Schedule of Events/Activities during the 2010 Dinagyang Festival:

Further Reading:

• About the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival
• Dinagyang Festival a year ago
  • Dinagyang 2009 Winners
  • Dinagyang Ati Competition 2009 Photos and Videos
  • Iloilo Kasadyahan 2009 Pictures and Videos
  • 2nd Luces in the Sky – Iloilo Dinagyang Fireworks Competition 2009

The inviting entrance to Zemkamps Chalet

Zemkamps Chalet was originally built as a family vacation home that was recently renovated and opened to the public. The charming chalet sports a country style architecture and prides itself for maintaining its natural and cozy atmosphere, attributes that have made its guests feel right at home.

Zemkamps Chalet has 10 uniquely designed and fully air-conditioned guestrooms equipped with its own private toilet and bath. Native materials have been used as furnishings for the chalet. It also has a muti-purpose room that can accommodate 30 to 40 persons,  and an al-fresco roof deck that can hold as much as 50 to 100 persons, ideal for business meetings, seminars, conferences and small social events,.

Cozy Airconditioned Rooms of Zemkamps Chalet

Zemkamps Chalet is strategically located along the main highway in New Site, San Miguel, Jordan (just beside the Guimaras Provincial Capitol). It is an ideal base camp for exploring the famous attractions of Guimaras Island, which are approximately just 10-15 minutes away by land transportation from Zemkamps Chalet.

Multi-purpose function room

Al fresco roof deck with a well stocked bar

If you’re interested about staying at Zemkamps Chalet you may contact them through phone – (+63 33) 237-1388 or visit their website at http://gabsr.com/zemkamps/.

• Afrique’s
• Bourbon Street
• Freska
• Kopiroti
• Krua Thai
• Maki
• Pirates
• Red Steakhouse

The Off-Price Store offers authentic branded merchandise at prices that would keep your gift list under budget and fashion savvy! Brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, H&M, Armani Exchange, Replay, Calvin Klein, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch and many, many more! Direct from the factory, store close outs and branded over-runs, our prices are guaranteed to be the lowest!

The Off-Price Store is located at Unit 5, Smallville Complex, Diversion Road, Iloilo (beside Krua Thai) and is open from Sunday – Thursday ay 11AM to 10PM & Friday – Saturday at 11AM to 12AM.

One of the most exciting parts of the forum was a list of proposed major investments in Iloilo outlined in the “Tourism Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras” report presented by Ms. Narzalina Lim, President of  Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. Here are some of the investments mentioned in the report:

Kapideco Estate

Kapideco (Kauturan Pison Development Corp.) estate is a master planned mixed-use development currently being developed in the large area that was once salt beds and fish ponds in Brgy. Tabucan and San Rafael in Mandurriao. It is very accessible to Diversion Road and is located in between big commercial developments – Smallville Complex and SM City Iloilo. The whole area from Kapideco to the Old Airport Strip (Megaworld Site) is envisioned to be Iloilo City’s next Central Business District. KAPIDECO is also the home of Ateneo de Iloilo’s new campus, which is already near completion.

Plazuela de Iloilo

Plazuela de Iloilo is a commercial development located in a 12,533 square meter lot beside SM City Iloilo. The project includes a commercial strip with 8,600 gross leasable area and spaces for BPO firms (like call centers).

SM City Iloilo

Revitalization of Calle Real, Iloilo’s Central Business District

Calle Real (J.M. Basa – Iznart Sts.) is the lifeblood of Iloilo’s Central Business District. There are 18 heritage buildings in this area alone and the City Government of Iloilo is currently inviting investors to help develop the area into a commercial and tourism center so that it can serve as a catalyst for economic revitalization in this once glorious landmark of Iloilo City.

Improvement of Iloilo-Guimaras Ports

In line with improving the tourism infrastructure of Iloilo and Guimaras, plans are already underway to develop major access points between the two tourist destinations. The plans include improvement of the jetty port in Parola (located at the mouth of the Iloilo River) and the ports of Jordan and Buenavista in Guimaras.

The information and pictures posted here were sourced from the “Tourism Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras” presentation posted on the website of Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. (http://www.asiapacificprojects.com/updates.asp)

Amalfi has been well embraced by Ilonggos and visitors due to its tasteful food prepared by seasoned chefs. Its interiors and location also sets a great mood for classy, romantic and high-end dining. Another selling point of Amalfi is its more affordable prices compared to what you would pay for in a similar gastronomic experience you get at fine dining restaurants in Manila.

