German group eyeing ‘kasla’ plantations in Iloilo

A group of German investors is looking for areas in Iloilo province where they could plant jatropha, locally known as “kasla,” to be used for power generation.

Soon to Rise P25-million City Community College Building

THIS IS IT. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog presents the perspective of the soon to rise P25-million city community college building in Molo district to be funded by Ilonggo tycoon Edgar Sia II.

2011 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Memorandum of Agreement Signing

Fr. Archilles Secio, priest of San Jose Parish, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. president Ramon Cua Locsin, with Councilor Joshua Alim, show the signed memorandum of agreement for the staging of the 43rd Dinagyang Festival in January next year.

Business community vows support for Iloilo infra plans

The business community committed their support to the infrastructure investment priorities of the city and province of Iloilo during the "Infrastructure Summit: Partnership for better infrastructure" on Wednesday in Iloilo City.

The infrastructures investment priorities were presented to the business community and political leaders of Iloilo, including Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Iloilo City to establish sisterhood with Yulin

A “twinning relationship” between Iloilo City and Yulin, China will be realized soon.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, together with Public Employment Service Office manager Alan Zaldivar, will visit Yulin on October 21 to 23 to finalize the pact between the two cities.

Twinning agreement between Bacolod City and Iloilo City

The signing of the City Twinning Agreement with Iloilo City highlights the 72nd Anniversary celebration of Bacolod City last October 19.

The Iloilo delegation led by Rep. Jerry Treñas and Mayor Jed Mabilog was tendered a welcome dinner at the MassKara Hall of the New Government Center last October 18 night.

Guest of honor and speaker for the celebration is Senate Majority Leader, Senator Juan Miguel

2011 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Schedule of Activities

Aside from delicious Pancit Molo and Lapaz Batchoy, tourist from all over the world are also visiting Iloilo to watch the colorful street dancers and to experience the rest of activities in Dinagyang Festival 2011.

Steps in looking for a "first" job

Yey, this would be my first blog post as inspired by a friend who would be graduating this March 2011. So for graduating students, also for those who recently graduated and those "not so fresh" graduates, here are my few tips:

1. IDENTIFY potential employers first and rank them. To start, I recommend listing down companies you really want to work for. Aim high, don't just settle for second-tier companies. In the first place, you are not contacting them or walking in yet, we are still on the stage of just listing down your favorite companies, usually those you really look up to.

Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2011 Goes Green

ILOILO City – The 2011 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival will again showcase the Ilonggo religiosity and rich cultural heritage, at the same time it will focus on the promotion of environmental protection.

“Dinagyang 2011 will morph into a green festival. It takes on a new direction as a vessel for making communities more livable – not only vibrant and prosperous but also healthy and safe,” said City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena.

The premier tourism attraction of this city is scheduled from January 21 to 23, 2011.

Limiting the use of plastics all throughout the festivity will be imposed, said Jimena.

The city government may require participating restaurants in the Dinagyang food festival to use recyclable or environment-friendly materials, the city tourism officer added.

Tibiao Fish Spa SM City Now Open

Tibiao Fish Spa is the newest tourist attraction in the province that offers a unique experience by combining the relaxing and exfoliating effects of fish nibbling on a person’s layer of dead skin. It is totally safe, totally fun, & very effective. Now Tibiao Fish Spa SM City is open to serve you.

Honest Men

HONEST MEN. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog commends traffic aides Ernesto Agraviador and Arlie Superticioso for their honesty and dedication to service by returning a wallet they found containing P5,000, with the help of a local radio station.

Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 up to higher level

The search for Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 is up to a higher level as the prize package for the pageant winner includes travel abroad as Ambassadress of Goodwill.

In addition to the trip abroad, Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2011 will receive a cash prize, trophy, sash, a bouquet of flowers, plaque and other gifts fit for a beauty queen.

Gaisano Capital Passi City is Now Open

Last October 15, 2010, Gaisano Capital Passi City was opened to the public.

Tigkaralag Festival 2010 Schedule

Join the Municipality of Pavia as they celebrate their one-of-a-kind Annual Tigkaralag Festival. Tigkaralag Festival is now on its 19th year of showcasing the unique way of Pavianhon’s Halloween party. The 3-day event will start on October 28, 2010 with the highlights on October 30, 2010 at the Pavia Public Plaza, 6pm which will showcase Dance Drama competition and other spooking gimmicks.

Tigkaralag Festivalof Pavia  2010 Schedule:‌
October 28 – Opening Salvo and Opening of Tigkaralag Food Festival
October 28 - 30 – Food Festival
October 30 – Parade and Dance Drama Competition

Hala Bira, Iloilo! Lyrics

The Dinagyang Festival official theme song was written by Mr. Dante Beriong, renown composer and lyricist of Ilonggo and Karay-a folk songs. Below is the lyrics and video of the Dinagyang Festival Theme Song.

Jollibee purchased Mang Inasal’s 70%

A new cliche “If you can’t beat ‘em, Buy ‘em!” must be true with the current buzzing acquisition of Mang Inasal by the fastfood giant Jollibee for P3 Billion. It has been leaking by the grapevine that Jollibee is threatened with the rapid and phenomenal success of Mang Inasal. Mang Inasal puts up a branch where Jollibee is and it turns out very favorable to the former as people are more likely to consider true value for their money. Mang Inasal has been notable for its

Trisikads

Trisikads. What in the world are they?

For the locals, they will describe these vehicles for you even when they are sleeping! Literally, it is a bicycle with a tray cart attached to it, large enough to accommodate four passengers sitting back to back, and the sikad driver.

