What else to do during Dinagyang

On the fourth weekend of January, local revelers and tourists will converge on Iloilo City to celebrate the worldfamous Dinagyang Festival, which is observed to honor the Santo Niño.

Aside from activities put together by festival organizers, there are many things to enjoy in the city including the Iloilo Business Park, which features various restaurants and modern hotels, such as the Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo and the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. There is also the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, located within the Casa de Emperador Building.

The Mansion is a rustic heritage house in the city's Molo district and The Esplanade, a kilometer-long walking path along the Iloilo River which also features various dining establishments and bars.

The Plazuela de Iloilo offers tourists the native dining experience with Ponsyon, Dad's 60s Diners has an all-you-caneat offer for P120, and there are hundreds of food kiosks flooding the streets. Revelers can also dine at the Ayala Atria food complex with oysters and native chicken adobo at Y2K, chicken inasal at Aida's Manokan, and a Felicia's Pastry Shop.

At the traffic light in the Ungka area of Pavia there is Kimboys, which serves original Pampanga sisig, a new style of cansi, and chicken adobo – there is no better sisig than the one at Kimboys.

For adventurers, a three-hour drive takes one to the Solina Beach and Nature Resort in Carles, Iloilo, home of the best scallops (if you're interested, let me know and I can get you a 40 percent discount).

In terms of the festival, there will be tribal dances performed by schools and various groups to entertain locals and visitors alike. The presentations are the best during the Dinagyang Festival. This article greets Boyet Ortaliz, Jane Javellana, Mikey Benedicto, George Jardiolin, Hazel Ditching, Judgee Pena, Harold Geronimo, Natnat Pugales, Pipoy Olaira, Lito Aves, Manolet Lamata, Felipe Lacson, Nonong dela Cruz, and Marianne Coscolluela.