City of Love (Sept 2016)
How To Get There?
Ilo-Ilo Airport is just an hour and 15 minutes away from Manila. From there, you take a van for P50.00/each bound to SM Ilo-Ilo with an hour travel time. Then, you can hire a taxi for a city tour for P1, 000.00 and negotiate for additional fee if you wish to include Miag-Ao Church in your tour. We got ours for P1, 800.00 (3 pax), which I think is a good deal especially that we have our tall packs with us.
Ilo-Ilo City Tour
Miag-Ao Church a.k.a Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church was declared as a UNESCO Worl Heritage Site.
Ilo-Ilo Airport is just an hour and 15 minutes away from Manila. From there, you take a van for P50.00/each bound to SM Ilo-Ilo with an hour travel time. Then, you can hire a taxi for a city tour for P1, 000.00 and negotiate for additional fee if you wish to include Miag-Ao Church in your tour. We got ours for P1, 800.00 (3 pax), which I think is a good deal especially that we have our tall packs with us.
Ilo-Ilo City Tour
Miag-Ao Church a.k.a Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church was declared as a UNESCO Worl Heritage Site.
Molo Church is known throughout the Philippines as the "Feminist Church" because of the all-women ensemble of saints along the pillars in the aisle. I failed to take photos inside since there's an on-going mass during our visit.
Jaro Church (National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles)
Isla de Gigantes Island Hopping (Day Tour)
For a smooth and hassle-free transaction with your island hopping, you may reach Mr. Paul through his Facebook Account. He is very responsive to messages and immediately attends to your queries at once.
They offer a day tour (P999.00/each for a group of 7) and a two days one night tour (P1, 699.00), both open for joiners. We availed their day tour which includes the following:
1. Balbagon Island
From the resort, take a tricycle straight to Bancal Port for P20.00/each. Register to the Tourism Office and wait for your designated boat.
For a smooth and hassle-free transaction with your island hopping, you may reach Mr. Paul through his Facebook Account. He is very responsive to messages and immediately attends to your queries at once.
They offer a day tour (P999.00/each for a group of 7) and a two days one night tour (P1, 699.00), both open for joiners. We availed their day tour which includes the following:
- private charter boat service from Bancal Port to Isla de Gigantes (back and forth)
- lunch with soft drinks (steamed crabs, chicken binakol, scallops fillet)
- purified water all throughout the tour
- unlimited coffee/milo
- Islands to visit:
1. Balbagon Island
2. Pulupandan Island: From afar, you can see that forever alone coconut tree, which made our photo ops upon arrival a bit quick because of the unforgiving heat of the sun.
3. Antonia Island: We tried their banana boat ride for P200.00/each, but since we are only 5 and the minimum number of persons is 6, we paid P240.00/each instead.
Below is our group photo after our banana boat ride along with Geraldine and Lian whom we met at the start of our island hopping.
Before we proceed to the highlights of our tour, time to fuel up! We have scallops fillet, chicken binakol (sinigang), steamed crabs, unlimited rice and soft drinks which were all included in the package.
Scallops fillet
Chicken Binakol (Sinigang)
Steamed Crabs
4. Bantigue Island Sandbar: Overjoyed photos of our sandbar experience.
5. Cabugao Gamay Island: The most photographed island and probably the highlight of our island hopping.
2. Pulupandan Island: From afar, you can see that forever alone coconut tree, which made our photo ops upon arrival a bit quick because of the unforgiving heat of the sun.
3. Antonia Island: We tried their banana boat ride for P200.00/each, but since we are only 5 and the minimum number of persons is 6, we paid P240.00/each instead.
Below is our group photo after our banana boat ride along with Geraldine and Lian whom we met at the start of our island hopping.
Before we proceed to the highlights of our tour, time to fuel up! We have scallops fillet, chicken binakol (sinigang), steamed crabs, unlimited rice and soft drinks which were all included in the package.
Scallops fillet
Chicken Binakol (Sinigang)
Steamed Crabs
4. Bantigue Island Sandbar: Overjoyed photos of our sandbar experience.
5. Cabugao Gamay Island: The most photographed island and probably the highlight of our island hopping.
The next day, we left at The Palm Garden Resort at around 6:00 a.m. going to Balasan Terminal (P20.00/each). We then transferred to the passenger van bound to Tagbak terminal (P150.00/each) for 3 hours. The driver offered us to add P40.00/each and he will take us directly to Ortiz Wharf and so we grabbed it at once. We are already at Ortiz Wharf at 10:30 a.m. which is just 15 minutes boat ride to Guimaras. (P14.00/each).
Upon arrival at the Tourism Office, the staff gave us an orientation about their land tour (P850.00 for 3 pax). They grabbed a tricycle which will be our service for our remaining hours in Guimaras. Before anything else, we drop at The Pitstop to try their famous mango pizza. The cheese blends with the mangoes so well. For pizza lovers like me, this is definitely a must try.
Mango Pizza (P240.00)
Pasalubong Center
A quick tour at the Mango Farm.
We went back to Ilo-Ilo at 6:30 in the evening and have our dinner at Netong's Batchoy House located inside La Paz Market. I'm not a fan of batchoy, but I enjoyed every sip and every bite of its ingredients, truly made with love. We're lucky enough that we found the place before their closing time.
La Paz Bachoy (P80.00-120.00/bowl)
We also tried Madge Cafe's iced coffee for P45.00.
Photo Credits to @hannamirs
We also spent some quiet time in Ilo-Ilo Esplanade (Park) since our flight back to Manila is still at midnight. While waiting at the airport, upon browsing our photos, we are planning to get back here for more. Perhaps, the Tangke Saltwater Lagoon is already open to public again. Have enough time for Guimaras Island Hopping and to reach Bacolod as well. But, overall, we are fortunate enough for the experience and for the good weather of course during our stay here.
Expenses (Transpo Only):
Day 1
Ilo-Ilo City Tour with Miag-Ao - P600.00/head (taxi)
Day 2
Day Tour of Gigantes Islands - P999.00/each
Banana Boat in Antonia's Island - P240.00/each
Day 3
Tricycle from Palm Garden To Balasan Terminal - P20.00/each
Van from Balasan Terminal to Tagbak Terminal - P150.00/each
Additional Fee of Van going to Ortiz Wharf - P40.00/each
Ortiz Wharf to Jordan Wharf - P14.00/each
Land Tour via tricycle from Tourism Office (back and forth)- P850.00 (3 pax)
Jordan Wharf to Ortiz Wharf - P20.00/each
Jordan Wharf to La Paz Market - P7.00/each
La Paz Market to Esplanade - P100.00
Esplanade to Ilo-Ilo Airport - P300.00
