Vacation destination? Villa Igang is the place to go!

When we think of Guimaras, we think of Villa Igang Resort.

Five years ago was my first to experience the beauty of a secluded beach resort in Guimaras. It was formerly named as Puerto del Mar. At a glance, you will really notice that Villa Igang is a more privy resort compared to the neighboring beaches. 

This is a 34-hectare of nature-favored domain; has three coves, a picnic center called The Mooring Cleat, beach cottages, convention hall, conference and game hall gift shop, recreation and sports complex; offers a variety of activities for tourists and vacationists such as swimming, picnicking, snorkeling, sailboating or island touring.

Before you reached the place you will be blown away by the sight of mangroves along the road and a body of water that looks like a lake.

It can be accessed through a 15-min boat ride from Iloilo City to Jordan Wharf and a 45-min jeepney ride from Jordan Wharf or a 1hour boat ride direct from Iloilo City.

The entrance fee is Php100 but that includes sightseeing and swimming. If you just want to take pictures just like we did, it will cost you Php20 and you get to enjoy even whole day of sightseeing as well as relaxing. 

My second visit in the place was with my boss. We were the only guests in the resort and just like what I've said, It is best for relaxing. We stayed there overnight and it will only cost you Php700 for a cottage. As long as I can remember, the room is good for two and has a decent toilet. My boss is a frequent visitor there and we didn't have any problem when it comes to food. We bought pork and other bite to eat that time and she said we can have it cooked there for Php50 per kilo and that include the rice. Not a bad idea, right?

At night, we've had a nice and relaxing time to drink wine by the seashore, telling stories, and watching the stars.

I took my boyfriend last year for a whole day relaxing and sightseeing. We were not alone in the resort because we've met a foreigner couple. Of course, we bought some food and we have it cooked there again for our lunch. The staff was very accommodating and they really want your stay to be worthwhile. We ate our lunch by the seashore. We did enjoy taking photographs in the back side of the resort. It has a "mini ruins" and they said it is a good place for wedding. My boyfriend was really amazed of the sight and we even climbed on the top of gigantic rocks. It was a memorable trip for us.

Surely, we will keep on visiting Villa Igang soon.

 In this photo: You can see the a lot of doves there and you can feed them

In this photo: The "mini ruins" and it is located in the right side (partly back) of the resort. 

In this photo: Still in the "mini ruins." 

                                                             In this photo: The stairway  to the "mini ruins" 

Perri Todds- All American Burger

*this photo was taken by the Viewfinders                                                                                                                

Are you craving for burger? not the usual burger... the huge burger? 

Well, Perri Todds All American Burger is the restaurant you should visit. The business was established last 2008 as a humble beginning in Jaro, fronting Jaro Elementary School. Deliveries and to-go were the usual business. As the years go by, the business expanded as much as the restaurant underwent a lot of renovation to cater the needs of hundreds of people dropping by everyday just to   have a sumptuous meal. Recently, they released Perri Todds jingle and quite sure, you have been hearing it over the radio. Good thing that they are going to branch out all over Iloilo City and I’ve heard one will be in Smallville. 

It has been two years. Perri Todds now is more likely one of the successful restaurants here in Iloilo. I love the ambience, the food, the staff! In fact, I’ve tasted the best Pomodoro in the country here in Perri Todds. Who else will disagree with me if I’ll say the Perri Todds burger is the best in the whole wide world? Plus the PT potato and a skyscraper iced tea! We keep on coming back for more delicious treats coupled with reasonable prices.

Afrique's

The name Afrique’s is well-known to epicureans in Iloilo. If you’re a guest and would want to leave this city with great memories of pizza and pasta, Afrique’s can give you all that.

Miguel Cordova, Iloilo’s most popular young chef, takes us back to history. “Hughes Street used to be a strip where big business establishments were built. There are still many beautiful structures you can see around but only a few of them have been maintained. Somewhere at the end of this long street was where the casino used to be.” The once lonely old house now known as Afrique’s is a fresh face among old structures in the district. The Cordovas did all they could to maintain the original façade of the house.

 It was built sometime in the 1930s and was owned by Virgilio

Ferraris. Salustiano Mirasol and Mrs. Consuelo Segovia later bought the house and became the ancestral house of the Mirasols. The Mirasols are only one of the many illustrious families in Iloilo. In the very house where Afrique’s is now was where Mrs. Esperanza Mirasol Macavinta and her siblings grew up. The is likened to a huge precious chest full of wonderful memories.

