Iloilo Arts Fest Must Serve Every Ilonggo

The Iloilo Arts Festival 2025, backed by a PHP 1.5 million city government budget, is an ambitious and laudable declaration of our city’s cultural prowess. It’s a month-long showcase designed to cement Iloilo’s reputation as a creative hub.

But for this festival to be a true success, it must prove itself on two critical fronts: as a potent economic engine and as a genuine celebration for all Ilonggos, not just a select few.

On the economic front, this festival is a strategic investment, not an expense. Coming on the heels of our 2023 designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, this is Iloilo’s chance to capitalize on a global brand.

The creative economy is serious business; the Philippine Statistics Authority reported it contributed ₱1.74 trillion, or 7.1%, to our national GDP in 2023.

By platforming food, film, and fashion, Iloilo is nurturing an industry that can drive tourism and create sustainable jobs. The key question, however, is how the city will measure its return on investment. The goal must be to build a year-round creative ecosystem, not just a profitable October.

Yet, a festival’s economic success is hollow if it fails its own people. The city’s effort to democratize culture is a significant step. Offering a free concert by internationally acclaimed pianist Cecile Licad at the historic Molo Church is a powerful gesture to bring world-class art to the public square. The free screenings at the Ilonggo Cinema Film Festival are equally important.

However, true accessibility is more than a zero-peso price tag. The “limited tickets” for the Licad concert, available at City Hall, risk creating a new barrier—a race for access that favors the well-informed and centrally located.

While the schedule includes an “Eksena sa Barangay,” we must ask if this is a core component with robust promotion or a token gesture. For the festival to truly belong to the city, its pulse must be felt as strongly in the barangays as it is at the Iloilo Convention Center.

Ultimately, the triumph of the Iloilo Arts Festival will be measured at the intersection of commerce and community. It must be an event that not only fills our hotels and restaurants but also fills every Ilonggo with a sense of ownership and pride. This ₱1.5 million investment is a bet on our city’s future—a future that must be both prosperous and profoundly inclusive.