The festival officially opened on October 24, gathering artists, performers, filmmakers, and creative groups under the theme “Arts in Our Plaza: Open Spaces, Shared Stories.” It highlighted the importance of making art accessible to everyone by bringing creative expressions into shared community spaces.

Leny Ledesma, Executive Assistant to Mayor Raisa S. Treñas, delivered the mayor’s message during the opening, emphasizing how art could bring people together and strengthen community ties.

Also present were Emmanuel Gemora, chairperson of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council; City Councilor Miguel Treñas, chair of the Committee on Tourism; Executive Assistant Jay Treñas of the Iloilo Arts Festival Committee; SK Federation Chairman Jelma Implica; MICE Iloilo City Director Lea Lara;  Ar. Marie Nikolai Cabrera, Co-chairman, USDC Cycle 5 UAP Iloilo Chapter; Leny Ledesma, Executive Assistant to the Mayor for Special Projects; Kris Brasileno, Event Head, Visual Arts: Dir. Monding Salao, ICFest, Festival Director; and representatives of partner organizations.

“What is more inclusive than an open space that is open for everyone?” Jay Treñas said, underscoring the choice of La Paz Plaza as a venue where people from different walks of life could experience and appreciate art.

One of the festival’s major highlights was Art in the Park, held at La Paz Plaza from October 23 to 25. The event featured a visual arts exhibition with six exhibitors and 11 artists, food offerings from 10 mobile vendors, nightly band performances, outdoor busking, and a fashion show.

The festival also brought a beloved Filipino literary classic to life through Ballet Manila’s Ibong Adarna, staged at the Rose Memorial Auditorium of Central Philippine University on October 23, followed by a free performance at La Paz Plaza on October 25.

Cinema took center stage through the Iloilo Cinema Festival (ICFest), held from October 14 to 18 at Festive Walk Cinemas. It showcased 37 short films and two full-length films by Ilonggo filmmakers, all free of charge.

Lectures, student forums, a town hall with Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson Jose Javier Reyes, and a forum on women in cinema featuring actress Gabby Padilla further enriched the program.

“We want to bring back the social experience of cinema to the Ilonggos,” Festival Director Raymund “Munding” Salao said, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to making film appreciation more accessible while giving local filmmakers opportunities to showcase their work.

Across nine art forms—architecture, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, fashion design, gastronomy, literary arts, music, and visual arts—the festival showcased the breadth of Iloilo’s creative community.

“Milestones like these show that people are now coming here to Iloilo to celebrate creativity,” Jay Treñas said.

More than a series of exhibitions and performances, the Iloilo Arts Festival 2026 provided local artists and filmmakers with platforms to reach wider audiences while bringing cultural experiences closer to the public.

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The three-day event, set for Aug. 28 to 30 at Festive Walk Cinemas, is the Philippine presentation of a regional curatorial project developed through The Japan Foundation’s First Draft Programming Workshop, which brings together emerging film programmers from across Asia. The project was first conceived during the workshop’s 2025 edition in Tokyo.

Iloilo filmmaker and producer Jo Andrew Torlao, who represented the Philippines in The Japan Foundation’s First Draft Programming Workshop in Tokyo in 2025, curated the Philippine presentation of places, pieces.

The program, he shared, was shaped by his own experiences of leaving Iloilo and eventually returning, reflecting how places influence people’s memories, relationships, and sense of identity.

“Places shape us, and in return, we shape them,” Torlao said. “Through cinema, I hope this program reminds us of the people, communities, and stories that deserve to be remembered.”

The festival will screen the Japanese feature films Brand New Landscape, Yamato (California), and Uruyasu Fish Market, alongside the Filipino feature Republika ng Pipolipinas.

Also included is PALAYO/PALAPIT, a collection of five short films from Western Visayas: Dandansoy, Hasang, Golden Bells, A Catholic School Girl, and Mga Handum Nga Nasulat sa Baras.

Beyond the screenings, the program will feature workshops and discussions on filmmaking, producing, and film programming.

FDCP Chairman and director Jose Javier Reyes will lead a film workshop, while producer Patti Lapus will facilitate a producing workshop.

Torlao will also join Makiko Wakai of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival for a session on film programming.

Ahead of the main program, Cinematheque Centre Iloilo will hold special screenings of Yanggaw on Aug. 25 and Wanted: Border on Aug. 26.

Festive Walk Cinemas will also commemorate Iloilo City Charter Day on Aug. 25 with a screening of Ginauhaw Ako, Ginagutom Ako, recognized as the first Ilonggo feature film.