Where on earth can you find these contraptions?

Heritage Houses of Arevalo

Arevalo is known as Iloilo city's garden district and the province's flower capital. It's old Spanish name was 'Villa Rica de Arevalo' which means that it is amongst the most important Hispanic settlements in the country. Here also lies the third oldest Sto. Niño in the Philippines, one of the city's oldest traditional weaving centres and many of the city's last well preserved colonial houses.

These colonial houses are fine examples of

San Joaquin Church

The church is made of gleaming white coral stones abundant along the shores of Punta Malagting, Brgy. Igcadlum. Fr. Tomas Santaren of the Agustinian Order built it in 1869 and it is considered the country’s most militaristic church.

The two stories of the façade are uneven in height, the second being about one-half the dimension of the first. The first story is decorated with rosettes and divided vertically by engaged columns on tall plinths like Guimbal. Composite capitals crown the columns. A plaque above the arched portal displays the Augustinian seal flanked by cherubs.

People’s Condominium by Injap Land soon to rise in Iloilo

A starting-up homegrown company in the real estate business is making a big leap with its proposed condominium development in Iloilo City. One of its kind and first in the city, Injap Land Corporation will be developing a 71-unit, 6-storey Condominium at the KAPIDECO area in Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao. To be constructed right at the corner of Pison Rotunda near Ateneo de Iloilo new site, this welcome development from a very young real estate company will be named People’s Condominium San Rafael.

Mother Rosario: Foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Molo

She was a scion of affluence. The only daughter of a very wealthy couple Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doña Maria Pidal, was born on February 17, 1884 in Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines. She has four brothers, two died in infancy. She was baptized at Sta. Ana church in Molo on February 20, 1884 by Fr. Agapito Buenaflor and was named Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo.

Jaki Peñalosa, a touch of old and new

While the catwalk is filled with clothes made of silk, satin, georgette, and cotton to name a few; hablon, pina, and silk cocoon have inched their way to become the next big thing in fashion. These products of Panay have dominated the catwalks of fashion capitals in Asia, the United States and Europe. Illonggos have noticed the beauty of these local materials.

One of them is Illongga fashion designer Jaki Penalosa, a member of the Designer Guild of Iloilo (DGI.) “I love the imperfections of hablon and pina. I simply am fascinated by and love looking at their patterns,” says Jaki.

Dinagyang Through The Years

It is really Dinagyang time after the opening salvo was held last Dec. 18, 2009. Even amid the Christmas and New Year holidays, there is anxious expectation and preparation for the 2010 Dinagyang.

The Dinagyang Festival sprung from the ati-ati celebration of the Parish of San Jose in Iloilo City.

El Dorado Waterpark: Iloilo City’s Premier Pool Resort

Smallville is known as Iloilo City's most popular dining and entertainment center where people gather to enjoy great food, parties or simply have sometime together with friends. However, tourists and locals can now have fun with the newest feature of Smallville that is the 'El Dorado Waterpark'.

How much would it cost to live in Iloilo?

One bedroom and fully furnished places are all but impossible to find.

There is the Charter Pension house on General Luna st. (behind the Sarabia Manor Hotel) that will run $300 a month for rent. It has hw shower and private bathroom, cable TV and ac. There is an internet cafe onsite that charges P25 per hour. There is also free use of the hotels pool included.

UI-PEN’s Teatro Busilak stages Sugidanon Sang Walo Ka Giti

Sugidanon Sang Walo Ka Giti is an Ilonggo Dark Theatrical Comedy written by John Clark Hortillosa and Kharlle Joehn Hautea. It portrays the agonies of women which was staged last September 2010. It will have a rerun on October 13, 14 and 15, 2010 at the University of Iloilo-PEN Auditorium which will be performed by the UI-PEN Teatro Busilak.

Find some time to have a glimpse of this epic Ilonggo stage play and discover the hidden sufferings behind that “saya”. There will only be 100 seats available per rerun on a First Come-First Served basis. FREE ADMISSION!

SuperCat is Back to Iloilo

SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation (SFFC) sis back to at the Western Visayas area calling the route of Iloilo-Bacolod and vice versa.

SFFC operates with new terminals both in Bacolod and Iloilo City. According to Mr. Shane Arante SuperCat Bacolod Branch Manager, "SFFC is planning of putting a free wireless Internet connection in Bacolod and Iloilo terminals for passengers who want to access the Internet while waiting for their scheduled trip."

USA-CN opens first virtual lab in Panay

The first of its kind in the island of Panay, the Virtual Laboratory in the College of Nursing commenced its operations on 11 January 2010. The initiative to construct a Virtual Laboratory was brought about by the college’s adoption of a new B.S. in Nursing curriculum embodied under Memorandum Order #14 of the Commission on Higher Education.Article VI, Section 13.5 clearly states that “higher education institutions are encouraged to put up virtual skills laboratory to supplement and complement the related learning experiences prior to actual experience.”

CPU celebrates 105th Foundation Day

Central Philippine University will hold a memorial service and joint wreath laying ceremonies on Friday, October 1 at 6:30 a.m. at the Philippine American Cemetery Commission Civil St., Jaro – to honor the American Baptist Missionaries who founded the institution more than a hundred years ago.

The Cascades Live in Iloilo

The Cascades Live in Iloilo
Rose Memorial Auditorium, Central Philippine University
Jaro, Iloilo City
7PM, Friday, October 15, 2010
For more details on Tickets etc. refer to the poster below: