iloilo. Tani ang mga balay nga ini or bed and breakfast will have a direct contact sa DOT para official guid sila nga ma-recognise as safe and clean. Guests and visotrs who have relatives in nearby towns surrounding the city like Oton, Pavia, Sta Barbara, Leganes, Tigbauan, Zarraga, San Miguel or as far as Alimodian, Guimbal and Pototan, puwede guid siguro maka-accomodate sang iban nga bisita to help cushion the impact visitor's flock in the city during Dinagyang. Also, Guimaras and neighbouring Bacolod, Roxas and Passi cities can also help with occupancy problem. Paano na ang plano nila nga floating hotel? Dayon pa to?
wala na mabati-an pa ang floating hotel. Hulat-hulat naman kita sang mga balita eh. he he. Gindala mo na halos tanan nga banwa sa palibot sang Iloilo ba? Puwede gid sila ka-stay sa balay nyo sa Jaro Kirbs kay wala man to sang naga-istar. he he.

nice one from UP Visayas. I hope all schools will have its lantern displays or festival of lights every december. It's always nice to see the glittery campus. It feels like Christmas.:)
sweet. Hambal sang upod ko di, "Christmas iswhenever you have the money. Amo na ina kuno subong. Kung wala ka kuwarta, bisan December 25 na, indi gid iya Christmas amigo." Daw manami duklon. :lol: :lol: :lol:

BYAHILO

December 19th, 2006, 06:21 PM

kirby21

December 19th, 2006, 11:57 PM

what's in the Philippines' economy that'll be affected when they'll add one more holiday? I don't think it'll yield big impact though. Besides, the more holidays, the more time for shopping. he he. Joke lang po. But really I can't see any relationship between the holidays and its impact to our economy. Mind you, here in UK, we are all entitled 2 months holiday with pay if you are doing long shifts (8-8 job, 3 days a week, 4 days off), a month if your on 8-4 jobs (5 days on, 2 days off). Actually, it even inspires people more since they have something to look forward to every now and then. Yet economically, we are very strong and never even yield to some foreign exchange brouhaha. Anyway, I believe it's too early to ask for extra holidays. For me, it's not really a need at present. Maybe someday.:)

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 12:01 AM

oh lord... damo damo na holidays ang pinas. its bad for the econoy. lugi ang mga employers and the business sector.

btw: ngaa ang dinagyang website asta subong wala pa nag up haw? nag up na ya ang cebu sinulog,

hay tani malka bugtaw na ang ila tech support team. kay lapit na lang paskwa asta subong wala pa ko ka apply press ID ko. :(
try abi email si Mr Jimena Eric. Basi pa lang mabuligan ka niya to fasttrack your press ID application.

Website? Basi next year pa ina siguro ma-start pa.

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Tuod gid migs. Nice pictures and brilliant articles. Anyway, diin ka na naman naglagaw?
ari lang sa palibot ah. I don't want to go out sa London for the meantime since I'll be travelling in next three weeks to the US so wala guid damo nga lagaw for the meantime. And malamig na Space. Daw winter na guid. hahaha

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 12:12 AM

Isa sa mga guin-obra sang isa ka estudyante sang PEYUPS DILIMAN para sa iya nga ICE BREAKER music video sa iya nga Hiligaynon class.

ENJOY!

Song in Tagalog, subtitled in Hiligaynon
dqllgQSQ0hg
XpN2JLXChQo

:lol: :lol: :lol:
oh bless their souls. :lol: :lol: :lol: .
Wierd-but-Nice clips, Bernie. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

BYAHILO

December 20th, 2006, 07:34 AM

try abi email si Mr Jimena Eric. Basi pa lang mabuligan ka niya to fasttrack your press ID application.

Website? Basi next year pa ina siguro ma-start pa.

i already emailed him 2 weeks ago pa. no reply. :( naintindihan ko si mr jimena kay sako sya campaign for dinagyang nationwide...

ang technical team nila ya... i dont know.. basi sa february pa sila ma up sang ila website.

last year at this time naka communite na ko ya sa media relations committee last year subong wala pa.. hay good luck sa akon.

spacewagon1

December 20th, 2006, 07:59 AM

City Hall, Capitol play Santa Claus

REGULAR and casual employees in the Iloilo City and provincial governments will receive the P10,000 GMA bonus.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday said the casuals will also get the Christmas bonus upon approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“We are giving P10,000 cash gift to each casual. I already ordered the release of the bonuses yesterday and today. We have already processed the bonus even before the DBM reached out office,” Treñas said.

The mayor said other cities such as Roxas also gave out the same bonus for casual employees.

“The budget came from savings of personnel services as required by law – meaning there were vacant positions which were not filled up, thus the savings,” Treñas explained.

He said some 1,600 plantilla casuals are entitled to the bonus.

But casual workers who were hired through job orders will not receive the same.

The City Government earlier gave the P10,000 GMA bonus to some 1,800 regular employees.

The Capitol is also allocating some P20million for the GMA bonus of provincial government employees.

Just like its counterpart in the city, the bonus will be sourced from the savings in the personal services budget, said Governor Niel Tupas Sr..

The provincial government yesterday gave the P1,800-allowance of barangay health and day care workers in the province.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories9.php)

spacewagon1

December 20th, 2006, 08:07 AM

i already emailed him 2 weeks ago pa. no reply. :( naintindihan ko si mr jimena kay sako sya campaign for dinagyang nationwide...

ang technical team nila ya... i dont know.. basi sa february pa sila ma up sang ila website.

last year at this time naka communite na ko ya sa media relations committee last year subong wala pa.. hay good luck sa akon.
oh dear, oh dear Eric. Daw amo gid sa tuod. Basi February gid man guro. :lol: :lol: . Try to use the city forum, basi pa lang mas madasig sila magsabat. I hope you'll get your media pass as soon as.

spacewagon1

December 20th, 2006, 08:08 AM

ari lang sa palibot ah. I don't want to go out sa London for the meantime since I'll be travelling in next three weeks to the US so wala guid damo nga lagaw for the meantime. And malamig na Space. Daw winter na guid. hahaha
:horse: :horse: nice to hear from you Kirbs. Cheerio mate !

spacewagon1

December 20th, 2006, 08:35 AM

Hablon Moda 2006
showcases generations of style
By BOMBETTE G. MARIN

ILOILO City -- Perhaps one of the most sought-after fashion events this year is the Hablon Fashion Fair 2006 for the Iloilo Kawayan Market Week, a trade and fashion fair showcasing Iloilo’s biggest range of the newest style and designs of hablon fabric, with each exhibitor presenting their biggest range of stylish products.

The fashion show serves an important role in promoting hablon manufacturers and exporters to the outside world with the mission of establishing closer ties and friendly cooperation among the different weavers in the province.

With some years of professional ties with International Lifestyle Designer, PJ Arañador, local weavers in Brgy. Indag-an, Miag-ao has adapted new elements of design and patterns into the local fabric. Since then, Arañador has kept the weaving industry alive. He always look to his roots for inspiration -- whether it’s in home furnishings or fashion.

His love affair with hablon is long-lived as he already lost count of the number of shows he had done using the fabric he call “his source of inspiration for Iloilo.” He shocked Iloilo by fusing craftsmanship and talent of 18th century weaving combined with 21st century design. He incorporated all the elements of style using hablon, and sold countless dresses.

The interest was heightened when other Ilonggo designers started using hablon in their collections. A sign that the fabric is increasing in popularity is award-winning Ilongga designer Jaki Peñalosa who now manages her own hablon boutique called “Jaki Peñalosa, designer’s guild of iloilo city (dgic)” at the ground floor of Robinson’s Place Iloilo. Her boutique attracts young and old alike. Among her clients are government officials and professionals here and abroad.

The stereotype of the hablon fabric, its vibrant colors and native look has captivated Filipinos. It is for this reason that many of our designers are using it, whether it’s incorporated with other fabrics or as a highlight. In fact, hablon is now gaining popularity all over the country, where first-time tourists to Iloilo consider a trip at the home of hablon in Miag-ao.
This month, the Iloilo Kawayan Market Week 2006 presents Hablon Moda, a fashion show scheduled today, November 13, 6 p.m., at the fountain area of Robinson’s Place Iloilo. Participating in the event are the likes of International Lifestyle Designer PJ Arañador, this time with fellow Ilonggo designers Bo Parcon, Jaki Peñalosa, Eric De Los Santos, Angelette Borja-Ragus and Don Protasio.

The designers will be using 80% hablon from Miag-ao and Oton. Hablon Moda hoped to establish the fabric’s presence in Iloilo by holding this fashion event of exemplary talent. The collections, after all, revolve around the fabric. The blank canvass for any designer is the cloth. It maybe the clothes that sell, but it is the fabric that entices the customer to buy.

Iloilo has taken the fabric to heart. The weaving industry, with the help of our designers, is personalizing its marketing standpoint more and more. They have taken inspiration for this year’s collections and translated it in all forms, be it decorative (with handiwork), revealing (incorporated with sheer fabrics), or artistic (with unusual avant-garde finishes and the actual application of personalized art on the fabric), will light up Hablon Moda 2006. Enjoy and see you at the show!

source: Panay News (http://www.panaynews.com.ph/people.htm)

adelro2049

December 20th, 2006, 08:58 AM

this may be off topic. the consulate of san francisco is already promoting the 3rd Ambassadors/Consuls General Tour of the Philippines set for July 2007. it is a group tour composed of the ambassador/consul generals and filipino-americans in the u.s. the tour includes a basic tour (manila) and an audience with pres. arroyo in malacanang (july 14-17), and an out of town tours (july 17-20). while last year's out of town tour did not include iloilo as an itinerary of choice, this year, they have included iloilo/bacolod/guimaras as one of the alternative destinations in the out-of-town tour. the choice out-of-town tour destinations for 2007 are: cebu/bohol; boracay; davao; palawan; iloilo/bacolod/guimaras; or subic bay. i hope this will be the start of the philippine consulate's promoting iloilo and guimaras as a tourist destination. i am also hoping that more fil-ams will consider iloilo/bacolod/guimaras.

adelro2049

December 20th, 2006, 09:01 AM

IAMME

December 20th, 2006, 01:30 PM

Sorry, not a very good pic, but this is the town hall of what used to be the municipality of La Paz. La Paz is now a district of Iloilo City.
http://static.flickr.com/136/328036532_55bb6ef335.jpg

akaiski_2074

December 20th, 2006, 02:08 PM

Waay mo nadara camera mo migo? Daad pinicturan mo. :) I-uribay bala pirme camera mo para maski diin ka ma-adto, pangodak ka dayon.

ay indi takon migo ah.. miga bala haw... ang pirmi ko bitbit migo shy, whiteboard or indi gani bulong tana... maka lugar lang gid ko manguha ko pix ah.....

BYAHILO

December 20th, 2006, 03:26 PM

oh dear, oh dear Eric. Daw amo gid sa tuod. Basi February gid man guro. :lol: :lol: . Try to use the city forum, basi pa lang mas madasig sila magsabat. I hope you'll get your media pass as soon as.

the iloilo city forum? ahahah been there done that. same results. no signs of life.

lols. hay lord.

the only mistake that i did was to delete the fax number of Iloilo city Phil Info agency. last year gin fax ko akon request sa ila.

===============================================

BTW, sino sa inyo diri may MP3 sang kanta sang iloilo dunno the title basta ang iya corus ---> "Hala Bira Iloilo..."

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 05:22 PM

Sorry, not a very good pic, but this is the town hall of what used to be the municipality of La Paz. La Paz is now a district of Iloilo City.
http://static.flickr.com/136/328036532_55bb6ef335.jpg
good one IAMME. I always believe that LaPaz is part of Iloilo City noon pa. Iba man gali ang LaPaz. Cool. Cheers to posting the pic, IAMME.

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 05:24 PM

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 05:27 PM

the iloilo city forum? ahahah been there done that. same results. no signs of life.

lols. hay lord.

the only mistake that i did was to delete the fax number of Iloilo city Phil Info agency. last year gin fax ko akon request sa ila.

===============================================

BTW, sino sa inyo diri may MP3 sang kanta sang iloilo dunno the title basta ang iya corus ---> "Hala Bira Iloilo..."
oh bless you, eric. I hope you'll get your pass soon. Why don't you email iloilo city forum webmaster. He's in direct contact with Mr Jimena or anybody in IDFI. Mas dako mabulig niya guid ina sa imo migo Eric.

The Hala Bira Iloilo is the Dinagyang's theme song. It is more likely available sa Star FM kay iya ini sang Bombo Radyo nga jingle. Do you know anybody sa Bombo?

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 05:30 PM

ay indi takon migo ah.. miga bala haw... ang pirmi ko bitbit migo shy, whiteboard or indi gani bulong tana... maka lugar lang gid ko manguha ko pix ah.....
Sige adelro, pag may tiempo, post lang diri ang mga pics nga ginpangkuha mo (or kuhaan mo in the future). I'm sure kadamo guid sang ginpangkadtu-an mo nga wala pa makadtuan sang iban diri sa aton sa forum because sang imo trabaho.

kirby21

December 20th, 2006, 06:03 PM

adelro: hoping ..........
space: I agree with your description. :)

BYAHILO

December 20th, 2006, 06:19 PM

oh bless you, eric. I hope you'll get your pass soon. Why don't you email iloilo city forum webmaster. He's in direct contact with Mr Jimena or anybody in IDFI. Mas dako mabulig niya guid ina sa imo migo Eric.

The Hala Bira Iloilo is the Dinagyang's theme song. It is more likely available sa Star FM kay iya ini sang Bombo Radyo nga jingle. Do you know anybody sa Bombo?

naka communicate na kmai ni iamme. may kopya sya sang jingle sang iloilo....

regarding the press Id, well, it was the moderator of iloilo city govt forum ang nag hatag sa akon sang email add ni sir ben. i even posted my questions there para mas madali nila makita. unfortunately wala gid na sabat.

neways, walapa man ako nagaka dulaan sang paglaum./

shyaman

December 20th, 2006, 11:49 PM

ay indi takon migo ah.. miga bala haw... ang pirmi ko bitbit migo shy, whiteboard or indi gani bulong tana... maka lugar lang gid ko manguha ko pix ah.....

Ayayay! Strike 2 na ako. Si Toluene nasal-an ko nga chix. Karon naman si Akai nasal-an ko nga maton. Ambot na lang ah.

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 03:25 AM

ILOILO CITY JOINS BILLIONAIRES’ CLUB

THE Iloilo City Hall will operate on a P1-billion budget next year.

This, after the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its regular session Wednesday approved the P1.201 billion annual budget for 2007 which is 59 percent higher than the 2006 budget amounting to P756 million.

A bulk of the new budget was taken from the Internal Revenue Allotment and tax earnings of the City government amounting to P851.2 million while the remaining P350 million came from City Hall’s loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the construction of the new City Hall building.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said it was his goal to increase the city’s budget to the P1-billion level budget by 2010.

The City council received the budget proposals from Treñas Oct. 13.

The Local Government Code (LGC) provides that the mayor should submit the proposed budget to the SP not later than Oct. 16.

The committee on appropriations chaired by Kagawad Joe Espinosa III conducted the budget hearings from Nov. 2-Dec. 12.

Committee member Kagawads Eduardo Peñaredondo and Perla Zulueta actively joined in the hearings attended by City Hall department heads and personnel.

The committee set a rule against proxies in behalf of the department heads who ought to defend their respective office budgets.

Where will the money for the P-billion budget come from?

Zulueta said the budget sources were “certified to as reasonably projected collectibles.”

“We don’t say this is what we will have categorically or definitely. We have never made a mistake of overstating or overestimating our income proof of which we always had understated income. That’s why for 2006, we had only an estimated P750 million budget but it actually reached P952 million or P200 million higher,” Zulueta said.

Zulueta said the city was previously dependent on its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government.

“We used to have the IRA as main source of revenue because it was always the highest in terms of figures when it comes to our sources of fund. But starting this year, the local taxes were higher as we have P395 million compared to the P370 million IRA next year,” she added.

The local taxes collected came in the form of amusement, professional, business, franchises and real property prescribed by tax ordinances.

“The biggest among local taxes was business tax because we are a business-friendly city. The local businessmen are expected to pay P156 million for city’s income next year or more than P20 million this year,” said Zulueta.

She added that income real property taxes (RPT) might reach P116 milion while franchise taxes will hit P28.5 million.

The biggest taxpayers to the city Panay Power Corporation (PPC), Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) and Panay Electric Company (Peco).

“We only earn a very minimal amount of around P10 million from permits and licenses,” Zulueta said.

Zulueta added the city’s service income, the biggest of which came from garbage fees, might reach P32.5 million while income from market rentals and fees and slaughterhouse will generate some P27.3 million.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories1.php)

^^ ^^ I'm a bit curious with what's going on between Iloilo City and Iloilo province. Looks like the two are competing each other. Before, the so called IT parks, then convention centers, now it's the 2007 annual operating budget. If anyone read a tabloid few weeks ago, the Iloilo Provincial Capitol announced that they'll increase their budget to 1-billion php for their annual operations. It has been questioned at same time on to where (or sources) they'll get the budget, which all points to same thing, the IRA. If both city and the province are operating almost at the same budget, that means a 70 sq km is too powerful to equal the budget of the whole province? Whew ! Good for Iloilo City indeed. Trenas even surpassed his objective for the city to have its operating budget of a billion peso by 2010, and it's just 2007 pa lang. Kudos to all the city employees and officials !

BYAHILO

December 21st, 2006, 03:28 AM

IAMME> nakuha ko na ang file. thanks gid.

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 03:30 AM

Iloilo wins regional search for Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran

The province of Iloilo again won top honors in the 2006 Regional Search for Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (Province Category) during the Pagdayaw 2006 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the Iloilo Grand Hotel yesterday.

This is the fifth time the province was awarded regional champion in this category since 2001.

