Refining modern Philippine cities into sunkissed gems

Rapid urbanization bear witness to cities scouring for a blueprint to a livable and sustainable future, but this pursuit is fraught with setbacks.-  By Bret Cornelia, Joseph Villafuerte Post date  February 16, 2025The global surge in urbanization has intensified the demand for cities to evolve into functional, sustainable, and livable environments. In the Philippines, a collection of towering infrastructures stands as a testament to this evolution: model cities. Celebrated for their striking architecture and innovative urban planning, these urban oases offer a compelling blueprint that urban planners across the country can emulate...

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The Seven Campo Santo (Mortuary Chapel) of Iloilo, Philippines

 It’s All-Souls Day and as a heritage advocate, I opted to post seven historical mortuary chapels here in my province. As the Iloilo slogan states, “Where Past is Always Present”, these chapels are great evidence of how Ilonggos keep its history. I believe that no other province in the Philippines has this great number of well-preserved historical structures, particularly its Campo Santo or the Mortuary Chapel (feel free to correct and email me if I am wrong.Take note these are all my personal bias. Please bear with me.Top 7: It is Beautiful but is Lost! This is the story of Miagao’s Campo Santo. Though it’s far better than the...

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CLI breaks ground on P1.5 billion Terranza Residences in Iloilo City

 Leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) started construction of a P1.5 billion premier residential tower in Iloilo City prodded by strong economic prospects in the regionTerranza Residences is a partnership with IBC International Builders Corporation (IBC) under joint venture vehicle GGTT Realty. Expected to be completed in 2025, the project is already 75% sold and is projected to earn revenues of P2.4 billion. CLI has been named developer and manager of the premier residential development, while IBC will build and manage the retail complex to complement the residential condominium.The development...

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Getting To Know The Central Business Districts Outside Metro Manila

By Franz Sorilla IV April 23, 2021 We round up some of the best locations across the country for your potential business ventures or careers—apart from Metro Manila Advertisement  Before we started adapting to remote working setups and relocating to our home provinces over the last year, there was already a number of business districts across the country that have risen and flourished. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic repercussions to our country have accelerated many industries to go digital, innovate, and expand opportunities outside Metro Manila. Let us take a close look at the other metropolitan cities across the country:...

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Newest in Iloilo: MEGAWORLD TO SELL OFFICE SPACES IN ILOILO BUSINESS PARK

The 19-storey International Corporate Plaza is envisioned to be Western Visayas’ most state-of- the-art, facility-packed ‘green’ office development ILOILO CITY, Philippines, July 24, 2019 – Property giant Megaworld is launching a new office tower in Iloilo Business Park, with 301 prime office units for sale to businesses, start-up companies, andestablished enterprises that want to set up operations in Iloilo’s newest ‘central business district.’ The 19-storey International Corporate Plaza offers prime office spaces ranging from 26 square meters to 65 square meters. With an average price of P155,000 per square...

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BPO EXPANSION HUB: Iloilo City Preferred Investment Site for Outsourcing Firms

ILOILO CITY, particularly Mandurriao district, remains the preferred expansion site of business processes outsourcing (BPO) firms such as call centres and legal transcription service providers. This is based on the assessment of Colliers International, a leading global real estate services and investment management company. In a news release, Colliers said the key to maintaining the city’s preferred status among BPO companies is the availability of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-proclaimed office spaces. A PEZA accredited building provides the occupant firms tax and non-tax perks such as Income Tax Holiday; tax and duty free...

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Iloilo: Where the Past is always Present

Iloilo City is synonymous to Dinagyang Festival, its delectable heirloom cuisine, well-preserved heritage structures and warm hospitality. The capital of Iloilo province, which recently marked its 80th Charter Day in August, has a colorful past dating back to the arrival of the legendary 10 Bornean datus in the 12th century and purchased Panay Island with a golden salakot. In the 1800s, it had titles, like La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad (The Most Loyal and Noble City) and later, Queen Regent’s City in the South, given by the Spanish Queen Regent Maria Cristina. These official accolades have made this urban center the first “queen city” in the...

