Over a delicious bowl of molo at Camina Balay Nga Bato, Iloilo Department of Tourism Officer Junel Divinagracia narrated how her city epitomizes metamorphosis, transforming into a place everyone should visit.

The Philippines is a country where every city can feel like a one-of-a-kind destination. There’s the frequently named most beautiful island Boracay, the Instagram-perfect beaches of Coron and El Nido, and the foodie’s haven in Bacolod.

Why then should you choose this quiet, laidback province in Western Visayas?

Traveling within Iloilo is like reading a book that constantly surprises you.

Its multilayered identity is a traveller’s dream – from its rich heritage, thriving art scene, epicurean delights, to picture-perfect sceneries and one of the best sunsets in the country rivalling that of Boracay and Manila Bay.

This is the province where the past meets the crystal clear blue waters of the sea.

Putting the spotlight on history, culture, and art makes Iloilo an ideal destination for people who love depth when they travel. Now, with the presence of the Museum of Philippine Economic History, unveiling the province, and the country, has become so much easier and fun.

Iloilo has a “very rich culture and history. We’re lucky enough that old houses and mansions are restored and preserved turned into museums,” Divinagracia further stated.

Getting the majority of its tourists from participants of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), long gone are the days when the capital of the province was labelled as a “sleeping city.”

The province’s Iloilo Convention Center strategically located in Iloilo Business Park, a venue for one of the segments of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum and East Asian Seas Congress, has made it even easier for Iloilo to become the country’s MICE capital.

There is no better example for the province’s transformation other than its very own Iloilo River Esplanade. This previously waste of a river is now the cleanest urban river in the Philippines and the longest linear park in the country, offering calming views of the city and sanctuary to urbanites and visitors alike.