The municipality of Guimbal is champion in Category B (4th – 6th class municipalities) while Miagao placed 1st runner-up in Category A (1st –3rd class municipalities).

Miagao and Guimbal topped the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran search for the cleanest and greenest municipalities in Iloilo to earn the right to represent the province in the regional search.

Iloilo was adjudged 2nd runner up in the 2003 and 2004 Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran, a nationwide search for country’s cleanest and greenest communities but the national government suspended the search in 2005 due to lack of fund.

However, Western Visayas officials decided to continue the program because of its favorable impact on the environment and community mobilization efforts.

Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. has a parallel program dubbed as Project Cleaning and Greening launched in 2002 and chaired by the province’s First Lady Myrna C. Tupas.

Marylou B. Sumbing, Provincial Information Officer and Task Force Clean and Green project coordinator, said this program had come a long way in its implementation while she commended the municipal mayors and the people of the province who adopted cleanliness and greening as their way of life.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories9.php)

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 03:37 AM

the iloilo city forum? ahahah been there done that. same results. no signs of life.

lols. hay lord.

the only mistake that i did was to delete the fax number of Iloilo city Phil Info agency. last year gin fax ko akon request sa ila.

===============================================

BTW, sino sa inyo diri may MP3 sang kanta sang iloilo dunno the title basta ang iya corus ---> "Hala Bira Iloilo..."
basi ma-download niyo di liwat sa aton thread, palihog lang. I loved the song's upbeat. Buhay na buhay ang Iloilo kung amo ina pamati-an mo.

Ric, keep on trying. Tani they'll respond for your request immediately.

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 03:49 AM

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 03:57 AM

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 04:00 AM

BYAHILO

December 21st, 2006, 05:08 AM

a welcome move indeed. I hope they'll help propels Iloilo's Tourism Industry. Dako gid sini mabulig niya once the Philippine Consulate will start promoting Iloilo. Salamat sa balita, Adelro.

ill upload the song later. pag nasa office na ako kay mas madaig connection ko didto

naka DSL lng ko di .. sa office T1 ako ihihi

habagatcentral1

December 21st, 2006, 05:48 AM

nice trivia, IAMME.

Not only that, the present geographical districts of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, Arevalo, La Paz and Iloilo were seperate entities until 1935(?) when they integrated these 4 towns and 2 cities into one.

The ayuntamiento or the city hall of Jaro is an art-deco masterpiece in the northern corner of Jaro Plaza. Now its Jaro District Police Precient.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack131.jpg

METROPOLITAN_ILOILO

December 21st, 2006, 06:33 AM

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/18/backhoe_tn.jpg
A backhoe undertakes clearing and widening of a portion of the Iloilo River in Brgy. Tabucan, Mandurriao as part of the Phase II of the city's Floodway Project.

^^ ^^ I think this is the other side of Iloilo Flood Control Project. If the culvert by China Waters something is starting in LaPaz, the stage 2 by Korean company is starting to drill on the other side of the area as well (in Mandurriao). Good job! Hope they'll fasttrack the Iloilo Flood Control Project as it very very vital support to Iloilo City's soaring economy. Less flood, more businesses and investments and less relocation budget for city's residents.

This is really GOOD! At least the PROJECT is now really ON-GOING! Hopefully by 2009-2012 eveything will be in place!

HAla BIra!

:cheers:

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 06:48 AM

Not only that, the present geographical districts of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, Arevalo, La Paz and Iloilo were seperate entities until 1935(?) when they integrated these 4 towns and 2 cities into one.

The ayuntamiento or the city hall of Jaro is an art-deco masterpiece in the northern corner of Jaro Plaza. Now its Jaro District Police Precient.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack131.jpg
unbeknownst history (for me). More to learn from the past, I guess.
Bern, I copied your pic and re-submit it on our heritage thread. :)

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 06:50 AM

from: berniesouthcentrl's post in Iloilo Thread:
__________
Not only that, the present geographical districts of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, Arevalo, La Paz and Iloilo were seperate entities until 1935(?) when they integrated these 4 towns and 2 cities into one.

The ayuntamiento or the city hall of Jaro is an art-deco masterpiece in the northern corner of Jaro Plaza. Now its Jaro District Police Precient.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack131.jpg

METROPOLITAN_ILOILO

December 21st, 2006, 06:57 AM

"NOt bad for year no? Sa sulod sang isa katuig, damo na nagbag-o along Diversion. Pero kung tan-awon mo Al, the three corners of Iloilo City is teeming with new buildings, etc. Area going to Leganes is also starting to fill up with the coming of new subdivisions along the area. And if projects will push through next year, another mall will be erected along the highway. Then we have area going to Pavia. Indi na man guid siguro ma-deny that the impending opening of new airport in Sta Barbara stirs economic activities sa area nga ini. From Jaro to Pavia to Sta Barbara. Definitely, another economic belt of Iloilo in a very near future."

Hi Kirbs... just curious though what Mall would that be? It the Market2x ILOILO? By the way does anybody has an update with regards to the proposed TERMINAL MARKET to be built somewhere in PAVIA (Ungka) to be undetaken by no other than the company of Tito Lopez Jr?

Hala Bira! Basa Basa lang ko di ah!:cheers:

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 08:04 AM

This is really GOOD! At least the PROJECT is now really ON-GOING! Hopefully by 2009-2012 eveything will be in place!

HAla BIra!

:cheers:
That's right Metro. back-to-back ang obrahanay nila. Kung buwenason ti mapadali ang Iloilo Flood Control Project. May ara kita siguro parte sini kay ang Aganan starts in Alimodian down to San Miguel to Pavia to Iloilo City.

spacewagon1

December 21st, 2006, 08:12 AM

A diplomat's dinner
By Nonoy D. Ybiernas

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/diplomat.dinner2.jpg
Paul and Catherine Jones,
Pangging Rosales, Sarah Peña.

The Rosales' Strawberry Mansion once again lit up their blue Venetian chandeliers when its elegant daughter Beverly "Pangging" Rosales feted visiting U.S. Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Paul W. Jones and his most charming wife Catherine to a sit down dinner for sixteen a few weeks ago.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/diplomat.dinner1.jpg
Norma Souribio, Paul Jones, Catherine
Jones, Pangging Rosales, Zafito
Ledesma, Sarah Peña, Dr. Vic Souribio.

Among those invited to this rather exclusive affair were Fil-Am Society of Western Visayas President, Dr. Vic Suoribio and wife Norma, power couple Judgee and Sarah Peña, Amigo Terrace Hotel's Maridel Padilla-Uygongco, southern gentry Zafito Ledesma, eminent Ilonggo designer Nono Palmos, Philippine Tatler's top hostess Norma Padilla-Rosales, true blue Negrenses Raffy and Dr. Noel Abello, chic and cool Angela Lopez- Guingona, U.S. Embassy Second Secretary and Vice Consul Gregory L. Bernsteen, and of course yours truly.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/diplomat.dinner3.jpg
Dr. Vic Souribio, Paul and Catherine
Jones,Nonoy Ybiernas, Gregory
Bernsteen
Mr. Paul W. Jones was here in Iloilo as a university guest speaker, he also went to oversee some of their USDA funded projects as well as paying courtesy calls to our top city officials. The charismatic couple also did some rounds to our city's landmarks and a side trip to Miagao to see its famous church and meet its local residents.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/diplomat.dinner5.jpg
Paul Jones, Pangging Rosales, Nono
Palmos, Maridel Uygongco
I would also like to mention, that Mr. Jones' better half Catherine, is a brilliant award- winning cookbook author and food writer. She received critical acclaim for her previous book, Eating for Pregnancy, and won two awards for her first book, A Year of Russian Feasts. Her latest book, Eating for Lower Cholesterol with Elaine B. Trujillo is a must for everyone to read.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/a.diplomats.dinner.html)

papable

December 21st, 2006, 11:55 AM

Not only that, the present geographical districts of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, Arevalo, La Paz and Iloilo were seperate entities until 1935(?) when they integrated these 4 towns and 2 cities into one.

The ayuntamiento or the city hall of Jaro is an art-deco masterpiece in the northern corner of Jaro Plaza. Now its Jaro District Police Precient.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/BernieMack131.jpg

This looks like the old prison in Davao as posted in the Davao thread. Sayang nga lang nademolish yon. I hope they would convert this into a more purposeful use (like a heritage museum perhaps?) rather than a mere police station.

habagatcentral1

December 21st, 2006, 11:59 AM

This looks like the old prison in Davao as posted in the Davao thread. Sayang nga lang nademolish yon. I hope they would convert this into a more purposeful use (like a heritage museum perhaps?) rather than a mere police station.

Most of the old municipios in Iloilo City were either clinics or police precint since these are government buildings passed from generation to generation. At least the building still has a function rather being demolished due to neglect.

The present Jaro ayuntamiento or City Hall serves also as a district post office. :)

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 12:11 PM

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 12:13 PM

naka communicate na kmai ni iamme. may kopya sya sang jingle sang iloilo....

regarding the press Id, well, it was the moderator of iloilo city govt forum ang nag hatag sa akon sang email add ni sir ben. i even posted my questions there para mas madali nila makita. unfortunately wala gid na sabat.

neways, walapa man ako nagaka dulaan sang paglaum./
keep trying Eric. Basi sako lang guid sila subong especially lapit na lang guid ang Christmas.

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 02:19 PM

Pacific_leopard

December 21st, 2006, 03:03 PM

BYAHILO

December 21st, 2006, 04:02 PM

@pacific leopard... i really really envy you. damo ka time maka lagaw ya. hay i wish i have a lot of extra time pag mag kadto ko dira i libot mo ko sa mga places nga nakadtuan mo.

Pacific_leopard

December 21st, 2006, 04:14 PM

@pacific leopard... i really really envy you. damo ka time maka lagaw ya. hay i wish i have a lot of extra time pag mag kadto ko dira i libot mo ko sa mga places nga nakadtuan mo.

haha.. bakasyon man daan subong.hehe don't worry pag makavisit ka diri i-tour tagid ka sa iloilo...

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 04:46 PM

Iloilo plaza can’t be altered without NHI green light By David Israel Sinay Visayas Bureau Last updated 07:46pm (Mla time) 12/21/2006 ILOILO CITY -- The National Historical Institute (NHI) reminded city officials here that they could not alter the use or modify historical landmarks without a go-ahead signal from the institute. The NHI issued the statement after the Iloilo city council approved a plan of the city's Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) to build an advocacy center in Plaza Libertad, one of the historic landmarks here. NHI Executive Director Ludovico Badoy said the institute should first study any proposal to modify or improve historical landmarks. He said the NHI would present a counter-proposal to any party if the proposed improvements or alterations would not be suitable for the area. "For as long as it is declared a landmark… everything must pass through our office," stressed Badoy, who was here Monday for the rites commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Filipino propagandist Graciano Lopez-Jaena. The city council, in a resolution it passed in August, allowed the ABC in the City Proper District to construct a multi-purpose building, which it would call an "advocacy center" in Plaza Libertad. The resolution approving the ABC City Proper District's plan was authored by Councilor Merci Garcia, chair of the committee on tourism, culture and historical affairs, and seconded by Councilors Jose Espinosa III and Armand Parcon. Badoy explained the requirement for NHI approval for projects in areas declared as historical landmarks was covered by Presidential Decree 1545. It was in Plaza Libertad where the flag of the First Philippine Republic was raised in triumph after Spain surrendered Iloilo, her last capital in the islands, to the revolutionaries led by General Martin Delgado on December 25, 1898, according to records obtained from the official website of Iloilo province. The square and the surrounding 18th century edifices were declared a historical landmark on November 17, 2003, through NHI Resolution No. 12. The ABC City Proper plans to construct a two-story advocacy center in the area but this would mean the demolition of some structures that exemplify the ingenuity and artistry dating back to the Spanish era at Plaza Libertad. Iloilo City Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. has already set aside an initial P1 million to fund the project that is meant to house the offices, meetings and gatherings of village officials. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=39554 Anthropologist says Dinagyang can identify more "roots" by ES Subong Iloilo City (21 December) -- Anthropologist-Educator Alicia Magos said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency that the Dinagyang can become a “well-rooted” heritage festival if organizers and tribe leaders try to do more research and interviews with indigenous peoples who live the culture. Magos, who holds a doctorate in Anthropology and one who immerses herself in cultural communities, said that there are groups in Panay which the tribe performers can study and consequently depict their genuine culture in their performances. She cited the beautiful epics of the Panay Bukidnon under the tutelage of Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardee Federico Caballero, of Bgy. Garangan, Calinog, Iloilo. From their lengthy epics the Dinagyang tribes can get authentic stories of the nature and customs of the people that can best exemplify Ilonggo tradition. Caballero runs the School for Living Tradition (SLT) with the assistance of the Office of the President through the National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA) in Bgy. Garangan, where he teaches the younger generation the various cultural rites and traits of Panay Bukidnon. Magos said that with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation’s thrust in promoting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the festival has projected social relevance, which must find expression in the cultural presentations of the Dinagyang tribes. She added that housing, poverty alleviation and ecological balance, including gender issues and especially education, have indigenous expressions and implications from where the Dinagyang can find roots. Magos appreciated the efforts of the Dinagyang Foundation as she wished it would lead to the point where foreigners who come to see the festival will not see a “poor substitute” of Ilonggo culture, but something that gives the Philippines a distinctive mark in global tourism, anchored on a spirituality and genuine devotion to the Sto. Nino. (PIA 6) http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p061221.htm&no=34 Successful watermelon festival held in Oton, Iloilo By Ric M. Reyes MORE than 500 watermelon farmers from Visayas attended the first Watermelon “Sandiya” Festival held at Oton town plaza, Oton, Iloilo last Dec 7, 2006. The affair was initiated by East West Seed Company in cooperation with the local government units of Iloilo and the provincial agricultural officials. Governor Niel Tupas Sr., Oton Mayor Carina Flores and East West President Joost Pekelharing, led the festivities which culminated in the awarding of the top ten watermelon farmers of Iloilo. The top ten watermelon farmers were given recognition for their outstanding performance planting hybrid watermelon in the past five years. Their dedication, hardwork and practical approach in watermelon production helped catapult Iloilo to be the premier hybrid watermelon producer in the country. All awardees registered exemplary yield and record breaking production of hybrid watermelons. This year’s most putstanding watermelon farmers are the following; 1. Leonardo Java, Jr. –Oton, Iloilo 2. Noel Malco – Oton, Iloilo 3. Reynaldo nandin – Cabatuan 4. Princesita Macapobre – Iloilo City 5. Joel Calfoforo – Oton, Iloilo 6. Rhino Java – Oton, Iloilo 7. Rene Figueroa – Passi City 8. Eduardo Magbanua – Pototan, Iloilo 9. Rodny Balayo – Dumangas, Iloilo 10. Agapito Juadiong – Oton, Iloilo. Iloilo’s big, sweet, crispy and striped watermelons have become very popular throughout the country and are sought by buyers, traders and consumers. Majority of watermelons produced from Iloilo are exported to markets in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. If there is one thing unique about successful Ilonggo farmers, they all use the same seed variety named Sweet 16 from East West Seed Company. Given the right planting conditions, Sweet 16 can yield more than 30 tons per hectare. Farmers attests its superior yield, strong disease tolerance and long shelf life. One of the highlights of the festival was the awarding of the biggest watermelon dubbed as “Pinaka-dako Sandiya Contest”. The grand prize winner registered a record breaking weight of 13 kilos (Sweet 16 variety) which was planted by Reylan Tondo a farmer from Tagbac, Oton. He earned a cash prize of Ps5000 and a trophy. Other winners are ; second place Juan Haro of Cambuyao, Oton; 12.56 kilos (Sweet 16 variety) who earned Ps3000 cash prize and a trophy and third place Ray delos Reyes of Obilayson, Oton 12.535 kilos who earned Ps2000 cash prize and a trophy. http://www.panaynews.com.ph/business.htm More Info about Iloilo Flood Control Project Finally, after many years of waiting, Contract Packages 1 and 2 of the Iloilo Flood Control Project Phase II have commenced last April 4, and March 1, 2006, respectively. Classified as a first class city, Iloilo City has been suffering from flood damages every year due to the insufficient flow capacity of the Jaro River and to poor drainage in the Iloilo River Basin. To construct a flood control system with a scale of 20-year return period and partial improvement of the drainage system with a scale of 5-year return period, financial assistance was extended to the city under the 25th Yen Loan Package from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. DPWH-Project Management Office for Major Flood Control Projects serves as the project’s implementing agency. http://www.neda-rdc6.ph/main/images/iloilo_flood1.jpgContract Package 1 which amounts to PhP1,194,106,109.37 involves: a) Construction of Jaro Floodway (4.75km) including four bridges (344m in total), one hydraulic structure, five drainage outlets, and two invert siphons; b) Improvement of Tigum River (2.90km) including one bridge (105m) and 17 drainage outlets; and c) Improvement of Aganan River (3.88km) including one bridge (105m), one hydraulic structure, and 15 drainage outlets. The contractor, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd. (Korea), is expected to complete Contract Package 1 by February 18, 2009. Accom- plishment as of May 2006 is 0.61% with a slippage of –1.58%. On the other hand, Contract Package 2 is under http://www.neda-rdc6.ph/main/images/iloilo_flood2.jpg contract with China International Water & Electrical Corporation (China). The scope of works which amounts to PhP507,803,192.79 involves: a) Improvement of Iloilo River (4km) including one bridge (114m), riverside park improvement, and 12 drainage outlets; b) Improvement of Upper Ingore Creek (2.96km) including seven box culverts; and c) Improvement of Jaro River Mouth (5.63km) including one box culvert at Ingore, outlet structure for Ingore diversion, and 13 drainage outlets. Completion date is set on January 16, 2009. Accomplishment as of May 2006 is 1.32% with a slippage of –0.41%. The Regional Project Monitoring Team plans to conduct regular project monitoring visits on the coming months.

