Airport security by layers, not by luck
AIRPORTS are not secured by good fortune. They are secured by design.
As reported by this paper yesterday, the disturbing incident at Iloilo International Airport...
Festivals as economic equalizers
THE ANNUAL roar of the drums during Dinagyang Festival is often celebrated as proof that Iloilo’s economy is alive and thriving. Packed hotels, busy...
Measure festival success by its long-term impact
EVERY January, the thunder of drums signals that Dinagyang Festival is again out to capture the nation’s attention. Streets overflow, hotels are full, and...
‘One Tourism, One Iloilo’
WHEN Iloilo Province’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. declared during Dinagyang Festival 2026’s Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan competition that “the tourism of the city is the...
Cleanliness is cultural identity, not a tourism slogan
IN RECENT years, cleanliness has been marketed aggressively as part of city branding — splashed across tarpaulins, tourism videos, and campaign speeches. “Clean and...
Waste discipline – a measure of festival maturity
WE OFTEN say that the Dinagyang Festival reflects the Ilonggo soul. If that is true, then the question becomes uncomfortable but necessary: What does...
Dangerous infiltration of drugs in barangay leadership
THE BARANGAY is supposed to be the safest space in governance — the first line of protection, mediation, and moral leadership in every community....
Health preparedness should also be central to Dinagyang planning
EVERY Dinagyang, Iloilo City prepares for the worst — and that preparation, year after year, tells its own story. Medical teams are placed on...
Are our airports tourism-ready?
THE UPGRADING of airports in Western Visayas is, without question, a welcome development. New passenger terminal buildings, longer runways, modern baggage systems, flight information...
Circular economy dreams vs festival reality
EVERY Dinagyang leaves behind more than memories, music, and devotion. It leaves behind plastic — by the ton.
This year, Iloilo City’s plan to recover...