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The economic center of the Western Visayas Region of the Philippines, Iloilo City is a busy modern urban center supported by a modern international airport and a newly expanded fish port and international seaport. With a population of over four hundred thousand packed into a small central area, Iloilo is denser than most Filipino cities, and traffic can be very jammed up during weekday rush hours. Located on the tropical island of Panay, Iloilo is the capital of the Iloilo Province.
The end of January is a good time to visit Iloilo, because the Dinagyang Festival is usually in full swing by that time. A street dancing celebration, Dinagyang features drum music and beautiful decorations. It recalls the arrival of Malaysian pioneers on the island of Panay, and the subsequent purchase of the land from the Atis people by these settlers. Today, the festival is arranged into three events, Ati-Ati Street Dancing, Kasadyahan Street Dancing and the Miss Dinagyang beauty contest
The dancing events are performed by several groups called tribes, after the Ati tribespeople. Dancers are supposed to paint themselves brown and exclusively use indigenous materials for their costumes. Drum performance accompanys all dances. Most of the “tribes” are associations from local high schools. Some groups get a stipend from sponsers. The Atis that still live on Panay island do not get involved in the festival. The Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines (ATOP) chose Dinagyang as the Best Tourism Event for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
When you visit Ililo, be sure to see the Calle Real, a Heritage District in the downtown area. Buildings from the Spanish Colonial era mingle with architecture from the Filipino Commonwealth era in this downtown area. You can find Museo Iloilo here, a museum that displays a repository of Iloilo’s cultural legacy. Near the outskirts of the city lies Distrito Jaro, with its old colonial homes of sugar barons. Alongside of the picturesque Jaro Cathedral, the restored Jaro Belfry, a beautiful bell tower destroyed in the 1948 earthquake, is one of the rare belfries that stand apart from their nearby churches.
The following short lists mentions some hotels that can try if you visit Iloilo City…
The Centennial Resort and Convention Center
With 51 rooms offering full amenities, the Centennial is a good mid- to upper-range hotel near downtown Iloilo. Breakfast is always complimentary, the swimming area features a kid’s pool with huge slides, and there are bowling lanes, badminton courts, a gym and volleyball for sporting types! Enjoy fine dining at the Marikudo Seafood Restaurant.
Hotel Del Rio
With 57 air-conditioned rooms and an elegant appointment along the river in the downtown area, the Del Rio could be considered one of the top hotels in Iloilo City. Offering a jewelry shop and barbershop along with the usual amenities, the Del Rio features several fine restaurants, including the Igmaan Café Del Prado, noted for serving wonderful meals on the traditional banana leaf plates!
Sarabia Manor Hotel
For a real luxury experience in the downtown area, the Sarabia qualifies. With 184 rooms in its two buildings, the Sarabia provides diners with the Café Salvatore, featuring fine dining and live music, the Suehiroin Japanese Restaurant, Freddy’s American Bar and Restaurant, the Tinagong Dagat Pool Side Café, and the Al Dente Italian Restaurant, among others. The Sarabia is also located downtown, and offers tranportation to and from the airport, along with the usual amenities.