Kapwa Travel ist not only a fully DOT-accredited tour company but is also a member of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). To promote the numerous tourist attractions and encourage visitors to make the trip to the destinations following the pandemic’s three-year absence of tourists, the TPB conducted a familiarization tour of the country’s various regions in March. We were happy to join this familiarization tour along with other tour operators who are TPB-members.

The Tourism Promotions Board sent a notification regarding their fam trip to their partners., I had been asked if I wanted to join this trip, and I exclaimed, “Yes!” in delight. It is a privilege for me to join in events of such scope as a young tour guide in the industry- because it serves as a kind of training ground for exposure, interaction with different cultures, and in-depth historical study in various Philippine locations. The Iloilo-Guimaras-Capiz familiarization trip is one of the possibilities that has a spot open during that time, and yes, I filled out the participation form to confirm.

I arrived in “Iloilo City,” the city of love, around six in the morning. One of the officers from the Department of Tourism’s Region IX- Sir Ray Tabafunda, graciously smiled and gave us a personalized lei as a welcome. Only two participants were from Cebu (me and a lady from another agency); everyone else was already from Luzon.We gathered and received an itinerary briefing before going to the famous La Paz Batchoy restaurant- the “Ted’s Oldtimer LaPaz Batchoy” for breakfast.

Photo taken at the airport with sir Ray Tabafunda

Ted’s Oldtimer LaPaz Batchoy

The family of Teodorico “Ted” Lepura is known to own this place, where you could try the original and tastiest batchoy in Iloilo. According to our tour guide, it is ideal to eat in the Philippines roughly breakfast and during the rainy season. Round egg noodles, also known as Miki, shrimp broth, crumbled pork cracklings, beef loin, and pork offal (liver, spleen, kidneys, and heart) are among the ingredients. Of course, they were correct when they recommended pairing it with Puto is the best decision. “Puto,” a Filipino steamed rice cake usually prepared with slightly fermented rice dough (galapong).
A hot and savory special batchoy served to us for breakfast.Perfect food to eat after an early flight.
After that, we continued our tour and visited some of Iloilo’s top attractions. But first, we stopped by the Municipality of San Joaquin since we needed to put on the “Carmen” protection before we did anything else that day. Carmen is a piece of cloth shaped like a flower that is blessed with a ritual prayer by healers and is required to wear when visiting Iloilo because it used to believe that there were lost ghosts and spirits in the mountains, trees, and other parts of nature (this belief dates back to the time before the Spanish colonized the Philippines when we believed that nature has spirits). They handed it to us, and we placed it in our clothing and continued our tour.
Upon arrival at San Joaquin Municipal Hall, we were given a Carmen for protection from bad spirits
Here are some highlights in Iloilo

San Joaquin Church

The church of San Joaquin in Poblacion, which was constructed in the late 1800s during the Spanish era, has come to represent the triumph of good over evil in Iloilo. Famous sculptors, master masons, and well-known craftsmen and artists from Mexico and Spain worked together to build San Joaquin Church.Most of the churches in Iloilo were built intricately because, as mentioned, they were sculpted.

Quite amazed of how intricate the design of the San Joaquin Church

Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort

The tour guide informed us that Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort is an inland resort that is a functional farm with several agricultural features but also has leisure activities and a pilgrimage site that can all be enjoyed by visiting guests, especially if you are a first-time visitor. We arrived at Garin Farm before lunch, and they gave us tumblers as we were about to stroll around the farm.

Garin Farm is more than just a farm; it’s also a terrific place for activities like zip lining across the lagoon, driving a buggy car, rowing a boat, fishing, and swimming. The resort also offers larger pavilions for corporate parties, conferences, and other occasions; and completely air-conditioned, glass-walled rooms with breathtaking mountain views for overnight stays.

Garin Farm’s Pilgrimage Hill, A Journey from Creation to Ascension, is one of its key attractions. This pilgrimage site, which is also known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” has a 480-step staircase where visitors can walk past significant biblical scenes like the Birth and Baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension before ending in what appears to be a representation of heaven with a large cross and other sculptures set in immaculate white. Indeed, it is an agricultural, recreational, and religious area.

Garin Farm Pilgrimage Resort

Miag-ao Church

The Miagao Church, also known as the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, is the Roman Catholic parish church in the province of Iloilo. The church, which was completed in 1797, is famous for the exquisite sculptural relief carved on its exterior. The Miagao Church is a standing proof of Miagao’s culture and way of life from centuries ago, rooted in a firm foundation of the Christian faith. Most visitors would agree that the Miagao Church is one of the country’s architectural treasures due to its distinctive and imposing patterns, embellishments, and concepts.

Miag-ao Church

Camina Balay nga Bato

Camina Balay Nga Bato is a lovely ancestral house that has become one of Iloilo City’s most popular tourist attractions. The word means “house by the river”; constructed between 1860 and 1865. It was previously Fernando Avancena and Eulalia Abaja’s humble home. The construction of the house was inspired by bahay kubo, a form of stilt house indigenous to the country. Over the years, improvements and modifications have been made, but the house has stood the test of time.

We ate our lunch provided by DOT IX; on the second floor of Camina Balay Nga Bato; and were warmly welcomed by the staff and members of the family who manage the house. It appears to have been a feast where local specialties like hot chocolate and Pancit Molo (a soup dish with transparent broth and dumplings) were there. Cacao beans grown on the family property are used to make hot chocolate. Also, the beverage was served in a traditional manner: hot, thick, and extraordinarily rich. It goes great with local biscuits or Biscocho.

