Unfortunately La Paz Batchoy was not on the list, she likes pasta but not so much into Batchoy. However, if you really like batchoy, Netong’s Batchoy in La Paz is highly recommended.

According to Iloilo.net.ph When you say Griller’s it is synonymous to Baked Talaba (Baked Oysters). They have probably the cheapest and the most delicious baked Oysters in Iloilo City. It’s one of the must-go-to food places in Iloilo City to experience authentic Iloilo dish. 

My sister Eunice was frequent here with her co-missionaries. And I love it here too.

Madge Cafe is another must-go-to food place in Iloilo City. They are known for their original blend of coffee. And as a coffee lover myself, this should not be missed. Went here twice during the stay.

The first on was in their kiosk at Smallville, the second one is in their cafe at Atria Iloilo. 

Facebook must have heard my cry, when it suddenly pop into my feed. Pub Express is having their unlimited chicken wings in a Wednesday morning. Eunice was up for it, so we head to Pub Express at Molo to check it out.

As expected it was jam-packed with customers, but we were able to secure our seats and indulge in gastronomic goodness.

PITSTOP

Pitstop is originally from Guimaras Island but they already have a branch in SM Iloilo City – South Promenade. I wasn’t able to try this in Guimaras because of a hectic schedule with SFC Pre-icon, good thing I was able to check them out in SM which is just across Injap Tower Hotel where we were staying. 

Now if you love BATCHOY of course don’t miss out trying Netong’s Batchoy in La Paz. It tastes really good.

Visiting Iloilo? 

Located in the heart of Iloilo City where government offices and business center of Iloilo City is. We’re here in Iloilo City to attend the International Conference of Single for Christ. The accommodation is quite far from our venue, but it is only one jeepney ride away.

River Queen Hotel is near the following offices or establishments: 

I arrived 2 days ahead of my sister Eunice. I booked a Twin deluxe room for the day (Php 735.00). The room is approximately 25sqm in floor area with a big comfort room. 

Our second accommodation is the Family Standard Room which fits 6 individuals (Php 1388 per night + 2 additional persons with beds ). It initially accommodates 4 persons, but you can add 2 more single beds to make it 6. This time my sister is with me and 4 other sisters in Christ from Manila and Iligan City.

I apologize for the chaotic room I don’t really have a decent picture of the room. hehe

On our last day (we stayed for 7 days) at River Queen Hotel, we transferred to a smaller room on the second floor; the deluxe family room. The room usually accommodates 4 persons we added 1 extra bed for this. 

The last room we occupied looks like a repurposed room. The layout seemed to be for an office converted into accommodation. The air condition is still good despite having an old aircon, it is, however, noisy though.

The hotel also has a riverside restaurant that is perfect for events. Breakfast is not included in your room accommodation, but you can definitely order from their restaurant and dine there or have it delivered to your room. Their breakfast meals are really affordable. Coffee is served for only 20 pesos, and toasted bread with butter is only 26.00 pesos. I mean if you are someone who likes bread toast and butter in the morning like me, it’s a pretty good deal. 

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Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/River-Queen-Hotel-Restaurant
Address: Bonifacio Dr, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo

Phone: (033) 337 6667
Email: riverqueenhotel@yahoo.com

Injap Tower Hotel is the tallest and first hi-rise building in Western Visayas, 21-storey Injap Tower Hotel by Hotel 101, promises a whole new perspective of staying in Iloilo city and experiencing life’s goodness first hand. Located right at the SM City Iloilo – Mandurriao. I need to highlight that though because there are two SM stores in the City. Injap Tower Hotel is located along the Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo.

If you are coming from the Iloilo Airport, ride a UV express at the airport to SM CITY Mandurriao (where their terminal is), the fare is only 50.00 pesos per person (Airport – SM); 70.00 pesos per person (SM-Airport). If you have big pieces of luggage with you or you are in a group you can also take the airport taxis and vans available at the airport terminal for a fee that ranges from 500.00 pesos and up. INJAP Tower Hotel is known to people because it’s new and its Grand. 

THE HAPPY ROOM ACCOMMODATION:

The room has a standard size of 20 sqm in every unit. You are actually living in a condo-like hotel. You have your own mini kitchen, own bathroom, your own working desk and a queen bed. The room fits two to three persons. And they cleverly call it the HAPPY ROOM. 

• 21-square meter rooms
• Air conditioned
• Two beds (1 queen size and 1 single bed)
• Kitchen sink with microwave and mini refrigerator 
• Telephone and 46” LED cable TV
• Wi-Fi internet access in every room and it is really fast

Facilities:

• Complimentary use of the pool on the 5th floor
• Complimentary use of the gym equipment at the Fitness Center
• Avail discounts for the services at The Spa
• Access to The Horizon Café on the 21st floor of the tower
• Ample parking space
• 3 elevator units
• 24/7 standby power generator

Services:

• 24-hour security
• Airport Service
• Daily Housekeeping

And because I loved my stay at Injap Tower Hotel I’ll share you my secret. CLICK the link below to get a good deal of a room at Injap. Experience Luxury at an affordable price. 

GYM:

POOL: 

SPA:

HORIZON CAFE:

Talking about extensive breakfast buffet, this is the deal. Located on the highest floor of Injap Tower Hotel. At the 21st floor of the building, you’ll enjoy breakfast with a view of Iloilo City, as it slowly turns into a metropolis. You will surely fell in love at the City of Love.

The cafe serves Filipino dishes and its unlimited buffet. It could be better if they can hire a real cook or a chef, I mean if they do have one, well the food sucks big time. Even the simplest pancake doesn’t taste good. Food presentations can be made better too. I mean for a fried fish for example, as a chef myself, I know how to cook it crispy without having to look gross.

