Iloilo City has evolved over the years as a metropolis of visionary progress from simple and quite city of culture-loving people to one of the most livable cities today. The relentless developments and changes are overwhelming. But behind all of these new found vibrant images of the city, there are important glimpses from the past, a feeling that evoke nostalgia for a true-blue Ilonggo worth revisiting. Here’s a list of what Ilonggos are missing from the past and hoping it will see a revival in the future… and some of these are coming back bigger and ever better!
Try Me! Restaurant
When it comes to Ice Cream, Spaghetti, Burgers and a lot more fast food delights, Try Me Is the best place to visit in Iloilo City. Long before Jollibee, McDonald’s and other fast food chains arrived in the city, Try Me is the ultimate Ilonggo fast food chain popping up everywhere. Try Me popularized their own distinct Pancit Lomi and mix-your-own Halo-halo special (unlimited milk and sago are included).
If Try Me will be revived in the future, surely it will still have a place in the palate of Ilonggo fast food lovers. It only needs good advertising boost with a friendly and competitive pricing of their food and flavor closer to the preferred taste of Ilonggos.
Fatima Restaurant
One of the favorite late 1970s and 1980s popular restaurants in the city is Fatima located in J. M. Basa Street. Popular for delectable food and pocket-friendly pricing, Fatima is a favorite hang-out place of Ilonggos. Their sweet-flavored Spaghetti is one of their most popular dishes that most patrons are looking for. The resto’s ambiance is also homey and relaxing, attracting people of all walks of life to dine and experience a true Ilonggo hospitality.
With a strong effort to revive Calle Real and addition of several restaurant avenues in the city, Fatima could become one of the most anticipated restaurants that needs a great comeback in the future.
Marina Restaurant
Considered as one of Iloilo’s most celebrated restaurants in Iloilo City during its heydays in the 1990s, Marina Restaurant located in Benigno Aquino Avenue Diversion Road just across the now popular Iloilo River Esplanade, is a specialty bistro that serves seafood, ala carte food and a prominent hang-out spot by food lovers. The scenic view of the Iloilo River gives a relaxing ambiance for customers and enjoy their authentic Ilonggo dishes. In the evening, Marina transforms into a nightlife spot for lovers of music bands and a place where Ballroom dancing enthusiasts hang-out. Given the chance to be revived once again in the near future, Marina can still tickle the taste buds of Ilonggos especially those who enjoyed the ambiance and happenings of Iloilo City during 1990s and early 2000s. Ilonggos love good food, great places to dine and do ballroom dancing, so it’s not impossible that they would love the idea of reviving Marina in the near future.
Barracks Bar and Restaurant
Before Smallville Complex, The Avenue and several other nightlife spots in Iloilo City mesmerized partygoers and pleasure-loving Ilonggos, one of the most sensational party places to visit back in the 1990s is Barracks Bar and Restaurant located the far end of Benigno Aquino Avenue Diversion Road. Barracks was inspired by the concept of a place that houses military soldiers, Iloilo’s version of this sensational pub and bistro is a converging spot for good times, good music and great ambiance. Night after night, local bands and performers graced the stage of this popular bar. It is a place where people in Iloilo meet, have fun and indulge in finding true party experience.
Amidst the mushrooming bistros and bars in Iloilo, Barracks can make a great comeback in the near future with a good location ready to bring good times to Ilonggos.
Convan Bar and Restaurant
Another sensational bar and restaurant that emerged in Iloilo City back in the 1990s is Convan Bar and Restaurant located in Magdalo Street, La Paz District. The disco bar and restaurant is a favorite party destination of Ilonggos during its heydays. Convan is said to be named after a shortcut term for “container van” which is a storage for goods and supplies being transported from one place to another. Convan is like a huge room where people hangout, have fun and party with bands and invited performers. If Convan can be revived these days in a much better and accessible location, for sure Ilonggos will never hesitate to come and enjoy the place.
