UPDATE: Direct flights to Hongkong, Korea from Iloilo to start soon

ILOILO City – “Darating na ang international flights to Iloilo,” announced Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Cebu-Pacific will soon launch its Iloilo-Hongkong flights, and the Korean Airlines will also mount its South Korea-Iloilo flights, Mendoza said during the ground-breaking ceremony of the P124-million secondary access road in Brgy. Tabucan, Cabatuan leading to the Iloilo Airport on Friday.

Text and photos courtesy of PANAY NEWS

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered to establish an international desk at the Iloilo Airport. It will be administered by the Customs Immigration and Quarantine.

“The Iloilo Airport is now complete,” declared Mendoza as he emphasized that the airport has already been declared an “international destination.”

He expressed confidence that with the international flights, investors will come in to spur economic development in Region 6.

This could be achieved because of the potential of the area near the airport to become an industrial zone, “eventually becoming an economic zone,” Mendoza explained.

It was the Regional Development Council (RDC), the highest policy-making body of Western Visayas, that lobbied to make the Iloilo Airport service international flights.

Though of international standards, the Iloilo Airport presently accommodates local flights. Two Western Visayas airports already accommodate international flights – the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan and the Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo, Aklan.

If the Iloilo Airport is made to service international flights, it could generate an average daily income of P280,000 from terminal fee collections, a study of RDC’s Regional Project Monitoring Committee showed.

The airport currently serves 16 outgoing flights daily, with an average volume of 90 passengers per flight.

Straddling Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan towns 19 kilometers northwest of Iloilo City, the Iloilo Airport opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007 after a decade of planning and construction, replacing Mandurriao airport in the city which had been in service for over 70 years.

The airport is officially designated as a Class 1 principal (major domestic) airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the body responsible for the operations of all airports in the country.

The airport sits on a 188-hectare site. It consists of a single runway, various administrative and maintenance buildings, waste sorting and water treatment facilities, a power generating station, a cargo terminal and a main passenger terminal.

Unlike the runway in Mandurriao, the longer runway at the new Iloilo Airport can support aircraft as large as the Airbus A330. Runway lights and an Instrument Landing System were installed, making it capable of supporting low-visibility and night landings.

Its location on the Tomas Confesor Highway, a major highway traversing Panay Island, makes the airport accessible from all parts of Iloilo and Panay by road, while its proximity to the currently defunct Panay Railways network could potentially link the airport to the rest of Panay by rail..... READ MORE

UPDATE 11/09/09

Buddy Britanico of the Banat Party-list is running for reelection.Because of his sterling performance in the House of Representatives, the Ilonggos will certainly support him again. Buddy, one of the country’s most outstanding parliamentarians, is responsible for the opening of the Iloilo Airport to international flights, which will start this December.

He is also responsible for the modular generator sets that the National Power Corporation will provide Iloilo City to solve the perennial problem of terrible brownouts that drive away businessmen and investors.It should be remembered that it is also Britanico, former Minister of the Department of Education, who brought the University of the Philippines to Miag-ao.Britanico’s presence in the House of Representatives gives prestige to the Ilonggos long deprived of good congressional representation.Kudos to Buddy!

Ready-to-cook Pancit Molo balls

It was only today that I remembered buying a pack of ready-to-cook pancit Molo. Locals are fortunate to buy them at groceries here saving them time, money and effort in the tedious preparation of pancit Molo. Anyway every pack of the RTC pancit Molo has the balls and the lang-lang . Its the balls that entice the buyers and the lang lang that "dictates" the price and weight. For this blog entry, I opted for the AR brand (150 grams for PhP 21) since they had the more photogenic combination at that time though I'm more partial to the Cares brand. Separating the contents makes you realize that what you actually bought but for that price, it's already a bargain, can be cooked in many ways and can serve 2-3 people. It is then up to you what you can make out from a pack or more. For this preparation, I used 2 chicken broth cubes and just estimated the amount of water. Upon taste test I added a pinch of salt, a dash of pepper and few drops of soy sauce. I boiled the lang

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece pork broth cube (

A new flavour for the Dinagyang 2011 Food Festival

Aside from the dances, drums and colorful costumes, Dinagyang also means food and Iloilo City has a lot to offer during this 3-day event. The festival brings them to the streets with the much awaited Dinagyang Food Festiva l . For four days, major streets in the city are lined with food stalls and kiosks that everywhere one turns it all about food. As this article states, major streets in Iloilo City will have a food festival there will be plenty of places to indulge in during D inagyang 2011 . ILOILO City's world-famous Dinagyang Festival will turn the spotlight on Ilonggo cuisine this year. Tourists are encouraged to try chicken barbecue the Ilonggo way and other tasty local dishes during the festival. There are also the world-famous Ilonggo delicacies and other concoctions to bring home after enjoying the Dinagyang ati-atihan and Kasadyahan competitions. Not only that. The 1s t Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) International Food Festival 2011 will attempt t

Valenciana

A close relative of paella, this dish originated in Valencia, Spain and probably brought by the Spaniards when they colonized the country. Always a staple in family gatherings, this yellow rice is a complete meal in itself, with pork, chicken, liver, chorizo, shrimps, bellpeppers, peas and raisins to name its basic ingredients. RECIPE Saute your choice meats and vegetables. Cook malagkit rice with turmeric and broth cubes then mix sauted meat and vegetables when almost done. Garnish with hardboiled eggs and onion leaves.

SIDRO: Iloilo's very own gourmet doughnuts

Just listening to Isidro Panizales Jr. animatedly talking about his life before and after being a “doughnut-preneur”, is like the different flavors of Sidro Doughnuts . Each variant seems to reflect different aspects of his almost three decades of living in America. From his work in corporate America for more than 10 years to that one little spark of deciding leaving work to pursue his delicious passion – life is like a box of doughnuts! IN A DOUGHNUT HOLE Sidro is an offshoot from the name Isidro but as Sid says, it’s a tribute to his father. The first Sidro Doughnuts came out of the kitchen and delivered to one lucky doughnut-phile on Dec. 18 last year. It comes in two sizes – Junior Doughnuts which at 30 grams each are perfect for parties and occasions. But if you can’t enough, there are the Regular Doughnuts which is more than 3x at 100 grams and comes with more toppings and flavours. Choose among nine specially concocted creations - Bugnay Berry, Calamansi, Dulce

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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