By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
I found a hidden treasure in the Philippines. Yes, that’s how it is described in the promotional brochure. It is Iloilo city, one of the hidden treasures of the country.
My discovery however came simultaneously with a downer. It was also the day that national newspapers came out with a very sad news that a venerable newspaper in the entire Cordilleras, the Midland Courier, will bow out of circulation this month after 77 long years of its honorable existence.
For one, the newspaper was touted to be the only provincial newspaper that was given a distinct honor by the Ateneo De Manila University of microfilming all of its issues when that was the only digital (if you can call it that way) process then of storing printed media. It was the constant companion of every newspaper-loving Cordilleran for decades until others tried to insert themselves into the relatively small local arena of printed news informing. Many of them fell by the wayside, folding up after just a few years of temporary existence (maybe this paper, ZZW, is an exception as it waded through thick and thin for 3 decades already).
I consider the impending demise of Midland Courier as very sad and the most earth-shaking happenstance in the history of the Cordillera print media. It is really a pity. Take a bow M.C. in grave pain, but with head proudly upright and decorated!
Back to Iloilo city. I have been to this city thrice before, the last being last year but I did not go around. This time, I had the luxury to move about the city, and around it, for several days. From what I saw, I agree that it is a hidden treasure. The city proper was the one I saw twice earlier with all those Filipino-Chinese shops at it’s own Chinatown, the old Spanish inspired Calle Real, City Hall, domestic seaport, etc. What is relatively new there is their clean and inviting Fort San Pedro Baywalk where one can stroll peacefully with a bonus of seeing the island of Guimaras in your face. The island is so close you need to pay only PhP25.00 as a fare in a ferry to get there.
Iloilo city by the way belongs to the five cleanest cities in the Philippines, and Baguio city of course is a distinguished company. It is cited as one of the most liveable cities in Asia.
The biggest avenue in the city is named Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, all of 8-9 lines wide, with a very distinct bike lane where only bikes and pedestrians can pass. Because of this, it was awarded as the most bike-friendly city in the Philippines as early as 2018. This avenue can lead one into the Iloilo Business Park(IBP), that hosts many big businesses that can be found in Manila. Foreign investors are also there. It is no wonder, that tall buildings, rising to more than 20 storeys, are sprouting like in Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong or in Bonifacio Global City. The Park is found in the Mandurriao District, one of the 6 districts of the city.
The IBP, a Megaworld concept and creation, was awarded as the Best Township Development in Asia in 2018. It hosts the controversial 1.7 ha Iloilo Convention Center, considered the biggest of its kind in Western Visayas.
Almost all major roads within the city are 4-6 lanes, even where there are still no establishments along the way. Jutting above those roads are several flyovers, just like in Metro Manila but in smaller scale.
The city is dotted with big and small malls, from SM, Robinsons, Gaisano, GT, Festive mall, Vista Mall, Citimall, and others. Other big malls are building their own in various places in the city.
Surprisingly, the malls there have different designs from those in Metro Manila. They are connected to other establishments like various restaurants and hotels. From the hotel where I was checked in, I just glided to the malls and get what I wanted–shopping, hair cut, shoe shine, and what have you. It’s time saving.
Iloilo is an old Spanish-era city (est 1889), it still hosts existing, well-maintained very old houses everywhere. And they are tourist attractions. The city’s history is seen alive in museums not only in the city but even in surrounding towns such as Sta Barbara.
The city is a proud creator of La Paz batchoy, pancit molo, biscocho and tablea, and the KBL (kadyos, babol, langka + batuan to provide the sour taste) recipe. Add to that, their fried native chicken. I tried them all.
And if you want sea foods, they have abundant restos offering them. You want such sea foods still alive just before eating them? You can find several restaurants perfectly lined up near both sides of the roads within the periphery of the city or at the adjacent towns like Dumangas. Well, Iloilo has at least two big fish ports in the towns of Estancia and Pontevedra plus smaller ones like in Dumangas.
Iloilo city is considered a culinary city. Actually, it was awarded as the first UNESCO creative city of gastronomy recently.
The city is striving to become a MICE Center. MICE – Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events. Cordillera cities and bigger towns could learn a thing or two from the development strategies of this booming city.
They say that in Iloilo city, “the richness of its heritage, culture and traditions make for a refined experience unlike anything anywhere in the Philippines. And the future rises everyday in sustainable, people-focused and eco-friendly urban developments that make it one of the MOST LIVEABLE CITIES IN ASIA”.**