In appreciation of its recognition by Philippine Tatler, Amalfi had invited personalities in the media, to try their new Degustation Menu prepared by Chef Warlie Roxas. Degustation is a culinary term meaning “a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods” usually consisting of eight or more courses accompanied by a matching wine degustation which complements each dish. It’s like sampling most of restaurant and the chef’s special for that night in just one sitting.

If you want to take a taste at what food critics in Manila are raving about, visit Amalfi Cucina Italia at the Avenue Complex, Glicerio Pison Avenue, Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City or call at 3295289.

The most noticeable change, aside from the new design, is that it now has adopted a new approach in using ample lighting in the rooms, which is unlike the subdued lighting in other hotels. It actually has brought out the nice interiors of the rooms and it feels more like it’s as bright as day inside.

Days Hotel Iloilo is one of the premiere Hotels in the city. It is located in the heart of Iloilo City at the 4th and 5th floors of the Atrium Mall, near the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. Click Here for more information about Days Hotel Iloilo. For online reservations, you can check out Agoda.com, a leading online reservation service that provides its costumers many discounts and rewards.

I would like to thank all viewers of this blog for their consistent support. You guys have always been my inspiration to continue blogging. I would also like to extend my thanks to the judges, sponsors, and organizing committee for providing a venue where bloggers in the Filipino Blogging Community are given recognition for their work and dedication to their craft.

Explore Iloilo also won the Globe Tattoo’s Digital Tribe – Visayas award. Many thanks to Globe for that! I have yet to receive my trophy (and goodies) since I wasn’t able to attend the awards night in Cebu :)

Lastly, I would like to thank the all the bloggers who voted Explore Iloilo for the Visayas Bloggers Choice Award. Although, Explore Iloilo didn’t win that award, I am very happy that a lot of you had given so much support by casting in votes for this blog. Here is a partial list of bloggers who voted Explore Iloilo for the Visayas Blogger’s Choice Award (if your blog is not included please do post your blog url in the comments so that I can add it to the list):

• Explore Aklan
• Flavours of Iloilo
• Ilonggo Living in Canada
• My Siopao Factory
• Casa Baluarte
• A Simple Life
• Lorie’s take on Anything and Everything
• Iloilo on Foot
• Intiendes
• Malditang Pinay
• E-Buzz Online
• Echosera Day and Night

While enjoying our delicious lunch, courtesy of Green Mango, we were able to get to know more about each other and exchange dialogues about their trip to Iloilo, which coincides with the Iloilo IT Week Celebration, and about our blogs.

Many thanks to Green Mango for our lunch. Greet Mango is a fast food chain offering Filipino foods. Their first (and as of this time of writing, only) store is located in Valeria St., near Banco de Oro and SM Delgado. Green Mango will simultaneously be opening two more stores on October 16, 2009 in E. Lopez St., Jaro (near McDonalds and JD Jaro) and in Jaro Plaza. Green Mango is known for their yummy foods at very affordable prices and nicely designed interiors. It will be of no shock if this successful brand will, in the future, be able to penetrate the nationwide market just as many other Ilonggo fastfood chains have successfully done.

Iloilo Bloggers striking a pose with Janette Toral, Aileen Apolo, and Jay de Jesus

Iloilo Bloggers is a group aimed at uniting every blogger in the world that has been to the charming City and Province of Iloilo. If you are a blogger and want to join us, please do check out Iloilobloggers.org for more info and updates.

Only two short steps to vote:

1. Make a post on your blog that expresses that you’re going to vote for Explore Iloilo:

For example:

———————————————————————————
My Vote for the 2009 Bloggers’ Choice Award (Visayas)

I vote for Explore Iloilo!
Bloggers’ Choice Award
2009 Philippine Blog Awards
———————————————————————————

2. Fill out the voting form of the Visayas Blogger’s Choice Award by clicking here. (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFBnWVpZdzhBVm5ZNV9kamxQWUh1WWc6MA)

Thanks guid sa tanan!

Chocolate Clothes

During the event, Tinapayan had a raffle and I was picked as one of the winners! I came home with this yummy cake.

Tinapayan is one of Iloilo known bakeshops. It is located at Iloilo Supermart Branches with their main branch at The Atrium at the Capitol (cor General Luna St. – Bonifacio Drive).