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| One of the heritage buildings at Calle Real, photo by Felipe Uygongco |
Two words best describes Iloilo City these days: LIVE and INVEST. There is no doubt that this bustling metropolis outside of Luzon is making a spark and a name as the next center of investments, economic affluence and developments, a city of opportunity shaping the future of Western Visayas – Iloilo City.
Named after the nose-shaped river, “Irong-irong,” a Hiligaynon term which later became Yiloilo (as pronounced by the Europeans during the Spanish colonization period) and settled for its modern name Iloilo. A meeting point for international culture, trade and industry during the Spanish and American period in the Philippines, Iloilo is synonymous for its flourishing textile industry and ultimately instrumental in giving birth to the prosperous sugar industry of Negros through its rich elite capitalists in the olden days. It has cemented its claim as the irreplaceable “Queen City of the South,” the only city with such title in the archipelago given by Spain’s Ma. Christina as the Spanish crown’s “most loyal city” and popularized by its influential economic clout in the late 18th century and 19th century.
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| Top view of Jaro Cathedral Chruch, photo by Felipe Uygongco |
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| The serene ambiance of Iloilo River Esplanade, photo by Felipe Uygongco |
Iloilo is synonymous for its sweet and culture-loving people – the Ilonggos, whose passion transcends great resiliency, valor, artistry, optimism and spiritual devotion. Proofs of the city’s intact religious-cultural legacy are the existence ancestral houses, old churches, oldest business district – the Calle Real, age-old Hablon weaving industry, colorful festivals, beautiful clean river and mouth-watering delicacies like Batchoy and Biscocho that define Iloilo as a convergence of eco-cultural-culinary tourism destination incomparable to any other cities in the Philippines.
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| Dinagyang Festival, Ilonggos’ famous cultural spectacle performed at Iloilo Convention Center during the APEC ministerial meetings this year, photo by Felipe Uygongco |
Today, Iloilo City is shedding another side of its eloquence and splendor – its newfound fame as the next vibrant investment and economic prominence creating a synergistic image of globalization, bridging its past glory and its present rise. Life in Iloilo is simple, serene, healthy and stress-free due to its old-world charm, a clean river creating ecological harmony and well-managed urban planning – envisioning a balance between developments and environmental preservation. Investment potential of the city is surging high due to its business-friendly and global perspective programmes, planning and visionary effort between public and private partnership, strong leaders working with its people to pursue the goal of fast-forward thinking and prosperity without neglecting the city’s cultural and ecological resources.
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| Benigno Aquino Avenue at night, photo by Felipe Uygongco |
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| Megaworld Boulevard by day, photo by Ronelo Ladiao |
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| Iloilo Business Park at night, photo by Marx de Silva |
There is another face of futuristic-modern Iloilo that needs to be seen and appreciated not only by Ilonggos but by visitors and investors – the 35 billion investment – Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park, a 72-hectare business township rising in Mandurriao District where modern lifestyle, recreation, leisure and tourism create a magnetizing appeal for the city. This is where we can find the first biggest convention center, lifestyle mall, the country’s longest shop-and-dine strip, international hotels, luxurious condominium towers, BPO office towers and iconic landmarks that will paint a highly-global destination for visitors and investors. The biggest Central Business District (CBD), an epicenter of finance and commerce will be established here to change the landscape of global business in Iloilo City.
There is no stopping the “city of love” from reaching the top, moving up to a higher ground of affluence and progress, open a gateway of exciting opportunities and making a new mark as a destination to perfectly live and invest.
Want to live in Iloilo Business Park? Learn more about IBP's condominiums at http://iloilocondominiums.com/ . Or call +63 917 3791182
