Calle Real de Iloilo: A Dying heritage Site

By Patricia Dominique C. Yngcong

A QUOTE from Wednesday’s The Daily Guardian opinion column irked me.

The article was entitled, “A tourist speaks out on Iloilo”. Basically, it was about Danish history professor Julie Blegvad’s impressions about Iloilo City. I agree with Blegvad’s prior thoughts that if Iloilo governance does heed to improving the city’s tourism providing that there are street holes around the city and that the formerly popular Villa Beach is now teeming with coliform bacteria. Did I forget to mention the recent high nighttime crime rates around the dim areas of the city?

So much for the Iloilo City slogan: “My city, my pride!”
The quotation from Blegvad’s statement that frustrated me was the observation that the Iznart and J.M. Basa heritage buildings were just waiting for time to demolish them. How can the Iloilo government allow tourists to witness their neglect towards the preservation of these important heritage sites? These tourists see old decrepit buildings that need to be destroyed instead of noticing a wonderful marvel of late Spanish colonial architecture that needs to be preserved.

Calle Real, as is also called, are decorated with stunning heritage structures which display late 19th century European and American colonial design. In the past, these streets have been used as an avenue for commercial establishments. The buildings have also been considered as a residence for the members of the Ilonggo elite.

Just strolling or riding a jeepney around Downtown Iloilo makes one person feel the glorious vibrancy and pride that these buildings emanate. It almost feels that the façades of these heritage buildings boast about how they have endured the assaults of the war and the deprecating elements of time. Seeing that these buildings appear mistreated and seeing that a fast food chain restaurant across a heritage site garners more attention, really dampers the spirit.

In Iloilo City, there are some 26 heritage buildings that are situated in the central business district. A district heritage zone was placed under the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC) following the Executive Order No. 46 issued by former Mayor Jerry Treñas. This ordinance is targeted to conserve cultural heritage buildings and structures in the city. Last March, the ICCHCC have been requesting for support for the conservation of heritage buildings in the city.

Iloilo officials seem to be more focused on the commercial developments that are being established in Mandurriao district. However if it were up to me, I’d focus on the preservation of the 26 heritage buildings that bring a distinct quality to the city of Iloilo. So please Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, leave Barbeque Park alone and leave it to be demolished by the powers of time.

SOURCE:

 The Daily Guardian

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Iloilo town hopes to take off from success of local festival

The town of Zarraga, a fourth class municipality situated 15.7 kilometers north of this city, is banking on Saturday’s feat of its "Pantat" Festival to open more opportunities for its residents.

Zarraga Mayor Gregorio S. Brazas said that their winning has given them great pride.

Pantat Festival, a showcase of the major industries of Zarraga, was adjudged second during the Aliwan Fiesta street dancing competition held in Metro Manila over the weekend. It represented Iloilo Dinagyang’s Kasadyahan contest after bagging the championship crown during the 2011 Dinagyang Festival.

It was conceptualized in 2003 with the main purpose of encouraging more fishpond investors to focus on raising of African hito (catfish) or locally known as "Pantat."

Brazas said that currently, African hito are mostly raised in backyards. The local government unit (LGU) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have been giving them support through the provision of fingerlings and technical assistance.

The mayor said they looked forward to establish their own hatchery to be able to produce own fingerlings to be distributed to those who are interested to raise hito.

Zarraga is now the major supplier of hito for the entire province of Iloilo but Brazas said they looked forward to expand the market of the product.

Meantime, businessmen Mike Plana, who is also from Zarraga and a supporter of the festival expressed hope that they can take off from the success of the festival.

“It has its own uniqueness; we can take off from that,” he said citing the possibility of making the festival a vehicle for tourism promotion and subsequently provide employment to the people of Zarraga.

He added that given some time he looked forward to organize well-meaning individuals and discuss how they can help the two and bring in other development to this fourth class municipality.

“We are looking at something more than the local. A bigger market or processing of hito,” he said.