The program is presented by the FDCP and The Japan Foundation, Manila, with support from Megaworld Cinemas, Festive Walk Cinemas Iloilo, Department of Tourism Region VI, and the Iloilo City Government.Jeanne Rose Sazon, WVSU-COC intern/IMT

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BenCab, widely celebrated as one of the Philippines’ most influential artists, made a lasting contribution to ILOMOCA during the visit. He graciously gifted the museum a copy of his book—now a prized addition to the museum library—and created an impromptu free-hand sketch on one of the museum’s panels, offering a personal artistic imprint that will be treasured by generations of museum-goers.

“We are deeply honored by BenCab’s visit. His presence affirms ILOMOCA’s mission to be a leading hub of contemporary art in the Visayas and beyond. Encounters like this inspire us to continue fostering creativity and cultural dialogue through world-class exhibitions and community programs,” said Dannie Alvarez.

As the only contemporary art museum in the Visayas, ILOMOCA continues to champion Filipino artistry and bring transformative experiences to the region. This landmark visit by a National Artist further cements its standing as a premier cultural destination in the Philippines.

For updates, visit ILOMOCA on Facebook (@ILOMOCA), Instagram (@itsilomoca), or through email at ilomoca.ph@gmail.com. You may also reach Festive Walk Iloilo’s social media accounts on Facebook (facebook.com/FestiveWalkIloilo) and Instagram (@festivewalkiloilo).

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The “Patrimony of All – Ang Panublion sang Tanan Paintings from the Lopez Museum and Library Collection” was officially unveiled late Monday afternoon, Nov. 25, attended by the Lopez family and art enthusiasts.

The paintings included four each from the Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo collections, five from the Fernando Amorsolo collection, and three from the Juan Arellano collection.

“Bringing these masterpieces to Iloilo was an opportunity to honor our roots that we cannot let pass. It is in Iloilo that our family’s journey of hard work, philanthropy, and service to others began. It just made perfect sense to keep coming back and giving back in uplifting the very community that had also shaped our personal history,” Mercedes Lopez-Vargas, president of the Lopez Group Foundation and LML executive director, said in her message.

She said the Lopez family was thrilled as it was the first time they brought the collections outside Manila.

“The loaning of these artworks is a painstaking technical process as it entails the delicate care of these fragile works of art; some of them a hundred years old,” she added.

The project is a joint initiative of the University of the Philippines Visayas, the Lopez Group Foundation, Inc., and the Iloilo City Government, conceived by former senator Franklin Drilon with former tourism secretary Narzalina Lim in 2019 and made possible through the support of Senator Loren Legarda.

“The Patrimony of All” will allow audiences in the Visayas to encounter the works of Filipino masters while also shining the spotlight on the rich architectural heritage and legacy of Iloilo,” the Iloilo City government said in a statement.

Drilon, in his message, said llonggos owed the Lopezes “a debt of gratitude.”

“When you talk about Iloilo culture and heritage, it would not be complete without talking about the Lopezes and their generosity to the province and city of Iloilo. This sets a stage for a more extensive effort for us to continue exposing our people here, our Ilonggos and young students to art and our culture,” he said.

The exhibit is housed in a building designed by Arellano, whose paintings are among the works being exhibited.

It was designed as a city hall in the 1930s when the mayor was Fernando Lopez, who in turn donated the building to the University of the Philippines with the condition that it would establish a branch in Iloilo, the former senator said.

“Today, we are glad that we were able to find this venue to house these treasures to be enjoyed by our Ilonggos,” Drilon said.

The exhibit will be open to the public from Nov. 26, 2024 to April 25, 2025 but it will have a Cycle 2 after funds are secured for its extension for another six months through Senator Legarda.

“Ang Panublion sang Tanan celebrates not only the creative genius of our Filipino masters but also the enduring legacy of our culture. Having these masterpieces in Iloilo on display for our communities and especially for our youth is a true gift that will enrich our collective understanding of who we are. As I say, culture is what binds us as a nation,” Legarda said in her virtual message.

Rosalie Treñas, wife of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, said the city has always been home to artists, art lovers, patrons, and enthusiasts, providing everyone with a welcoming environment where talents and skills can thrive and artistic expressions are admired and respected.

