Christmas in the City of Love: Where to go, what to eat?

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Families return to Iloilo City for a brief vacation, celebrating the Christmas holidays with their loved ones.

The festivities are ideally complemented by indulgent food and a destination tailored for family and friends.

This Christmas season, what are the best places and best foods to indulge in the city of love?

BEST PLACES TO BE

As you stroll through the streets of Iloilo City, a sea of lanterns adorns the cityscape. Around 2,000 large rainbow lanterns are installed in roughly an 18-kilometer stretch of Diversion Road, spanning from Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan to other major thoroughfares in Iloilo City.

The Christmas cheer also extends to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the male dormitory of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as they were tapped to make the lanterns.

This display of thousands of lanterns brightening the city streets is part of an annual collaborative project between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo chapter and the Iloilo City government.

When passing through the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, shimmering holiday decorations reminiscent of “A Disney Christmas’” at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will welcome you.

On December 1, the Capitol transformed into a Disneyland-like spectacle, as it illuminated the festive season with a vibrant showcase of colors, music, and lights.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor mentioned that the “fun, foodie, friendly, and magical” Christmas lights display at the Capitol grounds serves as a ‘family destination’ for Filipino families during this holiday season.

While some materials were recycled from previous years, Defensor noted that the budget for decorations this year is much larger, with the provincial government allocating P2.87 million for the lights and decorations.

The Disney-themed lights and decorations will be on display until the new year.

The plaza is where people gather, and it’s a place where families come together. The city government, along with private stakeholders, has adorned plazas across the city with illuminating lights for families to enjoy during Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi.

Particularly noteworthy is the splendid view in Molo Plaza, where a majestic 50-foot Christmas tree stands tall, brought to life through the efforts of Metro Pacific Iloilo Water.

The plazas of Jaro, Lapaz, Libertad, and Mandurriao among others are also enchanted with illuminating lights, creating a visually striking and celebratory scene for the community to enjoy.

BEST FOODS TO EAT

Ilonggos, with their warm hearts, cook delicacies with a touch of love — and this is not a thing to be missed this Christmas, especially for a “Creative City of Gastronomy”.

Starting December 16, Catholic devotees gather at churches before dawn for the nine-day Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo dawn Masses, and the Christmas tradition is incomplete without the tempting delicacies available outside the church.

In some churches like that of the Jaro Cathedral and Molo Church or the Saint Anne Parish Church, mouthwatering Puto Bumbong and Bibingka await churchgoers after Mass.

Throughout the year, Puto Bumbong and Bibingka vendors remain stationed just outside the church, offering the ideal spot to savor these delights, especially on a chilly winter day.

Bibingka, a rice cake cooked over coal in a terracotta oven lined with banana leaves, takes the form of a puffed disc and is adorned with salted eggs and coconut shavings (niyog), sometimes with cheese, and brushed with butter or margarine.

Puto Bumbong, resembling rice sticks shaped like a pipe, is made from glutinous rice (malagkit) of a variety called pirurutong, characterized by its deep purple color. Cooked in bamboo tubes greased with coconut oil or butter, it is steamed and served on banana leaves as an improvised plate, topped with coconut shavings, muscovado sugar, and butter.

The world-renowned La Paz Batchoy and Pancit Molo also stand out as exceptional choices to warm the palate.

In the city’s wet markets, numerous batchoy shops are available, with standout options including Deco’s, Ted’s Oldtimer, and Popoy’s.

The noodle soup, which costs P80 to P120, depending on the serving size and toppings, includes round noodles, pork organs, crushed pork cracklings, beef loin, deep-fried garlic, sliced spring onions, and pork broth.

Meanwhile, the Pancit Molo’s top destinations include Kap Ising’s and Panaderia de Molo, with a bowl costing P70 to P100.

This Ilonggo dish features meat-filled dumplings, shredded chicken, fried garlic, spring onions, black pepper, and a flavorful broth.

In Iloilo City, there are many fun things to partake in this Christmas season — but the celebration of our Savior’s birth becomes even more meaningful when embraced with love, forgiveness, and humility.