Annually, some 50 tons of hito are being harvested and daily more than 150 kilos or grilled hito are sold along the national road of Zarraga apart from those that are being bought uncooked.

SOURCE:

 PNA
Byahilo.com

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Iloilo City Gov’t Initiates ‘Sinadya sa Suba’

ILOILO CITY, April 19 (PNA) – The city government here, in partnership with the Bantay Suba, an organization that works on the rehabilitation and protection of the Iloilo River, are preparing to launch the first festival by the river initially slated May 20-21.

Dubbed as "Sinadya sa Suba," the activity has three major components - the cleanup of the Iloilo River, first inland angling competition and the "Konsyerto sa Suba" or the Music Festival by the River.

The activity initially aimed to raise funds for the Bantay Suba likewise to raise public awareness and participation in the protection of the Iloilo River.

Funds generated will be used to construct pumpboats that the organization will be utilized in its river rehabilitation and protection campaign.

Also being proposed to add color to the event is the food festival by the river in partnership with the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association (IHRRA).

A group of local artists is also planning to float lanterns at the Iloilo River in honor of former Constitutional Commission delegate Ephrain Trenas.

The city government is now working on the rehabilitation of the Iloilo River. Its projects recently won a gold award from the International Awards for Liveable Communities 2010 (LivCom).

 SOURCE:

 PNA

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Railway revival planned to link Iloilo and Capiz

Relics of Panay railway in Passi City

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 22:35:00 04/17/2011

ROXAS CITY – Panay Island hopes to bring back a part of its historic past with the planned revival of the railway system connecting the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz.

The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Western Visayas in its first quarterly meeting here on Friday approved the P16.017-billion project that is expected to boost the island’s economy and tourism industry.

The railway system will connect the cities of Iloilo and Roxas spanning 170.36 kilometers and will include access routes to the international port in Iloilo City and airport in Cabatuan town in Iloilo.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, chair of the RDC’s infrastructure development committee, said the project has been endorsed by the city governments of Roxas and Iloilo, the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo and the municipal governments of areas along the railway system.

Mabilog said the revival of the railway system would provide a much needed alternate mode of transportation that would cut short travel time between Iloilo and Capiz.
The project is the first phase in the revival of the Panay railways system. The second phase involves the railway system from Roxas City to Caticlan in Aklan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island.

Ro-Ann Bacal, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), said the project would be implemented on a public-private-partnership (PPP) scheme.
She said Neda had forwarded the project to the PPP Center which would assist the proponents in looking for possible foreign investors.

The late Western Visayas historian Henry F. Funtecha wrote that the railway line between Iloilo and Capiz as among the developed transport systems in the Philippines during the early 20th century.

Funtecha said the origin of the railway system in Panay could be traced in 1906 when the Philippine Commission authorized the Philippine Railway Company in Manila to construct and operate a railway line in other parts of the country.

SOURCE:

 inquirer.net

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Dinagyang Dominates ‘Aliwan’

BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
MANILA – Dinagyang Festival was declared the champion in the 2011 Aliwan Fiesta held here over the weekend.

Dinagyang, Iloilo City’s premier festival, was represented by its 2011 champion, Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School.

Pantat Festival of Iloilo province’s Zarraga town was declared first runner-up. It was the grand champion in this year’s Dinagyang kasadyahan contest.

The Iloilo contingents bested 16 other Philippine festivals that vied for top honors in this annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the country.

Tribu Pan-ay won P1 million while Tribu Pantat was given P500,000.

In the Reyna ng Aliwan beauty pageant, Ilongga beauty Dominique Braun of Tribu Pantat bagged second runner-up honors.

She was also declared best in talent.

Miss Dinagyang 2011 Samantha Marie Amparo won the Best in Festival Costume Award.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City lauded Iloilo’s delegation for their sterling Aliwan performance.

