Clockwise from top left : (1) Philippine Ambassadors to Europe and DFA-OEA Officers pose in front of the historical Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent in the town of Santa Barbara, Iloilo. The church, constructed from 1849 to 1870, was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2013; (2) Philippine Ambassadors to Europe pose with Miag-ao Mayor Macario N. Napulan MD. To their back are posters depicting tourists spots and heritage sites in tht town of Miag-ao, (3) The Ambassadors had dinner with several officials from Iloilo provinvce and were briefed on the different investment opportunities available in Iloilo, (4) Santa Barbara Mayor Dennis S. Superficial MD greets the Ambassadors upon their arrival
Eight Philippine Ambassadors to Europe visited Iloilo from January 14 to 15 to discover how they can better promote Iloilo, and the Western Visayas Region as a whole, as a tourism and investment destination.
Iloilo, home to well-preserved Spanish-era Baroque churches, turn-of-the-century ancestral houses, a rich culinary tradition and the Dinagyang festival, is also fast transforming itself into a business hub with the construction of a convention center and other commercial developments geared towards retail and the IT-BPO industry.
The local government has also invested heavily in infrastructure, constructing roads, bike lanes, a new airport and power plants to ensure that the province is well-equipped to accommodate its rapid growth.
The Ambassadors were given a preview a of the Dinagyang festival at the Iloilo City National High School. The Dinagyang, which means merry-making in Ilonggo, is held yearly during the last week of January
The Iloilo Appreciation Tour, part of the 2016 Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) of the DFA Office of European Affairs (OEA), was co-organized by OEA in coordination with the Office of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, the Department of Tourism, the Office of Iloilo Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr., the Office of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog and the DFA Iloilo Regional Consular Office (RCO). END
