Experience Iloilo

*with reports from the daily guardian newspaper

Lin-ay as simulated in the New Iloilo City Hall render

The "Lin-ay" actually is a 15-foot statue of an Ilongga lady that will be put on top of the dome of the new City Hall, which the honorable mayor of Iloilo City - Jed Patrick E. Mabilog wants to make this as an icon of the city.

This Statue of Ilonggo Pride, is another obra of renowned multi-media visual artist, Professor Edward Defensor.

Professor Ed Defensor and her Lin-ay masterpiece

The lady, is a composite of Ilongga ladies and a true Ilongga in all aspects. She is shown hugging with her right arm, newly-harvested stalks of rice, and in her left hand she is holding a scythe ("garab"), most common harvesting implement of the province. She is as well standing on a field of newly-harvested rice, all to symbolize the prosperity ("kauswagan") of the province and its great city of Iloilo. Her head is tilted up in a pose to symbolize hope ("paglaum"), and her entire mien symbolizes peace ("paghidaet")

The woman statue wears a “Patadyong” skirt and a “Sablay” made of Hablon, products of the then flourishing weaving industry in Iloilo. On its chest is an ethnic necklace symbolic of the rich ethnic culture of Iloilo, also a symbol of being a descendant of the royal line of Datus and a denizen of Iloilo’s internationally known folk-history.

Lin-ay: the Statue of Ilonggo Pride

The "Lin-ay" is standing on a squarish pedestal, festooned with ethnic designs, but most importantly, the four sides will be sculpted with images of the four major economic components of Iloilo--rice farming, sugar cane farming, fishing, and the industrial component.

She will be completely in bronze, and like the Lady of Freedom of Washington D.C. will also serve as a lightning rod.

Upon completion she will be the biggest statue in Iloilo City and the whole of Iloilo province, and our first important cultural edifice since the Arroyo fountain which was put up in the early 1900s.

(Texts are excerpts from Prof. Defensor's description of Lin-ay)
photo credits: Prof. Ed Defensor

The 7th Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta grand champion, Grupo del Oeste of West Visayas State University’s College of Physical Education, Sports, Culture, Arts and Recreation, has bagged the chance to perform in the upcoming Aliwan Festival.

The annual festival organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company will be held this April in Metro Manila. It features various Philippine festivals.

According to Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta, the grand winner of the recent Dinagyang Festival, Tribu Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School, is also expected to compete in the Aliwan.

Grupo del Oeste defeated Grupo Fuerte Baile of Fort San Pedro National High School -- last year’s champion.

This year, Grupo Fuerte Baile was adjudged first runner-up. It also bagged the best in costume and best in production design minor awards.

Grupo del Oeste also won the best in music, best in choreography and best in performance special awards.

2011 sailing competition, Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival

Meanwhile, Grupo Mesa Latinos of La Paz National High School was adjudged second runner-up.

Grupo Las Brillas of Iloilo City National High School was declared the third runner-up.

The best in parade award was handed to Grupo Las Brillas.

The best in float and best in duo performers special awards were awarded to Grupo Mesa Latinos.

Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta is one one of the side events of the Paraw Regatta Festival, now on its 39th year of sailing.

(photo credit: Joel Miles Molina)

Thousands of devotees gather at the Jaro Cathedral in Iloilo City every 2nd day of February to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candle).

The Our Lady of Candles Shrine (photo credit: Ilonggos.net)

This is the reason why Jaro is considered by many as the religious capital of Western Visayas. This is also the time when some Jareños especially abroad would come home and celebrate the feast with their family.

This year's Fiesta Queen is Ray Paulette Antonia-Solinap, and will be crowned in glittering ceremonies at the Jaro Plaza gymnasium – a fiesta tradition that has been carried out for generations.

The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, is the site of the miraculous image of Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It is the only religious image in the Philippines to have personally crowned by a Pope.

The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral

The church is built in 1864 with fossil stones of creamy color compared to most of the Hispanic structures in Iloilo that were built over bricks and sandstones. Its baroque architecture features designs of entwining of many neoclassic features. Stained glass windows of Romanesque designs contribute to unique balance between baroque and classic style. The dominance of baroque style is seen through the small rose window at the upper half of the church's facade, which is typical to gothic churches.

The Jaro church plays a big part in the history of Iloilo. It is considered as the heart of Catholicism in the island and perhaps the most important shrine in the region.

Jaro, one of the six districts of Iloilo City, originally name was Salog or Saro, was the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas during the Spanish rule of the Philippines. It has been one of the more economically-advanced areas of Iloilo City even during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines and probably the richest town of the entire colony (1521-1898).

Historical artifacts indicate that the town had once conducted trade with China and Siam (Thailand) due to its port along the navigable river that ran through the town.

Jaro became a city in 1886 until it was later absorbed by the city of Iloilo along with the neighboring towns of Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Arevalo in the early 20th century when all economic activities were shifted to the port of Iloilo.

Fort San Pedro National High School's Tribu Pan-ay is this year's Dinagyang Ati tribe competition Champion. Pan-ay was also judged as Best in Choreography and the Best in Performance.

Tribu Pan-ay

On the other hand, Pantat Festival of Zarraga, Iloilo made it on top among other participating festivals in the Kasadyahan Festival. Pantat Festival also bagged the Best in Choreography in the minor awards.

Pantat Festival of Zaragga, Iloilo

Tribu Paghidaet

Tribu Salognon

Tribu Paghidaet

Mr. Romel Flogen of Tribu Aninipay was awarded best choreographer, while Mr. Ryan Velez of  Salognon  was recognized as best musical director and Mr. Joebert Molina of Tribu Paghidaet as best costume designer respectively.

Tribu Paghidaet

Tribu Pan-ay

Tinuom Festival of  Cabatuan, Iloilo

Pagdihon Festival of Dingle, Iloilo

Also, Mr. Ramil Huyatid of Tribu Pantat was awarded Best Choreographer for the Kasadyahan 2011.

Binanog Festival of Lambunao, Iloilo

Kasag Festival of Banate, Iloilo

Winners of the Dinagyang and Kasadyahan were officially invited to join the Aliwan 2011 competition in Manila this April.

Iloilo City’s “Luces in the Sky”, a Dinagyang Festival pyro-musical contest is to be participated by an international team that will show its stuff through an exhibition performance.

2010 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival - Luces in the Sky Competition

Jess Sio, chairperson of the competition, said Red Hub Entertainment Group from Singapore will join as a non-competing participant.

The group will be represented by Damien Tan and Hock Kwee Lee.

“We are very happy that an international pyro-team joins the aerial fireworks display of the city,” Sio added.

This year's “Luces in the Sky” is set on January 20 and 21, as one of the main attractions leading to Dinagyang Festival.

The Red Hub Entertainment Group will do their exhibition on the 21st.
A total of 13 teams from Bulacan, Cebu and Mindanao will be divided to compete on the two-day event.

Performance will run from four to seven minutes with synchronized music.

“We promise you a quality show,” Sio assured.

The event is being hosted on its 4th Year.