Old Rotary Park
One the best attractions in Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City back in the early 1980s is the Rotary Park. The park was built through the effort of prestigious a Non-Government Organization (NGO) who wanted to create a leisure place for Ilonggos. With its location at the major port of the city, the park is perfect weekend destination for families, friends and people looking for a place to unwind. Today, the location of the old Rotary Park will be transformed into a modern jetty port for Iloilo-Guimaras that will provide a convenient transportation hub for boats and Roro service.
Payless Emporium
Ilonggos are fond of shopping and spending wisely. One of the prominent shopping destinations in Iloilo City in the 1980s is Payless Shoe Emporium located at Amigo Mall along Iznart Street. Payless exclusively sell shoes, gift items and groceries, a one-stop department store but mostly offers discounted prices.
Disco Bars that defines Iloilo’s Nightlife – Tivoli/Cairo, Vega, Highway 21, Base/Bwana, Treasure Hunt
Ilonggos can’t get enough of nightlife back in the olden days circa 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Tivoli stood out as one of the best disco bars in the city for two decades (1980s-1990s) which include a change of managements until its revival as Cairo, an Egyptian-inspired concept of the disco bar. Located in the second floor of Amigo Terrace Hotel, teens and party lovers of the late 1980s and early 1990s know what we are talking about when it comes to nightlife. Base is another disco bar that brings back good memories in the late 1980s to 1990s before it transformation into Buana. The disco bar is located inside the Sarabia Manor Hotel complex near the legendary Freddy’s Bar which is still very much alive these days. Across Sarabia Manor Hotel, is another popular disco bar that captivates the interest of partygoers in Iloilo - Highway 10. Vega is a short-lived disco club that existed across the University of San Agustin Gym known for their wild party anthems and crowd. But the most iconic of all is Treasure Hunt, a high-end disco bar at Hotel del Rio which started in late 1970s until the early 1990s. Iloilo’s bigwigs and party elites meet each other in this posh entertainment spot. In fact, back in its heydays, afternoon disco was very popular among partygoers.
The Mansion House and Sugbahan Garden Restaurant
Two of the most well-known restaurants in Iloilo City back in the 1980s are The Mansion House located at J.M Basa Street and Sugbahan Plaza located at Delgado Street just across Amigo Plaza Mall. The Mansion House serves delectable local and foreign fare loved by its loyal patron and diners. Sugbahan Plaza is a restaurant that mostly serves local grilled food and cuisines that attracts people with their excellent cooking style.
The Old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao
For more than 6 decades, the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao district has become an important part of the city as its gateway to the world. People come and go in this vast domestic airport until its last flight in 2005, when it was finally closed to pave way for the coming of a new Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo. A few years later, Megaworld, the country’s leading real estate developer envisioned to transform the Iloilo Airport property into a bustling commercial complex. In 2013, Iloilo Business Park (IBP) was launched by Megaworld as its biggest single investment project worth P35 billion. Infrastructure projects in this mixed-use commercial complex introduced two international hotels – Richmonde Hotel and Courtyard by Marriot, the 3,700-seater Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) where the present APEC ministerial meetings will be held on Sept. 21 – Oct. 6, 10, modern BPO buildings to be built in the next 10 years, shopping and entertainment destinations such as Festive Walk Mall and the country’s longest dining strip – Street of Festive Walk; and of course, the lifestyle elevating residential towers such as One Madison Place, Lafayette Park Square and The Palladium, the region’s tallest tower with 22 floors. IBP is touted as Iloilo’s biggest claim-to-fame when it comes to investment magnet and tourism combined with the city’s rich cultural heritage and attractions. This rising metropolis is unstoppable and promising when it comes to providing globalized opportunities and business expansion for Iloilo City. Though Ilonggos will surely miss their old airport but its recent rise in becoming an iconic business township as Iloilo Business Park will now be a part of the city’s bright future.
Reviving the old into something new - bigger and better: Old Iloilo Airport and the present image of Iloilo Business Park
So, what do you miss in Iloilo City? Tell us more and we’ll celebrate the good life that we shared and still look forward in the “city of love.”
