Iloilo
Iloilo City is the provincial capital of Iloilo, on the island of Panay. Iloilo City is fundamentally the economic, cultural, educational and tourist center of Iloilo province.
Understand
It is considered a highly urbanized city with a government separate from the province. Along with nearby Guimaras, the city forms the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras metropolitan area.
Iloilo City lies on the southern coast of Iloilo province,
History
The city's history traces back to pre-colonial times as the center of Madja-as, but written history states that Iloilo originated from the town of Oton, an outpost founded by Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Raids by Chinese and Moro pirates forced the relocation of the outpost to Villa Rica de Arevalo (present-day Arevalo). During the 1700s, Iloilo boomed through its local sugarcane industry, that leaves its mark on historic estate houses. As the Spanish Empire began to crumble, Visayan revolutionaries during the early days of the Philippine Revolution established the capital of the Federal State of the Visayas in Iloilo City until its dissolution in 1898.
The city fell into the hands of the United States in the aftermath of the Philippine-American War, and it became an important Protestant mission site, with the establishment of Protestant universities, like the Central Philippine University.
Iloilo City was devastated during the Pacific War; the Central Philippine University was destroyed along with many other parts of the city. The city's postwar rebuilding was slow, followed by Ilonggo emigration, but the entry of major retailers has helped boost its economy.
Climate
Iloilo City has a tropical wet and dry climate, with two distinct seasons: dry season between December and May and wet season between June and November. Average temperatures vary little by time of year; daytime highs are between 29.7 °C (85.5 °F) and 33.1 °C (91.6 °F), and nighttime lows run between 22.7 °C (72.9 °F) and 25.1 °C (77.2 °F). Annual average humidity is 80%, so it can be uncomfortably hot during the day.
Orientation
Iloilo City is divided into 7 districts, namely: City Proper, Jaro, La Paz, Lapuz, Mandurriao, Molo, and Villa Arevalo. With the exception of Lapuz, all the districts are former towns that were merged to form the present city.
Iloilo City Proper hosts heritage buildings from the Spanish and American colonial eras, downtown shopping centers and the ferry terminals, Mandurriao hosts the city's central business district. Jaro has CPU and an old town center, Tagbac has the bus stations for trips from the north, and Molo has the station for buses from Iloilo's south coast and Antique.
Language
The main language spoken in Iloilo and vicinity, as well as in the nearby Island of Guimaras and in the western part of the Island of Negros (including the city of Bacolod) is Hiligaynon, also known as Ilongo. It is an Austronesian language closely related to the other languages of Panay Island, and less so (say, like English to Dutch or German) to the other languages of the Philippines, such as Cebuano or Tagalog. Many words are shared between the languages of the nation, such as tubig for "water", or oling/uling/oring for "charcoal", as well as numerous Spanish loanwords for e.g. numbers or names of vegetables.
Tagalog is known in Iloilo to some extent, thanks to the national media and migration between islands. As in other parts of the country, the level of English knowledge varies, from the ability to tell prices by market vendors to full fluency among the educated elites.
The signs you'll see in Iloilo are mostly in English. Tagalog may appear in, say, advertisements by national brands or the public service messages by the federal government. Hiligaynon can be seen in some signs, sometimes handwritten, posted by local people and businesses; it is also widely used in personal communications and classified ads on the Internet, e.g. via Facebook, WhatsApp, or Reddit. The local branch of the National Museum (in the former jail downtown) is a rare exception, as a place where you'll see Hiligaynon used in writing in all the explanatory signs (along with English and Tagalog).
Get in
By plane
1 Iloilo International Airport (ILO IATA), Iloilo Airport Access Road, Cabatuan 5031, ☏ +63333208058. It receives flights from Cebu, Davao, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cuyo and Sipalay. Airlines that use Iloilo airport include Air Juan, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. 
A seat in an air-conditioned minivan costs ₱100 from the airport to SM City Iloilo, and ₱70 vice versa.
The terminal fees at Iloilo Airport are ₱200 for domestic flights and ₱700 for international flights, but they are integrated into the ticket price.
By boat
Pump boats are used for traversing the waters between Guimaras and Iloilo City.
