150
PHOTOS: LESTERLEDESMA (ROXAS& ILOILO); SAMUELDELEON (TACLOBAN)
ILOILO
“Iloilo isamixtureofrich
culturewithgreathistoric
sites, cheapanddelicious
food,andveryfriendly
locals.”
Nothingbeats thebaked
talaba
(bakedoysters, PHP75) atButo’tBalat
onDiversionRoad, near SMCity. The
original LaPazbatchoyatNetong’s inLa
PazMarket, and thegourmet pizzas at
Afrique’s inSmallville, Jaro, area fewother
must-try foods.
Walk the streets of
downtown Iloiloand see restoredbuildings
atCalleReal.Visit centuries-old churches
inJaroandMolo.
It’sbest tovisit
during the fourthweekendof January,
when the town celebratesDinagyang, one
of the country’smost spectacular festivals.
AREACODE
+33
TOUCHDOWN
ILOILO
INTERNATIONALAIRPORT
GETTOTOWN
TAXI,VAN
ROXAS
TACLOBAN
AlfeeAraullo
Partnershipmanager
YenPomida
Banker/spaowner/
fashiondesigner
ShirleyGil
Desktoppublisher/
graphicartist
“Tacloban ismygo-to
metropolissince it’sonly
twohoursaway frommy
hometown. I love thecity’s
rapid transformationsince
TyphoonYolanda.”
“Whenyougo toaplace
dubbed the ‘SeafoodCapital
of thePhilippines’,ofcourse
thefirstorderof theday is
tostuffyourselfsillywith
prawns, crabsandshellfish!”
Have lunchat Sunzibar onBurgos
Street and feast on itspepper chops
andcreamy tomato soup for less than
PHP400. Serving sizeshereare really,
reallybig.
Visit the tent cities
aroundTacloban toget to know the
locals and to listen to their fascinating
stories.
June, when thecity
celebrates thePintados-Kasadyaan
Festival, is thebestmonth tovisit.
Get your fill ofCapiz’s famous seafood
atCocoVerandaBar andGrill (Baybay,
RoxasCity). The seafood kare-kare, starting
at aroundPHP300per person, is apersonal
favorite.
About anhour away from
the city, blanketed in coarsewhite sand,
isOlotayan Island. It’s anicegetaway, if a
bit rugged. You canarrange for aboat to
bring you there.
Carry small change
for the tricycle, which is themainmodeof
transportationaround the city.
AREACODE
+53
TOUCHDOWN
DANIEL
Z. ROMUALDEZAIRPORT
GETTOTOWN
JEEPNEY, TAXI, TRICYCLE
AREACODE
+36
TOUCHDOWN
ROXASCITY
AIRPORT
GETTOTOWN
TAXI, TRICYCLE,
HOTELSHUTTLE
philippines
trip journal
DIDYOU
KNOW?
ILOILO’SCALLEREALHASBEENDECLAREDAHERITAGEZONEBYTHENATIONAL
HISTORICALCOMMISSIONOFTHEPHILIPPINES.
