Visayas Islands
Iloilo
Today we're off to Iloilo, confusing in this font and looking like you would read it "LoyLow". Excuse my Spanish, but I think it's actually more like "E-yoyo". I'll check with someone knowledgeable and see.
Anyhoo, Iloilo is the Heart of the Philippines. For two reasons - one is that it is more or less in the center of the country, the other being that the Panay Island on which you find the city looks kind of heart-shaped.
So let's go take a look.
Incidentally, that is the way to San Jose.
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Ilin Island. Overrun with rats I here.
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Semirara Island. Not a tourist spot.
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Whereas Sibay and Caluya Islands are troplical paradises if you can get there.
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Putt putt putt
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Panay Island. There is little written history of the area prior to the Spanish, but oral tradition was very rich, and included the epic poem Hinalawod. It is about the exploits of three demi-god brothers, Humadapnon, Dumaladap and Labaw Donggon, the eldest. Donggon challenged Saragnayan, the Lord of Darkness, to a duel which lasted many years and didn't end well for our hero. But he survived, and he was worshipped by the faithful even though the place was officially catholic under the Spanish. Worship involved stealthily entering a certain cave at a certain evening of the year and offering up chickens, rice, bananas and pigs to the ancient deity, who then presumably made Binalot with the basket ingredients.
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Yuck
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Looks like a clear shot to the coast this way.
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And here we have Iloilo. While here be sure to get a bowl of La Paz Batchoy, the local pork (in the broadest possible sense of the word) noodle soup. When you eat it, it is customary to eat the broth first and then request refills of same before working on the offal. That sounds like very good advice.
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Welcome to Iloilo.
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