Built with the century-old lighthouse as its centerpiece, La Parola Orchids Beach Resort is the newest resort in this scenic province commonly tagged “Where the mountains meet the sea”. It is located along the rather grayish coastline of Patnongon, some 25 kilometer from San Jose, the province’s capital.

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Read the rest of La Parola Orchids Beach Resort: your home in Antique

© 2011 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Antique, Antique Adventures, Antique Hotels, Antique Travel Guide, Beaches and Resorts, Hotels, La Parola Orchids Beach Resort, Patnongon, Tourism

A massive white coral building located in poblacion Anini-y, the Parish of St. John of Nepomuceno Church courageously stood the test of time.

Its first structure (33mx13m) was constructed by the Augustinians around 1630 to 1638. The present coral structure on the other hand (48m x 12.5m) was built in 1845 close to the original church. The corals used were sourced from the nearby shoreline.

P. Jeronimo V. Aquerin completed the present complex with the convent in 1879.

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Read the rest of Anini-y Church, the only surviving Spanish Church in Antique

© 2011 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | Be the first to comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Anini-y, Anini-y Church, Antique, Heritage Sites

Miss Western Visayas Tourism is the most prestigious battle of beauties  from all over the region. It consists of the reigning festival queens from all over the 6 provinces and several towns of Western Visayas.

This year’s pageant 9 contestants were: Miss Ibajay Tourism, Julie Ann Dionisio of Aklan Province; Miss Pahinis Festival Queen, Zyra Grace Vedad of Antique Province; Miss Maskara, Agnes Therese Chang of Bacolod City; Miss Halaran, Ivana Isidora Besa of Capiz Province; Mutya Ng Guimaras, Mary Rose Andaluz of Guimaras Province; Miss Paraw Regatta, Pauline Asegurado of Iloilo City; Miss Dinagyang, Angelie Joy Golingay of Iloilo City; Lin-ay Sang Negros, Kareen Ty of Negros Occidental and Binibining Leon Tourism, Nikki Beatingo of Iloilo Province.

The Winners:

Photo by: Felipe Uygongco

Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2010: Angelie Joy Golingay – Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City

First Runner-up: Zyra Grace Vidad – Pahinis Festival, Antique

Second Runner-up: Agnes Marie Chang – Masskara Festival, Bacolod City

Third Runner-up: Pauline Asegurado – Paraw Regatta Festival, Iloilo City

Fourth Runner-up: Julie Ann Dionisio – Ati-Atihan Festival, Aklan

CONGRATULATIONS!

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | Be the first to comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Miss Dinagyang, Miss Western Visayas, Miss Western Visayas Tourism, Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2010

Tibiao Fish Spa is one of the pioneers of fish therapy in the Philippines where small fish nibbling on the dead layers of a client’s skin are used to massage and exfoliate the feet. Unlike other fish spas which use imported Dr. Fish, Tibiao Fish Spa uses local fish proudly sourced from Tibiao, Antique enabling them to offer much more affordable rates.

Tibiao Fish Spa grand opening/blessing, October 20, 2010

The new TFS is conveniently located at the lower ground floor of SM City Iloilo, right beside Let’s Face It. It consist of 4 tubs for different levels of tickling experience. The first tub holds the smaller therafishes that gives you a rather timid tickling adventure. The next tub is the Extreme Tank that hosts to their largest type of fishes. It is ideal for removal of calluses but not for sensitive skin. The 2 other tanks are for the VIP section which is a new offering. You can enjoy the ticklish relaxation at an executive type lounge. It has comfortable upholstered couches and a curtain where you can even fall asleep. One tub is ideal for at least 4 persons and the other tub is for larger groups.

Extreme Tank

VIP Section

One of the most intriguing new offering in this TFS branch is the full body fish spa. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see the actual process during its opening because no one would want to try it.

They also offer Reflexo-foot therapy and body massage.

Visit the all new Tibiao Fish Spa branch at SM City Iloilo and have a fishspalaxing lifestyle experience.

