ILOILO'S BEST SEASONS

One cannot deny that as a whole, Iloilo can be considered as too simple and tranquil for the average tourist. Sure, there is the nightlife of Iloilo which is very active and electrifyingly alive, there is also the Art scene which is gradually blooming around the corner, and then there's the Rock scene which is also very much alive as well.

But of course, the average tourist wants an experience that should be fascinatingly foreign to them. Well, one should just find the right time of the year to visit Iloilo. Here are the ideal seasons to visit Iloilo and the featured festivals on those seasons…

JANUARY

Dinagyang Season (the third week till the fourth weekend of January)
- Obviously, the very season that defines tourism in Iloilo City. This colorful, religious, and highly cultural festival highlights on the fourth Sunday of January with the Dinagyang tribe competition, wherein which various tribes in painted skin and tribe warrior costumes parade around the city and dance in tribal drums, hailing the patron saint of the festival; the Sto. Niño (the child Jesus). On this weekend, the city streets become feverish in merrymaking mode as people indulge in festive street-dancing.

Even though the main festivities are situated on the fourth weekend of January, it is wise to be around the city weeks before that because as the second week of January comes, various Dinagyang-related events are already being held (from Beauty Pageants to Concerts and Cultural Exhibits). In addition, this is also wise for tourists to catch a hotel accommodation early on.

The Chinese New Year (the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar)
- Iloilo City is the first Philippine city outside Metro Manila to have the biggest Chinese New Year celebration in the country. Iloilo's Chinese community certainly is very active in making sure that the beauty and the revelry of their traditions are shared by the entire city. There is a grand Chinese parade that showcases colorful costumes, wondrous Chinese "dragons", and dances that are pure vibrant eye candy. And when the evening comes, the city is greeted by fireworks and a cultural show and food festival at the local Chinatown area.  

FEBRUARY

Jaro Fiesta (February 2)
- On February 2 is the Fiesta of the Jaro district of Iloilo. This is Iloilo City's most prominent district which was itself a city during the Spanish era. The fiesta is one of the grandest fiestas of the city because of the procession, parades, and the well-known cockfighting competitions at the Iloilo Coliseum, where cockfighting aficionados (including the likes of Manny Pacquiao) from all over the Philippines converge.
Jaro is also a place where one can find many old mansions that are a testament to the Spanish architectural influence on the country. The Jaro cathedral is the site where one can find the statue of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles), which was canonically crowned by the late Pope John Paul II during his visit in 1982; it remains the only religious statue in the Philippines to have been personally crowned by a Pope.

Paraw Regatta and the Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta (Third week of February)
- Aside from the fact that Iloilo is an ideal place to go to for the beaches around it, it should also be noted that Iloilo holds a Paraw Regatta which is not just a mere race of sailboats, but this is also an event that boasts the creativity and art of Ilonggo craftsmanship. The sailboats are also judged by their artistic beauty, because the sails are usually painted with colorful, wonderful, and artistic designs. Aside from the regatta itself, there are also various concerts and parties that go along with this event.

Of course there is also the Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta which is a dance and parade festival that celebrates the Paraw Regatta festivities. One may describe this as a combination of the Brazilian Carnival parade and the Dinagyang format. While it is a festival-add-on that was made just a couple of years ago, it obviously has the makings of a festival that would be as scorchingly intense as the Dinagyang festival.

MARCH

Pintados De Passi (Third Week of March)
- As the summer heats up the urge to go to beaches around the Western Visayas region, one may want to check out Passi City's Pintados De Passi. This festival's highlight is the dancing tribes and performers covered in body tattoos (Pintados refer to people covered in body paint). This is a cultural reference to old Filipino tribesfolk who are often covered in tribal body tattoos, often having their own prolific meaning. The Festival consists of Carabao painting contests, Martial Arts competitions and exhibitions, Music festivals, Cultural presentations and the main Tribe Competition. It opens on the second weekend of March up until the highlight at the end of the third weekend of March.

Semana Santa or Holy Week in Iloilo (MARCH/APRIL/specific dates vary)
- To Catholics, the Holy Week should be a solemn week to reflect upon the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. There are various cultural and religious events that are being held in Iloilo such as the "Paghukom" Passion Play in Calinog, a "Pagtaltal" in Barotac Viejo, and just a ferryboat ride away is Guimaras Island where the popular "Pagtaltal" Passion Play is also being held on Good Friday, one can also indulge in an appropriate trek to Balaan Bukid (translated as 'Holy Mountain') during this time. And as we are on the topic of trekking,  there is also the pilgrimage to Agony Hill in Alimodian, Iloilo. But if one does not wish to sweat up for a trek, one can just simply observe the Good Friday processions of the major districts and municipalities around Iloilo, wherein one can bear witness at the impressively beautiful religious statues, often in a simple but large dioramas depicting stages during Jesus Christ's passion and death, some of these statues are priceless antiques, being driven around the streets in procession via elaborate carriages known as carosas.
Iloilo is also an ideal place to observe the "Visita Iglesia" which is the Catholic tradition of visiting seven different churches with the praying of two sets of stations of the cross per church, while others visit fourteen Churches with a single station of the cross per church. This is the best time to visit Iloilo's Old Churches which are notable historical sites. The Molo Church which is one of the most prominent landmarks in Iloilo City is also one of the Churches one must visit when doing a tour of Iloilo Churches. Its towering Gothic and Romanesque design makes it a true work of Historical Art, in addition is the interesting detail that the Church has a feministic feel to it because the interior is surrounded by 16 large statues of women saints. The Filipino National hero Dr. Jose Rizal was known to have visited this church to pray and view its collection of biblical paintings, before his death.

Then there is also the Miag-ao church which is considered one of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines considered by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage List. A site that should not be missed by any tourist. 

By the time Black Saturday and Easter Sunday comes around, one can already easily travel to Boracay Island, which is quite an ideal place to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Pista Minatay (October 30 to November 2)
- Sometimes there are tourists who visit Iloilo during the Pista Minatay (All Soul's Day) Week to visit relatives and loved ones, during this time; one may also want to check out Pavia's Tigkaralag Festival. The Municipality of Pavia have their very own version of a Halloween celebration with the Tigkaralag Festival held on the evening of October 30, wherein participants dress in spooky and ghoulish costumes, celebrating All Souls Day.

DECEMBER

- Many tourists who are actually homecoming folks may find it surprising that Iloilo has already had blooming little festivals to energize one's Christmas spirit. All throughout December, Janiuay has its Festival of Lights, Pototan also has their Iwag Festival which is a lights exhibit which turns the entire main town area into a radiant Christmastown, and the festival made the town earn itself the right to be called "The Christmas Capital of Western Visayas". In addition, one may also check out the well-known lights festival of CPU and Angelicum Schools.