No funds yet for rehabilitation of Central Market

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The city government only got P1,250,000 of the total amount pledged by Senator Mar Roxas for the rehabilitation of the Iloilo Central Market.
This was clarified by City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday after some market vendors questioned where the money went.
The senator earlier pledged P2.5 million from his Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) for the rehabilitation of the market during his visit to the place years back.
Treñas said the initial amount was spent for the rehabilitation of the roofing facilities at the Meat Section of the market.
The budget was funneled to the city's coffers and immediately was spent for the rehabilitation of the market, the mayor said.
The roof at the meat and pork section of the Iloilo Central Market used to be dilapidated. When rain comes, the water pours on the stalls. Some of the owners even spent for the construction of a roof near their stall to protect them from the rain.
He added that he does not know when will the senator release the remaining amount he promised before the vendors. Treñas said it is good if the senator will release the additional fund for the rehabilitation of the central market the soonest time possible.
Decades ago, the Iloilo Central Market was constructed under the Regional Cities Development Projects. It is one of the projects included in a loan package. Since then, the market did not undergo a major rehabilitation unlike the Iloilo Terminal Market where it was reconstructed.
The mayor added that the city needs at least P20 million for the renovation of the Iloilo Central Market. Currently, it is one of the problematic markets in the city. Aside from the torn roofs, it has poor drainage and water supply system.

http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/no.funds.yet.for.rehabilitation.of.central.market.html

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:30 PM

It will be the mall by Philippine Estates to be built in the Jaro Grand Estates
more info here http://www.exploreiloilo.com/philippine-estates-to-build-a-mall-in-iloilo-next-year.html
There you go, Metro. Naunahan ako ni Mr Chymera post sang link. :) Tani madayon lang ini para may bag-o naman nga hang out area ang mga shoppers. Besides, daw wala naman bag- sa SM subong or sa Robinsons.

Chy , kumusta na ang SM Delgado expansion? Daw makita mo na kung ano kadako or kagamay sang ila ipatindog?

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:33 PM

Most of the old municipios in Iloilo City were either clinics or police precint since these are government buildings passed from generation to generation. At least the building still has a function rather being demolished due to neglect.

The present Jaro ayuntamiento or City Hall serves also as a district post office. :)
I like the Jaro art-deco building, Bern. Tani ginhimo na lang nila nga museum ini rather than Police Station and Post office. Kung tan-awon mo siya, it's one of Jaro's iconic buildings. Kung maayo lang sila mag-maintain sang building nga ina, dako pa tani mabulig niya sa promotion sang Jaro as a cultural seat of Western Visayas.

overtureph

December 21st, 2006, 06:36 PM

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:38 PM

@pacific leopard... i really really envy you. damo ka time maka lagaw ya. hay i wish i have a lot of extra time pag mag kadto ko dira i libot mo ko sa mga places nga nakadtuan mo.
Ako man. When in Iloilo, I haven't had the liberty of time to roam around kay dugay-dugay may matawag to visit them or may magkadto nga family members to have a chat. There's o many things to do and isit yet so little time to spare sa kada isa sa ila amidst may salakyan. How I wish to visit towns of northern Iloilo where nature really at its best - The Pan de Azucar and other white sand beaches of northern Iloilo. Sa central and southern part sang province medyo indi na ako madula pa. Though Bucari, and other places of interests wala ko pa makadtuan.

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:40 PM

haha.. bakasyon man daan subong.hehe don't worry pag makavisit ka diri i-tour tagid ka sa iloilo...
I'm I right to say nga fascinated ka sa mga old architectural designs, Pacific? Like churches and cemeteries, etc?

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:48 PM

nag church hopping nanman ko gali kagina... Alimodian, Pavia Santa Barbara and Cabatuan... kapoy gawa a...

ALIMODIAN CHURCH
an artistic church built of brown limestones. The beltower is believed to be oen of the tallest in Panay and Negros Island.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/kZL1Yk76ng.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/OfzR2DbbTr.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/TyKslHYnRq.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/KXvmh8nZeL.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/qKXkOMWFEK.jpg

PAVIA CHURCH
A red brick church of Byzantine Architecture.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/8NA8O4wRZD.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/paUW34aZcy.jpg

SANTA BARBARA CHURCH
A yellowish church of neoclassic architecture with an adjacent convent of moorish architecture.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/Hc95BxQbSx.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/icILK7Wf3z.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/kHmp1N5opC.jpg

CABATUAN CHURCH
declared by El Eco de Panay as the 'Model of Temples'

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/qpGsCJx0Wo.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/MY9Ta3xrl5.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/IlIZN1i6aK.jpg
The beauty of historical and old Iloilo. Proof of our early civilisation and grandeur in the past that until now still lingers on and standng proud to prove our glorious past.

Actually, the Alimodian Church according to Wecky is only half the size of the original church. Did you have a chance to visit the garden beside the church? It's really beautiful. Alimodianons are really proud of it. Some of them make it as their wedding, birthdays, get-together reception. The original size of the church spans from the belfry down to the present St. Tomas Kindergarten School. It was really huge and you can see it through its remnants. I actually had a chance to go beyond visiting the back of the old church. Really amazing. Also, the belfry is way too low now compare in the past but I've heard that they're going to renovate it and reconstruct to its original size.

Sta Barbara Church is also nice. I've been inside the garden or somewat a small piazza within the church. It's really beautiful and homey. I wish to visit Sta Barbara Church once more.

Cabatuan, I still have to visit the church. No chance in the past guid. Sayang. But it looks stunning to me.

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 06:55 PM

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 07:00 PM

kirby21

December 21st, 2006, 07:25 PM

The other side of Graciano Lopez Jaena

What has been often stressed of Graciano Lopez Jaena whose birthday is December 18 (an official holiday in the city and province of Iloilo), is that he was anti-Spain and anti-Catholic. But was he really so?

Let us see. This Ilonggo national hero severely criticized the abusive colonial Spanish officials in the Philippines. When he was in Spain, he edited La Solidaridad -- the organ of the Propaganda Movement whose leaders were Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and himself. They fiercely fought for reforms in the Philippines. For this, history marks Lopez Jaena as Anti-Spain.

But let us listen to his stirring oration on February 25, 1889 at the Ateneo de Barcelona, Spain: "I, as a patriot, a Spaniard first of all, because I love Spain, I ought to rouse here, so that it may be revealed, the mysterious veil of letters and obstruction that explain why the Philippines does not advance and progress".

Here although Lopez Jaena castigated the Spanish colonial officials in our country for hiding the truth about the Philippines to the high Spanish officials in Spain, how can he be Anti-Spain when he loved Spain?

So, what he really hated was not Spain -- but the abusive colonial officials exploiting the hospitable natives. In fact, he must really have loved Spain because he chose to die there.

Moreover, the Propaganda Movement is a peaceful endeavor of the Filipinos in Spain for reforms thru peaceful means -- not by violent means thru force of arms.

Next, he was not anti-Catholic. In the same speech in Barcelona, Lopez Jaena said: "The conflict between friars and the Filipinos is unwavering. It is not a conflict of religion against religion; it is not a struggle of the native country against the mother country; it is a struggle for life, for survival; one side defending exploitation, the other fighting for their right to lead a modern life, to lead a free life, to lead a democratic life."

Here, he emphasized that he was not against the Catholic religion -- the state religion under Spain. What he was really against were the abuses of the Spanish friars -- whom he criticized in his tract Fray Butod -- but not the Catholic religion whose creed he imbibed during his tutelage under Fray Francisco Jayme at the Colegio Provincial de Jaro and his student days at the Seminario de Jaro.

Therefore, in reality, Lopez Jaena was not anti-Spain nor anti-Catholic. He was actually a very, very pro-Filipino as manifested further in his other speech: "Filipinas, I salute you with the invocation of hope on the lips. Look at her, the blue sky is her mantle, the most beautiful sky in the world embellished with resplendent stars, is her crown. He who has not seen those islands of Oceania has not seen one of the most beautiful regions of the earth".

This is the true side of our hero, Graciano Lopez Jaena. He was merely a fierce pro-Filipino.

link: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/18/the.other.side.of.graciano.lopez.jaena.html
source: The News Today

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 09:36 PM

SM Delgado

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/329343101_3d44c822d3_o.jpg

coming up ... MO2 Hotel, Angelicum, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Leon :nuts:

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 10:06 PM

Angelicum Opening of Lights

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/329361498_94c54a7527_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/329357675_1b34756892_o.jpg

someone in Youtube managed to upload a video of the countdown

bcqO732r18c

another amateurish video

cqdyV6rA4o0

Wasn't able to capture the whole length of the fireworks display. Too bad, memory ran out because I took too many pics taken beforehand, hehe ...

AS6s8QdlvpE

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/329357803_3ab25720c5_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/329357737_4d01662cfe_o.jpg

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 11:16 PM

Pototan's IWAG Festival of Lights

Astrodome at the Pototan Plaza
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329361161_df65621204_o.jpg

BandStand
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329361082_aedbb033b8_o.jpg

Giant Christmas Tree with the Pototan Astrodome in the BG

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/329361033_80bfbc4590_o.jpg

Neoclassical building found beside the plaza

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/329360943_7e08057223_o.jpg

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 11:19 PM

Lagoon and Dancing Fountains

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/329360876_f723ebe582_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329360684_7b5949ca44_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/329360648_7a9ea32db8_o.jpg

Pototan Municipal Hall

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/329360818_cfb186a7ff_o.jpg

Decorated Obelisk

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/329360756_8e30be300e_o.jpg

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 11:33 PM

MO2 Resobar and MO2 Annex

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/329431067_f3c0a2c267_o.jpg

to be opened MO2 Hotel and Convention Center

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/329431412_2ddc07b764_o.jpg

(BTW, Cofee Break in Smallville is already opened and a something called "Bourbon Street" is opening in the same building)

chymera00

December 21st, 2006, 11:35 PM

Batorac Nuevo Church

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/329432160_6d8d161b69_o.jpg

Batorac Nuevo Church Restoration Plans

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329432623_f53aaa833c_o.jpg

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 12:04 AM

break nmn from the photos ... still lots more to come

Dinagyang Pamukaw

Dinagyang Pamukaw staged Dec. 16th December 19, 2006 The downtown streets of Iloilo City once again reverberated with the familiar rhythmic beating of drums as 20 participating tribes paraded and danced in the streets of the city last December 16th for the traditional Pamukaw of the Dinagyang Festival 2007. The tribes gyrated and danced from the Provincial Capitol to the Freedom Grandstand here, showing metro residents a sample of their forthcoming repertoire. Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and officials of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation led by president Lee Chuan and executive director Ben Jimena, were on hand to lead the pamukaw, which literally means to rouse the residents and everyone to inform that the Dinagyang Festival is coming. The 2007 festival highpoints will be on January 27th and 28th, when the Kasadyahan and the Ati-atihan competitions unfold. However, there will be various other activities during the interim, the search for Miss Dinagyang 2007 and the opening salvo on January 19th. The pamukaw was highlighted with the banging of the big drum by Vice-mayor Guillermo de la Llana in behalf of Mayor Jerry Treñas, to signify the start of the Dinagyang season. The presentation elicited delight and smiles from both young and old who turned out in droves at the Freedom Grandstand to watch the 20 tribes rattle off short, impromptu performances. Other religious highlights of the Festival include opening salvo walk with Sr. Sto. Niño January 17th around the nine barangays; the Kasadyahan opening salvo on the January 19th; the re-enactment of the first arrival of the image of Sr. Sto. Niño the Basilica in Cebu also on the 19th; and the thanksgiving mass with all officials and participants of the 2007 Dinagyang Festival on the 29th. (PIO)

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 12:21 AM

BTW, started a new thread about the dinagyang 2007 (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=423018) ... it's getting near already, will there be a SSC meet? any takers?

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 12:29 AM

just love it that more people are using flickr to store photos .... very easy to find new photos, and beautiful ones at that. I noticed that lately kadamo na guid photos of Iloilo didto, especially sa mga towns (indi na tanan puro syudad). Maybe these are already the fruits of our laborious promotions? ... hope so

here are some finds:

credits to respective owners

KIPOT AREA, IGBARAS, ILOILO

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/328145408_68b632d4eb.jpg

Lambunao Municipal Hall

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/328558785_0510ace285.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/327178032_f33a3585a0.jpg

Dinagyang 2006

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/316142990_a8e30633b6.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/316142927_61b7aba757.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/111/316142807_1b95d5b513.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/316142742_f0a4bd3ce0.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/316142487_4af840b816.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/99/316142381_bfcf3f851f.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/316142301_7c58b44c79.jpg?v=0

CPU campus shots - November 20, 2006

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/316131166_0c789db56d.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/316116704_44eb8e79e2.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/316116703_6a4a8c0c69.jpg?v=0

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 12:32 AM

Iloilo Sunset

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/106/311629622_e1c987dcf3.jpg?v=0

Concepcion Islands

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/300820266_2ebbcc2e23.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/300820265_659580209c.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/300820268_8637b6502e.jpg?v=0

Iloilo Port

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/112/297278981_6452eb2e91.jpg?v=0

IAMME

December 22nd, 2006, 12:40 AM

:applause:Chymera, keep those photos coming.. I'm too overwhelmed by your night shots.

Iloilo plaza can’t be altered without NHI green light By David Israel Sinay Visayas Bureau Last updated 07:46pm (Mla time) 12/21/2006 ILOILO CITY -- The National Historical Institute (NHI) reminded city officials here that they could not alter the use or modify historical landmarks without a go-ahead signal from the institute. The NHI issued the statement after the Iloilo city council approved a plan of the city's Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) to build an advocacy center in Plaza Libertad, one of the historic landmarks here.
...
The ABC City Proper plans to construct a two-story advocacy center in the area but this would mean the demolition of some structures that exemplify the ingenuity and artistry dating back to the Spanish era at Plaza Libertad. Iloilo City Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. has already set aside an initial P1 million to fund the project that is meant to house the offices, meetings and gatherings of village officials. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=39554

Why do they insist on building structures in our plazas?! Just look at how ugly Jaro Plaza has become because of all the buildings they stuffed into it. Most of the time, these buildings are ugly. It's good the NHI took notice of this. Plaza Libertad is not large for you to place a two-storey building into. We have so little open space and they still intend to fill these up with buildings... Don't we have any other government land?

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 01:27 AM

this is for a post in Explore Iloilo ... pardon lng kung daw ka cheesy

The Bucari Escape

December 19 2006

The cold gush of rain greeted me during my wake. I could only watch the sky for patches of light in hopes it is not heavy enough to last the whole day.

The time was 5:45am, I was sitting outside the house waiting for the sun to rise, oblivious of the 6:00am call time I had set for the trip that I had planned weeks since. At last, a patch of light appeared at the horizon. My spirits quickly lit up, as I knew that I will be expecting more sunshine later in the day.

Me and my friends finally assembled at about 8:00am in school (Filipino time, as usual) and made a quick visit in Jaro Market to buy rice and canned goods before riding the jeepney to the town of Leon (approx 28km from Iloilo). Leon Jeepneys, share the Jaro Market with Jaro Mandurriao, San Miguel, and Alimodian-bound Jeepneys as a mini-terminal (often referred to as "Desamparados"). The rain had stopped by now

Upon arriving at the boundary of San Miguel, we paid the fare of P7.00, departed at a terminal, and rode another Leon-bound Jeepney, fare=P22. After 40 minutes, we arrived at the Town Plaza of Leon.

While there were a lot of sights to see in the town proper, we hadn't had time to visit them because we were already behind schedule. There are daily trips that go to Bucari, the first trip starts at 8:00am and will leave at around 10:30am. As I was told, there are succeeding trip after the first but I'm not sure as to how frequent they are or if they go to Bucari at a daily basis. So if you're not planning to rent a Jeepney to climb the mountain (costs at least P2,400), better go to the Leon before 8:00am and prepare P160 for the one-way trip.

After arriving at the Leon Plaza, we headed to a small terminal where we were pointed to the spot where the jeepney going to Bucari is. We then waited for the jeepney to fill up, which lasted until the jeepney got stuffed. I was seated at the roof, a first class seat to a scenic journey through the rural backdrop. (WARNING! If you are not skilled in riding atop jeppneys, I highly advise not to do it ... it gets very bumpy during the ride, and if you fall ... you're likely going to go over a steep cliff. I was told that a Korean once did the same thing, too preoccupied with taking pictures he got "thown" overboard and suffered an ill-fate).

Our journey started with a paved road .... but not for long. It got muddy most of the time. But it was O-K, since we were initially distracted with the green fields of Leon.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/329440420_75860338e2_o.jpg

A tall hill called the "Ambassador's Hill" greeted us as we entered the mountains.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/329440887_c047c3210e_o.jpg

After getting more uphill, the road got to what it looks like in the picture below. A very steep hill on one side, a narrow road in between, and a cliff on the other. High risk for injury if you ask me ... but I didn't care, I didn't even think of the slightest uneventful thing that could happen.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/329441173_27e316b6db_o.jpg

We then passed by the Tomas Cofessor Hill, which had a memorial shrine on top

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/329441395_e54e7f628a_o.jpg

Before heading on the the very muddy part, we made a quickstop at Brgy. Bacolod. If you look closely at the sign, you will notice that all of the Barangay Official's Last Names start with the letter C. That's because Leon used to be known as Camando during the Spanish Era, when the people were mandated to choose last names that begin with the same letter as the first letter of the name of the town. This practice was done to aid in the collection of taxes, and it was practiced in all of the towns of Iloilo during that time.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/329441607_4f23d91ab9_o.jpg

It was during the quickstop that I noticed the driver installing chains to the wheels and discovered that this was done so that the tires will get a better grip on the road, which had become very muddy. That's Filipino Ingenuity for you ...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329442199_621dbf7b1e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/329441835_6d4dd4fa4d_o.jpg

The ride got a whole lot more exciting as the views were at a higher altitude

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/329442344_7f785f47d0_o.jpg

We passed by some farms with high-value crops like carrots, cabbages, and the likes planted

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/329442544_0d1e2e8adc_o.jpg

and some local folk doing about their usual .. oh I don't know ... planting of crops

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/329442832_26814770dc_o.jpg

The rain during dawn was perfect as the clouds were still hovering at the mountain tops. It felt as if the mountains were a big battle field because of the gloomy atmosphere.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/329443024_71175d13b1_o.jpg

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 01:59 AM

To Chy, Incognito, Space, etc…

Please create a new thread for Dinagyang 2007 where articles, photos and updates of the event can be posted. Nami gid kon sa first page pa lang bastante na mga pictures from previous years’ staging of the festival para eye-catching gid dayon. Then later pagkatapos sang festival, those of you who will be there, ipasundayag nyo dayon mga kuha nyo.

