Iloilo and its Surroundings

Iloilo may not initially appear to be the most obvious of places to visit, but it is nevertheless worth exploring for a number of reasons. Each January Iloilo hosts what is undoubtedly one of the Philippines' most spectacular festivals, during which the city's street are filled with dance troupes competing in hugely colourful and elaborately choreographed performances.
Outside festival season, the surrounding area is worth eploring for its string of historic Spanish-era churches, most specially that at miagao, a World Heritage site that is protected for its wonderful facade.

For those who like wandering on beaches. although long stretches of golden sand and tuquoise water are hard to find, here these are replaced by busy, friendly, fishing communities, where you can watch the catch being brought ashore, along with boats being repaired, launched an returned.

Above: The Jaro district of Iloilo City is Well known for ceramic jars, which can be bought in Belfry Plaza, dominated by the Spanish-era Belfry, as shown in this dusk shot.

Left: Miagao Church is one of the Philippines most famous man-made landmarks between 1787 snf 1797, it is a world Heritage Site due to its stunning exterior depicting St Christoper in a tropical garden.

Above: Having just returned from a fishing trip and pulled their boat up onto the beach at Miagao, fishermen sort through the catch in preparation for selling it to friends and neighbours gathering arround.

Left: The Iloilo is renowned in the Philippines fot its high  quality weaving, including cloth produced on the handlooms of Indag-an Cooperative in Miag-ao, shown here.

Dinagyang Festival: In a country renowned for its festivals, Iloilo's Dinagyang is arguably one of the Philippines' most spectacular. Held annually over the third weekend of January, events kick off on the Friday evening with a huge food festival. Hundreds of food stalls setting up on the streets, One of the most popular dishes is grilled satay (far right). The saturday is dominated by the kasadyahan dance competition, taking place in several grandstand set up on Iloilo's streets, Amateur dance group from local colleges and villages get to strut their stuff, with huge, lavishly choreographed performances that aim to celebrate such aspects of local life as fishing (above right) or agriculture (left). Outside the grandstands, the crouded streets are lined with stalls selling snacks and mementoes (above right),

The main event of the Dinagyang Festival is Ati-Atihan, held on the Sunday. It commemorates land deals agreed between the native Aeta tribes and Malays immigrating from Borneo in the 12th and 13th centuries, allowing the Malays to settle in Panay. Consisting of a dance competition held in grandstand set up on Iloilo's streets enormous amateur dance groups stage stunningly elaborate performances, complete the blackened skin and hugely spectacular tribal-style costumes that aim to recall the beneficent Aeta tribes.