- Cokaliong and Trans Asia Shipping Lines sail from Cebu City six times a week with fares from ₱800 (one way).
- There are four fast ferry lines (fast craft) that sail from Bacolod many times every day:
- Ocean Jet
- Weesam Express
- 2GO Travel
- Fast Cat - from ₱200 one way.
- Milagrosa Shipping Lines, +63 33 337 8627, sail from Cuyo and Puerto Princesa once a week.
- 2GO Travel, +63 2 8528 7000, sail from Manila twice a week and Cagayan de Oro once a week
By bus
Ceres Liner / ☏ +63 910 738 5318 operates the bulk of most routes to Iloilo City, and trips either use the large company-owned Iloilo Northbound Termina (in barangay Tagbac) for routes from the north (Roxas, Kalibo, Caticlan, Manila), or the small San Pedro Bus Termina from the west (San Jose de Buenavista and Antique).
ALPS and Philtranco operate daily overnight trips from Manila to Iloilo City, which take 18 hours at the shortest. These services end at Tagbac Terminal, a terminal not more than a kilometer from the Ceres terminal.
By passenger van
UV Express vans also run between Iloilo and Caticlan, taking 5 hours, and Iloilo and San Jose, taking 2 hours.
Get around
By taxi
The best way to get around town, taxis are available from the bus stations and malls, and you can also hail them from the street. The best service are often offered by Light of Glory or GDR Taxi. They drive fast but as relatively safe as possible.
By jeepney
Jeepneys are widely available, with routes from the bus stations into Mandurriao and the city proper. As of 2022, routes have numbers (e.g. the route connecting the bus stations in Tagbac with the city proper is route 10); minibus-based modern jeepneys are now available, but you can still take the city's trademark passad jeepneys – made from second-hand vehicle parts and are different from the archetypical Manila jeepneys for having the front of a SUV or pickup instead of the distinctive hood based on the US Army jeeps.
Don't take this if you're in a great hurry as the drivers can sometimes decide to wait in the loading areas for 5–10 minutes.
By trisikad or tri-cycle
Tricycles mean a motorbike with a sidecar and a trisikad is its human-powered equivalent using a pedal bike. It's the method of transportation for small, tight roads in barangays and the outskirts of the city. It is more expensive than the jeepneys.
See
Religious sites
- 1 Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral (National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles), Burgos Street. The only Catholic cathedral in Western Visayas, built in 1864. It is the seat of Jaro Archbishopric (comprising the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Western Visayas). The Cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, is famous for its Shrine of Our Lady of Candles which, according to pious tradition has been miraculously growing. The devotees of the Blessed Virgen, who invoke her under this title of "Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria" come in thousands during her feast day, 2 February. The image was canonically crowned by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, during the Roman Ponriff's visit to Jaro in 1981. The miraculous image is the only sacred icon in the Philippines that has been crowned by a pope.
- 2 Campanario de Jaro (Jaro Belfry/Jaro Bell Tower), Plaza Rizal Street. Open 24 hours. One of the few belfries in the country that stands apart from the church. It was constructed by the Spaniards to serve as a watchtower to monitor Muslim invasion from Mindanao. The colonial structure was ruined by an earthquake in 1948 and was restored decades later, in the mid-1990s.
- 3 Palacio del Arzobispo, Plaza Rizal Street. The official residence of the Archbishop of Jaro. It is located southwest of the Jaro Cathedral and of the Jaro Plaza.
- 4 Convento de Santo Niño de Arevalo Shrine, Arroyo Street, Villa Arevalo District. Houses the miraculous image of the child Jesus in the Philippines. It is considered as the third oldest image in the country as it dates back to 1581. The church building itself, however, is of a fairly modern design; very bright and airy, with huge ceiling fans, it makes it a pleasure to be inside, and the natural light makes it possible to actually see the details of icons and statues well. The annual parish feasts are throughout January.
- 5 The Black Cross at Santa Cruz Chapel, Yulo Drive, Villa Arevalo District. a 12 ft (3.7 m) long century-old cross at Santa Cruz Chapel in Villa Rica de Arevalo was used to be the cross enshrined inside the Jesuit chapel located at the same spot it was founded by a local farmer.