Hala bira na!

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 02:09 AM

BTW, started a new thread about the dinagyang 2007 (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=423018) ... it's getting near already, will there be a SSC meet? any takers?

Sa diin banda ang Thread? Indi ko makita Chy...

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 02:25 AM

:applause: Indi ka na gid ya ma-reach Chy. Superb pictures! Kon pagkaon lang inang nga shots mo, siguro nagatululo na laway ko.

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 02:35 AM

Chy, I will post your photos of Angelicum and Pototan at the Samahan: Pasko na naman muli thread. :)

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 02:37 AM

After 45-min of rough road, we reached a cluster of houses in Brgy. Camandag .

We were shocked to find out that the place was run by little people.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/329575079_1f0a95ac96_o.jpg

and that the fields were taken cared of by chickens ...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/329436521_a43dd47d80_o.jpg

We tried to notify the Brgy. Captain of our arrival but he was not in town as he was attending a Christmas Party. A coutesy call to the Brgy. Cap't would have been nice so that the town will be notified of our existence and so out needs could be accommodated.

We then headed to the entrance of the trail going to IMOY Falls where we paid P5.00 for the entrance fee. If you decide to walk on the hanging bridge, you'll need to follow the trail on the left. We decided to use the trail passing by stream where we found a small waterfall and the hanging bridge on top.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/329443234_07c876a0e0_o.jpg

We then passed by a Baptist School, probably a semenary. Again a courtesy call to the Pastor is reccommended.

Walking a bit further another waterfall greeted us. This time it was a tad taller and it had a cauldron-like pool as a basin.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/329443465_becfc51be1_o.jpg

A glance at the IMOY Falls from afar was exhilarating

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/329443800_cc939759a0_o.jpg

Even more exhilarating seeing it up close

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/329445548_5f844746fe_o.jpg

We actually hadn't planned much about where we were going to stay. There were 13 of us, and we only brought one tent with capacity of 5 people. I was hoping that the Barangay had some tents for rent, but since the Brgy. Cap't wasn't available, we hadn't had the chance to ask if there were.

A bit further IMOY Falls, there was this small nipa hut and several roofed tables, some of which were not in a good condition. Even though we had no idea who owned those huts, we just occupied them anyways. Talk about being spontaneous.

We then encountered another problem, we forgot to bring pots and pans to cook our rice and our viand in. Our problem was solved as the townfolk lent us their paraphernalia without any sign of hesitance... Filipino Hospitality at its best.

This was our campsite ... It was just beside the cool mountain spring and a few steps from the IMOY falls. It was the perfect spot!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/329445434_6388409dd7_o.jpg

After setting up camp, we spent the rest of the day in the ice cold waters. (I'm in the pic below :p )

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/329444744_111ef9f1e0_o.jpg

There was no electricity in the campsite ... we had to make use of the lamps, known locally as a "kinki" to light the night, this in addition to the moonlight and the fireflies. It rained during the night, it was cold, and it was a lot of fun. Kulang na lang, Tribal Council.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/329445003_f9acb978cd_o.jpg

We thought there was also no potable water, we even boiled the water from the spring because we ran out of it only to find out that you can get some though a leak in the rubber pipes behind the campsite.

The next day, a lady visited us and told us that the whole place actually costs P150

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 02:50 AM

:applause: :applause: :applause:
What else can I say. The SSC's lead photographer is on the move.
Hala Bira Chymera !

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 02:54 AM

City Hall permit processing goes online

THE German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) will install a computerized system to fast-track the permit processing operations of the Iloilo City Hall.

Mayor Jerry Treñas and GTZ program manager Martina Vahlhaus recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP).

Treñas said the project will include computerized processing of business and building permits.

Treñas added there were backlogs in the renewal of business permits at the City Hall because of the slow-moving manual procedures currently being used.

“I’m signing several renewals of business permits even until Dec. 21 but these will already expire Dec. 31. But with the streamlining of the process soon, I hope the completion of the permits submitted starting January would be finished by February,” said Treñas.

The mayor said he will be signing some 10,000 business permit applications.

Treñas added the computerized system will also be applied to building permits being handled by the controversial City Engineer’s Office (CEO) under Engr. Marito Amatorio.

Kagawad Perla Zulueta has lambasted the CEO for its “inefficiency” leading to alleged extortion rackets by its personnel.

“This (computerization) will be my Christmas gift to Kagawad Zulueta and Engr. Amatorio. We can’t deny there are gaps. But I don’t blame our employees,” Treñas stressed.

The city government allotted P100,000 as counterpart fund to the GTZ-initiated project.

The applicants can now download the permit registration form from the website www.iloilocity.gov.ph so they don’t have to visit City Hall.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories7.php)

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 02:58 AM

ADB: Dinagyang good for business

DINAGYANG Festival helped boost the business climate of Iloilo City, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The ADB recently cited Dinagyang as one of the best practices in managing cities, particularly in “effective public-private partnership.”

The citation is contained in a book entitled “Managing Cities in Asia.”

“Dinagyang continues to provide enormous benefits to Iloilo by showcasing the Ilonggo’s culture of excellence and unifying the community to work for the common good,” the ADB book said.

Dinagyang particularly established “workable partnership” among the City Hall, government agencies, San Jose Parish church and private sector-led Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI).

It also involves a multi-stakeholder participation of large corporations, civic organizations, civil society, youth, professionals and the media.

The city’s grandest fiesta was also hailed for its hospitality to guests foreign and domestic alike.

“Dinagyang has been creating goodwill for the city by providing entertainment to tourists and visitors resulting in the doubling of tourist arrivals for the past three years as well as promoting international friendship by having foreign dignitaries as special guests.”

Mayor Jerry Treñas said several ADB executives might be gracing the highlight of the affair on Jan. 28, 2007.

“Over the long-term, the Dinagyang has created more jobs, increased income for the business sector and accelerated investments,” ADB stressed.

The Dinagyang basically means fully-booked hotels and other accommodation facilities, increased sales from small vendors to large business establishments as well as its “multiplier effect” to related industries and heightened promotions of giant companies.

Likewise, ADB said Dinagyang has becoming a medium for the local arts community to exhibit their talents and gain recognition.

Dinagyang’s “social artistry” was proven after the United Nations supported the festival to promote the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to alleviate poverty.

“It has also instilled the value of discipline among members of the community who exert effort to keep Iloilo City very livable by maintaining cleanliness and continuous greening of the environment.”

The Dinagyang success, according to ADB is due to its extensive promotions, larger community participation, greater global exposure and improved reporting mechanism while the city government provides financial assistance and support services like police, health and sanitation.

source: The Guardian ILOILO (http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories6.php)

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 03:07 AM

impressive photos from Pacific. Baskog !

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 03:10 AM

-double posting-

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 03:15 AM

Chy, I'll use some of your pics here for another thread I'm planning to create. It'll be entitled:

The Christmas Powerhouses of ILOILO: Maayong Paskua sa Tanan !

in Samahan Section.

:banana: :banana:

Pacific_leopard

December 22nd, 2006, 03:19 AM

I'm I right to say nga fascinated ka sa mga old architectural designs, Pacific? Like churches and cemeteries, etc?

haha... medyo lang man a...hehe...

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 03:25 AM

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 04:10 AM

As naive city folks could get, we woke up the next day excited about the
hike to Tabionan, the place known as Iloilo's "little Baguio". The title is
attributed because of the cool climate, pine trees, wild flowers, and
high-value crops found in Tabionan.

Our trek started with the crossing of a charming bamboo bridge

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/329445617_1347c07a5f_o.jpg

Only later did we find out the hard way that it was a 3 hour hike uphill through
a very muddy road. Even as I am writing this journal, my feet are still felling sore.

Here are some pictures of our hardships:

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At least we got to see some whimsical creatures along the way

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and of course ... the view made it well worth it!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/151/329613495_0f9d09e771_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/329439523_112ecb43a6_o.jpg

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Especially that of the mighty Ague Colognia of Alimodian Town

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IAMME

December 22nd, 2006, 04:25 AM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/329613441_c81e4aaf8e_m.jpg
Haha! This is perhaps the same monkey we encountered when we passed by the village. It was one naughty monkey!

One thing I can't forget when I was there is that upon our arrival, we were greeted by a little boy playing the violin. Btw, that seminary was actually a school of theology. That's where we spent the night, for free. Hehe.. And yes, the fireflies were so beautiful. I've never seen so many before.

The interesting thing about their water supply there is that they sometimes hang on top of trees. In other words, the have an overhead water system. And there are leaks everywhere so you sometimes think it's raining. That's not a problem because water there is plentiful.

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 04:32 AM

Our aim was to reach what was in sight for kilometers already - To be among the pine trees.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/329438058_12bd6baf71_o.jpg

The sight of the pine trees upclose, and the touch of them was very much celebrated.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/329438306_a2394d35e9_o.jpg

In Tabionan, you can find a cluster of houses with one of them having a small convenient store called a "tindahan" or "tiangge", where you can catch a quick snack.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/329435452_d9baa0d5c9_o.jpg

You can also find a few picnic tables and a clearing that is perfect for camping .... if only we've discovered this place earlier

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/329434960_04d445d62d_o.jpg

I managed to make Bucari's version of the famous WOW Philippines overhead image of coconut trees under a blue sky.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/329434639_e6fcc3bfaa_o.jpg

That ends our trip, which I can only describe as "bitter sweet". It would have been a disaster if not for the hospitality of the locals, of which we are thankful of.

I can think of a lot of things I could have done without ... the long walks for once. I have a feeling the next time I visit the place, it won't be the same anymore, as the place is being eyed as Iloilo's summer capital.

I hope that the Local Gov't of Leon spend time and effort in careful planning and management so that the environment and natural resources will be preserved.

sandrn

December 22nd, 2006, 04:39 AM

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 07:09 AM

very nice Chy. I haven't been hiking for a while. Think I'm too old for hiking now. Basi magtukar akon athritis sini. he he he.

spacewagon1

December 22nd, 2006, 07:31 AM

actually Chy, your photos are a contrast nature and artificial beauty. Leon is amazing whilst Pototan and Angelicum Christmas Displays are awesome.
Hala Bira ILOILO !
:banana: :banana:

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 07:42 AM

Grabe! Bow na bow gid takon kanimo Chy :bow:. Daw halos tanan nga kuha mo winning shot kon i-entra mo sa SSC photo contest. :okay:

BTW, nakita ko na gali ang Dinagyang thread. No need to reply sa post ko.

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 07:59 AM

Full Text of the ADB Report entitled Urbanity and Sustainability - Iloilo City
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Urbanization-Sustainability/urbanization-sustainability.pdf

page 300

Iloilo City is the capital of the Province of Ilolilo and is also located in Region 6. It has a small land area of only 56 km2. It has an annual population growth rate of nearly 2% and is a highly urbanized city consisting of 180 barangays. Iloilo is strategically located at the center of the Philippines with an excellent port, airport, extensive infrastructure, modern telecommunications systems, and reliable utilities. It serves as the hub of t rade, commerce, industry, information, and services in the region. The main industry is agriculture·cultivating rice, corn, coconuts, bananas, mangos, coffee, and sugarcane. It also has rich fishing grounds and cottage industries, including weaving, pottery, processing of marine products, and cut flowers. Museo Iloilo, which displays its cultural heritage, Fort San Pedro waterfront promenade, and the Dinagyang festival are among the tourist attractions in the city.

Initiatives and Gains
The establishment of the Metropolitan Iloilo Development Council (MIDC)
is one of the key development initiatives of Iloilo City and its adjacent four
municipalities within a 15 km radius, namely, Oton in the south, San Miguel
in the northwest, and Pavia and Leganes in the north. MIDC was created as
a mechanism to promote inter- and intra-LGU cooperation in the pursuit of
well-planned and coordinated local and regional development toward national
development objectives. It helps reduce unwanted competition between cities
and municipalities, which oftentimes dissipates the impact on regional
and national development. MIDC formulates spatial development strategies
and governance arrangements. It is particularly concerned with (i) development
planning; (ii) transport and traffic engineering and management; (iii)
environmental sanitation and waste management and disposal; (iv) flood
control and sewerage management; (v) urban renewal, land use, and zoning
and shelter services; (vi) networking of economic support infrastructure; (vii)
public safety, maintenance of peace and order, and disaster management; and
(viii) trade and investment promotion.
With Iloilo City serving as the center for residential, commercial, financial,
and industrial activities in the region, each participating municipality
has a distinct area of specialization: (i) Pavia is the agro-industrial center; (ii)
Leganes concentrates on heavy industry; (iii) Oton is best suited as a residential
area; and (iv) San Miguel concentrates on agricultural production.
It took the proponents and advocates of Metro Iloilo nearly 10 years of
discussion and consultation before the MIDC was formally approved in February
2001. The mayors of the five participating LGUs comprise the Executive
Council of MIDC, which provides overall supervision and policy direction. An
advisory board contributes policy and technical advice to the Executive Council
while an MIDC secretariat coordinates the administrative work of the Council.
Six project steering committees have been organized to plan and coordinate services
that have metro-wide impact, namely: (i) environmental management, (ii)
land-use planning and management, (iii) public safety and security, (iv) infrastructure
development, (v) basic services delivery, and (vi) economic promotion.
In addition, a technical working group supports each steering committee.
With a view of applying a coherent urban development plan, Iloilo City
together with its four satellite municipalities formulated a regional growth
management strategy through the preparation of the Metro Iloilo Land Use
Framework (MILUF) plan. It serves as the overall policy framework for
sustainable Metro Iloilo development programs and projects. Iloilo City has
learned not to fast-track metropolitanization. The preparation of the MILUF
followed a six-step land-use planning process, as follows:
302 Urbanization and Sustainability in Asia
(i) review of existing municipal and city comprehensive land-use plans;
(ii) information, analysis, and mapping·which required data gathering,
comprehensive review of reports, plans, and strategies·and preparation
and integration of land-use maps in the region;
(iii) sectoral consultations and reports on social development, economic
development, infrastructure development, environmental development,
and local administration;
(iv) public consultation (phase I) to review initial data and maps and
develop framework for the plan, develop regional growth options for
Metro Iloilo, and draft MILUF vision, mission, goals, and strategies;
(v) prepare draft metropolitan plan containing the goals, objectives, and
framework; and
(vi) public consultation (phase II) and approval.
The spatial expansion of Iloilo City to the north (toward the municipalities
of Leganes and Pavia) is supported by an extensive road network connecting
the city to other locations in Panay Island. Recent infrastructure projects
include the coastal road, providing a second link to the municipality of
Leganes and adjacent municipalities of Zaraga and Dumangas in the north as
well as to the Iloilo International Port Complex. The municipality of Leganes
has initiated a large-scale multipurpose land development, providing opportunities
for an attractive industrial and residential zone. Reclamation of about
200 ha of seashore along the Guimaras Strait for industrial use is being considered
under a BOT scheme.47
Challenges and Future Directions
Transport and Traffi c Management. Iloilo City and the adjoining municipalities
need to expand further and improve the road network as well as
to address the worsening traffic problem effectively. Roads are narrow and
inadequate to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles. The number
of provincial buses and public utility vehicles going through the city and the
location of the bus terminals in the city proper further clog the overcrowded
roads. The plan is to relocate the bus terminals outside the city proper.48 The
effectiveness of the fledgling metropolitan arrangement in redesigning the
road network will be put to the test.
Waste Management. Another task ahead for MIDC is to establish an
environmental friendly and common solid waste management system. Iloilo
City is facing serious constraints in disposing waste. The current disposal
site is no longer viable in view of the mounting protests from concerned
residents. An alternative site in the municipality of Oton is being considered,
The Philippines 303
but agreeing on a landfill site through cost-sharing arrangements is expected
to be contentious.
Flood Control and Sewerage System. A comprehensive flood control
system for Metro Iloilo is deemed necessary to address the perennial flooding
that significantly affects social and economic activities, particularly in Iloilo
City and the municipality of Pavia. A cooperative arrangement is being considered
that will involve dredging adjoining bodies of water and constructing
a network of floodways. An equally important challenge is the establishment
of a comprehensive sewerage system to minimize the effects on the underground
water aquifer.49 It is in this context that large-scale and integrated
physical planning for the whole metropolis must be undertaken.
Urban Infrastructure and Economic Promotion. The proposed construction
of an international standard airport in lieu of the present one located
in Iloilo City will require collaboration between the province of Iloilo and
Iloilo City. The current airport facilities cannot accommodate large aircraft
and expansion is constrained by limited land availability. Alternative sites in
the municipalities of Cabatuan and Santa Barbara, adjacent to the municipality
of Pavia, are being considered. Other concerns requiring collaborative
effort are in the areas of public safety, maintenance of peace and order, disaster
management, and trade and investment promotion.
Key Lessons Learned
Responsible leadership is critical in providing direction and mobilizing
resources to bring about results. Reform initiatives would not have been possible
without the vision and commitment of local chief executives. The case
studies also underscore the value of engaging nonstate actors and the private
sector in public decision making and the management of state affairs. Their
involvement does not only help improve the quality of public policies but
also improves the delivery of basic services. CitizensÊ empowerment and
engagement in public management were part of the administrative agenda of
the three city governments.
PeopleÊs participation and ownership during the establishment of metropolitan
arrangements in Naga and Iloilo demonstrate that LGUs are keen
and committed to partnering with each other to pursue shared development
goals. All three cities underscore the active role of civil society in undertaking
numerous development projects with the local governments.
Policy instruments, such as the LGC of 1991 and city ordinances, open
avenues not only for citizen participation, but also for encouraging private
sector development. Strict enforcement of the rule of law is common to the
three cities. They have also prioritized and invested in developing human
304 Urbanization and Sustainability in Asia
capital. Although there is much to be desired in terms of infrastructure, the
three cities are relatively accessible for commerce and trade.
There is, however, a need to reorient the thinking and approach to promoting
economic development, which is largely inward looking and consumption
driven. Too often, progress is equated with the presence of a popular
shopping mall and food chains, expansion of housing subdivisions, and more
bus terminals. Local governments are yet to promote private investments
focusing on high value-adding industries or export-oriented and import-substitution
strategies.
ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE URBAN REGION DEVELOPMENT
Provide Enabling Policy Instruments and Institutional Environment.
The existing regional development framework and statutes tend to restrict
business opportunities and weigh down economic efficiency. SEZA, for
instance, identifies more than a hundred ecozones nationwide, which results
in localities competing with each other to attract business locators. Another
example is the negative externality to economies of scale in agricultural production
brought about by CARP. Many LGUs also extend tax incentives
to investors, but such are not really key factors in attracting investments.
The excessive and increasing number of LGUs in the country also impedes
resource allocation and utilization.
Address Issue of Fiscal Sustainability and Intergovernment Fiscal
Transfers. National and local governments need to enhance their revenuegenerating
and collection capacities. This will require simplification and
rationalization of tax policies and tax administration. Leakages in collections
must be effectively stopped.
Run LGUs Like Corporations. Local capacities for development
financing remain weak. Being asset rich and cash poor, local government
capacities for asset management should be built. LGUs should make their
assets work for them, which would tremendously improve their revenue-generating
capacities and ability to finance development. LGUs should be able to
participate in credit rating systems just like private corporations. At present,
they are still largely dependent on revenue transfers, which are inadequate
for financing economic projects with big returns. Joint LGU initiatives to
raise financing for regional projects are uncommon but should be promoted
when appropriate. Development financing and building the credit worthiness
of city governments have not been fully explored. Asset valuation for credit
rating purposes is not widely practiced although this could widen avenues for
accessing low-interest financing. At present, the borrowing capacity of local
The Philippines 305
governments is measured by development and commercial banks in terms of
the size of the IRA.
Increase Effort to Attract Foreign Investments. Attracting foreign
direct investment has proven to be very difficult for the three cities, despite
initiatives to provide liberal investment incentives. Such investment comes
in trickles, if at all. Two key factors may explain this. First, issues such as
high cost of doing business, leakages, and peace and security affect investment
opportunities. Second, there is concentration of government and private
investments, infrastructure facilities, and business opportunities in better-off
regions. Well-coordinated national, regional, and local initiatives are needed
to deal with the problems of decreasing foreign direct investment inflows in
the country and concentrated development.
Adopt a More Regional Planning Outlook. LGUs across regions
become more economically competitive when they pool their resources.
Most local governments may have to change their governance paradigm.
They need to realize that addressing poverty, joblessness, and other complex
issues that transcend political and geographical jurisdictions requires stronger
partnerships and collaboration. Hence, they need to adopt a more regional
development outlook. Planning and programming that transcend the regional
and national levels would be far more effective if based on information provided
by the LGUs.

