Lagawan

Walking along Clark Quay









Esplanade Bay









Finding cool, cheap items in the magnificent Chinatown

We went to see the Merlion on our first day in Singapore but unfortunately she was taking a shower so we decided to take a photo of the baby merlion instead. We're really disappointed but we don't have a choice so we went window shopping instead and we had a blister after hehehehe... Imagine walking for almost 6 hours but we had fun so it's ok.

Last weekend I went to Iloilo City to join the Ilonggos in celebrating one of the most exciting festival in the Philippines, the "2007 Dinagyang Festival". It was my first time to witness the festival and it was a great and awesome experience. I got overwhelmed by the large crowed who joined the festival. Alot of tourist flocked the streets, from foreigners to balik bayan and some visitors from neighboring island. Aside from that there were many artists, beauty queens and bands who were present during the said festivities.

Actually I arrived in Iloilo around 2 pm saturday, while the "kasadyahan" competition is still in progress so we had to use our feet to go to our destination and also in finding a place where we could stay. Well, it was a tiring experience but a funny one 'coz everyone looked harrased hehehe...

Anyways, the Dinagyang grand parade started around 7 am and ended around 2pm. There were twenty competing groups coming from all over Iloilo. They have 5 judging areas and each area have a competing group to start the competition simultaneously. The festivital was tiring, but I enjoyed it.

Here's the weekend schedule of the DINAGYANG 2007

January 25-28, 2007
Iloilo Hotel Resort & RestaurantAssociation (IHRRA) Food Festival
2:00 PM-12 MN, Delgado-Valeriastreets area

January 26, 2007
3:00 PM Fluvial Procession and Foot Parade
Assembly: Fort San Pedro, Custom House, Iznart st., J.M. Basa st., Plaza Libertad & San Jose Parish Church

4:30 PM Blessing of children, pregrant mothers and images of Santo Niño
San JoseParish Church

January 27, 2007
7:00 AM Mass for Kasadyahan
San JoseParish Church

8:00 AM Kasadyahan Competition
Freedom Grandstand toother judging areas

4:30 PM Solemn Foot Processionof the Miraculous Images ofSeñor Santo Niño
select areas

Religious Sad-sad (one hour dancing, singing & petitions with candles and images of Santo. Niño)
infront ofSan JoseParish Church

January 28, 2007
6:30 AM Solemn concelebrated mass for Dinagyang Ati-ati Tribes
San JoseParish Church

8:00 AM Dinagyang Ati-ati Tribe competition
Freedom Grandstand to other judging areas

7:00 PM Fraternal Agape
San JoseParish Church

7:00 PM Iloilo Dinagyang 2007 Awarding Ceremonies
FreedomGrandstand