Festive Walk Mall inspires Ilonggos' Metropolitan Lifestyle

Festive Walk Mall construction updates, February 2016

It is etched in the mindset of Ilonggos that shopping has become their favorite lifestyle for a long time. Their progressive city, Iloilo has experienced fast-paced metropolitan changes in the last decades, ushering beautiful developments, sustainable elevation and giving Ilonggos the reason to enjoy life even better in their beloved city. As prestigious shopping malls propping up in the last few years in the city, Ilonggos are lovers of the good life and the high-end lifestyle. They love to shop and look around for new leisure destinations and options. In early 1800, it is said that Ilonggos has developed a high sense of aesthetics when it comes to lifestyle in their city. Iloilo is known throughout the history as the original "Queen City of the South." Iloilo's Calle Real, one of the country's oldest business districts, is said to be one of the first and most modern international port-city outside of Manila, and has attracted international dignitaries and investors when the city struck its own goldmine with the rise of the textile and sugar industry in Western Visayas. Metropolitan lifestyle back then in Iloilo City was vibrant, extravagant and prestigious. 

Fast-forward in these modern times, Iloilo City is now paving way for a lot of significant changes and developments. The Ilonggos has never lost their taste for high-end living and vision for a classy metropolitan lifestyle. Such glorious days and passion for high-brow metropolitan lifestyle will once again be inspired by the opening of another premier destination, the Festive Walk Mall at Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao District.

Festive Walk Mall construction updates, February 2016

Conceptualized through the classy vision of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls in Metro Manila, this new shopping destination is expected to open before the end of the year where shoppers will enjoy a lot of unique and first-class leisure options. The mall will house international branded boutiques, retail shops and stores. There will be a spacious food hall, an events center and world-class experience through its very own 8 modern cinemas. The premier mall is interconnected to a Mall Annex right across the street and the Street of Festive Walk, VisMin's longest 1.1 kilometer shop-and-dine strip, expected to become the next nightlife and entertainment destination in the city. The mall itself is located in heart of Iloilo Business Park where it becomes the centerpiece destination of high-end experience and luxury, surrounded by various landmark establishments and tourism spots including the Iloilo Convention Center, BPO buildings, elegant condominium towers, international hotels and a rising Central Business District.

Artist's Perspective - Festive Walk Mall

The Festive Walk Mall is more than just a shopping center for the future residents and visitors of the township, it is a prized location for their various needs to enjoy a great and inspiring lifestyle.  By choosing to live in Iloilo Business Park, residents choose not just to buy a home but a modern township where they can own a promising future and vibrant lifestyle of the whole township.And the Festive Walk Mall is one of these prized destination right next to their home. 

  

   

Iloilo Bike Festival: Iloilo and IBP’s Visionary Biking Event

Iloilo Bike Festival is envisioned as the biggest gathering of bikers and enthusiasts for the last 3 years in the Philippines. The event has inspired Ilonggos to be proud of their beautiful city where amidst the booming economy and developments, there’s always a reason to stay healthy, live an active life and promote a sport that educate the public for a greener and cleaner ecology. Iloilo Bike Festival is one of the major events of the City Government of Iloilo in partnership with Megaworld Corporation to emphasize the need to appreciate healthy lifestyle and promote biking activities which is basically pollution-free and inexpensive. Since Iloilo Bike Festival was established in 2014, people from all walks of life – the Ilonggos, visitors and investors have all seen the rise of the city not just as a modern metropolis that continuously embraces progress but keeps up with the changes by promoting healthy activities and sports such as biking. 

The first two series of Iloilo Bike Festival proved to be a successful endeavor and were able to generate attention internationally in making the city as the next “bike capital” in the Philippines. Last year, a total of 4000 bikers and spectators came to participated in the event. Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao District is the main venue of the Iloilo Bike Festival, showcasing real estate developments and a beautiful township where “biking” is hugely promoted through the Megaworld Boulevard Bike Lanes. The event is a momentous milestone gathering in order to celebrate the realization for Iloilo City as a “Bike-able” and “walk-able” modern metropolis in the country.

This year, the 3^rd Iloilo Bike Festival is far more significant and inspiring with a lot of activities that would elevate the vision of the city in emphasizing the need to promote the “biking culture and lifestyle” from March 13-20. Ronda Pilipinas National Criterion is now part of innovating the event. There will be a series of Ronda Pilipinas activities after the opening of the Iloilo Bike Festival and fellowship and awarding night at Iloilo Business Park on March 13. The Iloilo Bike Festival will start a photo contest and ifold Art Tour on March 15-18. On March 18, major activities are Obstacle/Adventure Course, Kids Biking activities, Bike Expo Show, Interschool Cycling activities, Flatland BMX Street, Fitstop Amazing Race and unveiling of Bike Statue. On March 20, there will be Bike Fun Ride, King and Queen of Iloilo Bike Festival, Pinta Siklista, Bike Expo Show, XCO/4X/BMX, Tri-Sikad Race, Sprint Race and Battle of the Bands.  

