St. Anne’s Molo Church

 

 Camiña Balay nga Kawayan in Guimaras Island

 

Top 5 in Iloilo: WheninManila.com’s Five Reasons to Fall for the City of Love

When in Manila and wanderlust calls, nothing is quite as arresting at Iloilo’s unique charm. Much like a beautiful love story, Iloilo offers a comforting sense of familiarity to strangers who initially set foot its busy streets, and likewise bequeaths them with lingering nostalgia upon leaving. The city itself can be likened to a one-of-a-kind romance, in its raw beauty, its mysteries, and the realizations it opens to people. Here are some of the top reasons we’ve gladly heeded the City of Love’s beckoning, and why we wouldn’t mind answering its call a second (or third!) time.

 

  Jaro Cathedral and Belfry Tower.

 

The beautifully restored Eusebio Villanueva Building at Calle Real.

 

Casa Mariquit, one of Iloilo’s many ancestral homes open for visitors.

  

Tigbauan Church with its jaw-dropping walls filled with ornate mosaic depictions of the Stations of the Cross, as well as heaven and earth on its altar.

 

 Miag-ao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s oldest baroque churches, known for its eclectic façade.

 

5. The Rich Culture and Historical Heritage

Iloilo is a treasure trove of long-lost historical landmarks and heritage sites. You can easily find a well-preserved ancestral home in every street corner, each with an interesting story to share and a vintage façade to match. Most of the city’s popular ancestral homes are open for viewing; our favorites include Casa Mariquit and the Lizares Mansion. Also worth the visit is Iloilo’s wide collection of historic churches built at different points in history, offering a glimpse into the area’s deeply-rooted Catholic legacy that goes back way before the time of Spanish occupation.

 

Off the beaten (path) waterway in Guimaras.

 

 In search of paradise among the mangroves.

 

4. Guimaras Island

When in Iloilo, a pit-stop to breath-taking Guimaras island should not be missed. Guimaras is only a 20-minute boat ride from Iloilo city, and is home to a selection of beautiful beaches. A large portion of which are hardly commercialized or tainted by modernization and tourists, making them all the more desirable. If you have the time, do spend a day or two zigzagging around the island to discover its many pockets of white sands and mangrove conservation areas. While you’re at it, try Guimaras’ famous native mangoes, which are known to be the sweetest in the world.

 

Read more about Iloilo’s delectable delicacies and specialties after the jump!