Dubbed as “The Mother of All Fiestas,” Aliwan began in 2003.

It aims to showcase the different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world.

The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism-wise.

Aliwan was originally organized as a visual extravaganza for the Christmas season but it has since been held during the summer months.

Aliwan is a Tagalog word for “entertainment” or “amusement.”

 source:

Panay News

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FORT SAN PEDRO: Reviving Iloilo’s historic landmark

 THE centuries-old Fort San Pedro is one of Iloilo City’s historical landmark. It has, however, deteriorated thru years of neglect.


Now, there is a move to restore Fort San Pedro and develop it into a tourist spot.


TIMELINE
• 1603-1616 – Inclusive years when the Spanish government constructed La Fuerza de San Pedro (Fort San Pedro) on a 2,564-square meter property at the Iloilo City waterfront for defense against Dutch and English invaders. The materials used for the fortress were earthworks and wood palisades.


• 1617 – A Dutch squadron of 10 warships engaged the Spanish defenders manning the fort. The Dutch lost the battle.
• 1738 – The Spanish government reconstructed Fort San Pedro, using 30-feet thick stone walls and installing 50 guns and mortars.


• 1899 – Invasion of the Fort by American invaders. At first, the Fort defenders repelled the invaders. On another day, however, a reinforcement of American marines forced the surrender of Spanish defenders. The Fort became a stronghold of the US Navy.


• 1937 – The US Navy turned over Fort San Pedro to the Philippine Army, which turned it into its headquarters.


• 1941-1945 – During World War II, the invading Japanese forces drove the Army out and took over Fort San Pedro, which also served as dungeon for arrested Filipino guerillas.


• March 1945 – Combined forces from the United States Navy and the United States Air Force bombed all Japanese installations in Iloilo City, including Fort San Pedro, which literally perished.


• May 4, 1986 – Consorcia B. Cordova of La Paz, Iloilo City filed a miscellaneous lease application with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for occupancy of Fort San Pedro and establishment of a drive-in restaurant thereat.


• July 10, 1986 – The DENR issued an investigation report recommending the issuance of lease contract to Cordova.


• May 21, 1991 – Cordova and the DENR entered into a 25-year miscellaneous lease agreement – for period covering February 13, 1991 to February 12, 2016 – for use of the property as a drive-in restaurant, the Fort San Pedro Drive-in at the annual rental fee of P36,783.68.


• July 22 and September 18, 1991 – Consorcia Cordova and her husband, Carlos Cordova, died, respectively.


• July 5, 1994 – Transfer of lease contract from the late Consorcia Cordova to her heirs.


• April 14, 1998 – The Department of Tourism (DOT), through Regional Director Edwin Trompeta, wrote a letter to then DENR Regional Executive Director Raoul Geollegue in connection with DOT’s intention to restore Fort San Pedro as a tourist destination. Before it could act on the DOT proposal, however, the DENR had to rescind the lease contract with the children-heirs of the late Corsorcia Cordova. The DENR withdrew the rescission after the heirs contested it in court.


• October 13, 1998 – Trompeta wrote a letter to then Philippine Ports Authority-Iloilo Manager Christian Santillan requesting the PPA to provide a 30-meter buffer zone out of its reclaimed area for conservation of the existing remains of the Fort.


• May 11, 1999 – Trompeta submitted to Sen. Franklin Drilon the preliminary study/design of the proposed Fort San Pedro Conservation Project done by the United Architects of the Philippines, Iloilo Marikudo Chapter.


• January 31, 2003 – The DENR, represented by then Regional Director Raoul Geollegue, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cordovas reinstating the latter’s occupancy of the leased Fort until expiration date on February 12, 2016; or, in case of rehabilitation of the Fort before that date, a portion of it for restaurant.


• October 2, 2004 – The DENR formally turned over to the DOT the management of Fort San Pedro through a memorandum of agreement signed by DENR Regional Director Vicente Paragas, DOT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta and the heirs of Consorcia Cordova.


