Day 1: Welcome to Iloilo 
It was past seven at night when I first stepped on the City of Love (that’s how they called it while other referred as City of Friendship- I can accept it both. Other tag for the city, anyone?). The weather was bit stubborn than the situation I left in Manila hours ago. The heaven had just through pouring the land with generous showers. The scenario along the way as I was in a 30-minute ride in a cab from the airport to the city was totally different from the anticipated incoming events the next days. The lazy rain is guilty in-charge of it. The condition even got worst as soon as I arrived in the hotel where my ever loving half equally excited, patiently waiting. Initial plan that night was to go out for dinner, try the Deco’s Lapaz Batchoy (local food house known for the cuisine), scan the city as streets were already closed in preparation for tomorrow’s big event, meet a chat friend lived in the area and other colleague lodged in nearby hotels who also visited the place for the occasion. But the non-stop rain restrained us in the hotel’s Chinese restaurant and let ourselves indulged in their menu. Foods were great too anyway.
Day 2: An Unexpected K
asadyahan & Antipicated Friends
We were about to visit Miag-ao church, a UNESCO world heritage site in the province, then spend the rest of the afternoon until sundown at the famous beaches of Guimaras- that was supposed to be the errands for that day. But I never anticipated the Kasadyahan festival celebrated on Saturday- right before the big Dinagyang on Sunday. Kasadyahan is a colorful and “theatrical” cultural parade and contest which just started to gain hype, popularity and publicity unlike Dinagyang. This year’s Kasadyahan common presentation imparted the Ilonggo’s rich culture and origin. At the culmination of each presentation, I can compare it equally as interesting and powerful as Dinagyang. I have this great anticipation that in coming years, it can achieve the hype to be as famous as other admiring tourist-destined festivals in the country nowadays.
After lunch was the parade of supporters- schools and universities, hospitals, government offices, private companies, socio organizations and lot more who buoy up their undying braces for the festival. Some groups took advantage the opportunity to display a down-to-earth presentation (mostly in the beat of the festival’s official song), as other simply passed on the viewing public waving their hands with a welcoming smiles.
As the sun set down, I thought the celebration for Kasadyahan ended but for some party species, the celebration had just begun. Evidence was the block-by-block street concerts which became livelier with the aid of building-height units of speakers that almost broke my eardrum every time I passed by and tumbled my heartbeat due to its great intensity.
The garden-inspired bistro was never a good option as venue to first timely meet friends over dinner due to the mixed earsplitting sounds of on-going street-playing bands and raucous cheering of partying crowd. We just indulged ourselves to stay again in the ever relying Chinese restaurant which I thought a better and a quieter venue to convene and
talk. A couple of hours having candid conversation with new friends, we decided to search on the city party scene. A ride away from the metropolis, we just find ourselves in a bigger bashing crowds and alluring blocks of bars and bistros. Hardly looking for available seats with all those partying people, we ended up in Nothing but Desserts. Two more hours of good conversations, cracking jokes and sharing the store’s whole flavored and customarily-designed white chocolate cake full-creamed with mouth watery cherry syrup, topped with sweet-bite cherries and hand-melted striped of dark and white chocolates, we left the place still filled with the crowd enjoying the time which seemed fun never ends.
Day 3: The Big Dinagyang
Just before the p
rogram started, my other half and I were sited full of anticipation for the first presentation when I noticed somebody seated behind us felt more excited than us. I’m just about to ignore him, but action spoke louder than words. He started reaching my back to capture my attention. Admittedly, I find him too cute to ignore. So, we clung onto reciprocating good sights and kept responding on those nice smiles with kind gestures. Persistent to reach me, I grabbed him and cuddled during the entire program. Ei, I am referring to a smart one-year old boy with her mom watching the festival. We both had bonded times gazing performances. The presentations run on its last two performers when I had the opportunity to talk with the kid’s mom. Right there, I learned that the boy was the governor’s grandson. I then 
started feeling bit anxious with the thought that people around us might strangely suspected as kidnappers. I still kept to manage my composure. After the program, she introduced us to the rest of the clan who were in the venue for the same purpose. As courtesy call to new friends, we accepted the invitation for a private lunch party with the governor’s family at the provincial capitol. The occasion and the venue allow us to meet the rest of the family including the honorable governor himself and the provincial first lady. Our healthy conversations with the family ended a couple of hours later through taking another invitation for guaranteed VIP seat at the provincial sports complex for the closing program of the festival’s week-long celebration.