- 6 St. Anne's Church (Molo Church), San Pedro Street. This neo-Gothic church, made of coral rock in 1888, is in the Molo district, 3 km (1.9 miles) from the city. The church, which is also referred to as the "Church of Women" because of the statues of women saints that decorate its pillars, was visited by Jose Rizal on his way to exile in Dapitan, Mindanao.
- 7 Jaro Evangelical Church, Plaza Rizal Street. The first Baptist Church in the Philippine Islands established by the Northern Baptists (now American Baptist Churches) in 1900.
- 8 St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, Burgos Street. The first institution of higher education in Western Visayas. Following the Papal Bull of Pope Pius IX, dated 27 May 1865, the Dominican Bishop Mariano Cuartero, OP, the first Bishop of Jaro, laid the foundation of this seminary in 1869, in honor of St. Vincent Ferrer.
- 9 Villa Lizares, Dollar Avenue, Tabuc Suba, Jaro. Now the Angelicum School Iloilo, it was once the mansion and villa of the Lizares Family. The Lizares mansion was sold to the Dominican Order of the Philippines in the late 1970s, and is now the seat of Angelicum School Iloilo, a private, Catholic school run by the Order of the Preachers (Dominicans). The Angelicum is a popular landmark visited by local folks every Christmas because of the display of Christmas lights that decorate the Lizares Mansion – its oldest building being the main feature of the panoramic view of the school.
Historical and cultural sites
- 10 The Crown Monument of Queen Isabela II (Corona de Reyna Isabel II Monument), Yulo Drive, Villa Arevalo District. Open 24 hours. On the east side of the plaza. Erected in 1896, the monument holds the replica of the crown given by Queen Isabela II of Spain to Iloilo, which symbolizes the friendship of Spain and Iloilo.
- 11 Plaza Libertad, Zamora Street. Open 24 hours. Also known as Plaza Alfonso XII. The central park of the city proper district of Iloilo. It is a National Historical Institute site for its contribution to the Philippine liberation and freedom. Within the environs of the plaza are the City Government Center of Iloilo, the San Jose de Placer parish church, the heritage buildings such as the Masonic Temple, Lacson Ancestral House, the Botica Lacson ruins, the San Jose Catholic School of the Agustinian Fathers, Iloilo Plaza Hotel Building (now Land Bank of the Philippines), the Campos Building, and nearby the Ker and Company Limited Heritage Building and the Ynchausti Mansion (old COA Building).
- 12 Calle Muelle Loney (Iloilo Promenade). Open 24 hours. The old river port of Iloilo named after British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered the father of the Philippine sugar industry. The 3.5 -km old river port is protected by the Island of Guimaras from typhoons and it is one of the safest harbours in the Country. It is also considered as one of the major port in the country having established and opened to international market since 1855.
- 13 Iloilo Customs House (Casa de Aduana de Iloilo) and the Sunburst Park. Also called as Iloilo’s “Aduana”, the Customs Building in Iloilo was built during the American colonial period. It is the biggest custom house in the Visayas and Mindanao Region or outside Manila. The architecture of the Iloilo Customs house is similar to the Bureau of Immigration building in Intramuros, Manila, which is characterized by a tall tower rising at the center of the building. The Iloilo Customs is in Muelle Loney St. and Aduana St. along the Iloilo River, which also serves as a lengthy harbor. The view from the tower of the Iloilo Custom’s House is breathtaking. One can clearly see an overview of the Iloilo River Port, Iloilo’s DownTown Area or popularly known as "Calle Real", and Guimaras Island in the distance. A proposal from Mayor Jed Mabilog to revive the Sunburst Park fronting the Custom House is being studied. If the plan pushes through the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand which stands at the park area will be transferred along Mulle Loney Drive beside the Custom House.
- 14 Maritime Museum (NHCP Museum of Philippine Maritime History) (ground floor of Iloilo Customs House), mpmh@nhcp.gov.ph. 9AM-4PM, every day except Monday. A national museum.