BYAHILO

December 22nd, 2006, 07:59 AM

oh my lord. i never imagined that there are also terraces in iloilo. very lovely pics chy!!

great job !!!

chymera00

December 22nd, 2006, 08:13 AM

Thinking Big - Responding to Urbanization in the Developing World
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cidaweb/acdicida.nsf/En/NAT-67141553-PEY#1

A Devolution Revolution in the Philippines

“Building the Regional City” is the theme of a Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) project in the Philippines. Running uninterrupted since 1994, this unique partnership of 11 urban and rural communities centred on the historic city of Iloilo is proof that municipalities can successfully gang tackle problems that might defeat them if they acted alone.

“A decade ago, this region came to the collective realization that it was in trouble,” says Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas. “We were in a constant state of crisis management. The issues we faced spilled from one jurisdiction to the next— mounting traffic congestion, worsening air quality, an inadequate potable water supply, deficiencies in solid-waste management, environmental degradation, flooding, and growing poverty and inequality. To move forward, we knew we needed to come together.”

A new arrival to the region might at first wonder how such a beautiful place could have so many problems. Iloilo’s port, located on the southern coast of the Island of Parnay, bustles with activity. Cargo ships mix with passenger ferries plying the Manila-Mindanao route. With a harbour perfectly sheltered from open seas by the adjacent island of Guimaras, it is easy to understand why the Spanish conquistadors chose this place in 1855 as a hub of maritime trade. The city of Iloilo is peppered with church spires—some built as early as the 1700s—as well as stately mansions from the time that the sugar industry flourished.

Stretched beyond the nearby suburban municipality of Oton are terraced rice fields, farming villages, and the majestic mountains of Antique. To the east and south across a narrow strait, rural Guimaras Island rises green out of the sea, the pattern of its famous mango plantations visible on the hillsides.

It all sounds very idyllic. Except that many of the area’s residents struggle to survive. Squatter settlements crowd the Iloilo River, which cuts through the city. The city’s sidewalks are overrun with vendor stalls, which provide meagre earnings to families trying to eke out enough income to put food on their plates. The downtown core, although busy with activity, has been deteriorating slowly under the weight of ignorance and pollution. A lack of coordinated planning and investment in infrastructure renewal has allowed traffic congestion to sputter out of control. The waste management system overflows. Flooding is routine.

These are only the visible manifestations of the problems that the region has been wrestling with over the past two decades. “And we were losing the wrestling match,” says Francis Gentoral, CUI’s regional manager based in Iloilo, with a rueful smile. “But then everyone started pulling together. You will still see plenty of problems here, but things are getting better in terms of health care, waste management, the economy, in all kinds of ways.”

The Canada-Philippines Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance—facilitated by CUI and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)—was a response to Mayor Treñas’s regional vision: that real progress would never be made if Iloilo did not take leadership in the region.

If Iloilo—a growing city of 400,000—ignored the communities in its urban growth shadow, some of their problems would inevitably gravitate inward to the big city. Likewise Iloilo, hemmed in by the sea on the east, would continue to creep outwards. Its problems would be carried closer to the adjacent municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, and San Miguel, but also to Guimaras, the island province situated across the strait from Iloilo City.

Iloilo needed these communities to succeed, and they needed Iloilo to succeed. The Philippines Local Government Code of 1991 had put an end to centuries of centralized rule in the country, so there was plenty of encouragement from Manila for decentralized initiatives. In fact, responsibilities for the delivery of most basic services had been devolved to local governments. So the time was ripe. But how to proceed? The idea of Metro Iloilo was discussed among political leaders of the various local governments in 1996, but parochial bickering kept getting in the way. It took the better part of two years to build enough political unity to agree on a metropolitan governance model that functioned equitably without leaving the central city with too much power or financial responsibility.

Rather than offer solutions, it is CUI’s philosophy to expose its host country partners to possibilities. It has the capacity to take project participants to other parts of the world and show them what is working elsewhere. There is often a side benefit to these trips—people of different political stripes and points of view get a chance to talk things through and understand each other better. Given that politics is practiced with a passion at all levels of Filipino society—and given past disagreements among area politicians—this kind of bonding proved to be extremely helpful.

First to join Iloilo City were the four adjacent suburban and rural municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, and San Miguel. In February 2001, they established the Metropolitan Iloilo Development Council (MIDC), the newest metropolitan arrangement in the Philippines. Following extensive consultation with regional stakeholders, visits by Canadian regional governance experts, and CUI-organized study tours to learn how metropolitan governance works in other places, the member councils opted for a voluntary, consensus-based arrangement that draws on some of the best features of Metro Naga, established earlier in Luzon, and the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

The Council agreed to collaborate on six areas of common interest: economic promotions, infrastructure development, land use and management, public safety and security, environmental management, and basic services delivery.

“Building the Regional City” did not stop with the formation of the MIDC. More recently, steps have been taken to bring neighbouring Guimaras Province and its five rural municipalities into the regional family. Initiated in 2005, the Guimaras-Iloilo City Alliance (GICA) established a formal mechanism for regional planning, coordination of service delivery, infrastructure development (ports and roads), and joint promotion of economic development in the agro-industrial and tourism sectors. This includes an impressive new collaborative framework for marketing tourism, the region’s most promising economic opportunity.

The payoffs have been impressive.

To meet the challenge of declining health services—which had been downloaded to local governments under devolution—the MIDC created the Metro Iloilo Health Alliance (MIHA), the Philippines’ first metropolitan inter-local health zone. Through the MIHA, the MIDC coordinates health delivery across the region to provide more equitable access to health services as well as to reduce duplication of scarce resources. MIHA facilitates improved communication between local health facilities and higher-level regional facilities to ensure that patients are treated where they should be, and its funding component ensures the poor have access to essential services.

Prior to the MIDC, there had been little coordinated planning among municipalities in the region. One of the first acts of the new metro arrangement was to harmonize the land use plans of its five municipalities to combat urban sprawl, provide for forest and coastal protection, minimize traffic, and expand transportation choices.

Rehabilitation of the Iloilo River—the city’s highly degraded watercourse—is under way with the removal of refuse and sunken debris, construction of a waterfront promenade, and a new city environment code designed to tackle waste management and pollution. Annual river clean-up events are building the community’s pride and stimulating community participation.

To address mounting garbage disposal problems and ward off associated environmental and health problems, efforts are afoot to convert the city dump site to a sanitary landfill by 2007. Environmental projects in the city markets have focused on waste segregation. Organic waste is captured and put to good use while reducing the markets’ contributions to the dump.

Tourism has been jump-starting the local economy of both Iloilo and Guimaras. Iloilo, for its part, made inroads when it backed private-public partnership in the promotion of the Dinagyang Festival, its famous two-day, citywide party that explodes onto the streets every January. A blend of religious and pagan traditions, celebrating both the feast of Santo Niño and the pre-colonial tradition of the ati warrior through costume and dance, the festival was started in 1968. Tourism began to grow when its management was turned over to the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation in 2001.

“What is happening in the greater Iloilo region is nothing short of a devolution revolution,” says Evelyn Trompeta, Western Visayas’ regional director for the Department of Interior and Local Government, the national ministry responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Local Government Code. Because the MIDC was a purely local initiative realized through strong local leadership, she explains, there is local pride and ownership in the arrangement providing momentum and political solidarity into the future. It is indeed a testament to the power of the Code.

“The region’s pursuit of good governance is paying dividends,” adds Trompeta. “MIDC is now a preferred platform for implementation of national-level urban region projects. It has also begun to attract investment from a range of international development agencies from the USA, European Union, Japan, Australia, and the World Bank.”

shyaman

December 22nd, 2006, 10:23 AM

Hey guys... check this out.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/549249651jXaQup

Nice collection of Pintados de Pasi 2006 photos. Note that the competing tribes in this collection does not include the tribe that was doing the rounds of competing in Aliwan, Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals.

Animo

December 22nd, 2006, 10:57 AM

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 11:47 AM

ano natabo sa akon message

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 11:48 AM

any way hats off ako sa photograph ability ni chy a.great indeed

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 11:50 AM

musta na iloilo!miss u all!definitely iloilo city will be the next big thing!

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 11:55 AM

i am hoping and dreaming that iloilo will fast picking the pieces and move on to it's glory and prestige

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 12:11 PM

pwede magpamember sa scc iloilo.location southern cal,profession nurse,centralian

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:16 PM

any way hats off ako sa photograph ability ni chy a.great indeed
ako man Irong206. I'm really impressed with Chymera's photo collections. Biskan sa angulo pa lang, may dating na.

Thank you Chymera for sharing us your wonderful photos. Cheers amigo!

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:17 PM

pwede magpamember sa scc iloilo.location southern cal,profession nurse,centralian
puwede guid Irong. I-add ka namon next thread na lang siguro para daw indi kita roll call thread diri. Ibutang ta guid ka iya. Yoohooo ! Another centralian nurse joining us here in te forum. Volt-in kita diri, UK and US Centralian nurses.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:20 PM

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:23 PM

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 12:23 PM

may joke ako.luma na ni pro ok lang basi makapadlaw man a.

duha ka mag kumare nga taga probinsiya,

mare A:baw mare kadugay mag-abot sang dolyar sang anak ko sa america
mare B:ngaa mare ano ang trabaho sang anak mo haw?
mareA:NAR man to siya mare
anak ni mare A nagsaligbat kay ga eskwela sa college kuno ti maalam nay,Nars ang trabaho ni manang.sugpuni bala S ang Nar.
mare A:ay huo gali mare NAR-ES gali ang trabaho sang anak ko.hahahahaha ! !

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:34 PM

impressive photos from Pacific. Baskog !
Ikaw man bala naghambal nga si Pacific ang Master sang Church's Architectural Photos. May ibato guid man kay maayo siya mag-describe kung ano nga klase architectural design. Ako, basta nanami-an, okay na. But I always say good thing if well-deserved ang lugar or site.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:36 PM

Amazing photos of Santa Barbara!!! :banana: It really reminds me of a church in Italy but it has a white coating on it (I forgot the name). Also, the article about Don Graciano Lopez Jaena is true for all Filipino heroes. They did not hate the culture that truely become their own but the abuses and government problems in the islands.
I agree with you, Animo. It's the abuses of rulers and not the culture we hate so much. Actually, we even embraced some values and aspects of Spaniards. At times, our aristocracy could be tracd back to our Spanish roots pa. :)

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:47 PM

Daw sa amo guid nga tuod Irong.
Puli ka sa Dinagyang? It's a very tempting treat guid iya. Kung wala lang ako ka-promisa tani puli man ko ba.

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 12:47 PM

reminiscing indeed ang recent pics ni chy!Life is a little hard and slow but full of natural beauty.I can relate with that.calling tourism officer

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 12:51 PM

indi gid siguro kirbs kay bag-o lang ako di.ti basi bala indi ko tugtan.basi puli ko sa april, 2007 pa.

irong206

December 22nd, 2006, 12:54 PM

diri na lang ako nagatrip sa akon computer. kay daw updated gid ni toto chy ang explore iloilo permi.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 12:59 PM

indi gid siguro kirbs kay bag-o lang ako di.ti basi bala indi ko tugtan.basi puli ko sa april, 2007 pa.
sige lang. Ako basi next year kung wala travel plans. And like you, I'm updated man sa ciudad tungod sa mga newspapers and articles plus SSC with pictures coming from Chymera, IAMME and Pacific. The trio will surely make you want to visit Iloilo ... again, again and again. And for us Ilonggos, makagalanyat guid to spend our vacation back home. The beauty of Ilonggos' celebration during to Christmas and New Year remains bullish and unrivalled. That's why Christmas in Iloilo is of different experience.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 01:01 PM

please post all Iloilo Christmas photos in our new thread in Samahan:

Title: Straight from the Christmas Powerhouses of ILOILO
link: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=10987904#post10987904

PLEASE COME and VISIT our Thread.
:banana: :banana:
Migs, nag-post na ko didto. Good thread. Kabay pa ma-maintain ta ang momentum naton til the end of this year. Let's welcome 2007 with big bang again. Kadto ka di sa akon para lagaw ta.

And to you .... "Hala Bira ILOILO !"

habagatcentral1

December 22nd, 2006, 02:53 PM

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/berniemacksouthcentral/281014811_47756b1f1b_m.jpg
flickr pic by loven

^^ I'm just pondering it's gothic creepyness. I like it. Kulang na lang gargoyles. :D

Pacific_leopard

December 22nd, 2006, 03:53 PM

Ikaw man bala naghambal nga si Pacific ang Master sang Church's Architectural Photos. May ibato guid man kay maayo siya mag-describe kung ano nga klase architectural design. Ako, basta nanami-an, okay na. But I always say good thing if well-deserved ang lugar or site.

haha... my dad's was a former architect so daw yung mga magazines niya and books about architecture nabasa ko na. Yung mga klasmates ko gani gina hambalan ako nga mashift sa architecture.hehe

@Animo
Santa Barbara Church is a smaller replica of Basilica of Born Jesus in Goa, India. Santa Barbara's Baroque Renaissance Facade is really extraordinary, not a usual Neoclassic church.

JonJon75

December 22nd, 2006, 06:32 PM

Foundation supports press corps undertakings
By DAVID ISRAEL SINAY

ILOILO City – The Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI) expressed support to the endeavors of the City Hall Press Corps (ICHPC) in carrying programs, particularly the annual “party with the inmates” activity.

IDFI Executive Director Ben Jimena disclosed that the partnership among the non government organizations had been a success in accomplishing various undertakings for the city government.

Also, Jimena cited activities like the Dinagyang Festival that was successfully organized for the past three years (during the management of the IDFI) due to the cooperation of various stakeholders and the media.

The IDFI was one of the major sponsors of the ICHPC during the party with the inmates’ activity on Wednesday, December 20. For five years now, the ICHPC had been giving detainees of the City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) a bash during the yuletide season.

Jimena said the partnership shall provide a venue for the successful implementation of both organizations in executing various programs and activities for the city government on the upcoming year.

Last Wednesday, some 64 inmates of the City BJMP benefited from the activity set by the ICHPC. Five years of implementation meant a better and bigger bash lined up for inmates.