• September 15, 2010 – Trompeta wrote a letter to DOT Secretary Alberto Lim requesting for a budget of P100 million for the restoration of Fort San Pedro, which has already been certified by the National Historical Institute as a “historical structure.” It would house a museum, a marine aquarium, a restaurant, a curio shop, an information office and an open-air venue for art and cultural performances.

SOURCE:

 Panay News

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How do you Sell Iloilo City

By: Ben Jimena

OFTENTIMES we ask ourselves, what is there to find in Iloilo City? Or why would visitors come to the place which seems to have nothing interesting to offer? It does not have much of natural wonders except for its river. No waterfalls, no nearby mountains, no hot spring, no caves. Villa beach is black sand.

In the past, we tried to package Iloilo City as a heritage destination. Photos of old baroque churches, antillan mansions, huge pre-Hispanic commercial buildings have been ubiquitous in postcards and other promotional collaterals for Iloilo City which was labeled heritage city.

The heritage branding however did not somehow click and take off. Iloilo City remains in the sideline.

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An Ilonggo Legacy

THE Paraw Regatta Festival is an embodiment of the excellent Ilonggo seafaring tradition.

“This is a legacy of our marine skills,” said Department of Tourism (DOT-6) regional director Edwin Trompeta.

He said the annual boat race among native outriggers separating the island of Panay from Guimaras has exemplified the Ilonggo seafaring tradition that has spread across the globe.
“More than 50% of Filipino seafarers who work in different ships abroad are from Iloilo,” Trompeta noted.

“Seafaring has been woven into our psyche and we should take pride in it,” Trompeta expressed.

However, he stressed there is a need for the younger generation to appreciate the essence of seafaring and how it continues to play a pivotal role in an archipelagic country.

Established by DOT as a festival in 1972, the Paraw Regatta mimicked the material and design of the paraw that carried the first Bornean settlers to Panay during the 13th century.

“Our forefathers utilized it to find a new home and is continued to be used to this day. It is a means of transportation and a tool in the fishing livelihood of those living in coastal areas,” Trompeta noted.

He also emphasized that the festival, which has been named as one of the country’s Best Sports Tourism events by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP), is an awareness campaign on environmental preservation.

“The paraw does not use gasoline and is dependent on the natural wind,” Trompeta said.

As a festival, Paraw Regatta aimed “to develop the local tourism industry and preserve the paraw as a legacy from the earliest period of Ilonggo history.” It also wanted to instill sportsmanship among Ilonggos.

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WVRAA MEET OPENS TODAY

Public-private partnership highlights reg’l sports event

ILOILO City – The Division of Iloilo has tapped as partners various groups and individuals for the smooth staging of the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet that officially opens today.

Dr. Ma. Janelyn Fundal, secretary-general and co-tournament director, identified some venues of the games as SM City-Iloilo, Plazuela de Iloilo and Gaisano City Mall.

Other civic-minded persons and sports enthusiasts have extended material and financial support to the WVRAA Meet, the premier school-based sports event in Region 6.

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Iloilo City now Business-Friendly’

BY JEZZA NEPOMOCENO

ILOILO City – Since last month when the city government started hastening the processing of business applications, it has not received complaints.

“This only show that our employees are effective in making the process short and fast,” said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

He ordered the City Business Permit and Licensing Office (CBPLO) to speed up the processing of business applications to only 15 days.

Mabilog commended CBPLO under Nilda Amatorio and urged the office to sustain the momentum.

This is meant to make Iloilo City business-friendly, he explained.

For years, the processing of business permits and other business-related documents took at least six months.

Mabilog said this discouraged prospective investors.

Should there be delays in the processing, Mabilog said, an applicant can complain thru city government hotlines 300-0533 and 333-3533. The mayor said he will personally check the processing.