- 15 Calle Real (JM Basa Street). Open 24 hours. The Iloilo City Heritage and Cultural District old buildings that were constructed in the Commonwealth era in Calle Real, Iznart, Aldeguer and Guanco were declared as a heritage site of Iloilo by the National Historical Institute. Also known as the downtown area of Iloilo City.
- 16 Museo Iloilo, Capitol Street. 10AM–4:30PM. A small museum with a collection of items on the local history and culture, and temporary art exhibits. It should not be confused with the local branch of the National Museum, located in the former jail building on the same plaza, which has free admission. 50 PHP.
- 17 Casa Real de Iloilo (Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol), General Luna Street. 8AM–6PM. The building has undergone a lot of renovations and additions from the time it became the seat of the civil government of Iloilo in 1901, used as a military garrison by Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II. It was once the venue of the Vin d'honneur (wine of honor) of the 117th Philippine Independence Day led by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, the first Vin d'honneur outside Malacañang Palace.
- 18 Jaro Heritage and Cultural District. The old section of the city boasts of the colonial mansions and Hispano-Filipino houses of the Ilonggo sugar barons and elite families during the Spanish regime.
- 19 Don Fernando Avanceña Ancestral House (The Avanceña Balay na Bato), Osmena Avenue. 9AM–5PM. Built in 1860, it is the ancestral house of the Avanceña - Melocoton clan of Iloilo. Its famous descendants are the Avanceña Sisters (Jovita and Ramona) - founders of Colegio de St. Ana, Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña, Dona Rufina Avanceña and Don Crispino Melocoton.
- 20 Don Donato Pison Chimney Monument, Atria Park District, Don Pison Avenue, Mandurriao. Open 24 hours. Free.
- 21 Casa Mariquit (Casa Mariquit Javellana-Lopez), Santa Isabel Street. The ancestral house of Dona Mariquit Lopez, the matriarch of the Lopez Clan of ABS CBN. It also serves as a museum of the late Vice President Fernando Lopez, the husband of Dona Mariguit and the partriarch of the Lopez Clan.
- 22 Brandy Museum, Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo Business Park Brgy. Buhang Ralk North. 10AM–8PM. First of its kind, a brandy museum.
- 23 Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), Casa de Emperador, Festive Walk Parade,. 10AM–5PM. lloilo museum of contemporary art is an art museum full of avant-garde artistic atmosphere. Compared with ordinary artworks, the works here incorporate the author's ideas to express to the public.
Parks and wildlife
- 24 Iloilo River Esplanade 1 (Senator Efrain Treñas Blvd), Senator Efrain Treñas Blvd. Open 24 hours. A well-landscaped linear park along the banks of the Iloilo River. Free.
- 25 Plaza de la Villa Rica de Arevalo (Villa Arevalo District Plaza), Sofia Reyes de Veyra Monument, Yulo Dr, Villa Arevalo District. Open 24 hours. 6 km (4 mi) southwest of the city proper. It is 2nd capital of the Alcaldia of Panay and known as the flower garden of Iloilo.
- 26 Fuente Arroyo (Arroyo Fountain), Iznart Street. Open 24 hours. A classy and stylish water fountain depicting a neoclassical design situated in front of the Casa Real de Iloilo or the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, also considered as the kilometer zero point of Panay Island.
- 27 Iloilo City Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary, Brgy. Hinactacan, La Paz. Open 24 hours.
- 28 Nelly's Garden and Mansion. 8AM–5PM. The Lopez Heritage House or otherwise known as the Nelly's Gardens is a national heritage house built in 1928 at Jaro, Iloilo by an Ilonggo statesman Don Vicente Lopez and his wife, Doña Elena Hofileña. The mansion was named after the couple's eldest daughter, Lilia Lopez y Hofileña. The house is a classic example of Beaux-Arts mansion with its decorative enhancement largely influenced by Western aesthetics evident on its façade. It is designed to portray the extravagant lifestyle of Iloilo's most affluent families during the American period. In March 28, 2004, it was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute. Nelly's Garden and Mansion is considered to be the mother of all ancestral mansions in Western Visayas.
- 29 Graciano Lopez Jaena Park (Plaza de Jaro). Temporarily closed.
