Iloilo: A Growing Metropolis
Iloilo has always been a premier province in the country. Located at the center of the Philippine archipelago, it comprises the southeastern part of Panay island. It is a province with rich historical and cultural heritage, the home of various fiestas and festivals celebrated in the city and various towns of the province with “Dinagyang” as the most popular and nationally acclaimed shindig. The city is also known for its grand and magnificent mansions, majestic century-old churches and exotic food and extraordinary delicacies.
The capital city of the province of Iloilo is Iloilo City. It is a fast-growing modern city yet has always maintained its old charm and unspoiled environment. Iloilo was a forerunner in business and trade way back in the Spanish and American colonial periods. Before the turn of the twentieth century, the first department store in the country called Hoskyns and Co. opened in Calle Real, the prime shopping district of the city back then. Today, Iloilo City is also one of the major urban centers of the Philippines with its many first class accommodations, an airport of international standards, state-of-the-art malls, and as a favorite stopover for tourists heading to the beaches of Boracay and Guimaras, as well as the nearby provinces of Antique, Capiz and Aklan.
As a growing and thriving city, Iloilo is a leading convention and meeting destination in the Philippines due to its easy accessibility from key cities. Getting to and around Iloilo is very convenient because of the several transportation preference available. Travel time by plane from Manila takes about fifty-five minutes, twenty-five minutes from Cebu, and an hour from Davao. Iloilo airport is approximately thirty minutes from Iloilo City. By boat or ferry, it would take twenty hours at most from Manila and twelve hours from Cebu. Iloilo can also be reached by RORO vessels and by land transportations such as buses and private cars.
Iloilo City has developing facilities matching its vibrant and active atmosphere with Diversion Road as the city’s business district in which at present, a bike and pedestrian lane is constructed beside its very busy eight-lane highway. Diversion Road is also where Smallville Complex, Iloilo’s favored nightlife rendezvous is located. Road widening and beautification are currently on-going from Iloilo City up to the Iloilo International Airport in preparation for the city’s hosting of APEC Ministerial Meetings in 2015.
There is a good range of places to stay in Iloilo from first class hotels to budget pension houses and inns. The city proper is where most hotels are located. This area is favorable for those who prefer a central location that is close to a number of restaurants, shopping malls, local markets, commercial establishments, government offices, and transportation terminals. There are also several other affordable places to stay in Iloilo which can be found in the districts of Jaro and Lapaz. These districts are also home to major schools, universities, hospitals, and residential subdivisions.
Nowadays, Iloilo City is a huge source of manpower in the Philippines and the said manpower in Iloilo City is classified under multiskilled workers. Various investors have noticed this potential as they are now more willing to invest in the local market. As Jose Sio, Director of SM Investments Corporation, said: “It is only in Iloilo where you can see the LGU and business sector work together toward progress.”
It is not surprising anymore that Iloilo is definitely one of the fastest rising city. This city of love provides not just a pleasurable plunge into a cultural hospitality that is unique to its people. It is also a budding economic region with globally competitive manpower that may well boost its economy.