Three hours before
the program, we decided to leave the capitol and the provincial’s first family to roam around and observe other events in the city. We dropped at Iloilo’s museum where I indulged myself into fascination as I looked around on various remains of the history – antique porcelain jars being traded during barter, various replicas of saints, old canvass, canon, guns and other artifacts remnants of World War II and a lot more.
Major streets remained closed for the festival left us no option but to walk around and observe. There were food and beverage kiosks fully seated with partying people. Vendors of Dinagyang-related paraphernalia and souvenirs were rampant. I enjoyed bringing home few. Body-soothed painted warriors in their colorful costumes were just in the city enjoyed taking snap shots with everybody. The occasion seemed to be a great time for street reunion with friends and families. Despite the sweating heat, people ignored the humid day and enjoyed brisk walking to hop from place to another.
Proceeding on the provincial sports complex for the last program of the festival was the next agenda. A single ride from the city, we were welcomed by the biggest crowd that filled the stadium. As to them, it was first time in the history of Dinagyang to conduct the grandest closing ceremony at the sports arena which held the largest mob by far in the province. Considering the VIP seats provided by the governor’s family, we really enjoyed the comfort to be in the assembly of politicians, businessmen, sponsors and other important guests. I was with my full anticipation on a great show to witness the world-class performance of the acclaimed PAGCOR’s very own – Wanders, when rain started to ruin the whole program before it begun. The unexpected rain brought all of us on dilemma of sitting
at the center of an open field where no cover to shield made us too helpless to free from pouring drizzles. All of a sudden, the mood of pride on sitting in front of the stage just turned to be envious on those people a 100 meter-away sitting around on covered part of the stadium. But show must go on- and it went through despite the condition. Minus the rain, it’s been a good night.
Day 4: Last Day
Deprived of sleep as we went back too late due to last night’s program, I had no choice but to push myself on a non-stopped alarming mobile phone. The one-hour flight going back to Manila was scheduled on the first trip of 6:00 in the morning. A 30-minute ride from the city, it’s a must that we have to be at Iloilo’s airport an hour before the flight. So, we were really have to be rushed packing all those baggage. We just came on time.
Back to Manila an hour after was two tired body, restless and can’t afford to proceed on the office to work as planned. Worn-out and drowsy, we just both took the whole morning to sleep and gained enough strength to report at work in the afternoon.
It was past seven at night when I first stepped on the City of Love (that’s how they called it while other referred as City of Friendship- I can accept it both. Other tag for the city, anyone?). The weather was bit stubborn than the situation I left in Manila hours ago. The heaven had just through pouring the land with generous showers. The scenario along the way as I was in a 30-minute ride in a cab from the airport to the city was totally different from the anticipated incoming events the next days. The lazy rain is guilty in-charge of it. The condition even got worst as soon as I arrived in the hotel where my ever loving half equally excited, patiently waiting. Initial plan that night was to go out for dinner, try the Deco’s Lapaz Batchoy (local food house known for the cuisine), scan the city as streets were already closed in preparation for tomorrow’s big event, meet a chat friend lived in the area and other colleague lodged in nearby hotels who also visited the place for the occasion. But the non-stop rain restrained us in the hotel’s Chinese restaurant and let ourselves indulged in their menu. Foods were great too anyway.
Day 2: An Unexpected K
asadyahan & Antipicated FriendsWe were about to visit Miag-ao church, a UNESCO world heritage site in the province, then spend the rest of the afternoon until sundown at the famous beaches of Guimaras- that was supposed to be the errands for that day. But I never anticipated the Kasadyahan festival celebrated on Saturday- right before the big Dinagyang on Sunday. Kasadyahan is a colorful and “theatrical” cultural parade and contest which just started to gain hype, popularity and publicity unlike Dinagyang. This year’s Kasadyahan common presentation imparted the Ilonggo’s rich culture and origin. At the culmination of each presentation, I can compare it equally as interesting and powerful as Dinagyang. I have this great anticipation that in coming years, it can achieve the hype to be as famous as other admiring tourist-destined festivals in the country nowadays.
After lunch was the parade of supporters- schools and universities, hospitals, government offices, private companies, socio organizations and lot more who buoy up their undying braces for the festival. Some groups took advantage the opportunity to display a down-to-earth presentation (mostly in the beat of the festival’s official song), as other simply passed on the viewing public waving their hands with a welcoming smiles.
As the sun set down, I thought the celebration for Kasadyahan ended but for some party species, the celebration had just begun. Evidence was the block-by-block street concerts which became livelier with the aid of building-height units of speakers that almost broke my eardrum every time I passed by and tumbled my heartbeat due to its great intensity.