To further speed up the processing, Mabilog said, the city government will soon embark on “full computerization” – that’s when city government offices have finally settled at the new city hall in Plaza Libertad.

The city hall is still under construction.

“We will wait for the new city hall to be completed before we can proceed with the full computerization,” said Mabilog.

Most city government offices are temporarily located at the third floor of Robinsons Place Iloilo.

Early last month, Mabilog gathered businessmen to a meeting and told them that the city government would be hastening the issuance and renewal of business permits for their convenience.

He said he was putting in place a system similar to a one-stop shop that would complete the process within 15 working days only.

He asked for the cooperation of businessmen in making the project successful by bringing to his attention any delay in the processing of business permits.

Mabilog said this is part of his thrust to transform Iloilo City into a premier metropolis by 2015.
Iloilo City is the regional center of Western Visayas.

SOURCE:

Panay News

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New P710-M worth City Hall up by August

ILOILO City Government workers will start their first day of work in the new seven-storey City Hall building along Plaza Libertad starting August 25, 2011, said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

August 25 is also the Charter Day anniversary of Iloilo.

Mabilog met Friday with contractor FF Cruz Fraysinet and city fiscal managers on the construction status of the new City Hall building, which costs some P710 million.

The mayor said P450 million was first loaned from Land Bank of the Philippines. The contractor bid price was P386 million, while the city will again loan P260 million to fund the revised construction plan and to buy the many amenities such new furniture, air conditioning units, additional elevators and solar panels, among others.

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A boulevard for health, environment

The Treñas Boulevard has morphed from a bypass road to one that is off-limits to vehicles to give way to health buffs and pedestrians after its unveiling on March 13, 2010.

It has also spurred developmental efforts, including the rehabilitation of the Iloilo River on whose bank it is situated. Government institutions and officials, and private groups have joined in efforts to turn Treñas Boulevard and the Iloilo River into a tourism and environment showcase.

Named after the late constitutional convention delegate Efrain Treñas, father of former city mayor and now Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, the thoroughfare has lately become a showcase of river development projects and other initiatives.

The International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) in Chicago cited the city government’s Iloilo River Development Project in handing out a “gold award” for environmental sustainability on Nov. 8, 2010—besting seven other entries around the world.


Launched in 1997, the LivCom Awards are endorsed by the United Nations Environment Program. Its website (www.livcomawards.com) says it is “the world’s only awards competition focusing on International Best Practice regarding the management of the local environment.”

Sen. Franklin Drilon says he was in the talks with architect Paulo Alcazaren, one of the developers of the Singapore Quay, to improve the river and the boulevard’s economic and tourism potentials.

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Iloilo boat-sailing Festival Draws Acclaim

Filed Under: Sailing, Festive Events (including Carnivals)

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Iloilo’s boat-sailing festival, the Paraw Regatta, has drawn acclaim beyond Philippine shores affirming its distinction as the oldest and one of the most colorful sailing events in Asia.

Tens of thousands of residents and tourists lined up along the shores of Iloilo City and Guimaras on Sunday to watch the annual boat-sailing competition.

Many waited since early morning to catch a glimpse of the colorful paraws before they took off from the coastline of Villa Arevalo District in the city for the 36.5-kilometer race along the Iloilo Strait between the city and Guimaras Island. The race started at about 10:30 a.m.

“The Paraw Regatta has truly evolved through the years from a simple boat race into a grand festival,” said Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta.

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Iloilo River as Tourism and Business Center?

EFFORTS to preserve and protect the Iloilo River will not stop at clearing and cleaning Iloilo City’s prime body of water, according to Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

Drilon said he will meet internationally-renowned landscape architect Paulo Alcazaren today, February 17, to discuss ways to transform the river into a tourism and business hub.

Alcazaren is credited for developing the Singapore Quay and many other landmark places in the country into tourist attractions.

Drilon said his vision for saving the Iloilo River is not confined to just clearing, cleaning and dredging the waterway and bring it back to its old self.

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