My first travel memories is from Iloilo and since this is my first travel entry I want to feature our home province. I almost grew up in Iloilo and I love to go back there every time I had vacation leaves and visit my relatives. I've been traveling to Iloilo since I was two years old.
I did discovered last 2009 that there are lots of Spanish-old church architecture scattered across Iloilo and other neighboring Panay provinces. Since then I love bringing friends over our place in Iloilo and let them tour across the province. Over the last 3 years I have collected some of the pictures I've taken with friends and some scenic spots in Iloilo.
Here are some of them:
Grassy Fields in Iloilo (taken from our town in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo)
Old Churches and Towns:
Sta. Barbara Town - this place includes an age old Spanish church, clean plaza and a museum. You can check out the town's history and interesting artifacts at the museum. There is also a golf club which boasts as the oldest golf club in the Philippines.
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| the municipal hall |
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| The side of the church |
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| The church Moorish design |
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| Sta. Barbara Church |
Molo - Molo is known for its famous Pancit Molo and the famous St. Anne Church. It is one of feminist church in Iloilo because the saints that lined up the church pillar are all female. It is also known in the history as a church stop over for our national hero Jose Rizal while on his way to Dapitan. Molo is near Iloilo city and near the famous restaurant Tatoy's Manukan at the Arevalo.
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| Molo Church front |
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| The side of the church |
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| One of the church's tower |
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| the church dome |
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| Inside the church leading to the altar |
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| at the main entrance of the church |
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| The Holy Family |
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| the female saints that adorned the church |
Miag-ao - Miag-ao is famous for its intricate church design and their church was one of UNESCO site to visit. The church structure is made from eggs and shells found in the beaches. There has been an urban legend that the Miag-Ao church has a secret passage that leads up to the beaches that was used during the pirate attacks in the early days.
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| The front |
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| One of the towers |
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| The church passage |
Jaro - Jaro boasts its Cathedral and was visited by Pope John Paul II during the 80's. Jaro is also the birthplace of the Philippine hero Graciano Lopez Jaena. The cathedral is also famous because of Our Lady of Candles. Urban legends tells that the image used to be small and it just fits right into the niche at the top of the church. But from passing times it keeps growing and the people decided to put up a glass altar to transfer the icon, rumor also says that the child the saint is holding used to stroll around the church area at night. It is worth seeing the cathedral because it is the opposite of Molo church. All saints that adorned the pillars of the cathedral contains male saints.
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| St. Andrew inside Jaro Church |
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| The Jaro Bellfry. The original structure |
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| Front |
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| Going to altar |
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| top view ceiling |
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| New portrait of Blessed Pope John Paul II |
Pavia - Pavia is also near Iloilo city and very accessible coming from the airport. It is famous for its red brick St. Monica church. Church renovations is continuously done since it was damaged from Typhoon Frank last 2008. The church is also right across the town plaza.
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| Magdagdag ng caption |
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| Front |
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| Pillars of the church overlooking the town plaza |
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| Town Plaza |
Guimbal - Guimbal has its own age-old church and near Miag-ao. Its town plaza is big and clean. Church facade is nice but like other old churches in the Philippines it needs renovation and updates to maintain its ancient beauty.
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| Inside the church |
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| Front |
Tibiao - Tibiao is also a good place to visit for a church hopping. Though like Guimbal church with renovations ongoing, the church has good mosaic of Stations of the Cross encircling the building. It also has a magnificent altar.
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| Mosaic found on the church entrance |
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| Front |
How to Get on Iloilo:
Transportation is not a problem in Iloilo. You can reach each town by riding the Starex type jeepney found across Iloilo city and in the airport. You can also hire a van if you are on a group tour. Buses are also available. For first time traveler, you can check the Iloilo tourism website for assistance.
Iloilo is best for those who are into history and art fanatics. There are also beaches and restaurants across the province that avid travelers would enjoy. I would post a separate entry on gastronomic experiences in Iloilo!
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