- 30 University of San Agustin (U.S.A.), General Luna Street, ☏ +63 33 3374841-55. 8:30AM–5PM. Oldest university in Western Visayas. It was founded in 1904 by the Augustinian Friars.
- 31 Central Philippine University (CPU), Lopez Jaena St., Jaro, ☏ +63 33 329 1971. CPU was founded in 1905 as the Jaro Industrial School by missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. It started as an Elementary Vocational School for poor boys who worked for their board and tuition. The university sits on 24-hectare campus, and was declared a Tourism Site by the Iloilo City Council, this makes CPU as the only university in the Philippines to be declared as a tourism destination by a local government unit.
Do
- 1 El Dorado Waterpark, Glicerio T. Pison Avenue, Benigno Aquino Drive, Mandurriao (Smallville), ☏ +63 33 509-0202. 8AM-10PM. Pools that are designed for kids and adults. You can bring along food and beverages.
- 2 Iloilo Sports Complex swimming pool, La Paz. 5AM–8PM. Olympic-size swimming pool.
- 3 Iloilo Convention Center, Megaworld Boulevard. 9AM–3PM. Convention center is close-by the Festive Walk and K-Town area. The artistic design of the building makes it very noticeable and hard to miss. The frontage is very beautiful and can hold many events local to the city.
Beaches
Beachgoers in the Iloilo area may want to check the tide times for the city's waters. Tides in the area can be quite high, with over 2 m difference between the water levels at the low tide level and the high tide level on the days when the tidal amplitude is the largest (around the new moon and the full moon times). Unlike most of the world, where the tide pattern is semidiurnal (two high tides and two low tides every day), Iloilo's tide pattern is usually diurnal, with just one minimum and one maximum each day.
Unlike cities such as Dumaguete or Sipalay, Iloilo does not have public beaches immediately adjacent to city centers. Nonetheless, most of the sea coast on the city's western outskirts, from Molo to Villa Arevalo to Oton and farther into the western suburbs, is a beach, even though it does not directly face the coastal road. To get from the coastal road to the waterfront, you have 3 options:
- Pay an admission fee at one of the numerous "beach resorts" in any of the seaside barangays of Calumpang, Calaparan, Villa, etc. The fee is typically in the 100-500 pesos range, depending on the resort's level of fanciness, and it entitles you to the use of the showers, toilets, picnic shelters (which are often rented for parties), swimming pools (if available), etc on the resort's property; most importantly, it means that you can now walk through the resort's back gate and into the (actually public) beach. Resorts usually also have restaurants and karaoke ("videoke", pronounced "bijukeh") machines. Some of them close for the night, while others rent basic rooms for overnight stay, from around 1000 pesos and up per night. In this area, "beach resorts" typically don't have their own private beaches; instead, visitors simply walk out through the back gate of the resort's perimeter fence to the public beach. These back gates are usually locked from around 6 pm till around 8 am; these means that if you are desirous of a sunrise swim or a moonlight beach walk, you'd have to walk out the resort's front gate, and then find some other passage from the coastal road to the beach (see below).
- Walk to the beach through one of seaside restaurants, with or without buying any food there. The Breakthrough, in the Villa Arevalo District (at the southern end of Yulo Dr.) is perhaps the most prominent of those.
- Walk to the beach on one of the numerous pedestrian/bike trails that reaches to the beach at the border between two adjacent resorts, or through residential areas.
During the low tide, a wide sandy beach is exposed, making it possible to walk on the beach all the way from Calumpang (just west of Molo) to Oton; one may have to walk quite a ways out to get to the water sufficiently deep to swim. (Fortunately, the sea bottom is mostly sand, not mud or rocks). During the high tide, however, most of the beach is under water, the water practically reaching to some of the fishermen's homes; the swimming depth is much closer to the shore.
The beach, unfortunately, is quite littered in many areas. You'll see many fishing boats on the sand, as well as residents' dogs walking around, who may bark but usually don't attack people.
Events
As with most Philippine city and towns, there are many festivals celebrated in Iloilo City annually. The Dinagyang Festival is the primary and most important festival of the city.