“The presence of galleries, museums, and art places, the city has certainly firmed up its position as the arts capital of the Philippines. Its piece of art is a window into the cultural heritage of the community, offering insights into their real life, beliefs, and values,” she said in her message.Perla Lena/PNA

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The stories about the statue and her miracles may border between fiction and the surreal however it doesn’t really matter for the people. Devotees from around the country and even from some parts of the world have their own healing stories to tell through the intercession of the Holy Mother. Perhaps, it is the reason why people flock the feast in her honor to catch a glimpse of her physical presence at the cathedral.

The post Candelaria 2023 first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

• Museum Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM.
• Entrance: Free
• Location: old Prison of Iloilo, Provincial Capitol Complex, Bonifacio Drive, City Proper

• Museum Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9AM-4PM.
• Entrance: Free
• Location: Ynchausti y Compania Building, J. M. Basa St., City Proper (beside City Hall)

• Museum Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 9AM-4PM.
• Entrance: Free
• Location: Iloilo Customs House (Aduana), J. M. Basa St., City Proper (near Sunburst Park)

• Museum Hours: Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM.
• Entrance: Adult – P50, Student – P20, Seniors/PWD – PP0
• Location: Provincial Capitol Complex, Bonifacio Drive, City Proper

• Museum Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10AM-5PM
• Entrance: Adult – P100, Students – P50, Senior/PWD – P80
• Location: Casa de Emperador, Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao

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The Philippine economy is expected to return to its 6 to 7-percent growth trajectory in 2022 after nearly two years of grappling with the pandemic despite the threat of the Omicron variant, according to the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group.

First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) said this year’s economic growth will be driven by sustained domestic demand, easing inflation, election expenditures, and accelerated government spending on infrastructure projects.

“Notwithstanding the ongoing pandemic, and Omicron sparking the third wave of infections, we are still optimistic that Philippine growth will further accelerate and get back on its trajectory of 6-7 percent in 2022,” FMIC president Jose Patricio Dumlao said in a virtual briefing.

Dumlao said the economy registered a 4.9-percent growth in the first three quarters of 2021 and the growth momentum likely spilled over in the fourth quarter given further economic reopening and easing mobility restrictions.

He added business and consumer confidence are also cautiously positive given wider availability of vaccines and relaxation of lockdowns, quarantine measures, and mobility restrictions.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) economist Dr. Victor Abola said the 6 to 7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) projection this year will be led by the industry sector –both construction and manufacturing.

Abola said services will still be the lagging sector as the pandemic measures hit hotels and restaurants.

“The Philippine situation is that there is recovery but still on the way to reach the pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

The country’s GDP posted a -9.5 percent full-year growth rate in 2020 compared to its 5.9 percent pre-pandemic performance in 2019.

Abola said the business process outsourcing (BPO) is a major contributor to the resiliency of the economy amid the pandemic.

“And it’s not the same as usual call centers, etc. You can see there are new, emerging segments and that is what companies are focusing on,” he said, citing insurance, life sciences, healthcare, and data analytics, among others.

Aside from BPO revenues, FMIC chairman Francisco Sebastian said the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances are boosting the economy.

“These two things are not as sexy as other things like technology and telecoms… This is what is holding us up. OFW remittances continue to grow,” he said.PNA

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Data from the Department of Health (DOH-6) showed that 323,949 or 96.65 percent of the city’s 335, 172 target population are now fully vaccinated against the viral disease while 364,609 or 108.78 percent have received their first dose of the vaccine.

According to Mayor Jerry. Treñas, the city’s accomplishment includes the 55,436 individuals from various towns in Iloilo province.

“While we have included some from the province who are working here we really need to ramp up the vaccination so that we can say we are achieving herd immunity. Take note that the 5 to 11 years old are not yet vaccinated and the city has yet to start the booster shots for those fully vaccinated more than 6 months ago,” said Treñas.

Meanwhile, the mayor urged everyone to be circumspect when going around and continue to follow the minimum health protocols.IMT

The post Iloilo City close to herd immunity vs COVID-19 first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH-6) showed that 323,949 or 96.65 percent of the city’s 335, 172 target population are now fully vaccinated against the viral disease while 364,609 or 108.78 percent have received their first dose of the vaccine.

According to Mayor Jerry. Treñas, the city’s accomplishment includes the 55,436 individuals from various towns in Iloilo province.

“While we have included some from the province who are working here we really need to ramp up the vaccination so that we can say we are achieving herd immunity. Take note that the 5 to 11 years old are not yet vaccinated and the city has yet to start the booster shots for those fully vaccinated more than 6 months ago,” said Treñas.

Meanwhile, the mayor urged everyone to be circumspect when going around and continue to follow the minimum health protocols.IMT

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