The activity was also made possible with the able support of SM City, Mayor Jerry Treñas and other officials of this city.

link: http://www.panaynews.com.ph/news4.htm
source: Panay News

JonJon75

December 22nd, 2006, 06:34 PM

Awesome photos ! Keep 'em coming Chymera !

Advanced Merry Christmas to all of you guys !

:cheers:

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 08:18 PM

Awesome. Thanks for sharing IloIlo's little Baguio pics Chyme. I will definitely go there someday, regardless of the painful hike. It's certainly worth the hardships.

What is the temperature there by the way?

This market is the best looking market as far as architecture for a market is concerned. I hope the rehabilitation will preserve the same old grandeur.
Where it this market located by the way?

A huge portion of the Iloilo Central Market is already dilapidated and needs total rehabilitation.
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/21/central.market.jpg
News Today (Online)

It's the Iloilo Central Market, Sandrin. It's located near the old Gaisano and University of Iloilo in downtown area. Several known establishments surrounding the market area, The Dominican College of Iloilo, Gaisano Iloilo (first one) and University of Iloilo, PLDT-Guanco, Star-FM station, The Grand Hotel.

I believed that if they repaint of have a slight renovation of the main entrance or as a whole, Iloilo Central Market is one of the heritage market place in the Philippines.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 08:21 PM

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 08:58 PM

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 08:59 PM

Anthropologist says Dinagyang can identify more 'roots'

Anthropologist-Educator Alicia Magos said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency that the Dinagyang can become a "well-rooted" heritage festival if organizers and tribe leaders try to do more research and interviews with indigenous peoples who live the culture.

Magos, who holds a doctorate in Anthropology and one who immerses herself in cultural communities, said that there are groups in Panay which the tribe performers can study and consequently depict their genuine culture in their performances.

She cited the beautiful epics of the Panay Bukidnon under the tutelage of Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardee Federico Caballero, of Bgy. Garangan, Calinog, Iloilo. From their lengthy epics the Dinagyang tribes can get authentic stories of the nature and customs of the people that can best exemplify Ilonggo tradition.

Caballero runs the School for Living Tradition (SLT) with the assistance of the Office of the President through the National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA) in Bgy. Garangan, where he teaches the younger generation the various cultural rites and traits of Panay Bukidnon.

Magos said that with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation's thrust in promoting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the festival has projected social relevance, which must find expression in the cultural presentations of the Dinagyang tribes.

She added that housing, poverty alleviation and ecological balance, including gender issues and especially education, have indigenous expressions and implications from where the Dinagyang can find roots.

Magos appreciated the efforts of the Dinagyang Foundation as she wished it would lead to the point where foreigners who come to see the festival will not see a "poor substitute" of Ilonggo culture, but something that gives the Philippines a distinctive mark in global tourism, anchored on a spirituality and genuine devotion to the Sto. Nino.

link: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/22/anthropologist.says.dinagyang.can.identify.more.roots.html
source: The News Today

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 09:20 PM

Post-war advertisements in Iloilo (II)

Printed advertisements were already popular in Iloilo City in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as evidenced by their considerable number in periodicals. Other than tailoring shops or dress shops and beauty shops, there were eateries, bakeries, drug stores, lodging houses, schools, vehicle parts, general merchandising stores, medical services, and transportation companies vying for attention.

For eateries, the catch-on had always something to do with the quality of food, the kind of service, and the condition of the place. "The House of Delicious Food!" was that Art's Cafe at the Iloilo City Public Market advertised itself. Everybody's Inn Carinderia-Cafeteria had this publicity: "The Best Service Available" while Loling's Carinderia y Cafeteria in Ledesma Street had a similar come-on with its "Excellent Service -- Low Rate". Eddie's Lunch Counter at the Iloilo Public Market, on the other hand, trumpeted itself as the "Most Modern Kitchenette in City". A bakery, Panaderia de Molo, in Iznart Street had "For the Best in Cookies and Hojaldres" as its customer-call.

A good number of schools in the city advertised themselves on print. Armamento Fashion School in Guanco Street capitalized on being "Recognized by the Government". Similarly, Parisiene School of Fashion advertised itself as "Recognized by the Government to Issue Diplomas". Pioneer Institute of Arts and Fashion in corner De Leon-Mabini Streets tried to attract enrollees through its "Learn: Modern Fashion and Beauty Courses". On its part, the Iloilo Maritime Academy in Muelle Loney wanted itself known as "The only Nautical School in the Visayas".

Interestingly, two schools advertised themselves in Hiligaynon. Panay College's publicity was: "Escuelahan sang mga Filipino, Escuelahan sang mga Imol, Escuelahan sang mga matutom magtuon, kag Escuelahan sang mga but-anan nga mga Kabataan". Pasquin Memorial Institute in Burgos La Paz, on its part, had this advertisement: "Kon gusto mo nga madali makakita sing obra and imo anak patun-a sa Pasquin Memorial Institute agud madali lamang ang iya pagtuon, kag indi ikaw magastohan sing madamu nga cuarta, apang madali sia makakita sing obra".

Drugstores and those offering medical services had their own brand of advertisements. Farmacia Alicia in Iznart Street called attention through its "Prescriptions Carefully Dispensed" while Teasy's Drug Store in Rizal Street attracted the public's interest through its "Known as the Cheapest Store in Town; Sympathetic Attention to Customer's needs". A physician, Dr. Juan de los Santos, advertised himself as "Mechano-Therapist, Masajista, American University and American College of Mechano-Therapy Graduate, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. in 1924". It called attention to his being state-side trained.

A lodging house, the National Inn in J. de Leon Street, advertised itself as having "Courteous Service -- Moderate Rate -- Palatable food to suit your taste". Lix and Co., Inc. Printing Press in Ledesma Street had this publicity: "You will be pleased with our low rate charges and you are assured of our craftsmanship; Your inquiry is courteously attended and given prompt attention". Bamo's Studio in J.M. Basa Street had a Hiligaynon ad: "Ang sampaton nga manuglaragway nga ginakakunyagan gid sang tanan".

The Visayan Shipping Co., Inc. in Muelle Loney advertised its transportation business through "Madasig, Matinlo kag Maayo ang Servicio". A vehicle spare parts dealer, S. Mercado and Sons in Mabini Street publicized itself as a "Dealer in all kinds of Truck and Auto Spare Parts". Torilla Enterprise, a general merchandising store, in Ledesma Street had "For your welding gasses, medical oxygen and supplies and fishing materials". A famous plow-maker, Vargas Plow Factory in Delgado Street, appealed to farmers through its Hiligaynon ad: "Fabricante sang Bantog nga Arados 'Vargas' kag Iban pa nga Kasangkapan sa Panguma". Finally, The Zaldivar Printers, In and Outdoor Advertising in Ledesma Street offered its services through "In All Kinds of Painting Problems See Us, We will Handle Them Always With Care".

link: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/22/post.war.advertisements.in.iloilo.2.html
source: The News Today

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 09:23 PM

haha... my dad's was a former architect so daw yung mga magazines niya and books about architecture nabasa ko na. Yung mga klasmates ko gani gina hambalan ako nga mashift sa architecture.hehe

@Animo
Santa Barbara Church is a smaller replica of Basilica of Born Jesus in Goa, India. Santa Barbara's Baroque Renaissance Facade is really extraordinary, not a usual Neoclassic church.
you can sideline architecture later, Pacific. :) Practically, I think you made a right choice in choosing nursing as a career in the future. Soon you'll be rewarded here abroad, then if archi still ticks you, you can pursue your dream after.

kirby21

December 22nd, 2006, 09:34 PM

Iloilo watermelon in demand this season

ILOILO CITY: The watermelon being produced by farmers in Iloilo province are now greatly in demand in Metro Manila market and elsewhere, according to Iloilo Provincial Agriculture office Crops division chief Reynaldo Osano.

Osano said that the Ilonggo farmers who are able to plant in advance and harvest at this time are able to command higher price for their fruit. The farm gate price varies from P2,200-P2,400 for every 45 pieces of watermelon.

He said that the town of Oton in the First District of Iloilo province is the main producer of sweet 16 variety which is really good for aside from its taste it can grow as heavy as 12.45 kilos.

Osano said that in fact last December 7 Oton during the eve of its fiesta launched a search for the biggest watermelon as a way of encouraging the farmers to plant this alternative crop.

The watermelons are grown in the province from October to May.

link: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/dec/23/yehey/prov/20061223pro4.html
source: Manila Times

Fishermen catch giant sunfish

ILOILO CITY: A giant sunfish was caught alive by the crew of a motorized fishing vessel flip-flopping in the waters of Iloilo Strait.

According to Chief Petty Officer Hernan Velasco, deputy assistant commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo Station here, the rare fish specie, weighing at least 150 kilos and 3.5 feet long, was spotted last Monday morning by the crew of passing motorized fishing vessel on its way back to mainland Iloilo from the island-province of Guimaras.

He said the fishermen towed the giant fish toward the jetty port at Parola area along Port San Pedro and had it turned over to the personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to examine its condition or possible injuries it sustained.

Coast Guard authorities said the sun fish was discovered to be weak whom they believed might have been hit accidentally by big navigating vessels, particularly fastcrafts that constantly criss-cross along the narrow Iloilo Strait on its daily voyage from Iloilo to Bacolod and vice versa.

BFAR personnel, meanwhile, requested the fishermen to bring the giant sunfish back to its habitat after they found no injuries on its body.

They also claimed that this migratory whale-like sunfish or “blue gill” could have been stranded in the waters between Iloilo Strait while it migrates from cold water elsewhere.

link: http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/dec/23/yehey/prov/20061223pro3.html
source: Manila Times

Hawayano

December 23rd, 2006, 02:09 AM

@ kirby21: thanks for posting the pics of the Iloilo chruches--they all have such a unique character of their own that differentiates them from their counterparts in other parts of the Phils., like those in the Ilocos or Southern Tagalog region.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:16 AM

Awesome photos ! Keep 'em coming Chymera !

Advanced Merry Christmas to all of you guys !

:cheers:
what a good Christmas visit here, pareng Jon. Kumusta na ang buhay-buhay da? Daw settled na gid ah.

Anyway,

Malipayon nga Paskuwa kag Mahamungayaon nga Bag-ong Tuig !

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:18 AM

pwede magpamember sa scc iloilo.location southern cal,profession nurse,centralian
Join the club amigo. Welcome ka gid diri sa aton diutay nga tambayan sa SSC. Bisita lang di pirmi ah.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:23 AM

sige lang. Ako basi next year kung wala travel plans. And like you, I'm updated man sa ciudad tungod sa mga newspapers and articles plus SSC with pictures coming from Chymera, IAMME and Pacific. The trio will surely make you want to visit Iloilo ... again, again and again. And for us Ilonggos, makagalanyat guid to spend our vacation back home. The beauty of Ilonggos' celebration during Christmas and New Year remains bullish and unrivalled. That's why Christmas in Iloilo is of different experience.
I concur. Nahidlaw man ko gani ma-selebrar sang paskuwa sa aton. Diri malamig gid katama. Pero sige lang, biskan diin basta enjoy. Kung sa Iloilo ko sini, pinanglibot ko na ang mga lugar nga ginpang-post ni Chymera. Hidlaw man ko sang palupok sa aton sa New Year. Indi gid diri magahod iya kumpara sa Iloilo nga people are celebrating in a very noisy ways. Kung may salakyan ka, sigurado gid nga maguyod ka sang lata etc to make more and more noises.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:29 AM

you can sideline architecture later, Pacific. :) Practically, I think you made a right choice in choosing nursing as a career in the future. Soon you'll be rewarded here abroad, then if archi still ticks you, you can pursue your dream after.
no comment lang ko. Promoter ka gid iya Kirbs pakadto sa abroad no? Believe ko ah. That's why you are a Centralian. It simply shows ... ha ha ha.

Hawayano

December 23rd, 2006, 06:29 AM

I have a feeling the next time I visit the place, it won't be the same anymore, as the place is being eyed as Iloilo's summer capital.

I hope that the Local Gov't of Leon spend time and effort in careful planning and management so that the environment and natural resources will be preserved.

@chymera: a bit delayed in posting back to you, but your pics rock! Tabionan looks like a best-kept secret in your photo-journal, so let's pray that the local gov't is guided to keep the country COUNTRY! Thanks for the pics--first time for me to see this beauty spot!

Pacific_leopard

December 23rd, 2006, 01:50 PM

IMPRESARIO

December 23rd, 2006, 02:28 PM

^^can you post the official design again? it comes in 2 different colors right? paano kami nga na sa overseas?

chymera00

December 23rd, 2006, 02:39 PM

elow guys.... the t-shirt is ready for printing costs p150, kun sino ang maorder pm lang ko please indicate your sizes small-medium-large..xlarge para as early as next week mastart an ung printing.salamat
pwede mo na ma post ang design pacific? ... I'm sure bsta ikaw ng ubra ok na ... count me in, of course.

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 03:15 PM

may free size or kinahanglan guid sang specific, Pacific? I'll ask them and then i-PM ta ka. Pero wala man siguro pagbag-o sang previous day's PM ko da regarding sa shirt. Aside from this, may ara pa kami iya nga iban. Oks? :)

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 03:19 PM

I concur. Nahidlaw man ko gani ma-selebrar sang paskuwa sa aton. Diri malamig gid katama. Pero sige lang, biskan diin basta enjoy. Kung sa Iloilo ko sini, pinanglibot ko na ang mga lugar nga ginpang-post ni Chymera. Hidlaw man ko sang palupok sa aton sa New Year. Indi gid diri magahod iya kumpara sa Iloilo nga people are celebrating in a very noisy ways. Kung may salakyan ka, sigurado gid nga maguyod ka sang lata etc to make more and more noises.
amo guid migs. Tani may i-post di sila nga you tube for Iloilo or Iloilo City's New Year Fireworks.

Above anything else, more and more towns joins the Festival of Lights with Pototan comes the real first. Wala guid sang maka-pierde sang ila display. I wonder kung pila ang gasto sang ila munisipyo to stage this festival.

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 03:22 PM

diri na lang ako nagatrip sa akon computer. kay daw updated gid ni toto chy ang explore iloilo permi.
speaking of Explore Iloilo website, daw damo nga pagbag-o gina-inject si Chymera though I loved the first one. Pero bilib man ko, right now, it reaches a 71K hits already. Well-monitored guid siya sang mga Ilonggo sa sagwa kag sang mga bisita nga curious sang mga nagakatabo sa Iloilo.

Kudos to Chymera! Job well done guid!

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 03:34 PM

Pacific, nag-open na ang CPU Gym? I've seen it in YouTube sang school website kay there's an Open Badminton Tournament sa February next year according sa ila advertisment. Any infos about the new gym? Thanks.

habagatcentral1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:37 PM

elow guys.... the t-shirt is ready for printing costs p150, kun sino ang maorder pm lang ko please indicate your sizes small-medium-large..xlarge para as early as next week mastart an ung printing.salamat

Sa diin ka nagpaprint haw? Sige, call me in but I'll PM you bout the details. Ambot lang kon gusto man sa Cebu pips magbakal.

Paligoh, pakipost ang design, kon ano ang kulay kag what's the color.

Good job GianCarlo! :)

Pacific_leopard

December 23rd, 2006, 03:44 PM

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 03:48 PM

Pacific_leopard

December 23rd, 2006, 03:52 PM

habagatcentral1

December 23rd, 2006, 03:52 PM

grand! Hulata na lang da si Wecky magpauli kay three weeks to go na lang. I'll PM you sang mga detalye dugay-dugay. Cheers amigo! Btw, real name mo GianCarlo? Gin-buking ka guid ni Bernie ay. hehehehe.

Wehehehehe!!! Buking na guid, hehehe!!! :D
Peace!!!

Anyway, mag-abot man ko da sa January, so wa'y problem. Basi si Eric (Byahilo) magbakal man sina, magkuta ko lang sanda.

Nice! :D

@Pacific. Tani guindugangan mo pa sang "Don" before sa ngaran ko. That's one of my names actually,wahahaha!!!! Ang tawag sa akon ni erpats kon akig. :D

Pacific_leopard

December 23rd, 2006, 03:55 PM

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 04:04 PM

mapuli gali si Wecky...

haha... gani man ginbuking gid ni Bernardo ang ngalan ko.hehe
yep. Ara na flight details niya though indi siya happy sa iya salakyan kay naubusan na sa iban nga airlines. Anyway, he'll be there by January 12, deretso na siguro depende sa last flight sang PAL from Manila. I-update ta lang ka. Hopefully, makabalik di siya sa forum before he leaves London for Iloilo this January.

Bukingay na gali ngalan diri .. hehe. Now I know who I'm talking with diri sa forum. Nice name, Gian.

kirby21

December 23rd, 2006, 04:07 PM

Wehehehehe!!! Buking na guid, hehehe!!! :D
Peace!!!

Anyway, mag-abot man ko da sa January, so wa'y problem. Basi si Eric (Byahilo) magbakal man sina, magkuta ko lang sanda.

Nice! :D

@Pacific. Tani guindugangan mo pa sang "Don" before sa ngaran ko. That's one of my names actually,wahahaha!!!! Ang tawag sa akon ni erpats kon akig. :D
lol. Baw mga Don ... dondonay guid nga matuod. Diin na to nag-olorder di last time? Si Incognito daw mapuli man bala, bati ko lang ina ha. Pero daw ma-stay pa siya sa Manila iya for awhile. :D

habagatcentral1

December 23rd, 2006, 04:24 PM

--delete--

chymera00

December 23rd, 2006, 04:58 PM

ei guys the pinakafinal color of the t-shirt....
according kay manog manogpaprint, gold yung gamiton na color kay manami siya sa black compare sa rust. kun rusty orange, basi malunod yung

front....
molo church ni siya indi lang gawa bal-anon kay gamay yung photo.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/t-shirt.jpg

back...
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/yelow.jpg

i just don't know kun papano ko masolicit ang 150 sa inyo, kapin pa sa mga sa abroad... kun ok lang tani kay chy nga account... kun ok lang sa iya.
ala ka pa gali tulog?
up all night man ako... update ko ang exploreiloilo.com amat-amat
trying to use greys contemporary colors this time para indi sakin sa mata and the pictures will pop out more, dsun kung ma pa draw ko na sa classmate ko, btangan ko sang effect nga pareho man sa penshoppe nga may curves ...