- Dinagyang Festival: January annually. A spectacular festival in honor of the Sto. Nino, also one of the most popular festivals in the Philippines, streets are filled up with people as dancers dance and as music plays, colors and sound of the festival brighten up the atmosphere.
- Feast of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo: January annually. The Feast of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo is a religious fiesta in honor of the 3rd oldest (1581) image of the child Jesus in the Philippines held every 3rd Sunday of January at the district of Villa de Arevalo. A religious procession around the town center is held on the "bisperas ng pista" attended by thousands of the devotees. And on the day of the fiesta, a high mass is celebrated in honor of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo with the Archbishop of Jaro as the main celebrant. Other festivities includes, the coronation of the fiesta queen and fireworks display competition which is being held on the night of the fiesta.
- Feast of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria: 2 February annually. Jaro's celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles), the Patroness of Western Visayas, every February 2. The religious celebration, which is well known in the Philippines and in some parts of Asia, is also an occasion of more secular events like the pageantry of the daughters of the rich Spanish-Filipino families in the District during the coronation of the Jaro Fiesta Queen, and the international cockfighting. Eucharistic celebrations in honor of the miraculous image starts at dawn until noontime to accommodate thousands of devotees that flocked the national shrine. The grand procession follows in the afternoon with the coronation of the fiesta queen in the evening of the fiesta.
- Valentine's Day in the City of Love: 14 February annually. Considered as the second busiest holiday in the City of Love, the Valentine's Day is a favorite event for the Ilonggos to spend the day to eat and dine with their special someone or with the entire members of their family. The highlight of this event is a mass wedding by the City Mayor to hundreds of couples in a civil ceremony. The event is organized by the City Government through the Red Lions and Pag Ibig Fund.
- Paraw Regatta Festival: February annually. The Paraw Regatta is a race among seafarers on colorful sailboats called Paraws (the oldest traditional seacraft in Asia) in the Iloilo Strait between Guimaras Island and the city of Iloilo. The present-day Paraw managed to maintain its original design from the sailboats of the first settlers from Borneo who were in search of a peaceful home in 1212 AD. Surviving centuries, the paraws have become a vital part of the Filipino seafaring life. The first race started in 1973 with the mission to preserve the historic value of the paraws. It is held every 3rd weekend of February at Villa Arevalo District in Iloilo City. The event has grown from being a boat race to a festival with various interesting and exotic activities.
Buy
- 1 Festive Walk Mall, Megaworld Boulevard, Mandurriao, ☏ +63335175782. 10AM-9PM. 3-floor mall with upscale retailers, digital cinemas & a food court, plus a rooftop deck & dog park.
- 2 Gaisano Capital City-Iloilo, J C Zulueta & Luna Streets, ☏ +63 323201726. 9AM-8PM.
- 3 SM City Iloilo, Benigno Aquino Avenue, Mandurriao. 10AM-10PM.
- 4 Robinson's Place Jaro, E Lopez St, Jaro, ☏ +63 333202640. 10AM-9PM.
- 5 S&R Membership Shopping - Iloilo, Donato Pison Ave, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 333398888. 9AM-8PM. Warehouse club.
- 6 Shops at Atria, Ayala Park, Atria, Donato Pison Ave, Mandurriao. 10AM–10PM.
- 7 The Atrium Mall, General Luna Street. 7:30AM–7:30PM.
- 8 Robinsons Iloilo, Quezon Street. 9AM–9PM.
Markets
For produce, go to any of the city's produce markets, which usually have much better prices than supermarkets. Downtown (aka City Proper) has the Central Market (in the Art Deco building at Rizal St and Iznart St) and Terminal Market (a few blocks to the west, between Rizal St and De Leon St). As of early 2024, both markets buildings are closed for renovation, with the vendors' tables relocated to several blocks of streets around and between the two markets, in a rather chaotic way.
The Jaro Market, just west of Jaro cathedral, is not particularly impressive most of the week, but it expands a lot on the market day (Wednesday), when it occupies an entire street (appropriately named Market St). The market in Oton is pretty good as well. Smaller markets can be found in other neighborhoods as well, e.g. Lapaz Public Market (off Luna St, just north of the Iloilo River brigde), Arevalo Market (south of Villa Arevalo District Plaza), Tagbac Marketplace, etc.
