Reunion Gig 2014

The Good ol' Rock n' Roll bands of Iloilo of the then and now meet-up once again in the annual Reunion Gig, which will be held this coming December 27, 2014, 7:00 PM at Lanai Bar, Jaro, Iloilo City. Admission is Free! Rock on, Iloilo!!!

CineKasimanwa 2: The Western Visayas Film Festival Overview

The CineKasimanwa 2 was a Success!!!
by Reymundo Salao

It was a memorable week for Iloilo City and the film arts of Western Visayas, as the second CineKasimanwa: Western Visayas Film Festival was held last December 8 t0 13, 2014. The three venues namely; the UPV Cinematheque, the FDCP Cinematheque, and SM City Iloilo Cinema, were showing films made by filmmakers of Western Visayas. From magnificent works by established Visayan artists like Lav Diaz, Peque Gallaga, Tara Illenberger, Ned Trespeces, and Jay Abello, to pioneers like Joenar Pueblo and Ray Gibraltar, the amazing features from TM Malones, Kip Oebanda and Aimee Apostol Escasa, to the works of filmmakers from Guimbal, Negros, and unforgettable short films from various artists, among them are young directors coming out with their debut masterpieces. Undoubtedly, the CineKasimanwa definitely accomplished their objective this year, of giving spotlight on marvellous films of Western Visayas and introducing them to the mainstream public. [hit the jump to continue]

Chinese New Year Celebration in Iloilo City this week

Tsinoy community in Iloilo City has lined-up several activities this week to celebrate Chinese New Year, signalling the start of the Year of the Horse on Friday. This year’s activities, in line with their 12th year Chinese New Year celebration, is hosted by Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Cultural Association (ICFCA) led by its chairman Felipe Uygongco of La Filipina Uygongco Corporation. Uygongco said they prepared week-long events prior to the highlight celebration on Friday. [hit the jump to check out the skeds and continue]

Mongrelblood Album Launch

One of Iloilo's most prominent heavy metal band MONGRELBLOOD will have their album launch party this coming April 27, 2013 at Dekades bar, dive road, Iloilo City. The gig starts 7 PM. Admission is Free. Mongrelblood's album is entitled "Rabid Insurgence" and is sold at P 150. per CD. The gig will also feature performances from Blasphemerion, Chemical X, Honor to Kill, and Malevolent Messiah.

75th Charter Day Schedule of Activities

Our city, Iloilo City will be celebrating its 75th Charter Day Celebration on August 25, 2012. This day celebrates Iloilo as a Charter City. Various celebrations are in place for the event. Here are the skeds...

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AUGUST 20
7:00 PM Grand Coronation Night
    (Mr. & Ms. Iloilo City) /Freedom Grandstand
8:00 AM Clean-up Drive /Sidewalk: Plaza Libertad-Atrium
9:00 AM Launching: Iloilo City Wetland Nursery /PEDC Compound
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AUGUST 21 /SM City Event Centre
10:00 AM Oratorical Contest /SM City Event Centre
10:00 AM On the Spot Essay Writing Contest
10:00 AM On the Spot Poster Making Contest
2:00 PM Extemporaneous Speaking
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AUGUST 21-23
2:00 to 4:00 PM River Tour for Students /PCGA Headquarters beside PAG-IBIG
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AUGUST 22
1:00 to 5:00 PM Perya sa Buwan ng Wika /Iloilo City Community College
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AUGUST 23
6:30 PM Awarding of Top 40 Taxpayers and Private Partners of Iloilo City /Iloilo City Hall
9:00 AM Free Medical Check-up /Iloilo City Hall (3rd Floor)
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AUGUST 24
------- Mass Wedding /The Iloilo City Social Hall
------- Enshrinement of the Image of Sr. Sto Nino /Iloilo City Hall (The City Gallery)
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AUGUST 24 and 25
5:00 PM Iloilo City Charter Foodfest /Delgado St.
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AUGUST 25
8:30 AM Tree Planting /St. Paul Village, Mandurriao
9:00 AM Job Fair /Gaisano Capital 2F Event Center
10:00 AM Chess Team Tournament /SM City
8:00 AM Milo 3-in-1 APEX Running Clinic /Iloilo Sports Complex
8:00 AM Grand Diamond Jubilee Parade /From La Paz to City Hall
2:00 PM MIGEDC Basketball Tournament /Fundidor Gym
10:00 AM Bombo Baroto Race /Iloilo River
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7:00 PM Diamond Jubilee Appreciation Night /Iloilo Grand Hotel Ballroom
7:15 PM Outstanding Teachers
7:30 PM Salamat-Paalam Program
7:45 PM Cultural Heritage Award
8:15 PM Most Outstanding City Government Employees (MOCGE)
8:30 PM Citation of Distinction for Outstanding Ilonggos
9:00 PM Rigodon de Honor
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The Treñas Boulevard Iloilo River Esplanade Inaugural Day Event

Photo courtesy of Francis Allan Angelo

Treñas Boulevard is one of the City's shining new landmark. And swiftly, it has been renovated and transformed into what is now known as the Esplanade or the Treñas Boulevard Esplanade. Now this ESPLANADE will have its formal opening on August 18, 2012. The Inaugural Rites will start at 8 AM and expected to grace the event will be Senators Franklin Drilon and Loren Legarda together with boxing superstar and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. Here is the complete schedule of the Esplanade Opening Day Events...

