ILOILO is a province of the Philippines located in Western Visayas region. I had lived here before when I was about 10 years old, so it was nostalgic for me to visit this place. It was my first time to go back after more than 10 years, yet everything about it was pleasant and inviting.
TRAVEL SUMMARY
| Travel Date | 19-23 January 2012 |
| No. of People | 2 |
| Where we stayed | Century 21 Hotel |
| Budget | P10,000.00 per person (approx) |
| Trip Rate | 4 out of 5 |
WHERE WE STAYED
Century 21 was our home during our 5-day stay.
BOOKING
This hotel was recommended by my brother who frequents Iloilo because of work. He had a friend in Iloilo who helped us arrange our reservation. To confirm reservation, they required full payment deposit. I had my hesitations on depositing full payment prior to arriving, but decided to push through with it since we had no other hotels. Also, we had a person in Iloilo who can help us settle any issue, if needed. Upon deposit, it took some time for them to send receipt for the payment made, but I was thankful that upon arrival we did not encounter any issues regarding this matter.
Travel Tip: Always make sure to have documents to support confirmation of receipt of any payment you have made for hotel or tour reservations.
LOCATION
Located close to Delgado St., downtown Iloilo, this hotel is a good place to stay for Dinagyang. The hotel was close to the event, but not too close so you couldn't hear the loud music from the street events -- guaranteeing a good night's sleep. It was just a few minutes walk to the food festival area as well as one of the judging areas and street dance areas. Furthermore, it is located right behind SM Delgado (which is good in case you need to purchase anything) and is close to the port if you want to visit Guimaras.
SERVICE
Service was wonderful. The crew was pleasant and accommodating to our needs. There were incidences of language barriers, but overall it is evident that they try their best to give good service.
ROOM & AMENITIES
The room and bathroom were clean and with all the basic necessities required. The airconditioner was cool for the duration of our stay. Some blankets had cigarette burns on them, but were basically clean. They could have better towels. The room rate did not come with a fridge, but this can be requested for an additional P150.00 per night.
FOOD
For the case of this hotel, they had included complimentary buffet breakfast for the duration of Dinagyang weekend. Food was good but not great (with a choice of two viands, egg, rice or bread, fruits, and "kakanin" at the buffet table).
Overall, we were pleased with the hotel for the duration of our stay and would recommend it to anyone on budget as price is much lower than other hotels in Iloilo. Taking into account the service and amenities, it's a pretty good deal. For travelers who plan to spend most of the day out and get a good night's sleep, this could just be the hotel for you.
Travel Tip: Hotel rates go up during Dinagyang season, so expect to pay more during this time. Also, book early! We booked November 2011, and we almost ran out of rooms.
OUR ITINERARY
For this trip, I travelled with a friend. We decided to go rogue and not prepare a detailed itinerary nor contact travel agents. All we had was a list of things we wanted to do:
(1) Watch and Shoot the Dinagyang Street Dances.
(2) Eat Batchoy.
(3) Visit Guimaras.
With that "plan" in mind, this was how we spent our five days in Iloilo-Guimaras:
Day 1 (19 January, Thursday)
Arrival, eight o'clock in the evening.
Coming from work earlier that day, it was off to bed upon check-in.
Day 2 (20 January, Friday)
The Search for La Paz Batchoy and Guimaras
Day 3-4 (21-22 January, Saturday & Sunday)
Dinagyang Festival
Day 5 (23 January, Monday)
Galaang Simbahan ("Church Visit")
Flight back to Manila
The Search for La Paz Batchoy
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| Hello Batchoy! Photograph by: CJ U. |
Waking up on our first morning in Iloilo, we knew exactly how we wanted to kick-off the day -- a taste of the famous La Paz Batchoy. We asked where we could find the best batchoy in the area and were told by a few locals to go to Deco's which was just nearby. Cameras on hand, tummies grumbling in anticipation, we began walking in search of the place.
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We ordered puto, pandesal, and coffee to go with our order of batchoy. It was good, and one that I imagine would be even more delicious when eaten on a cool night. Definitely a must-try.
Is it as good as the one we have in Metro Manila? Probably the same, but the nostalgia of being in Iloilo could make that bit of difference towards making the experience one of a kind.
Tip: Some friends said we should have gone to La Paz (an actual place in Iloilo) to get a taste of the real thing. We're definitely doing this when we get the chance to go back to Iloilo.
The Dinagyang Festival
The Dinagyang Festival was the highlight of our trip. A detailed account of the people and events on the festival can be read in the article Hala Bira ILOILO: Dinagyang Festival.
Galaang Simbahan
Iloilo is known for the architecture of the churches in the area. Dating back to the spanish era of the Philippines, the colonial influence is evident in the different structures. Constrained by time, we only got to visit two of the known churches: Molo Church and Miag-ao Church.
MOLO CHURCH
Molo Church was along the way going to Miag-ao Church, so we decided to make a stop here. Upon getting off the jeepney, this church was hard to miss with its interesting architecture. Spending just a couple of minutes in the area, we had a quick stroll around the church area and took time to appreciate the beauty of the church which can be better appreciated at the park across it. It would have been nice to stay awhile, but we had to leave for Miag-ao church and it was quite hot that day.
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MIAG-AO CHURCH
Miag-ao Church is a long drive from the city center. Getting there takes about an hour and a half from downtown Iloilo. We visited Molo Church before going to Miagao Church, therefore took a jeepney to Molo and then a jeepney to Miagao. Fare from Molo to Miagao was Php50 per person.
When we got to the church, it was quiet and serene. We almost had the place to ourselves. The structure, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, looked more like a fortress than your usual church. The details sculpted on the walls of the church is what I believe makes it stand out aside from its size.
You can get inside the church through the side doors. Upon going inside, it was quite dark, but the beauty of the altar still stood out. I've seen other church altars before which looked similar to it, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
A good spot for photographers, but I'm not sure what else you can do here aside from attend mass. Going back to Iloilo city proper, across the church ride the jeep to Mohon Terminal then take the Villa or Super Jeepney.
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