If you're staying at a place with your own kitchen, then, besides several supermarket chains, some specialist groceries may be of interest as well. In particular, Hua Kong in Rizal St downtown sells Chinese basics, such as various kinds of soy sauce and vinegar and loose tea (not tea bags). All About Baking Iloilo (a national chain, with branches downtown and in Jaro) carries various cooking/baking ingredients rarely available in local supermarkets, including some dairy products, cocoa powder, and matcha tea powder.
Eat
Good restaurants in Smallville: Pirate's bar which has a wrecked ship attached to its façade as a design. It's a bit dim inside but it adds to the relaxed atmosphere. They also have a dance club beside the main building. The club has laser lights and great speakers, just be aware that it can get quite congested with cigarette smoke. Annex is for those who love to karaoke.
For local delicacies, you can try the famous biscocho from the aptly names Original Biscocho Haus. There are several branches and stalls around the city, but the main branch is near the Jaro Plaza.
Krua Thai also has some tasty foods. Almost everything on the menu is good and it's a refreshing break from the typical Ilonggo cuisine. A little bit further is Boardwalk which has a few of restaurants. Notably is Paprika where there is almost always a live band performing. They have a selection of sea foods. The B Place is a bar with a relaxing view of the river as well as the cool breeze moving through the place. The food is again typical of bars in this area.
Beside Smallville is Uncle Tom's which have excellent Spareribs, Steaks, Fried Chicken, Baby Backribs and the best of all: Ox Tongue. Their gravy is very tasty and the you can tell that the chicken was well marinated and seasoned. Along the highway you can find Dos Maria's where they serve pizzas that are big; having a diameter of around 20 or more inches. Though the pizza is big the taste is generic and really unsatisfying. Afriques is an Italian themed restaurant with a touch of Ilonggo flavor. They serve a variety of pizza and pasta-type dishes, most of which are extremely delicious. The pizza is tasty but it's crust can be better. Most of the dishes are served in generous portions especially the sauces. They have two locations: one near Plaza Libertad, General Hughes street and the other beside of Hotel del Rio. Ted's Batchoy is arguably the best Batchoy shop in iloilo. Batchoy is a mix of noodles and pork Chicharon along with some spices and a tasty broth. It's very good and filling espcially if you're very hungry. It's one of Iloilo's native dishes.
- 1 Bavaria German Restaurant & Inn, 113 Seminario Street (near the Jaro Plaza), ☏ +63 33 3290078. Bavaria restaurant has become a popular spot for families and get-togethers. German cuisine; serves real German Weizenbeer and European sauasages.
Drink
There are a number of karaoke bars, beer houses and strip clubs in the city, however, these tend to be unsafe for tourists. The safest and cleanest venues to enjoy the city's night life are found in Smallville, near SM City in Mandurriao. There are different bars and restaurants with a wide menu and good drinks to choose from.
- 1 MO2 Ice Bar, Glicerio T. Pison Ave, Benigno Aquino Drive, Mandurriao (Smallville Complex), ☏ +63 33 509-0202. 5PM–4AM. Billiard hall. Mo2 Ice has dancing and grooving to the speckle of laser lights. Accommodates a variety of music genres. The MO2 annex has a number of family KTV rooms. They have two types of karaoke rooms: the smaller can seat around 2-6 people while the big room can seat 10-15 people withcomfortable couches, good food especially the appetizer when you tie it with the local beer and a vast collection of songs to choose from. Beside The Annex is M02. The bar that launched Smallville. They have drinks and food. Local beer is good while the food is typical of bar food.
Sleep
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Up to ₱700 |
| Mid-range | Above ₱700 |
| Splurge | As above |
Budget
- 1 OYO 562 Northview Inn, Iloilo East Coast - Capiz Road corner 8th Street (east side of the Hwy to Zarraga, about 5 km out from the centre of Iloilo City), ☏ +63 33 503-2282, +63 917 500 7242, northview_inn@yahoo.com.ph. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A new B&B style of lodgings where the owners have taken a lot of care in selecting furniture, fixtures and fittings. Very clean but a shared shower room/WC with hot water. Rooms are large and nicely furnished. Free (intermittent) Wi-Fi.