Kung gold ang color, indi lang ang ga sinang guid kay daw ka bling-bling

chymera00

December 23rd, 2006, 05:40 PM

@chymera: a bit delayed in posting back to you, but your pics rock! Tabionan looks like a best-kept secret in your photo-journal, so let's pray that the local gov't is guided to keep the country COUNTRY! Thanks for the pics--first time for me to see this beauty spot!
glad to have shown you this site of Iloilo, actually Tabionan/Bucari is just the tip of the iceberg, there are still a lot more sites that are equally as beautiful.

_________________________
sori lang sa wala ko pa na replyan ... I will be replying them in time
finished about 70% of the new layout ... maybe at the end of the night I'll be done, ... post nmn ko di bgu nga pictures in a while

chymera00

December 23rd, 2006, 07:39 PM

pictures and updates ...

first off is the Tabucan-Diversion Road Concreting ... I visited the site kaguina coz I hadn't had anything to do the whole day ... Anyways, the billboard said it will take 210 construction days to complete, which I thought was tooooo long just for a road that barely measures 1km.

By the looks of it, 4lanes wide siya.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/330983105_b01f1952fb_o.jpg

I found an intersection, found out that the road leads you to the Billboard Commercial Complex, exiting at Buto't Balat (or is it Nes and Tats?). It also seems to be aligned with an intersection at Smallville ... I'm thinking that they would probably built a road connecting the two intersections in the future.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/330983307_0e7efcb5d2_o.jpg

Along Diversion Road is an Isuzu Showroom U/C infront of the recently completed Honda Showroom

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/330984941_04a6b08e58_o.jpg

For recent developments in Smallville, the MO2 Hotel is near completion. You can see in the pic below that it is beside MO2 Restobar and MO2 Annex.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/330983566_73220782a0_o.jpg

It is also a few meters away from the Iloilo Business Hotel

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/330983762_4802d997af_o.jpg

Right across MO2 Complex is a new 2 story building. Coffee Break just opened its newest branch there last week, and following soon is Bourbon Street (which I can yet to know what that is ... I am assuming other cities have that too)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/330984191_5c743e2bd5_o.jpg

... This is the Floating Restaurant that was featured a few months back ... looks like a mere floating nipa hut

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/165/330985699_24b83569c6_o.jpg

I was surprised to see that a huge portion of land had already been reclaimed over at the Jalandoni Bridge Project ... it's so slow none the less. They should be starting to build Dungon Bridge Right about now ... With regard to the Iloilo Boulevard, it hasn't started construction yet

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/330985894_0d4fae13ce_o.jpg

x

chymera00

December 23rd, 2006, 07:40 PM

The new hotel to rise near San Ag is also due for completion

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/330986330_f3f4c94993_o.jpg

I discovered that the Arroyo Fountain had just recently been painted ... and at first I was disappointed by the ugly streamer that hung across it

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/330986863_289c78706d_o.jpg

At closer look ... It turned out to be great news!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/330986572_76f6ab733b_o.jpg

Next up is the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center a heritage building due for demolition

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/330990338_83534254df_o.jpg

To be replaced by a P350million 6 storey Gov't Center and Convention Center that will have a 3000-person capacity.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/330989849_c4f892944f_o.jpg

Another hotel due for opening is Castle Hotel. It seems they have removed the fence, as if to give the people a sneak peek of what they have been hiding these past few months. Frankly, I do not like the color combination ... and it doesn't blend well with the wooden frames either. It would have been much better if they had retained the all white color.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/330991010_e36badb44d_o.jpg

My final destination was Jaro Plaza ... I noticed that Mang Inasal in Ledi Supermart was opened already.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/330992140_0451aa057a_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/330991308_6ad746ed55_o.jpg

This brings the total Mang Inasal Branches in Iloilo to 6, namely:

Mang Inasal SM City
Mang Inasal Marymart
Mang Inasal Gaisano City
Mang Inasal Robinsons Place
Mang Inasal Ledi Supermart Jaro
Mang Inasal Iloilo Supermart

with one soon to open

Mang Inasal La Salette Building

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/330991766_8ea75e55bc_o.jpg

While I was in Jaro Plaza, I noticed the Balasan Bininka Kiosk

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/330992943_493999fa9b_o.jpg

I have heard that they taste nice, so I bought some ...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/330993150_98e19b950e_o.jpg

and I didn't think they're that nice, hehe ...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/330993307_cd882814ef_o.jpg

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:09 PM

it's definitely christmas here in Iloilo Thread. Chy, your photos are so inspiring. I'm looking forward to all your postings here in Iloilo Thread. Madamo gid nga salamat. You really made my Christmas Day today!

Hala Bira !
:banana: :banana: :banana:

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:20 PM

Another hotel due for opening is Castle Hotel. It seems they have removed the fence, as if to give the people a sneak peek of what they have been hiding these past few months. Frankly, I do not like the color combination ... and it doesn't blend well with the wooden frames either. It would have been much better if they had retained the all white color.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/330991010_e36badb44d_o.jpg

I'm sorry but I beg to disagree since I like the colour.:) It's really unique and gives The Castle Hotel a distinct aura from other hotels in the city. The dark lime green colour is of medieval, suited for the knghtly era of the past. For me, it's the most promising hotel in the city at present beating the other new convention centers - one recently opened and another one due to open soon, probably same month with the Castle Hotel. If I'm a visitor, I'll probably take the Castle Hotel and experience the delight of the old world, walking down a grand aisle of its balcony like a real knight in shining armour waiting to take his princess for a dance or waltz. Definitely, the Castle Hotel is patterned here in Europe.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:23 PM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/330993307_cd882814ef_o.jpg
missed the BIBINGKA sa Jaro Plaza. We used to eat along Jaro Plaza in the past after the Simbang Gabi. It's a tradition for all of us Ilonggos to savour bibingkas special right after the mass. Truly, I missed Iloilo so much.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:26 PM

Chymera, I'll post some of these pics in our Iloilo Infrastructures Thread. Baskog gid iya ang mga development amigo. Though some are snal-paced, tuluy-tuloy siya and it's happening in almost every corners of the city. Let's try to stretch our patience more. Actually, I'm glad with recent developments. In the past, you can barely see anybody paving new roads, etc. I hope this is just a new start for all of us Ilonggos.

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:33 PM

ei guys the pinakafinal color of the t-shirt....
according kay manog manogpaprint, gold yung gamiton na color kay manami siya sa black compare sa rust. kun rusty orange, basi malunod yung

front....
molo church ni siya indi lang gawa bal-anon kay gamay yung photo.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/t-shirt.jpg

back...
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/yelow.jpg

i just don't know kun papano ko masolicit ang 150 sa inyo, kapin pa sa mga sa abroad... kun ok lang tani kay chy nga account... kun ok lang sa iya.
Dala gid ko sa order ni Kirby, Pacific. Librehon niya ko kuno. Total mas damo siya overtime subong nga Disyembre so siya mabayad sang akon parte. :lol: :lol: :lol: Okay migo. Nami ang desenyo mo ah.

Btw, may gin-forward si Kirby di sa akon nga gin-PM mo. Kung manami ini, daw mas maayo pa gid to ya ang sa amon di. This time si Manoy Wecky ang taya.

Ti, lipay-lipay gid ko iya. Manugsalo lang ko grasya subong. :lol:

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 09:53 PM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/330992943_493999fa9b_o.jpg
The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral Belfry
"Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria"
Jaro, Iloilo City

spacewagon1

December 23rd, 2006, 10:19 PM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/330986572_76f6ab733b_o.jpg
san-o umpisahan sang MIWD ang rebuilding sang Arroyo Fountain? I hope Arroyo Fountain will be up and running again. It's one of Iloilo and Iloilo City's symbol. Hopefully, they'll restore dazzling lights of the fountain, too. Besides, the provincial capitol has its own power station. This will surely be a big help to the fountain's restoration and functioning level. :)

Hawayano

December 24th, 2006, 02:46 AM

^^ :banana: ^^ :banana: ^^ :banana: ^^ :banana: ^^ :banana:
Great updates and pics, @chymera! I like the close-up of Jaro Cathedral's bell tower in particular (it's one of those recons that I wish I could un-do and restore faithfully to the orig).

Thanks again!

habagatcentral1

December 24th, 2006, 04:33 AM

IMPRESARIO

December 24th, 2006, 04:51 AM

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/330986572_76f6ab733b_o.jpg
^^Yes, salamat kay kay-ohon na nila ang fountain,cool! looking forward to see the lights and water show.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/330991010_e36badb44d_o.jpg
love this building, ok man ang color, they should replace that ugly waiting shed infront of their hotel. it blocks the view of the structure.

It seems that the City is brewing with alot of activities/constructions, naga hinga-gaw guro for the dinagyang in '07. Hala Bira Iloilo!

Thanks Chy for the pics! Great job!:banana:

chymera00

December 24th, 2006, 06:26 AM

-double post-

chymera00

December 24th, 2006, 06:45 AM

almost finished the new site layout of www.exploreiloilo.com .... comments are highly appreciated :)

SamwiseGamgee

December 24th, 2006, 06:58 AM

Merry Christmas, everyone! And a Happy New Year, too!

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 08:57 AM

Merry Christmas ILOILO !

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 09:04 AM

almost finished the new site layout of www.exploreiloilo.com .... comments are highly appreciated :)
nice changes Chy. Ara na, nahatag na ako iya sang akon comment. More developments for Explore Iloilo. I'm really impressed with daily visits. Baskog! The site is really growing and watch worldwide. :cheers: :cheers:

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 09:08 AM

Brilliant pictures of Iloilo City's development. The city is continuously growing unbeknowst to everyone. And I'm glad to witness Iloilo City's wake to answer pressing problems back home. Let's always keep our hope up. A better year ahead of us Ilonggos. More jobs for our kasimanwas left there, and more places to visit around. As Spacewagon's favourite phrase, "Hala Bira ILOILO!" :banana: :banana:

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 09:11 AM

Dala gid ko sa order ni Kirby, Pacific. Librehon niya ko kuno. Total mas damo siya overtime subong nga Disyembre so siya mabayad sang akon parte. :lol: :lol: :lol: Okay migo. Nami ang desenyo mo ah.

Btw, may gin-forward si Kirby di sa akon nga gin-PM mo. Kung manami ini, daw mas maayo pa gid to ya ang sa amon di. This time si Manoy Wecky ang taya.

Ti, lipay-lipay gid ko iya. Manugsalo lang ko grasya subong. :lol:
gindala ta na ka to Space. Don't worry, my friend. Your time will come to treat me. he he he.

Pacific, okay guid to ang gin-PM mo. Aprubado sang tanan.

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 09:14 AM

I'm sorry but I beg to disagree since I like the colour.:) It's really unique and gives The Castle Hotel a distinct aura from other hotels in the city. The dark lime green colour is of medieval, suited for the knghtly era of the past. For me, it's the most promising hotel in the city at present beating the other new convention centers - one recently opened and another one due to open soon, probably same month with the Castle Hotel. If I'm a visitor, I'll probably take the Castle Hotel and experience the delight of the old world, walking down a grand aisle of its balcony like a real knight in shining armour waiting to take his princess for a dance or waltz. Definitely, the Castle Hotel is patterned here in Europe.
he he he. I beg to disagree guid iya.
Chy, actually I like the colour, too. But like Incognito suggestion, tani kuhaon nila ang bantayan dira sa atubangan or repaint it with the same colour as Castle Hotel to complement the beauty of the building. Looking forward for its openinng ............. soon.
Cheers !

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 09:18 AM

^^ Smallville is already like that!!!!! What!!!!! Daw kadasig man sa mga nagatabo da as compared to the previous years that I was there! Waaahhh!!! :runaway: :D

Ano man ayhan ang ubrahon nila sa Tabucan section sang Tabucan-Diversion Road? Kay di bala me ara da nga basketball court?

Ang paborito ni Incognito, ang Fontana/Fuente Arroyo, salamat at ipaayo na nanda. Tani sa Dinagyang, pasigaan nila sa gab-i. (di lang panukot PECO!!!)

@Chy, ti, ano ubrahon ta sa e-mail nga guinpadala sa imo?
Smallville is growing fast, Bern. Kadamo sang nagbag-o dira. With two hotels in the area now, Smallville will definitely command a hyper activities along the area in a very near future. Halos ara na da ang mga bag-o nga development sang Diversion.

Btw, kumusta iya ang Billboard Commercial Complex?

habagatcentral1

December 24th, 2006, 01:00 PM

Malipayong Paskwa sa Tanan sa Iloilo kag sa lain-lain nga lugar sa kalibuitan!

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

chymera00

December 24th, 2006, 03:28 PM

I read knina sa The Guardian that Iloilo's budget will be supplemented by another P200M before the year ends. That makes the 2006 Budget to P900M+ ...
and for 2007 P1.3B na ang budget, which will only be 30% IRA dependent (though around 30% will also come from loans.

City's 2007 annual budget up by 59%

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The city government will work on a P1.2 billion next year. It is 58.8 percent or P445,156,603 higher than last year's annual budget which is only P756,043,397. A bigger slice of the city's annual budget for 2007 will be taken from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and the city's P350 million loan.

In last Wednesday's regular session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, the city council approved an ordinance appropriating the amount of P1,201,200,000.00 annual budget for 2007. The budget will be taken from the estimates of income certified reasonably collectible for calendar year 2007.

The approval of the annual budget came after city treasurer Katherine Tingson and the Local Finance Committee certified that the estimated funds are "reasonable collectible". The other members of the Local Finance Committee are Ninda Atinado, city budget officer and Jose Roni Penalosa, city planning and development coordinator.

In 2007, there is a projected income of P394,820,000 for local taxes; permits and licenses P10,030,000; service income P32,640,000; business income P27,360,000; other income P386,350,000 and P350,000,000. from borrowings or city's loan from the World Bank.

The city's project expenditures is pegged at P350,000,000.00 for the construction of the new city hall building, total programs and projects P424,504,690 and the total appropriations for non-office is P735,941,110.

The expenditures for the city's peace and order program amounted to P3,000,000.

In the Local Finance Committee report, it says the increase in estimated collection is seen due to the increase in Local Taxes (RPT), permits and licenses, service income, business income and other income (IRA). The increase in the budget is also attributed to the inclusion of the borrowings or loan for the construction of the new city hall. The bidding for the city hall is set next year, after the May 11, 2007 elections.

The projected IRA for the city in 2007 is P370,000,000. It is higher by 13.3 percent or P43,456,603 from the 2006 estimates which is P326,543,397. There is also a reserve of five percent for the city's regular income which amounted to P42,560,000. It is intended for the unforeseen expenditures arising from the occurrence of calamities.

The city will also spend 45 percent budget of the budget for personnel service (PS). The law only allows the local government unit to spend 45 percent of its budget for PS. There is also a P74,000,000 for the development projects of the city.

Pacific_leopard

December 24th, 2006, 03:38 PM

Happy Jesus Christ's Birthday

Guimbal's Grand Plaza and Church.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/Mypics015.jpg

Cabatuan's Townscape
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/Mypics002.jpg

more Ilonggo Churches

Molo Church: The Queen Church
Gothic Renaissance: the Third level of the church is of pure Gothic architecture while the first and second levels remain in the Romanesque style.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/Mypics004.jpg

Guimbal Church: The Temple of Stone Flowers
A Baroque-Renaissance Church with ornate rosettes as facade decorations
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i62/Pacific_leopard/Mypics019.jpg

IMPRESARIO

December 24th, 2006, 04:25 PM

http://www.ecardica.com/ecards/postcards%5Cchristmas/Merry%20Christmas.gif
Happy Christmas Everybody!

IAMME

December 24th, 2006, 04:50 PM

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm here in Roxas now for the holidays. Our house in Iloilo is being treated for termites. Hehe.. Nice updates Chymera! I look forward to a functioning Arroyo Fountain. Pacific, what's the brand of the shirt? Different brands have different size scales.

Merry Christmas once again! I wish you all genuine happiness!

spacewagon1

December 24th, 2006, 05:02 PM

Merry Christmas Iloilo
from all of us here in UK

IMPRESARIO

December 24th, 2006, 05:09 PM

gusto ko man mag order t-shirt! waahhhh!!!

Pacific_leopard

December 24th, 2006, 07:46 PM

gusto ko man mag order t-shirt! waahhhh!!!
mAPUli kaman di sa January??? din ka gani sbung a?

hala, ti panu ni man??? think pacific... think.... kabudlay kay wala ako account biskan paypal...la guid... panu ni man... tapos budlay man dayun gali kay indi ko dayun mapadala da sa imo ang t-shirt... kun mapuli ka di sa January, i-western union mo nalang ang kwarta next week... galing 150 man lang daw ka odd eh...

merry Christmas lang da gali... greet niyo si Jesus Christ Happy Birthday... :)

@IAMME Swearte kag Novo... mas barato daw yung Novo

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 10:54 PM

Malipayon nga Paskuwa kag Mahamungayaon nga Bag-ong Tuig sa inyo tanan!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

adelro2049

December 24th, 2006, 10:58 PM

From San Francisco to Iloilo...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 10:59 PM

kirby21

December 24th, 2006, 11:18 PM

mAPUli kaman di sa January??? din ka gani sbung a?

hala, ti panu ni man??? think pacific... think.... kabudlay kay wala ako account biskan paypal...la guid... panu ni man... tapos budlay man dayun gali kay indi ko dayun mapadala da sa imo ang t-shirt... kun mapuli ka di sa January, i-western union mo nalang ang kwarta next week... galing 150 man lang daw ka odd eh...

merry Christmas lang da gali... greet niyo si Jesus Christ Happy Birthday... :)

@IAMME Swearte kag Novo... mas barato daw yung Novo
think mapauli guid si Incognito, Pacific. Daw damo mapauli subong for Dinagyang. Even here sa UK, damo ma-attend for Dinagyang 2007. It's becoming popular here in Ilonggos in UK to watch and celebrate Dinagyang.

