Tara, Lagaw ta!
A dazzling night of lights, fireworks, and street dance marked the grand opening of the Semirara Festival 2025 in Barangay Semirara, Caluya, Antique — a celebration that reminds residents tourism is the island’s next big opportunity.
Thousands of Ilonggos filled the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds on December 5, 2025, for the official switch-on of the “Candyland Christmas” lights and an evening fireworks display that launched the province’s month-long holiday program.
Russian carrier IrAero will launch weekly winter flights from Siberia to the Philippines in 2025/26. Starting October 2025, new routes from Irkutsk and Khabarovsk (Russia) to Kalibo (Boracay) – via Guilin or Ningbo – will use Sukhoi Superjet 100 jets to tap Russia’s winter tourism market.
AirAsia Philippines reopens Cebu hub and launches direct Cebu–Iloilo flights starting Nov. 15, 2025. Bookings begin Sept. 3 on the MOVE app and airasia.com — a timely boost for Iloilo tourism during the BER months.
Cebu Pacific will launch Airbus A330-900neo service on the Manila–Iloilo route from Oct. 26, 2025, operating 7x weekly. The 459-seat wide-body flights will boost capacity at Iloilo International Airport – the first airport in Western Visayas built to international standards – and are expected to lower fares and stimulate tourism.
Ilonggo Traveler 