Iloilo is primed to be the next big convention city or MICE destination in the region.

NELLY’S Garden in Jaro was built in 1928 and was named after the daughter of Don Vicente Lopez. KATHLEEN A.LLEMIT

This is certainly true for most Philippine cities, especially those that served as regional capitals or centers of commerce during the colonial eras. Several wars have ravaged most of the edifices, including countless stone houses and churches, but traces of their glorious past still remain.

Iloilo is one such example. Amid its bustling commercial districts such as Mandurriao, where the old airport was located and developments like hotels and retail spaces continue to sprout, vestiges of the past become evident only a few minutes’ drive away.

Jaro Cathedral is a 16th century church located in the district of Jaro. It was declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles in 2012. It stands out for two reasons: it is the first of its kind where the image of Mary is perched in front of the façade, with stairs on each side leading up to it. The belfry is detached from it and instead is located outside its premises, across the street, erected opposite it. It is also the first Marian image canonically crowned personally by then pope and now saint, St. John Paul II.

There are other notable churches in Iloilo such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Miagao Church and Molo Church. Both churches were built during the Spanish era, bearing the predominant styles of their time.

Churches are not the only remnants of Iloilo’s rich heritage.

As one of the provinces where aristocratic families lived and some of their descendants remain, Iloilo has a handful of lovely homes that were built during the Spanish and American periods.

Balay Tablea uses cacao beans from the highlands of Iloilo.

SEDA Atria is among the hotels in the bustling Mandurriao district.

One of these is lovingly referred by locals as Nelly’s Gardens in Jaro. Formally referred to as the Lopez Heritage House or Mansion de Lopez, it was built in 1928 by Ilonggo statesman Don Vicente Lopez and his wife Doña Elena Hofilena.

They named it after their daughter. The couple used to live near Jaro Cathedral but decided to relocate and built the all-white imposing mansion in its present location.

Nelly’s Garden is how one would imagine living the high life. Its front lawn is spatial and stretches for about a hundred meters or more, with its side streets lined with trees.

Its all-white façade with ornately carved columns is just as impressive as its interiors. Woods and warm neutrals welcome guests, with two set of wooden stairs that lead to the common room overlooking the sala serving as a focal point.

Stories of grandiose parties and soirees those times would not be hard to imagine in Nelly’s Gardens’ opulent interiors, filled with paintings and art works of renowned names.

And with Iloilo known for its numerous delicacies and dishes such as batchoy, molo as well as their sweet delicacies like galletas, butterscotch or barquillos, visitors will never go hungry.

It is no wonder then that with all the right tourism “ingredients” — heritage sites, old houses, historic churches and gustatory delights, Iloilo is poised to become a top tourism draw.

It has everything a tourist would want to experience. And it is these offerings that made the Department of Tourism (DoT) confident to launch the “Meet You in Iloilo” campaign.

Aiming to establish Iloilo, also known as the “City of Love,” as a world-class Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) hub, the campaign was recently launched by the tourism department.

“Iloilo is primed to be the next big convention city or MICE destination in the region. The National Tourism Development Plan has identified Iloilo City as a priority tourism development area,” DoT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“Iloilo has proven an ideal site for growth. The city’s seamless infrastructure, ranging from gateways both airport and seaport to wide highways and modern business parks. MICE impacts more than just venues and convention facilities but hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and other services.

“It also bolsters tour guides, production companies, spas, and wellness centers and producers of crafts and souvenirs. The ripple effect of MICE is very far-reaching as it provides direct, indirect and induced jobs, making tourism everybody’s business.

A WORKING alliance for Iloilo. DoT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (seated in the middle) is flanked by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas (left) and Senator Franklin Drilon (right). With them are DoT officers, local government officials and tourism stakeholders.

“What makes Iloilo City as unique MICE destination is its rich history, heritage and culture, providing enriching experiences to delegates and adding value to their stay. They don’t just have great-tasting food but also there’s so many places to visit,” the Tourism chief enthused.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, current minority floor leader of the Senate and a notable Ilonggo, led the efforts to boost Iloilo as a prime tourist destination.

He related how the city’s tourism was suffering from low occupancy rate in 2010 due to lack of economic and tourism activities in the city.

Through a collaborative effort with the private sector and government agencies, the senator led the massive infrastructure development in 2011.

“We have a story to tell, and tourism, I have learned, is how well you’re telling your story. We can tell the story that since 2011, we have been working to transform Iloilo from a city of diminishing economic appeal to an attractive tourism destination. As they say, ‘Build and they will come’ and so we did,” began the statesman during the campaign’s recent launch.

Through the efforts of the Iloilo MICE Alliance, a group composed of MICE stakeholders, and corresponding local and government agencies, the revitalization of Iloilo began.

The stretch of what used to be the Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao is now a bustling commercial district with several hotels and retail spaces such as Seda Atria and Shops at Atria and Courtyard by Marriott and Festive Walk Mall.

One of the most iconic edifices is the state-of-the-art convention center Iloilo Convention Center or ICON. Secretary Puyat commended its design, which was by Ilonggo architect William Coscolluela.

The renowned architect veered away from a boxed building, but instead drew inspiration from the paraw (double outrigger sailboat used in Iloilo’s Paraw Festival) and Dinagyang Festival. The lot was donated by Megaworld Corp.

The two-story structure opened in 2015 in time for the hosting of the APEC meetings.

Among the infrastructure developments was the widening of the four-lane Diversion Road into a 10-lane, 15-kilometer long Benigno Aquino Avenue complete with bike lane; the construction of a four-lane President Corazon Aquino Avenue Circumferential Road and a new Iloilo International Airport.

One of its promising sustainable efforts is the Iloilo River rehabilitation, which now features an eight-kilometer esplanade, said to be the longest linear park in the country.

The Iloilo River restoration project was awarded the Galing Pook Award 2018, a program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units.

The Iloilo Convention Center or Icon is a state-of-the-art convention center designed by William Coscolluela.

Efforts are ongoing to make Iloilo even more of a tourism draw. Sen. Drilon shared that there are more projects to come among which is the restoration of the Iloilo Customs House or Aduana, which will house two museums: the Museum of Philippine Maritime History and a war memorial museum which will highlight the contribution of Panay war veterans.

It is a welcome addition to the currently operating Ynchausti House, converted into the Museum of Economic History with the help of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

The completion of the Jalaur Multipurpose project in 2023 will result to the irrigation of 33,000 hectares of rice land and is expected to double the income of 25,000 farming families. The dam will create 800 hectares of water reservoir, water irrigation and power generation.

Sen. Drilon is optimistic about this project which can impact farm tourism, a portfolio which he said cannot be “overemphasized,” and which will please Secretary Puyat, who used to be an Undersecretray at the Department of Agriculture.

Another infrastructure project expected to be finished in 2023 is the Iloilo-Guimaras bridge, which, when completed, will be a viable gateway to the renowned island known for its pristine beaches and mangoes.

“We have made huge strides in our efforts to make Iloilo world-class. Back in 2010, the hospitality industry in Iloilo was suffering from low occupancy rate due to lack of economic and tourism activities in the city. Today, Iloilo’s hospitality industry is booming. World-class hotels, shopping malls, recreational facilities have mushroomed all over the city. Tourist arrivals, I understand, doubled in the last five years. From 627,000 in 2013 to 1.24 million in 2018. Truly, Iloilo has all the markings of an excellent MICE destination,” the solon enthused.