ILOILO is blessed to have Guimaras Island!
A sublime island paradise of white sand shores and striking islets, the source of some of the world’s sweetest mangoes, an untapped haven for adventure-seekers or nature enthusiats, and just a 15-minute bangka ride from downtown Iloilo City.
This rising metropolitan city is infinitely fortunate to have the neighboring island province so accessible for spontaneous excursions and spur of the moment day trips to the beach. However, Guimaras’ tourism industry has been marred by tragedy as of late – the loss of lives due to a series of unexpected squall surges in the Iloilo Strait still fresh in our collective minds.
But in my heart of hearts, I know this hardy province of the Manggahan Festival will be back up on its feet in no time – an isle of nearly 200,000 strong residents no stranger to adversity. The resilient island which has weathered the Guimaras oil spill of 2006 and the onslaught of typhoons Frank and Yolanda in 2008 and 2013, respectively – idyllic Guimaras is rising again!/PN