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Iloilo’s Hippest Hangouts and Upcoming Spots

If you've been to Iloilo's classic sights, it's time to drop by the newest hangouts and upcoming spots in the City of Love! By Shai Lagarde As one of the major provinces during the Spanish colonial era and officially declared as a Royal City in 1889 by the Queen of Spain, Iloilo is rich in historical and cultural treasures. Along with the mandatory food tripping and hopping around nearby beaches, waterfalls, and nature parks, any decent Iloilo itinerary would include beautiful remnants of the Spanish era, such as Calle Real (the royal road), Museo Iloilo, and Miag-ao church, a UNESCO World Heritage Baroque Church that dates back over 300 years. Other heritage sites include the Camiña Balay nga Bato, Casa Mariquit, Lizares Mansion, and the magnificent...

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AGHO ISLAND, Concepcion Iloilo, Philippines (2 Days & 1 Night Itinerary)

Due to popular demand! Haha! If you have more questions, don't hesitate to text Nong Floro he's very responsive sa mga texts. 😊 Enjoy Agho! ❤▪️DEPARTURE FROM ILOILORide Ceres Liner bus to Concepcion from the Ceres Northbound Terminal located at Balantang, Jaro, Iloilo City. Regular fare is 125 and travel time is approximately 2.5 hours. I highly suggest that you ride the earliest departure at 4:15 am (aircon bus) or 5am (non aircon bus) to get to the island early and to avoid the morning traffic. Last trip is at around 3-4 in the afternoon.▪️ARRIVAL IN CONCEPCIONDescend the bus upon arrival in the town of Concepcion. By this time, you should...

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Metro Iloilo as UN model of governance.

Iloilo City  Aerial View Metro Iloilo is one of the two metropolitan areas in the Philippines chosen by the United nations as models for Metropolitan governance. According to the report of Iloilotoday.com, Evelyn Nacario Castro, one the official of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) confirmed that Metro Iloilo was selected together with Metro Cebu by the United Nations. Metro Cebu and Metro Iloilo were chosen by the UN as models for metropolitan governance like Tokyo in Japan, New York in the United States, Paris in France, and Seoul in Korea. ...

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4 PH airports in Asia's best airports list

Iloilo International Airport MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, and Davao International Airport made it to the online travel website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports' top 30 best airports in Asia for 2016.Iloilo International Airport ranked 12th, while Mactan-Cebu International Airport was at 14th, Clark International Airport at 15th, and Davao International Airport at 26th, among the airports surveyed by the travel website....

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Megaworld eyes Davao, Cebu locators for Iloilo Business Park

A view from the Richmonde Hotel inside the Iloilo Business Park shows buildings in various stages of completion. The structure at the foreground is the Iloilo Convention Center while looming behind is the still being constructed Marriot Courtyard Hotel. (Stella Estremera) By Stella A. Estremera MEGAWORLD Corporation noted the interest of Mindanao businesses in their 72-hectare new township development in Iloilo that is fast shaping up. “We have been receiving a lot of inquiries from Davao and Cebu but majority are still locals,” said Harold Brian Geronimo, Megaworld's head for public relations and communications. As it is,...

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Davao City and Iloilo City: A new Centers of Excellence for BPO operations

MANILA - Ten cities in the Philippines were named as the next hubs for the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector. In the latest Next Wave Cities (NWC) report, the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) proclaimed 10 "next wave" cities as top locations for local and international IT-BPM players....

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Iloilo Ancestral Home: Marquez Lim Mansion

The newly restored Marquez Lim mansion at 11 Mapa Street, Iloilo City (beside Sta. Maria Church) The Marquez Lim mansion was inherited by former Senator Nikki Coseteng from her mother Alicia Guanco Marquez Lim. She is the fifth generation of Marquez Lim to have inherited the house. Coseteng earlier told media that the house restoration was made by Marcelo Alonzo, a Manila-based interior designer. The old glass blocks, tiles and all portions of the house which reflects its antiquity are being restored. Even the old faucets were rechromed. The house was also repainted with olive green to look livelier. Before it looks like a white house.Coseteng...

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