Rappler #ShareIloilo MeetUp

Rappler launched a new campaign for promoting Philippine Tourism. The #SharePH campaign aims to showcase the Philippines to the world. This was introduced last November 13, 2014 in a meetup of Rappler with the Ilonggo Bloggers at Camiña Balay Na Bato in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

One can share photos, recommendations or destinations of your own. Just use the hastag #SharePh on any social media account like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Its the netizens sharing the Philippines through the world. One can become an ambassador of tourism by posting a story or photos of your experiences.

The use of the #SharePH also allows rappler to map out these experiences in their virtual map found at http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/shareph. Each experience can be filtered by location, category and popularity for easy navigation.

As part of the #SharePH campaign, Rappler also launched the #ShareIloilo campaign. Its a whole month activity to put Iloilo on the spotlight. Just add the hastag #ShareIloilo on your post about Iloilo.

To highlight more the #ShareIloilo campaign, Rappler and the Ilonggo bloggers decided to have a twitter party on November 21, 2014 at 3PM. Everybody can join and share about Iloilo. Subscribe to Rappler's Twitter account @rapplerdotcom. Reply to the conversation by posting your stories and photos of Iloilo.

Hopefully, with the #SharePH and #ShareIloilo campaigns, more people will discover and visit Philippines and Iloilo.

Iloilo Convention Center

Iloilo Business Club & Mr. Guillermo Luz inspected the Iloilo Convention Center. He is the Co-Chair of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Committee. Iloilo is set to host two ministerial meeting next year. 

Photo Credits: Vincent Valencia & Breaking Barriers

Kollabo... Japanese, Korean and Chinese Restaurant in One

Kollabo Kitchen is a newly opened Japanese Restaurant at Donato Pison Avenue, San Rafael, Mandurriao. It not only offers Japanese food but includes Korean and Chinese dishes. It opened last November 7, 2014. The restaurant has a modern asian feel to welcome anytime trying to savor oriental cuisine,

We ordered a few Japanese dishes for this first try in Kollabo Kitchen. The food has a mild taste suited to the ilonggo taste buds but definitely very Japanese. It something you'll enjoy over long conversations with friends and family. 

Ojingoh Dubbab (Spicy Squid Rice Meal)

(Ala Carte Tofu)

 (Japanese Pan Cake)

The servings are quite big even for the ala carte which you can share to a 2-3 persons. The rice meals on the other hand has more viand than the rice which I like. Some restaurants has more rice in their rice meals. This one is worth the price. 

I was really full after eating. I'm sure I will have to visit this place soon. They have Shabu-shabu in their menu which I have been looking for in the local restaurants. So, till the next visit.

Hello Iloilo: Celebrating Local Stories and Talents

SMART Communications launched their Doon Po Sa Amin program at Bavaria Restaurant, Jaro, Iloilo City last night November 6. Doon Po Sa Amin, now on its 7th year, is designed to uncover the best and most unique stories about Philippine culture and heritage.

Few local guests were invited to share stories about Iloilo. Mr Ben Jimena, the city tourism officer, opened the floor by sharing about the upcoming Dinagyang 2015. It banners the tagline "Sum It Up To The Top". He shared that Dinagyang will be less noisy and with less props. The 2015 edition will feature innovations in dance steps. Dinagyang Festival is also growing as their will be a National Festival Costume Expo and the Kasadyahan Festival will become the Kasadyahan National Cultural Contest.

Next, the Iloilo Provincial Tourism office presented the many tourist destination in the province of Iloilo. New destinations, is the highlands of Miagao which has a cold climate and also bore rice terraces, 

Inday Joy was the next to share about Ilonggo Markets and Food. She shared that Ilonggo prehispanic cuisine is the precursor of the south beach diet. Ilonggos lived a healthy diet and they like their food as Sinugba(grilled), Kinilaw (cooked in vinegar) and Binuro (salted). The availability of various food sources also enables the ilonggos to have varied food dishes.

Professor Anabelle from the University of San Agustin shared her childhood experiences on history and culture. She shared that Iloilo City Proper has a lost tradition known as "Viva Parol" where houses were decorated with Parols. The Drilons and Tans were the huge patrons of this tradition. I remembered that similar to this we have the Bombo Parol contest held at Marymart Mall in the 1990s.

The DPSA video contest was introduced after the sharing of experiences. It has two divisions: the student and the open category. Participants should be 8-10 members. The entry should be in the following categories: Activities to enjoy, Food to eat, History to uncover, People to meet, Places to go, Plants & animals to discover and Community products to support. The entry could be an animation, documentary, music video or a short film. The length should be from 5-8 minutes. Deadline will be on November 20, 2014.

SMART is also holding the 11th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards. It is open to Electrical Engineering or Information Technology students. Students will compete in making a mobile app.

Hello Iloilo Participants. Photo by Bert Andone

Tigkaralag 2014

The 23rd Tigkaralag Festival is a festival like no other. Held at the Pavia Town Plaza, each barangay sends their scariest costumes and compete in a dance drama.

More Photos to follow

Unexpected

My photo got published for the first time in a national print via Manila Bulletin's sunday magazine Panorama. A digital copy of the work can be accessed from http://www.mb.com.ph/scream-and-shout/, This is really unexpected. Thanks to Drei Peralta for facilitating this. Thank you so much. 

Photo of the Day 10/10/14

Always floating in water.