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 AM Morning Aerobics Exercises
7:00 AM Religious Mass
8:00 AM Blessing & Inauguration of the Iloilo River Esplanade
9:00 AM First Senator Franklin Drilon Cup Dragon Boat Competition
10:00 AM The Baroto Race
3:00 PM Battle of the Bands
6:00 PM GMA Kapuso Night
7:00 PM Concert at the Esplanade: Bloom Brothers and Sugar Free
8:00 PM Awarding of Dragon Boat Cup Winners
9:00 PM Fireworks Display

Beautified to have the feel of a park-like atmosphere, this Esplanade covers the stretch of walkway frm the diversion road area up till the Carpenter's Bride in Molo. Envisioned as an eco-park, recreational and fun area, the Esplanade will be an ideal place for children and adult work-out buffs, bicycle enthusiasts and other fitness-loving aficionados. Trees and other ornamental plants are planted to enhance its scenery. Food kiosks will be provided to cater the needs of park-goers. This project will definitely boost the city's tourism industry as well as an avenue for social recreations in the metropolis with fast rising developments and home of famous historical landmarks. It hosts viewing decks and trees beautifying the Esplanade which will serve as a leisure place for a respite from busy city life but without going too far.

The designer of this Esplanade project is the well-respected architect Paolo Alcazaren who also designed the Singapore quay and river esplanade.

2 MORE ESPLANADES PLANNED
From the looks of it, the ESPLANADE is already a landmark that will surely be loved by Ilonggos and its visitors alike. And in connection with this, the City Government is already setting its sights on to building two (2) more Esplanades in two separate sites. This was announced by city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog recently after Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon approved the proposal to extend the project to two more sites along the river.

The second esplanade project will be from the Carpenter’s Bridge going to Sooc and the third project will be from the Diversion road up to the Jalandoni Bridge.

Now, that is really something to look forward to as well. Especially that one of the second planned Esplanades will seem to connect with the Treñas Boulevard Esplanade. Well, for now, let's enjoy this newly finished one.

Holy Week Advisory 2012

Some establishments have recently released advisories on their operations this Holy Week

MALLS
SM City, SM Delgado, SM Jaro -Closed April 5-April 6
Robinsons Place -Closed April 5-April 6
Gaicano Guanco, Gaicano Lapaz -Open April 5, Closed April 6
Iloilo Supermart (Atrium, Jaro, -Open April 5 until 12-noon of April 6
Manduriao, Molo, Arevalo)
Iloilo Supermart (Marymart Mall) - -Open April 5, Closed April 6
Unitop (Ledesma, Iznart, Aldeguer) -Open April 5, Closed April 6

*regular mall hours will resume on April 7

BUSES
Ceres Liner -regular trips on April 5; trips on April 6 will
be until 12-noon only
HPQ -regular trips on April 5, no trips on April 6
CBL -regular trips on April 5; trips on April 6 will
be until 3PM

*all regular trips will resume on April 7

BANKS
*all banks are closed from April 5 to April 9
*BDO inside the malls are closed from April 5 to April 8, will resume operation on April 9
*all money transfer institutions (LBC Pera Padala, Mlhuiller, Western Union, Palawan Pawnshop) are closed on April 5 and April 6, will resume operation on April 8

Pintados De Pasi

It is time once again to celebrate Passi City's biggest festival; the PINTADOS DE PASI FESTIVAL. The festivities take place from March 14 (Wednesday) up till the main event on March 18 (Sunday) with various colorful cultural activities such as the Pasundayag (Parade), the Hinampang (Games), the Pinta Lawas (Body Art), the Karosa Parada & Carabao Painting Contest, there will even be a Night of Mascots and Magicians. This year's festival will also feature the First Passi City Grappling Tournament known as "Dumog 2012". But the main event of the festival is the Pintados De pasi parade & tribe competition on sunday. Here is the schedule of activities...