HELIPAD:

The Grand Palace

Guimaras is an island province in the Philippines located in the region of Western Visayas. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The province is situated in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. Wikipedia

Other than its famous sweet mangoes, Guimaras Island is also known for its white beaches. I never had an encounter with someone who came from Iloilo for a vacation not craving for the white sand beaches of Guimaras. It would be such a mortal sin not to experience swimming and walking along the white beaches of Guimaras. 

Well, that’s exactly what we just did. (haha haha) We stayed there overnight with the delegates and participants of SFC PRE-ICON, but since I was too tired for a swim, I slept instead during our free hours. My sister Eunice together with her household enjoyed the waters of Guimaras Island since she was out for a DIY tour. 

Straight from Guimaras Island, we went to Garin Farm the next day. From the Iloilo port, a van picked us up and traveled straight to San Joaquin, Iloilo. From Iloilo City, it’s a 2-hour trip going to Garin Farm. 

Originally Garin Farm is a one-stop shop for farmers, investors, and agriculture lovers.  It is a demonstration farm showcasing viable agricultural livelihood plant and animal culture with their corresponding product processing and zero waste management program demonstrating a harmonious co-existence of plants and animals. [Source: Explore Iloilo]

The moment you enter Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort, you will be greeted with a vast plantation of vines. They call it the millionaire’s vine. A foul odor is normal because, once again, you are entering a farm. Chicken, cows and other animals are there happy to see you (hehe). 

RATES: [as of February 2017; Rates may change without prior notice] 

Garin Farm at San Joaquin

Brgy. Huna, San Joaquin
Iloilo, Philippines 5024
Telephone Number: +63 033 314 75 55
Mobile Number: +63 916 667 6851
Email: info@garinfarm.com / bookings@garinfarm.com

Inland Resort Amenities with Rates
Entrance Fee: Php 150 per person

Excluding children below 1 year old
Senior Citizen discount is applicable to cardholders only
Strictly no outside food and drinks allowed
Hilltop Swimming Pool – Php 80.00
Hilltop Fishing: Php 30.00/kilo
Billiards: Php 60.00/hour
Hilltop Horseback Riding: Php 60.00

Zipline (300 meters X 2)

Sitting: Php 250.00
Superman: Php 350.00
Golf Cart (3 Pax ride)

Entrance to Pavilion: Php 60.00
Pavilion to Cross: Php 90.00
Executive Conference Room (15-20 Pax): Php 2,500

Hilltop Boating:

Single Kayak: Php 40.00
Double Kayak: Php 90.00
Pedal Boat: Php 90.00 for 2 pax
Rubber Boat: Php 120.00 for 4 pax; Php 240 for 8 pax
All-Terrain Vehicle (20 minutes): Php 200.00

Restaurant
Canteen
WiFi Access
Laundry Service
24-Hour Security
24-Hour Electricity

ROOM RATES
Hilltop Family Room: Php 3,500.00
Hilltop Twin Room: Php 2,500.00
Hilltop Single Room: Php 1,500.00

Fully Air-conditioned
Extra Bed: Php 350 with breakfast; Php 200 without breakfast
Available for Family & Twin Rooms only and limited to 2 extra beds.
Check-in guests have complementary breakfast and free use of the hill top pool.

Miagao Church is one of the oldest heritage protected churches in Iloilo Province. Built by hand with eggs as the binding agent and rocks that give that ultimate grandeur. When you visit Iloilo, other than its excellent beaches, heritage protected churches are the must visit destinations. Although this is purely Catholic culture, people from another sect visit them because of its history and architecture. Vintage and nostalgic at the same time.

Looking forward to traveling in Iloilo soon?

After our activity at Bala-ang Bukid, we went straight to the ITA Tribe for immersion. One of the activities during PRE-ICON is evangelizing people by simple acts of kindness to them. Introducing Jesus most especially to people who believe in different kind of Gods is never easy. But with God’s grace, through simple acts of kindness, we hope that they will see Jesus in us.

We brought gifts for them to help them with their everyday life, like rice, some canned goods and noodles, and also hygiene kits. We introduced Jesus by sharing our God-given talents and resources. 

With us were our brothers and sisters from Papua New Guinea and Seychelles (Africa). Their reactions were priceless. One woman said, she’s happy to see someone who looks like them and speaks in English, because the majority of them never had the chance to go to school and learn the language.

Their Tribe leader welcomed us and shows his gratitude by performing their dance ritual and culture. According to the coordinator who brought us there, it was their first time to see foreigners who look like them and their level of happiness that day was surprising.

Our Lady of Candles Cathedral also known as the Jaro Cathedral is one of the most visited churches in Iloilo City. Jaro Cathedral, formally Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro. [Wikipedia]. It’s nearer than the most old heritage church in Iloilo City. During my first visit in Iloilo City last 2014, I missed visiting this church which is actually just very near our accommodation that time. Good thing in my recent trip with the CFC-Singles For Christ Pre-Icon activity we visited Jaro Church.

The Jaro Cathedral (Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary) was built in 1864, the year the district was named a diocese by Pope Pius the IX, by order of His Grace Mariano Cuartero, first bishop of Jaro. Destroyed in the quake of January 1948 and restored by order of His Excellency Jose Ma. Cuenco, first Archbishop of Jaro in 1956. The cathedral’s style is primarily Baroque, with the addition of Gothic elements over many renovations.

The Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Lady of the Candles) is the only rose among the all-male collection of statues which line the walls of the cathedral’s interiors. The Lady of Candles is perched on a glass-encased shrine carved out of the facade. The limestone is said to be continuously growing, and in fact had become too large to fit into its original niche just above the present one.

Her shrine is often visited by many devotees who believe the statue to be miraculous. This 400-year-old image is the focus of an annual Jaro Fiesta held every February 2.