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | Be the first to comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: SM City Iloilo, Tibiao, Tibiao Antique, Tibiao Fish Spa, Tibiao Fish Spa Antique, Tibiao Fish Spa Iloilo

Single Air-Conditioned Room @ the Hometel

The Hallway

The Hometel in the University of Antique – Tario-Lim Memorial Campus in Tibiao has been opened to accept guests under the management of the school. If I can still remember as mentioned during the YUHUM Tibiao Media Tour early this year, that this facility was primarily built to house the (foreign) contractors of the road networks in Antique. It was then turned over to the school’s administration when they left after the construction was over.

It has a number of clean and air-conditioned rooms to accommodate guests. There are rooms for 3 and there are also for single occupancy. Some rooms do have private CRs but most of them share on common toilets and baths. There is a lobby with sofas and tv like any other hostel. And of course there are hotel personnel to accommodate you. The  Hometel building is located inside the school’s campus.

The University of Antique – Tibiao Hometel Building

Now, you can have a decent and affordable accommodation not too far from Tibiao – where adventure never ends. There is also the Home-Stay program there that they are now reviving in which they have trained at least 25 households to accommodate guests and get to experience the real rural way of living.

Browse through the Adventure Events you can have in Tibiao.

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Tibiao, Tibiao Antique, Tourism, University of Antique, University of Antique Hometel

Located in the borders of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara towns, Iloilo Airport is some 19 km northwest of Iloilo City or approximately a 30-minute drive. It lies on a 188-hectare site in Barangay Duyan-Duyan, split between the municipalities of Cabatuan, where the airport proper is located, and Santa Barbara, where the airport entrance and access road are located. It boosts to have one of the most modern facilities in the country today and ready to serve international flights sooner. Furthermore, it inherited the spot of the old Airport in Mandurriao as the 4th busiest airport in the Philippines after Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Metro Manila, Mactan-Cebu International Airport – Cebu and Francisco Bangoy International Airport – Davao.

Currently there are at least five airlines servicing the flights from Iloilo to Manila, Cebu and Davao vice versa; namely, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines, Philippine Airlines, Zest Air and PAL Express (operated by Air Phil). The airport is presently serving the travelers from the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras and Antique.

How to get there:

The Iloilo International Airport is a 30-minute drive away from Iloilo City through a wide and smoothly paved highways traversing the towns of Pavia and Sta. Barbara. There is an Airport Shuttle at SM City Iloilo travelers lounge area. Jeepneys and taxis are also available. For more details see: How to get to Iloilo

Watch the video below for the detailed tour of the Iloilo International Airport.

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cabatuan, Iloilo Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Sta. Barbara

Kawa Hot Bath is done by simply dousing in to a Kawa (local term for a very large fryer) heated in a relatively low temperature that the human body can deal with. To keep the water lukewarm they are adding more to it from time to time. It is a very unique and decompressing experience especially after Kayaking or trekking from the Bugtong bato Falls. And somehow with the feeling of being cooked thinking that the Kawa is under a real fire. Adding to the excitement is that you are in the middle of the mountains in which the Philippine folklore says where Aswangs (Witches) live. But not to worry as the people in Tibiao are harmless and very hospitable . They’d love to welcome you as their guests and so far they are akin to it because of the influx of tourists coming to Tibiao for their known adventure offerings.

Check out Katahum Tours for their tour packages that include Kawa Hot Bath.

How to get to Tibiao

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | Be the first to comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Antique, Antique Adventure, Kawa Hot Bath, Tibiao, Tibiao Antique

By Air:

You can reach Tibiao by taking the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (Caticlan International Airport) in Aklan. It serves dozens of flights daily to and from Manila and Cebu and some International flights to Korea and other parts of Asia. From the airport, Tibiao is only an hour and a half drive away.

By land from Iloilo City:

Tibiao is 172 km from Iloilo City or a 3-4 hour drive. Hourly bus trips and vans are available at the Molo Bus Terminal, in Iloilo City. Take the buses and vans plying the Iloilo-Caticlan or Iloilo-Culasi or Iloilo-Libertad routes.

By land from Caticlan, Aklan:

Tibiao is 93 km from Caticlan or a 2-3 hour drive. At the Caticlan terminal, buses and vans plying the Iloilo via San Jose route can take you directly to Tibiao, Antique.

© 2010 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo - Iloilo Lifestyle Blog | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Antique, Antique Travel Guide, Tibiao, Tibiao Antique