Schedule of Activities

March 11, 2012
Presentation of Candidates of Bb. Pintados / SM City

March 14, 2012 (Wednesday)
14th Foundation Day Anniversary
[declared as Non-Working Holiday in the City of Passi]
6:30 A.M. – Mass
8:00 A.M. – Pasundayag ( Parade )
1:00 P.M – Hinampang
6:00 P.M – Opening of Food Festival
7:00 P.M. – HANDURAW (Passinhons’ Golden Memories of Yesteryears)

March 15, 2012 (Thursday)
8:00 A.M. – “Pinta Lawas” (Body Painting Contest)
1:00 P.M. – “DUMOG 2012” – 1st Passi City Grappling Tournament (Sponsored by: Team Tigers International Mixed Martial Arts)
7:00 P.M. – Ginoong Pintados 2012

March 16, 2012 (Friday)
7:00 A.M. – Karosa Parada & Carabao Painting Contest
7:00 P.M – Grand Coronation Pageant – Search for Bb. Pintados 2012

March 17, 2012 (Saturday)
8:00 A.M. – Exhibit of Exotic Pets (Sponsored by: EXPOS (Exotic Pet Owners Society of Iloilo)) @ Plaza Paloma
6:00 P.M. – A Night of Mascots, Magicians w/ ALA KIM (of Pilipinas Got Talent) (Sponsored by: Big Brothers Party Central)

March 18, 2012 (Sunday)
6:30 A.M. – Mass at Parish of Saint William
8:00 A.M. – Tribe Competition
3:00 P.M. – Awarding/Closing Program
6:30 P.M. – Fireworks Display
7:00 P.M. – “A Night with the STARS”

Bundakan's The Motorcycle Show

BUNDAKAN CARWASH will have a motorcycle show simply titled "THE MOTORCYCLE SHOW" which will feature various types/brands of motorbikes, many of them are big bikes, scooters and sportsbikes; there's Ducati, BMW, Honda, Suzuki, Piaggi, Vespa, KTM, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and many others. There will be some units which are going to be on sale.

This will be held in and around the Bundakan Carwash Area which is located at the Don Nonato Pison Ave., Mandurriao, Iloilo City (you can find on at the road from Diversion going to San Rafael, Molo. The same road as the one leading to Ateneo Iloilo). The Show will run from March 17 to 18, 2012 [saturday & sunday]. The Show's kick-off on March 17 will feature the DJs of Hotbox Rec Iloilo.

Dinagyang 2012: Changes & Schedule of Activities

Dinagyang 2012 has already had its official launch last November 11, 2011. That means that the many Dinagyang-relatede activities had already began, and the plans for Dinagyang 2012 had already been unveiled. The highlights of the celebration will be held on January 20-22, 2012. (CHECK OUT FULL SCHEDULE AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE)

The festival organizers composed of the city government, the San Jose Parish and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation came up with several changes from the usual format. The most prominent change is that of the Judging Areas. The Judging Areas are as follows:

Judging Area #1: Sports Complex
Judging Area #2: Front of WIT/ St. Clements Church
Judging Area #3: Front of DOT
Judging Area #4: Freedom Grandstand

The parade shall no longer be of the carousel type but it shall be a straight parade which will start at the Iloilo Sports Complex and end at the Freedom Grandstand. According to the organizers, the change in venue was entertained to accommodate a larger audience as the festival continues to draw bigger crowd every year.

In an interview with Serbisyo Publiko hosted by Councilor Perla Zulueta over Sky Cable Sunday, Jimena said the chief complainants against the venue change are the participating tribes of the Ati-ati dance contest. Jimena said the tribes are worried that they will spend too much time and effort in pushing their props such as risers or platforms from the sports complex to the Freedom Grandstand. “Even in the carousel mode, they are pushing their props. This is one reason why we in some festivals the use of ‘non-portable’ props are discouraged and instead they focus on their music and choreography,” Jimena said.

Jimena said the sports complex will be stage 1 while stage 2 will be in the vicinity of St. Clement’s Church in LaPaz. The provincial capitol area will serve as stage 3 and the Freedom Grandstand as stage 4. “If we start at 8am, the first tribe will be able to perform at the Grandstand at around 9:30am. We will find out the sequence during our simulation,” he added.

“The executive committee of the IDFI is looking for ways and means to make the festival more exciting through these changes. And any criticism and suggestions are welcome so we can refine our plans,” he added.

2012 ILOILO DINAGYANG FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
December 9, 2011 [Friday] 3 PM - Miss Dinagyang Launch / SM City Iloilo: Event Center
December 16, 2011 [Friday] 3 PM - Pamukaw (Awakening of the City)
January 13, 2012 [Friday] 2 PM - Opening Salvo (Official Festival Kick-Off)
January 20, 2012 [Friday] 3 PM - Dinagyang Fluvial Procession
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 7 AM - Mass for Kasadyahan
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 8 AM - KASADYAHAN Competition / Dinagyang Route 
January 21, 2012 [Saturday] 7 PM - Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 6:30 AM - Concelebrated high mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov't. Officials / Iloilo Sports Complex
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 8 AM - DINAGYANG Ati CONTEST
January 22, 2012 [Sunday] 7 PM - Awarding Ceremonies

The theme of the 2012 Dinagyang Festival is: "Beyond Awards, A Culture of Excellence". It’s religious theme is "Senor Santo Nino: One Beat, One Voice, On the Move to Serve".

BUTLAK, The 8th National Sunrise Festival in Iloilo

BUTLAK, The National Sunrise Festival is a three- day event, organized by Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation or Maharlika, it is the first multifaceted culture-based roving arts and writers festival held annually in the different regions of the Philippines. The festival is a celebration of arts made possible by volunteerism and collaboration of cultural workers and amongst professional and upcoming artists in the country. As an alternative festival, the National Sunrise Festival site is kept free of smoking, alcohol and drugs, and non-biodegradable waste. Vegetarian food is served during the whole festival. It will be participated in by local and international artists, writers, musicians, visual artists, students of art, film makers, performing arts groups, photographers, teachers, LGU official representatives, indigenous communities and school children and students. The venues will be at The Iloilo Sports Complex, The Provincial Capitol Grounds, and The Treñas Boulevard.

Traffic Advisory concerning Iloilo City Charter Day Celebration

The City Council, City of Iloilo has announced a traffic advisory for events in connection with the upcoming 74th ILOILO CHARTER DAY CELEBRATION.

First off, there will be a Charter Day FOOD FESTIVAL AND CONCERT OF ILONGGO ARTISTS at the Iznart-Delgado-Valeria areas. There will be a Temporary road closure from Corner Iznart and Delgado Sts., to Corner Valeria and Delgado Sts.from 6:00 PM of Aug. 19, 2011 to 12:00 Midnight of August 20, 2011.
As for the details of the Concert [such as the names of the bands], this page will be updated for those details. So Please do come back...

Then, there is also the NIGHT RUN [fun run event] at SM City Iloilo in celebration of the 74th Iloilo Charter Day and for the benefit of the 1Meal Program. This Fun Run Event will cover areas around the Diversion Road.

Evelio Javier Holiday

Feb. 11 is local holiday in Panay Island
(from the Phil. Information Agency)

February 11 has been declared a special non-working public holiday in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo in line with the commemoration of the 22nd death anniversary of Antique Gov. Evelio B. Javier.

The holiday declaration is stipulated in Republic Act 7601 or "An Act Declaring February 11 of each year Governor Evelio B. Javier Day a Special Non-working Public Holiday in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Aklan and Iloilo" in order to commemorate the martyrdom of the slain governor.
RA 7601 was approved and signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1992.

Gov. Javier was killed on February 11, 1986 by three hooded armed men at the Antique New Capitol Building. At the initial gunshots, the Antique hero sustained gunshot wounds on his left shoulder and leg but scampered for safety by zigzagging the 50-meter stretch across the circular park away from the Capitol building and in the process collapsed in an artificial moat. He still managed to seek for safety in a comfort room but he was cornered by his chasing attackers who riddled his body and head with bullets. Javier was born on October 14, 1942 in Barangay Lanag (now Evelio Javier), Hamtic, Antique. He was a lawyer and became a governor of Antique via a landslide vote in 1971. (PIA)

Jaro Fiesta 2010

[excerpts from an article by Mera Joy Aniolga and May Franzell Obieta]
GROWING up in such a scenic place, I must admit, I took for granted the beautiful spots that Jaro offered. I have spent most of my waking hours walking, looking, smelling and witnessing almost everything that Jaro offered me. I was too blind to see that I live in one of the most beloved districts of Iloilo City.

Being a Jareno, the annual fiesta celebrated every 2nd of February is such a grand event. People from different parts of Iloilo would flock to Jaro to participate in the festival. Some would go to the church to honor the district's patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, said to be miraculous. Some would go there to visit their relatives and friends.

History showed that Jaro used to be a bustling town in Panay even before the Spaniards came. It was the seat of governmental power and business activity and center of Catholicism in the entire Iloilo Province and not the other way around as it is today.

More Art Exhibits this January

Aside from the Art exhibit series entitled Heartistry, two more art exhibit series are set to give our January the vibrant color to match the Dinagyang season.

First is the Koloryakot Art Exhibit which will be held at Red Steakhouse & Gallery from January 18 to February 7, 2010.

And then there's the Contemporary Reflections Art Exhibit, to be held at the UPV Art Gallery, Univ. of the Philippines, Iloilo City, from January 20 to February 5, 2010. The exhibit will feature works from Amacio, Arro, Castillo, Cerbas, Laparga, Lozañes, Ordoyo, Tilos, and Zoluaga. The opening will be held on January 20, 5 PM, after that the exhibit will be daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM up until February 5, 2010.