Calle Real night market returns for Valentine’s celebration

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The historic Calle Real in Iloilo City’s City Proper will again transform into a festive corridor from Feb. 13–15 as the city government stages a night market for the Valentine’s Day celebration.

Leny Ledesma, executive assistant for special projects, said 100 stalls featuring 60 food and nonfood vendors will take part in the three-day event.

“Calle Real will come alive as it transforms into a vibrant, festive corridor, featuring our gastronomy, our heritage, our arts, and homegrown businesses,” Ledesma said in an interview on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Participants will include ambulant vendors, mobile food carts and trucks, on-the-go food sellers, and vendors from the Iloilo Central Market.

Following Iloilo City’s recent recognition with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Award, Ledesma said the eighth edition of the night market aims to showcase a revitalized heritage district while promoting shared responsibility for cleanliness, safety, and accessibility.

Asked about concerns over high prices, Ledesma said vendors have the final say on pricing.

“We’ve already told them the concerns from the last time if they’re going to adjust […] I hope they adjust,” she said.

“It is up to them, if they lower their prices, maybe they can sell more,” she added.

Ledesma stressed that pricing is “up to the vendors already” because the night market operates under a free-market system with no limits on markups.

“We just want them to earn, and we want the people to enjoy,” she said.

“It’s give and take,” she added.

“The local public must be able to afford what they’re buying also, that is in their relationship as trader and consumer,” Ledesma said.

Over the past seven editions, Ledesma said the Calle Real Night Market has drawn more than 89,000 visitors and generated over PHP 10.5 million in sales.