Photo taken during our lunch at Camina Balay na bato and they showed us how to perfectly make pancit molo and a chocolate drink made from cacao bean

Molo Church

Molo Church attracts tourists who are fascinated to see one of the historical and heritage sites in Western Visayas because it is renowned for being the only Gothic-Renaissance Church in the entire country outside of Manila. Its white coral stone front highlights the building’s distinctive Gothic-Renaissance features.

Photo taken in front of Molo Plaza

Molo Mansion

One of the most remarkable old houses in the Philippines is the Molo Mansion, often called the Yusay-Consing Mansion. Its high ceilings, Neoclassical balustrades, and artistic carvings are among its most distinctive features. It is located in the Molo neighborhood across from St. Anne Parish Church and the town square.

Photo taken in front of the mansion together with the other tour operators.

======= Guimaras Trip =======

On our second day, we went to Guimaras Island, which is now officially called the Province of Guimaras. I cannot wait to travel to this island to know how sweet its mangoes are and why it is known as the “Mango Capital of the Philippines.”

Around 7:00 a.m., we departed from the hotel; and went to the port around 7:30. We boarded the ferry and arrived at the island in 15 to 20 minutes. The LGU staff gave us their lovely lei in the shape of a mango as a gracious welcome. We were helped to our destination by a different tour leader. We first went to the capitol’s location to photograph the Guimaras sign.

Photo taken in front of the Guimaras Capitol building
The tour guide took us to some of Guimaras’ most picturesque spots, but the location of our upcoming merienda had me excited. The excitement was beyond words as the tour guide explained what to expect. We’ll have a pizza with mango toppings, but before we do, I asked why they earned their name “Mago Capital in the Philippines”; She told us we would find out later. So we tried the mango and discovered the reason. It will magically slide into your mouth when you eat it since it is so soft. The mango in Guimaras is different from the mango we usually eat in the sense that you can’t feel the fiber, and it’s just delicious.She also mentioned that it is because of the weather, soil, and fertilizer that they have.

Pitstop Restaurant in Guimaras

Mango-based meals from The Pitstop Restaurant are well-known, particularly the Mango Pizza. The Mango Pizza may not seem enticing when you first glance at its nearly uniformly yellow surface but wait till you take a bite. Surprisingly, it is tasty with mango from Guimaras with melted cheese and cashew nuts on a thin crust. A mouthwatering mix is created by the gently salty creaminess of the cheese and the tart sweetness of the mango.Plus tip: Eat the pizza while it’s still hot because that’s the best time to have a bite on it!. Apart from the pizza, they also have other famous dishes like: Mango Beef Bulalo and Pork Adobo Twist.

A mouthwatering unique mango pizza
Subsequently, we headed to our ocular visit to some of their cozy accommodations and back to the mainland afterward.

Andana Resort Guimaras

It was a lovely and spacious resort with a great view to stay. We roamed the area, and one of the staff showed us some of the cozy rooms. The price is interestingly reasonable for a resort like that, and surprisingly they have a barkada room, which is much nearer to the beach, and they name it the “Beach Pod” room. The resort is perfect for family, friends, and honeymoon couples.

A perfect place to swim in their infinity pool and enjoy the majestic scenery

======= Capiz Trip =======

Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz, is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of the Western Visayas region. On our last day, we explored and captured their history, culture (which until now they preserve and respected by their tribes), and the most delectable seafood in the country since it is known as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.

We traveled from Iloilo to Capiz for approximately 2 hours and had a wonderful tour of Capiz Eco-Park. It was a big park funded by the government, and in every area, they had different exhibits to promote their products and services.
It was a perfect chance for us and the upcoming tourists to see and admire the beauty of Philippine culture and its ecological treasures without harming their conservation.

Welcomed by these lovely and talented students in Capiz
Things to do in Capiz Ecological-park

Wander around Ethnic Homes

Aeta, Tumandok, and Panay-Bukidnon houses, as well as others, are located in the Cultural Village and showcase the customs and daily lives of the indigenous tribes who call Capiz home. The Cultural Village offers visitors the chance to learn more about and appreciate various cultures through immersive displays.

Even the Harana, which we traditionally practiced in the Philippines before, in which a male serenaded a woman while accompanied by a guitar, was witnessed there. It was a fun experience because one of my colleagues participated in the Harana tradition and re-enacted it. How romantic!

One of the scenarios taken during our tour, wherein they reenacted the harana (serenading)

Dance with us! The Binukot Tradition

A young, attractive woman (as young as 3 or 4 years old) is kept hidden from the public view for a while according to the pre-colonial Visayan tradition known as the Binukot. She is also prohibited from doing strenuous work and from being seen by men. She receives pampering from family members, who also instruct her in embroidery, folk dance, and other skills. When she is 13 or 14 and ready for marriage, her parents would then demand a sizable dowry, or pangayu.This tradition, which you may have seen in the cultural village even though it is no longer followed today, is said to bring good fortune to the family and the Binukot herself, guaranteeing she will find a suitable husband and have a bright future.

It was a colorful and melodic experience to witness and hear them welcoming us through their speech but through their composed song.

A binukot tradition wherein the male and female are dancing together. It is their way of expressing their feelings with each other.

Weave it through!

You will have the opportunity to watch local craftsmen exhibit their specialty weaving made of bamboo and abaca apart from seeing native houses and traditional dances. And if you want to learn how to do it yourself, you can! Weave it through!

I am so lucky to witness and experience these kinds of events. It was such an honor and salute to these artistic people in Capiz
There is no denying that this trip was a great experience because I realized that the Philippines is full of pristine locations that entice us inexorably. Also, some of them are protected areas that serve as reminders for us to behave responsibly as tourists and citizens.
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