- 2 Red Doorz @ Eros Tavellers Pensionne, #5 General Luna Street, ☏ +63 33 3371359. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Small a/c single/double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV.
- 3 The Family Pension House, #12General Luna Street, ☏ +63 33 3350070. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Fan rooms with own bathroom.
- 4 Ongbun Pension House - Iloilo, Ledesma cor. Quezon St. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A 5-story walkup building (no elevator), very centrally located. Fan/AC single/double rooms with bathroom and cable TV. Some of the cheaper rooms may have no windows. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, and free hot drinking water from a dispenser downstairs.
- 5 Hotel Madia-as, J.M. Basa Street, ☏ +63 33 3372756. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Fan/AC single/double rooms with bathroom. All rooms have cable TV.
- 6 Budget Inn Valeria, Calle Weyler, ☏ +63 33-320-6660. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A/C single/double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. WiFi at lobby.
- 7 River Queen Hotel, Bonifacio Drive, ☏ +63 33 338-1021. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Fan rooms with own bathrooms.
- 8 88 Plaza Hotel, Delgado Street, ☏ +63 333350353. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A/C single/double rooms with own bathroom.
- 9 Queens Pension House, Commission Civil Street, ☏ +63 33 206036. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. A/C double room with own bathroom and cable TV.
- 10 El Haciendero Private Hotel, #1177 M.Jaime Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Mid-range
- 11 Mo2 Westown Hotel, Benigno Aquino Avenue, Mandurriao,, ☏ +63 33 509 0202, Iloilo-reservation@mo2westownhotel.com.
- 12 Smallville 21 Hotel, Smallville Commercial Complex, Diversion Road, ☏ +63 33 501 6821. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 60 rooms.
- 13 Highway 21 Hotel, General Luna Street, ☏ +63 33 335 1839. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. From ₱1,500.
- 14 People's Hotel, Delgado and Fuentes Street, ☏ +63 33 336 1070. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 15 Eon Centennial Plaza Hotel, Jalandoni Street, ☏ +63 33-337-2277. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 16 Century 21 Hotel, Quezon Street, ☏ +63 33-3358821. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 17 Days Hotel by Wyndham Iloilo, General Luna Street (Atrium Mall), ☏ +63 33-3373297. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 18 Injap Tower Hotel, Diversion Rd, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 977 808 8111. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 19 Casa Tentay, 68 Commission Civil Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 20 PearLi View Hotel, El 98 Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 21 The B Lifestyle Complex/ Bed and Bath Serviced Suites, Diversion Road. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 22 RedDoorz Plus @ Taft North Mandurriao, Taft Street. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Splurge
- 23 Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 33-330 7600. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 24 Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, SM City Iloilo Complex, Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 33-500 0000. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 25 Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Megaworld Boulevard corner Enterprise Road Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 33-328 7888. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 26 Seda Atria, Donato Pison Ave, Mandurriao, ☏ +63 33-506 8888. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 27 Citadines Amigo Iloilo, Iznart St, City Proper, ☏ +63 33-330 3838. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
Stay healthy
- Healthway QualiMed Hospital Iloilo Atria Park District, Mandurriao, www.healthwaymedicalnetwork.com.ph/, +63335004000
- The Medical City-Iloilo Branch Locsin Street, Molo, www.themedicalcityiloilo.com/, +63335001000
- Iloilo Mission Hospital Mission Road, Jaro, www.facebook.com/iloilomissionhospital/, +63333200315
- St. Paul's Hospital General Luna Street, Iloilo City Proper, www.sphiloilo.com/, +63333372742
- Western Visayas Medical Center. Q. Abeto St, Mandurriao,[dead link] ☏ +63 33-3212841,
Cope
- Bureau Of Immigration Iloilo Office. 2nd floor. Customs House Building. Aduana Street.
Go next
- A short ferry ride to the island of Guimaras.
- Ferry to Bacolod or Cebu City or Manila or Palawan.
- Bus or Van to Roxas, Kalibo, Caticlan.
- Bus or Van to San Jose de Buenavista 2½ hours by bus from Iioilo