The garden-inspired bistro was never a good option as venue to first timely meet friends over dinner due to the mixed earsplitting sounds of on-going street-playing bands and raucous cheering of partying crowd. We just indulged ourselves to stay again in the ever relying Chinese restaurant which I thought a better and a quieter venue to convene and
talk. A couple of hours having candid conversation with new friends, we decided to search on the city party scene. A ride away from the metropolis, we just find ourselves in a bigger bashing crowds and alluring blocks of bars and bistros. Hardly looking for available seats with all those partying people, we ended up in Nothing but Desserts. Two more hours of good conversations, cracking jokes and sharing the store’s whole flavored and customarily-designed white chocolate cake full-creamed with mouth watery cherry syrup, topped with sweet-bite cherries and hand-melted striped of dark and white chocolates, we left the place still filled with the crowd enjoying the time which seemed fun never ends.Day 3: The Big Dinagyang
Just before the p
rogram started, my other half and I were sited full of anticipation for the first presentation when I noticed somebody seated behind us felt more excited than us. I’m just about to ignore him, but action spoke louder than words. He started reaching my back to capture my attention. Admittedly, I find him too cute to ignore. So, we clung onto reciprocating good sights and kept responding on those nice smiles with kind gestures. Persistent to reach me, I grabbed him and cuddled during the entire program. Ei, I am referring to a smart one-year old boy with her mom watching the festival. We both had bonded times gazing performances. The presentations run on its last two performers when I had the opportunity to talk with the kid’s mom. Right there, I learned that the boy was the governor’s grandson. I then 
started feeling bit anxious with the thought that people around us might strangely suspected as kidnappers. I still kept to manage my composure. After the program, she introduced us to the rest of the clan who were in the venue for the same purpose. As courtesy call to new friends, we accepted the invitation for a private lunch party with the governor’s family at the provincial capitol. The occasion and the venue allow us to meet the rest of the family including the honorable governor himself and the provincial first lady. Our healthy conversations with the family ended a couple of hours later through taking another invitation for guaranteed VIP seat at the provincial sports complex for the closing program of the festival’s week-long celebration.Three hours before
the program, we decided to leave the capitol and the provincial’s first family to roam around and observe other events in the city. We dropped at Iloilo’s museum where I indulged myself into fascination as I looked around on various remains of the history – antique porcelain jars being traded during barter, various replicas of saints, old canvass, canon, guns and other artifacts remnants of World War II and a lot more.Major streets remained closed for the festival left us no option but to walk around and observe. There were food and beverage kiosks fully seated with partying people. Vendors of Dinagyang-related paraphernalia and souvenirs were rampant. I enjoyed bringing home few. Body-soothed painted warriors in their colorful costumes were just in the city enjoyed taking snap shots with everybody. The occasion seemed to be a great time for street reunion with friends and families. Despite the sweating heat, people ignored the humid day and enjoyed brisk walking to hop from place to another.
Proceeding on the provincial sports complex for the last program of the festival was the next agenda. A single ride from the city, we were welcomed by the biggest crowd that filled the stadium. As to them, it was first time in the history of Dinagyang to conduct the grandest closing ceremony at the sports arena which held the largest mob by far in the province. Considering the VIP seats provided by the governor’s family, we really enjoyed the comfort to be in the assembly of politicians, businessmen, sponsors and other important guests. I was with my full anticipation on a great show to witness the world-class performance of the acclaimed PAGCOR’s very own – Wanders, when rain started to ruin the whole program before it begun. The unexpected rain brought all of us on dilemma of sitting
at the center of an open field where no cover to shield made us too helpless to free from pouring drizzles. All of a sudden, the mood of pride on sitting in front of the stage just turned to be envious on those people a 100 meter-away sitting around on covered part of the stadium. But show must go on- and it went through despite the condition. Minus the rain, it’s been a good night.Day 4: Last Day
Deprived of sleep as we went back too late due to last night’s program, I had no choice but to push myself on a non-stopped alarming mobile phone. The one-hour flight going back to Manila was scheduled on the first trip of 6:00 in the morning. A 30-minute ride from the city, it’s a must that we have to be at Iloilo’s airport an hour before the flight. So, we were really have to be rushed packing all those baggage. We just came on time.
Back to Manila an hour after was two tired body, restless and can’t afford to proceed on the office to work as planned. Worn-out and drowsy, we just both took the whole morning to sleep and gained enough strength to report at work in the afternoon.
That was one of the best trips, indeed.
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