Dinagyang Festival-Philippins' Rio Carnival

Highlight of Dinagyang Festival will be held on 23-25 of January 2009. Parades of dancing team with unique costume go through central Iloilo City namely Iznart, JM Basa (Calle Real), etc.

Dinagyang Festival has started since 1969 when a replica of Sr. Santo Nino sent to San Jose Parish Church in 1968.

I saw opening Dinagyang Festival last Friday that is same dancing parade without their costium, and I left

There is another event that is Chinese New Year after Dinagyang Festival.

Video shows Dinagyang Festival 2008.

Dinagyang Festival Offical Site
Route
Schedule 2009

Repalcement of bulb

I felt lack of brightness at the hotel room so I requested to provide one more floor stand light, and I purchased new brighter bulbs for these lights. Then it became ready to stay at this room for a while.

Service Level - 24 hours open

It is convenient that drug stores open for 24 hours. In Iloilo, a Mercury Drug in Iznart Street serves 24 hours. In front of Mercury Durag, there a Chinese first food shop called Chawking, it also serves 24 hours. Both Mercury Drug and Chawking are well known in Philippines.

One day I slept very early time having without dinner after I got back to my hotel, perhaps I had something wrong with my health, then I woke up midnight. I felt fever and was hungry. I tried to think that what I shall do, and I asked to hotel reception. They introduced those two shops near by the hotel which satisfies my requirements.

Later on, I tried to think about it what those shops' service levels are. Is it provided such service in my home town or near by? It is NO.
 

San Miguel

The Philippines premier beer, that is San Miguel Pilsen.
http://www.sanmiguelbeer.com.ph/

Warm Welcome Message

I believe that it is Iloilo's warm hospitality for their guest. I was really impressed by this message.

It must be "Sago Palm (Metroxylon)".

I found a huge size of vegetable at central market of Iloilo when I was exploring flower market for All Saints' Day. I have never seen this before, and I asked a seller that what it is. She said it is a kind of coconut or palm. However I could not realized it at that time, and I got a image later that it might be Sago palm. I have heard that starch is extracted from Sago Palm in South East Asia.

If it is so, it is called Metroxylon Sagu.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroxylon

Pomelo

Now it is season of Pomelo, which is a kind of citrus with sophisticated sweetness. This Red Pomelo is growing in Davao, Philippines, while white one is imported from China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomelo

Japanese Garrison Force in Panay Island and Japanese Garrison Force in Iloilo City パナイ島守備隊、イロイロ市守備隊

This pictures is exhibited at Museo Iloilo with other articles left by Japanese Imperial Forces. This buildings still remains just next to Plaza Libertad. The name plates at the gate show Japanese Garrison Force in Panay Island on the right side and Japanese Garrison Force in Iloilo City on the left side.

Art Déco Architectures in Iloilo, Philippines

Art Déco Architectures are seen in Iloilo City especially in City Proper District. Form above, it is a commercial building (1934) at Aldeguer Street, a commercial building (Iznart Street) (1932), a commercial building at a corner of Ledesma Street and Mabini Street (1923), Jaro Police Station, Iloilo Central Market1 and Iloilo Central Market2 at Iznart Street.

Wet Market, Public Market of Iloilo

I got in to the market so called WET MARKET which sells fresh foods after I watched flower sellers. It is not only fish but also meats, vegetables, fruits, dried fishes, etc. are sold there.

Pictures shows around 7 o'clock in the morning that it is crowded enough, and all foods here are fresh enough. Above picture shows fresh horse mackerels (left) and bonitos (right).

The main entrance of the market is Art Deco architecture which is an important landmark and heritage building in Iloilo City.

Pay Day

Philippines pensioners are making line to withdraw their pension fee from ATM in early morning at a bank located in Iloilo City Proper. It is 1st of November and it is pay day which is the first day of months. I observed the line started before six o'clock and the picture show around 8 o'clock scene that the line extended longer.

Heritage Buildings in Iloilo City Proper

Most of the heritage buildings were built from end of 19th century, during the late Spanish colonial era, to the 1930’s, which create commercial and business district of the region.

Plaza Libertad (Plaza Alfonso XII), Iloilo

Plaza Libertad is the plaza for La Punta de Iloilo. Formerly known as Plaza Alfonso XII, it is surrounded by the Iglesia de San Jose de Placer (Church of Saint Joseph).

Iloilo City was the last capital of Spanish Empire in Asia and they surrendered the Philippines revolutionary led by Gen. Martin Delgado with strong American forces in 25 December 1898 after one week the government was transferred to Iloilo City temporarily after Manila had already fallen to invading American forces in August 1898.

Iglesia de San Jose de Placer, Iloilo

Iglesia de San Jose de Placer, the first church built in the city of Iloilo located in front of Plaza Libertad (Plaza Alfonso XII) was the centre of Spanish colonization in Iloilo.

Aerial view of IloiloCity Proper

It was not so good conditions to view Iloilo City from the air, but I took some pictures between clouds. It is tiny urban area of central Iloilo City laying between the Iloilo Strait and Iloilo River.