Apec delegates enjoy Ilonggo hospitality

The renovated Molo mansion has been opened to the public in time for the Apec meetings in Iloilo City. Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY—Aside from adopting landmark policy statements and frameworks, delegates to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings here will be going home with memories of Iloilo’s sumptuous food and delicacies, sprawling old mansions and Ilonggo hospitality.

“I’ve been here for (just) two days. I’d love to bring my wife here,” said Alex Rogers, a member of the Apec secretariat.

Rogers said he was impressed by the musical and dance performances of students during a dinner hosted by the local government.

“It’s that kind of community feel that stands out for me,” he told the Inquirer.

Rogers was among 30 delegates and other participants to the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy that joined a city tour organized by the Department of Tourism.

Participants and guests of Apec meetings in Iloilo City can sample the popular soup dish batchoy. Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS

The half-day familiarization tour provided delegates and other guests a glimpse and sampling of Iloilo’s history, culture, food, conservation and rehabilitation efforts as well as development projects.

The tour included delegates from the United States, Russia, China, Australia, Peru, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.

The itinerary included visits to the Iloilo City gallery at City Hall, Museo Iloilo and the two-hectare Nelly Gardens with its 1928 five-bedroom mansion.

The tour also passed by the Jaro Belfy and Jaro Cathedral, the historic Calle Real and the Iloilo River Promenade.

It culminated at the newly rehabilitated Molo Mansion where guests were treated to samples of Ilonggo food and delicacies, including piaya (muscovado-filled unleavened flat bread), biscocho (baked bread with butter and sugar topping) and baye-baye (sweet delicacy made from scraped young coconut meat, sugar and pounded rice grains).

Apec delegates sample Iloilo culture and food at newly restored Molo Mansion. Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS

Eddy Mulya, a delegate from Indonesia, said he could go back to Iloilo for a vacation. “Everything is good (especially) the churches and mansions.”

Mulya said he also liked the food, including the turon (fried banana spring rolls).

Chen Wan-Tze of Taipei said she appreciated Iloilo’s history, especially because it was heavily influenced by Chinese culture.

“I like the people here very much because you are very friendly and energetic. The way you celebrate festivals is very amazing,” she said.

Helen Catalbas, tourism regional director, said her agency expected a lot of development after the series of Apec meetings in Iloilo and other areas in Western Visayas.

Meetings were held in Bacolod City in April, on Boracay Island in Aklan province in May and Iloilo City in July and September.

“These delegates are decision makers. We do hope a lot of endorsements (for visitors) will follow,” Catalbas said

The meetings, according to her, have also boosted the local economy.

“We had about 1,500 delegates who (on the average) spent from P15,000 to P25,000 each for shopping, delicacies, souvenirs and fabrics. These exclude hotel accommodations and dining,” she said.

Apec delegates sample Iloilo culture and food at newly restored Molo Mansion. Photo by Nestor P. Burgos Jr./INQUIRER VISAYAS