Iloilo
Not a real fan of batchoy but nevertheless, I wanted a first-hand experience of eating it at the original carinderia that started it.
I accompanied May this time to a half-day quick tour of Iloilo, a Visayan province located at the center of the Philippine archipelago.
Dubbed as the “Province of Festivals”, Iloilo is proud of its nationally-acclaimed Dinagyang Festival and its rich heritage. Its capital - Iloilo City - is fast-growing but has kept its old charm and unspoiled environment
View of one end of Guimaras from Iloilo
First thing we did there was to head out to the La Paz palengke and looked for the original Deco's - a restaurant well-known for its Batchoy since 1938.
Next on the agenda was a visit the Church of St. Anne or more popularly known as Molo Church. Built in 1831, the church stands as a reminder of Iloilo’s rich history and a monument for Ilonggo artistry. It earned the moniker “women’s church” because of the presence of 16 images of women saints inside.
May poses by the facade of the church
Church interior and altar
Molo Church is supposedly an expression of Gothic-Renaissance architecture,
May at the pulpit
The view to the back
The church spires against the sky
The Museo Iloilo. Cameras are not allowed inside...
The ancestral house of the Lopezes.
Another church we visited was the Jaro Cathedral (Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary). First built in 1864, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1948 but was restored in 1956. The cathedral’s style is basically Baroque, with the addition of Gothic elements over many renovations.. A collection of life-size statues of male saints line the main corridor of the cathedral, probably Jaro's answer to the feminist Molo church.
Another interesting fact about Jaro Cathedral is its belfry located not within the churchyard but right across the street on Jaro Plaza.
Jaro church's interior and ceiling
Jaro Church facade and spires
Before leaving to catch our flight back to Manila, I saw this woman by the stairs dutifully praying the Rosary while begging for alms. The power of faith, hope and charity...
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