Iloilo City Local Customs

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Biscocho

by machomikemd

Again, like the Iconic Batchoy Soup and Pancit Molo, The Biscocho is one of the famous delicacies of Iloilo Province and is becoming more popular in the Philippines. Athough this was influenced by the spanish biscuit, the Biscocho of Iloilo is different in that the baked and toasted bread has a a different number of toppings in the crust like butter and sugar, or garlic or Ube or Macapuno or Pandan and more. There are many bakeries in Iloilo City that makes the biscocho bread but the most popular is the one that the Biscocho Haus is selling. They are available everywhere and the cost depends on the quantity and the sizes and the flavors you buy.

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Butterscotch Cookies

by machomikemd

Although the butterscotch cookies are not a filipino original invention, The Biscocho Haus in Iloilo City reportedly makes the best butterscotch cookies in the philippines and is one of the famous "pasalubong" items of local and foreign tourists to Iloilo City.

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Calamares

by machomikemd

Calamares are a spanish origin but since the philippines was a spanish colony for almost 400 years, this seafood snack is one of the influence of the cuisines of Spain and they made it a heart snack in the Panay Region and they sell them by the pack everywhere.

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Iloilo Oysters

by machomikemd

panay island is known as the seafood capital of the philipines and sea foods whether freshly caught or cultured are very cheap to buy in the region specially in Iloilo City. There are many oyster shacks in the city and most of the restaurants offer fresh or baked oysters and you can buy a bucket of freshly caught oysters for just 50 pesos a bucket at the public market and for 70 pesos at restaurants. The oysters here are bigger than the ones at Luzon Island and are more tasty but the Oysters at Roxas City at Capiz Province are the biggest and the tastiest, that are almost as large as the famed rockefeller oysters of New Zealand.

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Tuba

by machomikemd

Tuba drink or Sweet Tuba (as known in Mexico and Guam) and also known as palm wine, is a coconut nectar Drink that originated in the Philippines particularly popular in the Visayan Islands like here in Iloilo City. The process involves extracting the sap of an unopened coconut bud. The tip of the bud is lopped and the pale juice allowed trickles into bamboo containers. A sturdy coconut tree yields about a gallon of liquid daily. The taste is sweet with a sour aftertaste and is usually consumed on that day it was gathered or stored into PET bottles for later drinking for up to 1 week since it starts to ferment just after gathering the liquid from the sap and in more than a week turns into a sour taste and is now coconut vinegar and when distilled, becomes the coconut vodka called Lambanog.It is available at restaurants and at some areas like farms or coconut fields where you can buy them...

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Kilawin Tanigue (Ceviche Fish)

by machomikemd

Kilawin Tanigue is a regional specialty in Iloilo Province and is made cooked Spanish Mackerel Fish that is cooked by a souring agent. Kilawin means to cook in local coconut vinegar, Kinilaw is a Filipino way of cooking that is similar to South American ceviche and the Guam Kelaguen (see my Guam Pages for comparison) . They both rely on the sour agent of lime, lemon or vinegar to cook the raw fish. The vinegar pickles the fish, adding flavor and making it more palatable. The fish's texture changes considerably after marinating; its mouth feel becomes a bit more crumbly, like fish cooked in broth. I personally prefer a shorter a marinating time. A shorter marinating time results in the fish retaining its firm and almost gelatin-like consistency. Ceviche is the philippines are usually used in fishes unlike in south america and guam where they also use meats and other seafoods as...

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Guimaras Mangoes

by machomikemd

Guimaras Carabao Mangoes was claimed to be the sweetest mango in the philippines but the distinction of the sweetest mango in the world comes from Zambales Province north of Manila and is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995. Guimaras Carabao Mangoes is the only variety allowed to be shipped to the United States Mainland and they are grown in the nearby Guimaras Province just beside Iloilo City. You can buy these sweet and very indulgent Guimaras Mangoes in the public markets of Iloilo City and the cost is 60 pesos for a kilo (roughly two pounds) and they costs 90 pesos at the souvenir shops at the airport and they are provided in 7 kilo boxes for you to hand carry them at airport check in going back to manila.

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buko pie

by shohman

like most of the fruit here, the coconuts are out of this world. I usually don't even eat coconut in the states, but here it is just so damn good. Apparently, Margets had the best buko pie, but you can get it all over town.

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service!

by shohman

service everywhere is impecable here in the Philippines. Most shops have an armed guard who will open the door for you as you enter and exit. employees will immediately offer to help you find anything and they are very patient. You get the feeling that they really want to help you, not that they are after a comission. And service is quick. Get this, our wedding bands were designed here. We went into the jewler at 11 a.m. to try the rings on. They didn't fit. In addition, we had requested white gold and they gave us regular gold. Well, by 5 pm our rings were corrected! Now that is service!I also needed my pants hemmed. and went tot he tailors home, 12 hours and $1 later and I had my pants!

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Halo halo

by shohman

Halo Halo mean 'mix mix' and that's what you do, you mix it up. A layer of crushed ice is covered with various ingrediates, tapioca, jello, corn flakes, beans, flan and usually has a dollop of purple yam ice cream in top. You cover this with a bit of condensed milk and mix away. Very good, but beware of brain freeze.

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Questions and Answers

karenroserobles profile photo

Q:  Hello guys. My family and I are going to Iloilo Domestic Port/Fort San Pedro. We'll be coming from Tagbak Bus Terminal. I just... 

Greggor58 profile photo

A: I just did the same short transit on January..I used a Trike but there's PLENTY of taxis around....its inexpensive! 

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