Love the Heritage in the City of Love

Iloilo City- The Department of Tourism Region VI joined the National Heritage Month activities of the Iloilo City Government through the two-day Iloilo City Heritage Museum Tour held on May 8 and 9, 2026.

With 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐝, known as a monument to the valor of the heroes of Panay, as the starting point of the tour, excursionists were introduced to the rich cultural and historical heritage of Iloilo City, particularly during the Spanish Era, through five heritage sites included in the itinerary.

The first stop of the tour was the 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 in Molo, which was recently included in the National Register of the UNESCO Philippines Memory of the World. It houses the collection of 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑢𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑜𝑛, regarded as the oldest running vernacular newspaper in pre-World War II Iloilo.

The tour then proceeded to its second stop in the Arevalo district of the city, the 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧̃𝐚-𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧̃𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐨, which was declared an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum in 2015. The house offered tour participants a unique experience of enjoying and savoring a buffet lunch featuring local Ilonggo dishes, a testament to the recognition bestowed upon the city as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Known for its 𝑡𝑠𝑜𝑘𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑙, the cacao used is a local product of the ancestral house and is also Halal certified.

After lunch, the group headed to the 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞. Situated in the heart of Jaro District, the house is one of Iloilo’s old preserved ancestral homes that reflects the town’s rich architectural heritage, festivals, and traditions. Back in the day, the house hosted social gatherings for Fiesta Queens, honoring their religious devotion to Our Lady of Candles.

Also located in Jaro is 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭, considered the oldest heritage house in Iloilo. The ancestral house is famously associated with former Philippine Vice President Fernando Lopez and his wife, Doña Mariquit Javellana-Lopez, from whom the house got its name.

The last stop of the tour was the 𝐘𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢 𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, which has served as a museum under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines since 2015. This was also where the highlight of the tour was held, featuring a bountiful dinner and an opportunity for participants to dress up in Spanish-era-inspired attire. Adding to the ambiance was an engaging performance by EKSENA Training Services, portraying an in-character yet entertaining story of love and family drama among socialites during that period. Their member performers are talented youths from different barangays of the city who are trained in performing arts.

The City of Iloilo earned the title “La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad,” which translates in English to “The Most Loyal and Noble City,” from the Spanish Crown in 1889 because of its wealth and progress. Remnants of the glorious past are still evident in the city and are continuously and culturally preserved as an identity of the Ilonggos.

#LoveIloiloCity
#NationalHeritageMonth
#LivingHeritageMuseumTour
#LoveWesternVisayas
#LoveThePhilippines