The house was then eventually bought by Atty. Pedro Macavinta and Mrs. Esperanza Mirasol Macavinta. They are survived by their two sons, Dr. Howard M. Macavinta, married to Dr. Ma. Theresa Lira Macavinta and their two daughters, Ma. Camille and Cindy Faye; and Atty. Glen Nelson Macavinta married to Monica Castillo Macavinta, who have a son named Merryn.

The Cordova’s eye for beauty enabled them to transform the almost dilapidated house into a Mediterrenean style bistro. Jaws of visitors would often drop at the first sight of Afrique’s. Aside from the luscious food, Afrique’s is also known for its unique ambiance that is homey yet elegant. Rafael Cordova, one of the siblings, says, “In Afriques, you don’t need to dress up. It has a very relaxed ambiance and a homey feel to it.” Just like what they say about history repeating itself       ( and in a very good way), the Cordova siblings are now taking care of the beautiful place  and  has  given it prestige by making it the home of  Afrique’s.

So what else is new about this place? These connoisseurs of food have added wonders to their menu. If you are crazy about salads, you can let your tongue run wild with Afrique’s new list of salads. On the list are Crab Mentality, Garden Greens with Caesar Salad Dressing and Garden Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette. Of course your favorite gourmet pizza, pasta and burgers are still around to delight you. Afrique’s is almost like a good dream… you just don’t want to wake from it.

For reservations, please call (033) 509-2811. (Email the author at jinki_young@yahoo.com) 

source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/restaurants/afriques/afriques.html

Iloilo in a Pulse

Welcome!

I will take you somewhere. 
A place they call a haven for both laid-back and headstrong soul.

Iloilo is located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique to the west and Capiz and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is the island of Guimaras, once part of Iloilo but now a province in its own right. Across the Panay Gulf and Guimaras Strait is Negros Occidental. Iloilo's capital is Iloilo City.

People from Iloilo are called Ilonggos. There are two local languages spoken in the province: Hiligaynon sometimes called Ilonggo, and Kinaray-a. Hiligaynon and variants of it are spoken in Iloilo city and a few towns of the province. Spanish is strictly a local language,at least in a historical way, but the number of natural Spanish speakers have declined strongly after WWII, and due to this, there are today many Ilonggos who do not consider it a local language.

Spanish architecture can be seen in old buildings in downtown Iloilo. Chinese Merchants and Indonesians were trading with the Ilonggos long before the Spaniards came. The ruling Spanish government encouraged these foreign merchants to trade in Iloilo but they were not given privileges like ownership of land. The Mestizo a class eventually was born from the intermarriages of the locals and Chinese merchants, Spanish with the local Malay people. They later emerged as the ruling class of the Ilonggos.

The town's fiesta is one of the most important events for Ilonggos. Almost every town (municipality) in Iloilo has a fiesta and festival celebrated annually. 

Iloilo is subdivided into 42 municipalities, one component city, and one highly urbanized city.

As a leading province during the Spanish Colonial Era, the province of Iloilo is widely known for its beautiful old world architecture similar to that of Latin American Countries. Spanish colonial Churches are amongst the well-known tourist sites in the province.

Miagao Church. The World Heritage Site. The Aztec-Baroque inspired church with Filipino botanicals used to carved on the facade. It is known for its intricate facade and pyramidal bell towers. The church was used as a fortress during the olden days. It is a massive structure built of yellowish Limestones.

Molo Church. The Gothic Renaissance Church of Molo was used as a watch tower to warn the people if there are any attackers on the shore of Iloilo City. It is a fine coral stone church with Classical and Gothic details. It is also known as the feminist church because of the beautiful female saints lining inside the church.

Cabatuan Church. This Neoclassic Church, known to be the most massive Hispanic structure in Iloilo is built of red bricks. It is believed to be the largest red brick structure in the Visayas and it was given the title "Model of Temples" by the 'El Eco de Panay'. The Cabatuan Church is known to be the only extant Spanish colonial church with three facades.

San Jose Church. The beautiful church in front of plaza Libertad is considered the most historic amongst the churches in Iloilo City. It is a Byzantine-Neoclassic Church planned to look like the Spanish Church of Valencia del Cid. The Church is known for its collection of priceless Catholic treasures.

Old Capitol building of the Province of Iloilo. A National Historical Site. The building was built with wood stone during the Spanish colonization. It served as the capitol when the civil government of Iloilo was founded in 1901. The National Historical Institute (NHI) formally recognized the Old Capitol as a historical landmark through a marker installed on its walls on April 11, 2010.

The Historic province of Iloilo is also known for 'Calle Real'; a street of old buildings with their classical designs. During January, the city heats up for Dinagyang, the festival dubbed as "The best tourism event in the Philippines" It is a collection of tribe warriors dancing in honor of the Child Jesus.

Iloilo is much known as the City of Love!