Pacific, beautiful pictures of churches and plazas in Iloilo. Something each of us Ilonggo should always be proud of.

Go Iloilo !

taga uma

December 24th, 2006, 11:40 PM

Baw, nakabutwa ruman ako digya ba. Malipayon gid nga Paskua kag mahamungayaon nga bag-ong tuig lang dyan sa mga kasinmanwa ko, ah. Lipay gid ako sa pictures ninyo digya. katahum na gid subong sang mga improvements sa syudad kag sa mga banwa sang Iloilo. Mayad gid dya nga balita.:devil: :gunz:

lewdsaint

December 24th, 2006, 11:44 PM

MALIPAYON nga PASKUA mga KASIMANWA!!!

Watta great sites and pictures of ILOILO!!!

Puli man ko sa Iloilo sa petsa 30 kag balik sa Manila sa petsa uno...hay biskan makadali lang makita ko lang ang ciudad ko nga pinalangga. I wish na nakalagaw man ako sa mga banwa sang Iloilo.

Hala Bira!!!

wecky

December 25th, 2006, 12:38 AM

Happy Christmas to all Ilonggos Across the Globe!

Mabuhay Kita Tanan !

:dance: :dance: :dance:

http://corporate.mozcom.com/dot/r6/ilologo.gif http://corporate.mozcom.com/dot/r6/ilologo.gif

:horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse:

wecky

December 25th, 2006, 12:40 AM

boybleauXx

December 25th, 2006, 03:26 AM

FROM BUTUAN CITY TO ILOILO CITY....

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/boybleauxx/xmas.jpg?t=1167009547

akaiski_2074

December 25th, 2006, 05:31 AM

merry christmas everyone :)
:) nice design para sa t-shirt pero may maka igo ayhan sakon nga size??:ohno: extra small or baby tee tani...

bonixx

December 25th, 2006, 08:35 AM

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

shyaman

December 25th, 2006, 08:42 AM

MALIPAYON NGA PASCUA SA INYO NGA TANAN!!!

spacewagon1

December 25th, 2006, 09:07 AM

more greetings to come. Yehey!
Hala Bira everyone ! :banana:

spacewagon1

December 25th, 2006, 09:08 AM

spacewagon1

December 25th, 2006, 09:18 AM

habagatcentral1

December 25th, 2006, 09:30 AM

BYAHILO

December 25th, 2006, 09:44 AM

merry xmas every one!

im here @ the office. late ako 1 hour. naipit ako sa traffic, spent my xmas eve last night in batangas

JonJon75

December 25th, 2006, 12:32 PM

Merry Christmas
sa mga kasimanwa ko nga Ilonggo sa bilog nga kalibutan!

JonJon75

December 25th, 2006, 12:38 PM

Merry Christmas
sa mga kasimanwa ko nga Ilonggo sa bilog nga kalibutan!

JonJon75

December 25th, 2006, 12:49 PM

Regarding Iloilo River rehabilitation and the Jalandoni Bridge/Nabitasan-Lapaz project:

I've heard from a source that the soil or earth that will be dug upon the construction of Jaro Floodway will be the dumped at Iloilo's Jalandoni project to create riverside parks in Nabitasan-Jalandoni Area.
nice news. I keep on lurking for the meantime guys. Nice articles and photos from everyone.

chymera00

December 25th, 2006, 02:22 PM

will there be an SSC Meet during the Dinagyang?

habagatcentral1

December 25th, 2006, 03:02 PM

will there be an SSC Meet during the Dinagyang?

That question I don't know. Hopefully there would be. :D

chymera00

December 25th, 2006, 04:45 PM

That question I don't know. Hopefully there would be. :D
well since most of us will be out during the dinagyang (including ssc forumers outside iloilo) lets have lunch or dinner together or afternoon coffee/tambay ... nothing fancy, just so we can meet face to face and maybe more.

Ma start ta Roll Call

SSC Meet in Iloilo's Dinagyang - January 28 2007 [venue TBA]
1. chYmera

habagatcentral1

December 25th, 2006, 04:49 PM

Ma start ta Roll Call

SSC Meet in Iloilo's Dinagyang - January 28 2007 [venue TBA]
1. chYmera
2. Berniemacksouthcentral (hopefully may makaupod halin Cebu)

BYAHILO

December 25th, 2006, 05:34 PM

indi ko anay mag commit pero may plane ticket na ako...

i just hope that its going to be a lunch. kay in case mabalik ko sa hapon, at least may "small time" pa ko magmeet sa tanan

tj_brewed

December 25th, 2006, 10:30 PM

Merry Christmas Iloilo and Advance Happy New Year!

spacewagon1

December 26th, 2006, 12:52 AM

Regarding Iloilo River rehabilitation and the Jalandoni Bridge/Nabitasan-Lapaz project:

I've heard from a source that the soil or earth that will be dug upon the construction of Jaro Floodway will be the dumped at Iloilo's Jalandoni project to create riverside parks in Nabitasan-Jalandoni Area.
looking forward to this riverside park, Bernie. Tani paspasan na nila obra by next year para may matapos na naman nga project. Gatambak ang projects and proposals sa aton pero sa pagkahinay guid iya matapos. Puro guid delayed. Nano man ni? :)

spacewagon1

December 26th, 2006, 12:54 AM

nice news. I keep on lurking for the meantime guys. Nice articles and photos from everyone.
ok Jon. Balik-balik lang di. Wishing you a merry christmas and a bountiful new year. Hidlaw man kami sang mga posts mo di sa aton thread. Kung may i-comentar ka sa aton thread, feel free lang to post. :) Hala Bira migs! :banana:

spacewagon1

December 26th, 2006, 12:58 AM

will there be an SSC Meet during the Dinagyang?
tani lang madayon. I like to see all the faces behind the username.
Sin-o kuno magpauli nga SSC forumers haw? There's only 2 I knew. Si Wecky kag si Incognito. Tani may ara pa gid nga iban para sadya. Enjoy and don't forget to those your photos (just in case).

spacewagon1

December 26th, 2006, 12:59 AM

December 26 - Happy Boxing Day to all from UK !
Hala Bira Iloilo !
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

spacewagon1

December 26th, 2006, 01:05 AM

you can sideline architecture later, Pacific. :) Practically, I think you made a right choice in choosing nursing as a career in the future. Soon you'll be rewarded here abroad, then if archi still ticks you, you can pursue your dream after.
why not? Good choice gid tuod ni for Pacific. Well done amigo.

Speaking of churches, damo na gid churches sang Iloilo nga na-features diri no? I can't wait to visit each one of them in the future.

BYAHILO

December 26th, 2006, 04:38 AM

tani lang madayon. I like to see all the faces behind the username.
Sin-o kuno magpauli nga SSC forumers haw? There's only 2 I knew. Si Wecky kag si Incognito. Tani may ara pa gid nga iban para sadya. Enjoy and don't forget to those your photos (just in case).

puli man ako.... i ma aprove VL ko ill be in iloilo fri-monday dinagyang week

if denied VL ko ill be there suday first flight balik ko last flight sunday or first flight monday

shyaman

December 26th, 2006, 09:18 AM

BYAHILO

December 26th, 2006, 11:38 AM

hay im getting frustrated with the Dinagyang Foundation already. asta subong wala pa nag up ang ila website. ang Cebu sinulog ya ara na. ga ugtas na ko ah

IMPRESARIO

December 26th, 2006, 03:22 PM

It's also BOXING DAY today diri sa Australia. I guess this holiday is common among Commonwealth nations.

Happy Boxing Day lang man da sa mga taga-UK: Kirby, Space, Wecky, Incognito, Jonjon, etc etc...

^^ey! Happy Boxing Day! i'm not in the UK though, USA ako iya,ehehe, pero one of my colleagues greeted me a Happy Boxing Day.

mapuli ako sa january, so hopefully maka join man ako sa meet/EB. :)

Pacific_leopard

December 26th, 2006, 05:09 PM

why not? Good choice gid tuod ni for Pacific. Well done amigo.

Speaking of churches, damo na gid churches sang Iloilo nga na-features diri no? I can't wait to visit each one of them in the future.

here, i made my list of Ilonggo Churches through architectural designs

Gothic Churches

Santa Ana Church, Molo
Santa Monica Church Dumanggas
Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, Jaro
Monastery of St. Carmelite, Jaro

Neoclassic Churches

Renaissance Neoclassic
Santa Barbara Church
Leon Church
Lapaz Church
Tuscan Neoclassic
Cabatuan Church
Baroque Neoclassic
Alimodian Church
Guimbal Church
Dingle Church
Duenas Church
Lambunao Church
Plain Neoclassic
San Jose Parish Church
Barotac Nuevo Church
Ruins of Janiuay Church
Calinog Church

Byzantine Churche(s)
Pavia Church

Baroque Churches
Miagao Church
Tigbauan Church
San Joaquin Church

This isn't complete(i think) basi may ara nga nalimtan ko...

kirby21

December 26th, 2006, 10:51 PM

pahabol ako before the midnight strikes here in UK.

Happy Boxing Day to all members of Commonwealth Nations!

Happy Boxing Day Iloilo !

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

let's start unwrapping the gifts now. :cheers: :cheers:

kirby21

December 26th, 2006, 10:55 PM

^^ey! Happy Boxing Day! i'm not in the UK though, USA ako iya,ehehe, pero one of my colleagues greeted me a Happy Boxing Day.

mapuli ako sa january, so hopefully maka join man ako sa meet/EB. :)
yey! Gina-greet ko pirmi akon family, sis and friends sa US sang Happy Boxing Day, Incognito. So indi na bag-o sa ila. I'm sure you've been greeted several times sang imo mga classmates kag barkada diri.

Bon Voyage sa imo amigo. San-o imo flights to Iloilo? Don't forget to take lots of pictures sa Dinagyang. Would love to see them all here in SSC.

Cheers !

kirby21

December 26th, 2006, 10:57 PM

hay im getting frustrated with the Dinagyang Foundation already. asta subong wala pa nag up ang ila website. ang Cebu sinulog ya ara na. ga ugtas na ko ah
not a good one guid tuod Eric. Di bale, I'll post sa Iloilo City Forum kag i-attention ta guid kay Mr Jimena. Basi pa lang may makasabat sa ila. Medyo mabudlay subong tungod sa kasakuon and wala opisina. I'm sure after new year, medyo tawhay na sila and makabalik na sa obra.

kirby21

December 26th, 2006, 11:12 PM

care to share the difference/s, Pacific biskan diutay lang nga description? thanks.

kirby21

December 27th, 2006, 01:55 AM

UN Habitat eyes housing project for Iloilo squatters

THE United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is planning to improve the living condition of squatters in Iloilo City.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said a representative from UN Habitat was here last week to check on the plight of informal settlers all over the metropolis.

He added several UN executives, who are set to grace the city’s premiere celebration – Dinagyang Festival come January 28, 2007, have pledged to assist the city in its various projects.

“The UN Habitat has come in to help us in the sectoral planning on housing needs – it will be a holistic shelter plan for Iloilo City. We will (also) be tapping our partners from the private sector and urban poor associations,” said Treñas.

According to its website, the UN Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

The mayor said the UN Habitat will initiate the crafting of a development framework to address housing backlogs in the city.

“We will start with the validation of existing data on how many more squatters need house and lot. There will also be inventories of national government’s lots which can be converted into socialized housing areas,” Treñas said.

He added the UN Habitat will likewise conduct capability-building strategies for existing urban poor communities to make them self-reliant.

Meanwhile, Kagawad Eduardo Peñaredondo, vice-chair of the committee on appropriations of the city council, noted City Hall allocated P10million for land acquisitions next year. He explained this was included in the city’s 2007 annual budget.

link: http://www.theguardianiloilo.ph/topstories5.php
source: The Guardian Iloilo
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^^ I hope this program in Iloilo City will continue to progress with the help of United Nations. Being the host of UN's Dinagyang MDGs, it would be nice if projects like these to address poverty for our unfortunate kasimanwas will be provided properly with the aid of a multinational sector. With such a huge international organisation like UN Habitat, poverty alleviation and proper housing for squatters will be realised. Even destitute, our kasimanwas deserve a good shelter where the family can live and exist with society indiscriminately. Another good thing happening in Iloilo at present. Go, go, go Iloilo !

spacewagon1

December 27th, 2006, 11:01 AM

spacewagon1

December 27th, 2006, 11:03 AM

7 groups to wow crowd in Tultugan Festival ‘06

Seven competing groups from Maasin's high school and elementary schools would try to outdo each other in wowing the audience when they take centerstage for the tribal competitions of this year's Tultugan Festival in this bustling municipality some 30 kilometers south of Iloilo City Friday this week.

The seven participating groups are those from Quiling National High School, Maasin National Comprehensive High School, Siwalo National High School, Burak National High School, Layog National High School, Tigbauan National High School, and Maasin Central Elementary School.

According to Mayor Mariano Malones, Sr., visitors and guests who plan to troop to this town, widely regarded as the Bamboo Capital of the Philippines, should expect a bigger, better and brighter Tultugan Festival this year.

"What you see now is only but a glimpse of what you should expect come the grand day on December 29, the eighth staging of this yearly spectacle," said Malones, who is on his third and final term as town chief executive, during the Tultugan Musicale Showcase at the SM City-Iloilo last December 21.

"Our very own Tultugan Festival, through the years, has evolved into one of the better local festivals here in the province of Iloilo. In fact, during this year's Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City, we won the championship in the Kasadyahan Festival in only our second year of participation, proof of how much we have improved in the last couple of years," he added.

"More astonishingly, we have made a good account of ourselves in the Aliwan Fiesta in Metro Manila middle of this year, finishing fifth overall in a field of more than 20 festivals all over the country in just our first year of participation. This only accentuates the fact that we have come a long way since the inception of Tultugan Festival some eight years ago," Malones, who conceived the annual festival in his very first year as Maasin mayor back in 1998, said.

It was also learned from the mayor that among those who are expected to grace this year's Tultugan Festival are Iloilo third district Rep. Arthur Defensor, Sr., Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr., and former senator Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng.

Aside from inviting Ilonggos both home and abroad to this annual spectacle, Malones also extended his invitation to those who want to join his municipality in the celebration of their yearly municipal and religious fiesta in honor of their patron St. James the Greater the following day.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/27/7.groups.to.wow.crowd.in.tultugan.festival.06.html)

al_teeway

December 27th, 2006, 11:03 AM

MALIPAYON NGA PASKWA KAG BAG-ONG TUIG DA SA MGA AMIGO KO NGA ILONGGO..

TANI ANG 2007 MAGAHATAG SANG TODO NGA ASENSO SA ILOILO, AKLAN KAG SA BUG-OS PANAY!

spacewagon1

December 27th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Wushu champion comes home to a hero's welcome but forgets medal
By Ronilo L. Pamonag

He must've been very excited to come home.

A hero's welcome greeted Asian Games gold medalist Rene Catalan yesterday at the Iloilo Airport.

To his chagrin, however, the 28-year-old Wushu champion forgot the very reason for the welcome.

"I must have left it at my bed at the gym in Metro Manila," Catalan said of his gold medal. "I'm sorry I misplaced my medal," he said after rummaging through his baggage for about 10 minutes and before leaving the airport.

Before going out of the airport terminal building, he kept on apologizing to Sta. Barbara town vice mayor Arnold Delgado.

Catalan was one of the four Filipino gold medalists in the recently concluded 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

He instead showed a certification of having bagged the gold in the Wushu event. It was signed by the event's organizing committee.

But that did not take away the smile from Catalan.

"I am very happy because this is my first time," Catalan reacted to the reception he got at the airport. Hordes of reporters waited at the arrival area.

His mother, 56-year-old Loreta, also felt the same.

"I am happy that my son finally got the recognition he deserved," she said, while waiting for his son's arrival at the airport terminal building. "I've never been so happy before in my life." The 56-year-old sells native foods at the town market for a living. She has 13 siblings, of whom Rene is the 6th. "The only thing I ask of the government is to help my four younger children go to school."

"When I watch him fight on TV, I just sit back and relax," she said, adding that she had just suffered a mild stroke.

From the airport, the motorcade carrying the diminutive gold medalist went around the City. People got out of their houses to take a look at the new hometown hero.

Before proceeding to his hometown of Sta. Barbara, Catalan paid a courtesy call to Governor Niel Tupas, who waited for him at the Provincial Capitol.

At the lobby of the Capitol, Tupas and Board Member Cecilia Capadosa handed a certificate of recognition to Catalan.

"By winning the gold medal, you have brought honor to Iloilo," the governor said. Capadosa assured Catalan that the provincial government will be giving a financial incentive, but they have yet to decide on the amount.

"But for sure, there will be a financial incentive," she stressed.

Catalan, a father of two, confirmed that he was offered the coaching position for the Yemeni Wushu team.

He said that Yemeni sports officials offered him a car and a $100 monthly allowance on top of a $1,000 monthly salary.

But he declined the offer, in effect, avoiding what could have been a ridiculous situation where a Filipino-coached Yemeni Wushu team would be facing that of the Philippines.

"They told me that as long as I could fight, I should," Catalan said, quoting what his teammates told him.

source: The News Today (http://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/12/27/wushu.champion.comes.home.to.a.heros.welcome.but.forgets.medal.html)

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congratulations ! :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: