ILOILO CITY: The Venice of the Philippines

Iloilo City is blessed with a wonderful gift – the Iloilo River. This river is the catalyst for the changes in Iloilo especially its marine industry. This river will truly makes Iloilo the beautiful city.

ILOILO CITY: The City of Love

Being a regional Center of Western Visayas, Iloilo's night life is very much active. With the presence of different bars, restaurants and hotels, this city has been delivering one of a kind experienced every night time.

ILOILO CITY: The Queen City of the South

Iloilo City has been making noise in terms of creating pursuing it dreams to become a modern city. High-raised building is now on its way to invade the city, as its tag-line says “My City My Pride”..

ILOILO CITY: The Center of Western Visayas

Welcoming growth and being highly-urbanized city, Iloilo's business growth is fast and becoming enormous. The presence of different intuitions in the city is an indication of being one of the economic centers in the Philippines.

ILOILO CITY: The City with Finest Festival

Paraw Regatta is one of Iloilo's finest festivals. Aside from this festivity Iloilo is also well-known for its Dinagyang which dubbed as the best Festival in the Country.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Ed Defensor: “Lin-ay sang Iloilo”, The Icon of Ilonggo Pride

By Ed Defensor

(Following are excerpts of the artist’s speech during the unveiling of Ilonggo Pride Statue, Lin-ay sang Iloilo, atop the New City Hall in celebration of 74th Charter Day August 25)

When the good mayor, Honorable Jed Patrick E. Mabilog told me that he wanted a symbol of Iloilo on the dome of the New City Hall, the very first thing that came to my mind was that “I had dreamed of this before.”

Yes, as early as 15 years ago I already dreamed of a commission that would enable me to mold the symbol of Iloilo in brass or in bronze – the image was already clear and complete in my mind.

I dreamed of it in the same scale as it is today, but on the ground. Never did I imagine that it would be standing on the top of a dome and make history as the first of its kind in the whole Philippines.

What you see is the graceful figure of a beautiful peasant lady standing valiantly and proudly on a harvested field of rice.

I envisioned a symbol associated with our rice industry because to my mind Iloilo could not be represented otherwise since we have always been known as the rice granary of the whole Visayas, and several times in our history, of the whole country.

And to me, since our great city is the making of our great province, Iloilo therefore is both city and province. Thus, a symbol for one may as well be a symbol for the other.

What you see is a Lin-ay wearing the traditional bandana usually worn by farm ladies to protect them from the heat of the sun. On her neck she wears an ethnic necklace, symbolic of her ancestry, as she comes from a rich mythic past, from the Maragtas, the “Barter of Panay,” and the long line of heroic datus that peopled the island of Panay.

Her right arm cradles a bunch of harvested rice, symbolic of our prosperity. Her left hand holds another symbol of prosperity, the scythe or “garab” which has long been the traditional harvesting tool in the region. I remember when I was a child in the farms of Mina, Iloilo, whenever I saw a “garab,” I knew right away it is “good times” for it is harvest time.

She wears an embroidered blouse, symbolic of one of the popular traditional arts of the city and province. On top of it is a “sablay” of a “hablon,” the textile which contributed to Iloilo’s becoming the second city of the Philippines, next to Manila, at the onset of the 19th century.

The whole figure of the Lin-ay is highlighted by the “patadyong,” our native hand-woven wrap-around skirt, for which no other province is better known than Iloilo. As a bonafide historian I dare say that Iloilo has the best patadyong in the whole country.

The Lin-ay is standing on a pedestal with four sides carved with major assets of Iloilo – front shows rice-farming industry, at right is sugarcane, left is fishing industry and back depicts education since Iloilo is considered as the educational center of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Thus, I have outlined the meaning, symbolism and history of the “Lin-ay Sang Iloilo.”

I would like to thank the good mayor for his vision, love and passion for Ilonggo culture and art, for conceiving this project and making history for the city.

Consequently, I would like to thank our donor, a beautiful person who truly loves Iloilo, a philanthropist in the true sense of the word, who gives without any strings attached, who has no political ambition whatsoever, and most importantly, who does not want to be mayor and who wants to remain anonymous, unknown even to the beneficiaries of this project.

I would also like to thank the valiant workers and carpenters of the City Hall building for braving all odds, dangers and threat to life in bringing the Lin-ay up to her pedestal to stand there forever as the symbol of the greatness and pride of Iloilo. Their applause after the Lin-ay was perched will forever be embedded in my heart and memory.

Lin-ay sang Iloilo was unveiled during 74th Iloilo City Charter Day celebration on August 25, 2011.
 

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source: http://www.iloilotoday.com

Friday, August 26, 2011

4-hour civic-military parade marks Iloilo City’s 74th Charter Day




TWVillavert

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- Mayor Patrick Jed Mabilog said that the overwhelming support of the various sectors in Iloilo City in the observance of the City’s 74th Charter signals the unity of the Ilonggos towards the attainment of the goal to make Iloilo City the premier city in the near future.

Mabilog was happy to note that the August 25 civic-military parade, which was participated in by some 15,000 Ilonggos, lasted for almost four hours and was overwhelmingly successful.

He said that the relevance in celebrating the 74th Charter Day has achieved its goals to create awareness among the younger generation the history and development of Iloilo as a city. The other objective of the observance was to arouse community sense of pride of place, and to showcase the celebration as a link to culture and heritage.

“It is with pride and honor as we undertake this great opportunity to showcase our rich Ilonggo history, heritage and culture, and of course, our rapid growth, progress, and sustainable development as an emerging vibrant metropolis.It is very pleasing that the city’s glorious past emblazoned in the pages of history books has come to life once more – as we renew and strengthen our loyalty and dedicate our sense of pride to our homeland,” Mabilog said

Mabilog said that The theme “Dakbanwa sang Iloilo , Bugal Ko” (My City, My Pride) manifests our sense of ownership and love of our place which we will always treasure and be proud of.


Historical accounts had it that Commonwealth Act No. 57 which was later amended by Commonwealth 138, converted Iloilo into a chartered city on August 25, 1937.

The month-long celebration was opened last July 20, 2011 at SM Activity Center, with 41 events and with the highlights on August 25, 2011, which was declared as a special non-working day in the City of Iloilo through Proclamation No. 203.

The activities included the search for Mr. and Miss Iloilo City, Grand Charter Parade, Rigodon de Honor, and search for "Dungog sang Dakbanwa sang Iloilo" and most outstanding City Government employees, exhibits, inter-school newscasting competition, concert, oratorical and extemporaneous speaking contests, food festival, mangrove planting, Barangay Day celebration, bloodletting, folk dances, tourism and historical quiz bee, goodwill basketball games, mass wedding, fashion show, medical and dental mission, Mayor's Ball, job fair, city tour launching, diskwento sale, and dance fest.

Highlighting the 74th Charter Day was the unveiling of the “Lin-ay sang Iloilo” statue on top of the dome of the seven-storey new Iloilo City Hall.

The Lin-ay sang Iloilo statue depicts a “lin-ay” (lady) wearing a traditional “bandana” or a piece of cloth wrapped around her head and worn by farm girls to protect them from the heat of the sun, and the whole figure is highlighted by the “patadyong, ” a native hand-woven wrap-around skirt, for which no other province is better known than Iloilo.

Among other features, the figure’s right arm cradles a bunch of harvested rice, symbolic of prosperity, while the other holds a scythe, which has long been the traditional harvesting implement in Western Visayas.


This was among the description of professor Ed Defensor, an Ilonggo artist who designed the “Lin-ay Sang Iloilo” statue during the unveiling ceremony held after the civic-military parade.

The bronze statue has a height of 19 feet and was donated to the city government, costing more than a million pesos, Mabilog said as he emphasized that the new Iloilo City Hall will be inaugurated on January 2012, but the city government will occupy the building before the year ends.

(JSC/TWV-PIA6 Iloilo)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Iloilo posts remarkable rise in rice, corn production

Iloilo View - Agri and Terrain Beauty
By: Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE than half of Western Visayas’ palay and corn production during the first three months of 2011 came from Iloilo, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).

Citing data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the NSCB said Region 6’s 1st quarter palay and corn production significantly improved by 52.3% and 78.7%, respectively.

“More than half of the region’s total production comes from the province of Iloilo being the top producer of palay and corn in the region,” the agency said.

Palay production for the 1st quarter reached 642,749 metric tons (MT), higher by 220,675MT than previous year’s production of 422,074MT.

The remarkable rise was brought about by 78.9% increase in rainfed palay production and 35.5% hike in irrigated palay. High yield was recorded in the provinces of Antique and Iloilo posting a growth of 114.2% and 93.4%, ruspecvively.

Corn production in the region increased by 78.7% (47,615MT) during the same period. Iloilo province improved its production by 131.1%, from 31,138MT in the#1st puarter of 2010 to 71,956MT in 2011.

Iloilo contributed 66.6% to the regional total corn production while Negros Occidental posted an increase of 31.3%, from 16,860MT in 2010 to 22,144MT this year.

Capiz is next to Iloilo in terms of palay production, contributing 15.3% to the regional total followed by Negros Occidental (14.3%) and Antique (11.0%).

For corn, Negros Occidental followed Iloilo with 20.5% share. Guimaras had the least contribution for both palay and corn production during the 1st quarter of 2011.

source: The Daily Guardian

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

More than 12,000 to join Iloilo City's 74th Charter Day Parade

Iloilo City on the Rise
ILOILO CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) – More than 12,000 participants from the City Hall, national government agencies (NGAs), schools, non-government organizations (NGOs), barangays and festival contingents are expected to join the grand civic parade here to highlight this city’s 74th Charter Day on Aug. 25.

“We are enjoining everyone to celebrate our Charter Day. This is part of our identity and pride as Ilonggos,” said Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog.

Administrative officer Armand Dicen of the City Tourism and Development Office, who oversees the parade preparation, said thousands will join the activity

The biggest number of participants will come from the city government and schools, which will combine almost 10,000 people, he said.

Road closures will start at 6 a.m. to 12 noon from La Paz plaza fronting La Paz Maternity Center, Burgos St. to Huervana St. when facing towards Gaisano City to Bonifacio Drive, passing Forbes Bridge up to Iloilo Provincial Capitol to F. Caram Avenue to Iznart St. facing Plazoleta Gay to JM Basa St. up to Freedom Grandstand.

Mabilog, Cong. Jerry P. Treñas and city councilors will lead the parade from La Paz district plaza starting 7 a.m.

Participants from NGAs will assemble at Mabini St., La Paz; NGOs and school delegates at Treñas Boulevard (beside Gaisano City); and barangay groups and festival performers at the Promenade near Drilon Bridge.

Adding color to the parade are various drum and bugle corps from city public and private schools, and performances of festival groups representing Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta during the program at Freedom Grandstand.

Mabilog institutionalized the Charter Day celebration when he became mayor last year.

Iloilo, as a chartered city, was formally inaugurated on Aug. 25, 1937 after the surrounding municipalities of La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo and Arevalo were merged with the progressive town of Iloilo on July 16, 1937, by virtue of Commonwealth Act No.158.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Iloilo City to Host First Nat'l River Summit

By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY – The city government here will host the First National River Summit before the end of this year and expected to set the pace of river development with the private sector.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the summit was inspired by Livable Communities (Livcom) Award garnered by Iloilo City during a ceremony in Chicago, USA last November 2010.

Mabilog said the city will spearhead the national conference of about 40 to 50 local government units in the country invited to participate in a two-day summit showing the best practices in 9 to 11 rivers in the Philippines.

On the other hand, Senator Franklin M. Drilon is urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Rivers of the World Foundation to co-sponsor the summit slated last week of October or early November this city.

Drilon said he is strongly supporting the river summit to call people’s attention on the importance of the river to everyday life and for the future generations.

In the Philippines, there a total of 14 river systems intercrossing of different rivers. Eight of these are in Panay Island that greatly needs rehabilitation, conservation and massive watershed development.

In Western Visayas alone, there are 881 rivers, 27 lakes and 42 lagoons, while the province of Iloilo hosts major river systems such as the big Aganan-Tigum and Jalaur-Suague, among others.

Iloilo City on the other hand, hosts four tributary creeks and two major rivers that are considered as “arms of the sea’ for having water source from the sea. These are the 15-kilometer Iloilo River that divides the seven city districts and the Batiano River in Molo-Arevalo area up the municipality of Oton, Iloilo.

The city government, with the help of Drilon is currently conducting massive rehabilitation and clean-up of the Iloilo River by demolishing illegal fishpens and fishtraps, other illegal structures and establishing an esplanade project at the river banks.

More than 300 houses of informal settlers along the river are set for demolition and relocation.

source: http://www.facebook.com/notes/lydia-pendon

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Nice Future Plan: Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Tourism Strategy and Action Plan

Rich in culture, heritage, and flavor, the Iloilo Province and Guimaras Island are brought together in the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. In pursuit of economic cooperation, efficient infrastructure, and tourism promotion and development, the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council was established. The council is composed of the City of Iloilo, the municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, and San Miguel, and Guimaras Island.

To map out the potentials of the mini-region, a tourism strategy and action plan was prepared by Palafox Associates with a multi-disciplinary team of consultants.

While both provinces are sources of agricultural products, Iloilo has other means of income generation like fishery and cottage industries. Dubbed as “Mango Country of the Philippines,” Guimaras primarily relies on crops, including rice, coconut and cashew nuts. International-class airport and terminals, and related infrastructure allow tourists to visit and enjoy what the region has to offer.

Upon analysis, issues such as coordination among the localities, poor marketing strategies, and improvement of infrastructure need to be addressed.

Palafox proposes the development of community-based hotels and resorts, inspired by the community’s identity or probably vernacular architecture. Incorporating the terrain in residential communities and hotels especially along hillside areas gives added premium to the property. This can be complemented by tourism circuits like, fishing wharfs, sports centers and ecological parks. Several tourism circuits were defined based on destinations of heritage tourism, arch-tourism, agri-tourism, gastronomic tourism, and many others.


source:
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palafoxassociates.com


Friday, August 5, 2011

Power firm constructs facility starting Aug. 7


A RENEWABLE energy firm will begin construction of a biomass facility in Iloilo province this month.


Global Biomass PLC Corp., a Philippine-based company focusing on development of biomass fuel solutions, said it will begin construction of the US$ 4-million research, development and manufacturing facility in Mina municipality on August 7.


In a statement, David de Montaigne, Global Biomass Group chief executive officer, said the 5,000-square meter facility will be known as the Global Biomass PLC Corp. Research Development and Manufacturing facility (GBC R-D-M).


“It’s the very first of its kind in the world. The GBC R-D-M will conduct research, develop, design and manufacture equipment to support the harvesting, collection, transportation, storage and processing of agricultural wastes for use as an alternative to fossil fuels, as well as biomass fuel transportation and handling systems for biomass power plants,” Mr. de Montaigne said.


Mr. de Montaigne said they are seeking registration under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 that facilitates the grant of incentives to manufacturers within the renewable energy industry to encourage investment.


“All of this equipment is being designed to help farmers efficiently gather and transport biomass wastes such as rice and corn straw, coconut, banana, pineapple and other biomass residues that Global Biomass PLC Corp. will purchase from farmers and consolidators to use as an alternative fuel that will displace imported fossil fuels,” he added.


Power plant


Meanwhile, Global Green Power PLC Corp. said they are awaiting the approval of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) rates for renewable energy producers by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) before completing the 35-megawatt biomass power plant also located in Mina town.


The biomass plant will be operated by Green Power Panay Philippines Inc., a sister company of Global Biomass PLC under the Global Green Power.


Global Green Power said the approval of the FiT "will help alleviate the power shortage in Panay and its adverse effects to the local economy while mitigating climate change.”


Maribeth de Montaigne, Global Green Power PLC president, said government should encourage the development of renewable energy technologies that are less expensive than newly-built fossil fuel power plants.


"It is for the nation to decide which of the renewable energy technologies are to be deployed in order to harness clean power within the Philippine archipelago. It is, however, a national disgrace not to encourage, maximize and deploy with all possible haste, renewable energy projects such as Thermal Biomass Grid Connected Power Plants (TBGC) that provide less expensive power than newly built fossil fuel power plants, while delivering extraordinary levels of socio-economic development," Ms. De Montaigne said.


Ms. De Montaigne said fossil fuel plants, specifically coal plants that have received ERC approval, deliver energy prices in excess of P8 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to electric cooperatives and distribution utilities when fuel-pass through is added to their bill.


Global Green Power said its proposed TBGC power plants will deliver power at P7 per kWh through the Renewable Energy Act’s Feed-in- Tariff, should the National Renewable Energy Board’s (NREB) proposed rates are approved by ERC.


Ms. De Montaigne said the company's P7 per kWh electricity price is subject only to the Philippine Consumer Price Index (CPI), minimal Foreign Exchange Rate (FX) fluctuations and has no fuel cost “pass through” burden to the consumer.


"The FiT rate pricing structure will afford Philippine consumers a less expensive and stable power price based on basic cost of living (CPI) increases within the Philippines. In addition to a stable and reasonably predictable energy price, Global Green Power PLC Corporation TBGC power plants provide extraordinary socio-economic development within rural areas," she added.

source: daily guardian

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Ferry terminal to rise in Iloilo park


ILOILO CITY: The one-hectare plus Rotary Park at Fort San Pedro area covered by Proclamation 201 issued by President Benigno Aquino III paves the way city government the to start development projects on the site.

The proclamation dated July 17, 2011 was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and will pave the way to refurbish the erstwhile park abandoned by the Rotary Club of Iloilo City.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city will now be ready to start its multi-million peso Guimaras Iloilo Ferry Terminal project (GIFT) that will construct a modern passenger terminal in the area for commuters between Iloilo City and the municipalities in Jordan and Buenavista, Guimaras.

A project study completed by Concept Consultancy more than three years ago also calls for Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the modernization of the Guimaras municipal ferry terminals. The ferry terminal in the Rotary Park will be upgraded while the district office of the Philippine Coast Guard will be transferred beside the perimeter fence of the Philippine Ports Authority.

Mabilog said he is eyeing a public private partnership (PPP) in the area that will see the construction of a multi-story passenger terminal building and the construction of a shopping mall and hotel to serve the ferry commuters.

More than 300 informal family-settlers at the Rotary Park were already given n otices to vacate the area while most have already dismantled their huts to transfer to other locations. Only few informal settlers are qualified to seek a city-owned relocation site as attested by the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office.

source: The Manila Times

Monday, August 1, 2011

Business groups rally behind Mabilog

Eight influential business groups here threw their support behind the administration of Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog as he aims to turn the metropolis into a premier city by 2015 or earlier.

The business organizations recognized the efforts of the chief executive especially the accomplishments made during his first year of service.

“We fully support Mayor Mabilog’s vision and development plans for the City of Iloilo,” the business groups assured.

Mabilog received a plaque expressing appreciation of his accomplishments after only a year in office from the Iloilo Business Club (IBC), Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo, Inc. (CCIII), Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (PCCCI), Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization, Inc. (IMSBOI), Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce,Inc. (FCCCI), Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Panay(FFCCCP), Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED), and the IloiloCity Trade and Investment Promotions Foundation, Inc. (ICTIPFI).

The business groups honored Mabilog’s “exceptional commitment to the values of public service and hard work, manifested through his deep sense of appreciation of the importance of dynamic public and private partnership for the greater welfare of the city and its constituents.”

The plaque was signed by Juan Jose Jamora of IBC, Joe Marie Agriam of CCIII, Cesar Cu Pelayo of PCCCI, Fanny Uy of IMSBOI, Felipe Uygongco of FCCCI, Ramon Cua Locsin of FFCCCP, Narzalina Lim of ILED, and Felix Tiu of ICTIPFI.

It was given during the 1st Iloilo City Business Summit last Friday, July 29th, where Mabilog also rendered his first annual accomplishment report.

For more info about the First Iloilo City Business Summit, visit:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Iloilo-City-Government/138571859507705