Here are significant photos highlighting dynamic and life-changing scenes that happened in the last 2 series of Iloilo Bike Festival… 

Impressive Iloilo

Soaring high with relentless changes and developments, Iloilo City is carving a niche in the tourism industry as one of the most exciting destinations in the country. But Iloilo is more than just a destination, it is a city blessed with captivating culture, heritage and sense of history, a promising perspective reflected in the eyes of its people, the culture-loving Ilonggos.

Here’s a rundown of the most exciting things to see, experience and appreciate in Iloilo City these days:

Let’s go straight to the very of the city’s tourism appeal – it’s the recently concluded Dinagyang Festival, the world-class cultural event that was borne from religious, historical and artistic vision of Ilonggos. The festival draws thousands of visitors and crowd every year by combining the story of devotion to the Child Jesus (Senor Sto. Nino), the Barter of Panay epic – 10 Bornean Datus arrival and friendship with the local Aetas, the adaptation of Kalibo’s Ati-atihan made even more spectacular and innovative in terms of dance choreography and costumes. Plus, the non-stop, loud and endless party, merrymaking and explosive events, the festival is a globally-packaged annual tourism event for locals and foreigners. It takes place every third Sunday of January in Iloilo City.

One of the most oldest and authentic traditional textile weaving industries can be found in Villa de Arevalo in Iloilo City (Sinamay House). Passed from generation to generation, the Sinamay weaving tradition in Villa and the old textile stores in Calle Real still exists to remind that Iloilo City was once hailed as the Philippines’ and Asia’s weaving capital.

Iloilo City’s cultural and ecological treasure, the long-stretching Iloilo River is now the toasts of international travelers and visitors as the new Iloilo River Esplanade. It serves as a recreation park with close-to-nature ambiance and still thrives as one of the world’s cleanest rivers. Walking and jogging in this gorgeous destination is pleasurable and relaxing.

Batchoy, Biscocho, Pancit Molo, Roberto’s Queen Siopao, seafood and other trademark gastronomy makes Iloilo City a haven of excellent comfort food and delicacies in the country. Ilonggos love to eat and so, its popular list of luscious gastronomy is part of its global branding as a tourism destination.

The oldest sailing sports event in Southeast Asia – the Paraw Regatta Festival is a strong and vibrant annual event held every third weekend of February. The competition of Paraw Regatta (traditional Malay-Bornean sailboat) race is a reflection of the legendary “Barter of Panay.” The design of these traditional boats goes back thousands of years in history. Paraw Regatta features various activities based in Villa Beach in Arevalo District where most of these competitions takes place including a yearly “Sinamba” Mardi Gras Dance Competition with dancers donning colorful costumes.

After Dinagyang Festival and before Paraw Regatta Festival, Iloilo is one of the few cities in the Philippines to celebrate Chinese New Year every first week of February, paying tribute to the strong and active Chinese community that contributed in the steadfast economic prominence of the city throughout the centuries. There are grandiose performances of dragon dance, spectacular Chinese dances, food festival and fireworks display in Calle Real, the city’s oldest business district.

JARO_FIESTA. Devotees flock to Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Iloilo City for the Feast of Our Lady of Candles last February 2. The Jaro Fiesta is considered to be the biggest religious fiesta in Western Visayas region. (Tara Yap)

The Jaro Fiesta and the miraculous feast of Our Lady of Candles in the district of Jaro held every first day of February is both a solemn religious celebration among the Catholic devotees and pompous showcase of tradition. A glamorous Jaro Queen, chosen to carry the traditional queenly reign and held a grandiose coronation in Jaro Plaza, is one of the most-awaited highlights of the celebration.

Iloilo City’s newest “claim-to-fame” when it comes to economic prominence and development is Iloilo Business Park, Megaworld Corporation’s biggest single investment outside of Luzon with over P35 billion investments. The 72-hectare old Iloilo airport was beautifully transformed into a bustling and promising business township where high-rise buildings and prestigious establishments including international hotels, modern convention center, BPO buildings, shopping mall, the country’s longest shop-and-dine strip, and residential towers converge to become the newest center point of progress and opportunities.

Iloilo is impressive as a highly-livable and progressive city where public and private partnership co-exists, the government and private companies work together in a dynamic synergy to create a bright future for its people. From economic foresight, tourism vision, sustainable developments and opening of promising opportunities, Iloilo City, the Philippines’ “city of love” has always been the “queen city of passion and progress” slowly carving a niche as modern city of great possibilities and opportunities, shaping a pathway for lasting advancement and timeless elevation.

Come to Iloilo City and rediscover the passion for life that you’re looking for!