Discover. Experience. Enjoy STA. BARBARA, ILOILO

First Prize and Most Original - BRGY ZONE-2 Twenty parols are on display at the town plaza since Dec. 16, 2013 for the first ever PAROL FESTIVAL in Santa Barbara. Representing 20 out of the town's 60 baranggays, each parol was made from native and recycled materials that were beautifully crafted by the towns folk.  Details of these parols can be greatly appreciated during the day when every inch of the masterpieces can be visually inspected. At night, these creations light up the town plaza where Santa Barbaranhons can enjoy these visually stunning works of art.  2nd Place and Best in Symbolism - BRGY. DUYAN-DUYAN. A mosaic made from monggo and red beans plus capiz shells. A total of 25 judges critiqued these Christmas symbols and were divided into three groups. The first group judged them during the opening last Dec. 16, another group judged them during daytime last Dec. 21 and finally, a third group of judges made rounds on Christmas Day.  3rd Place - BRGY

November 30, 2013. Santa Barbara, Iloilo is among the few municipalities across the country which celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio. It was a year ago when it opened the celebration with an exhibit about the "Ama ng Katipunan" which then made rounds among the schools around town.  The celebration yesterday opened with a wreath laying ceremony on the (makeshift) Bonifacio monument at the town plaza. Local officials led by Vice Mayor Rema Somo and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, paid tribute to one of the country's most recognizable heroes.  A showcase of interpretative dance presentations followed performed by different schools led by the Santa Barbara Central Elementary School. Sugod mga kapatid!   Earlier, a fun run dubbed as Takbong Katipunero was held around town starting and finishing at the Flagpole Park. It was for a cause - a donation drive for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.In lieu of regi

Here's the complete schedule of the 115th Cry of Santa Barbara and 13th Kahilwayan Festival celebrations which will take place from Nov. 10 - 17, 2013. The event will be highlighted by the declaration of the Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent as a NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURE by the National Museum of the Philippines.

Gone are the days when Pista Minatay is a solemn trip to the cemetery - bring flowers, light a candle and offer prayers. Now, this day remembering our departed loved ones has become more of a holiday and party for the living.  Recognizing the trend and going with the flow, the Sangguniang Kabataan of Brgy Zone 1, the Santa Barbara Municipal Tourism Council and Whitehaven Garden Memorial Park team up to bring FRIGHT NIGHT Year 2 to the Santa Barbaranhons this 2013.  The event comprises of four sub events bringing "cheers" to one and all. For the kids, there's a KIDDIE COSPLAY CONTEST where kids below 12 years can dress up like their favorite characters like super heroes, witches, fairies and a lot more.  Along Arroyo Street (the street leading to the cemetery), households have put up scary displays depicting scenes of horror, mystery, tragedy - the more gory the better. They even have sounds and light effects. This is the TAWO-TAWO SA PATYO CONTEST which is am

Organized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), a stakeholders meeting was held inside the century old  kumbento  of the Santa Barbara Parish Church in preparation for the a PhP50 million restoration works of the church and convent. The project is set to be finished by June 2015, in time for the national celebration of the Philippine Independence Day to be held in Santa Barbara and to be attended by President Aquino. The meeting was attended by NHCP's Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and his team of architects and engineers who were responsible for the detailed engineering survey a few months back and who will oversee the restoration works within the next year and a half.  Ret. Mon. Tuvilla, Mayor Superficial and Director Badoy Local stakeholders in attendance were led by Santa Barbara Mayor Dennis Superficial and municipal officers on engineering, tourism, finance and other aspects. The church was represented by Ret. Rev. Monsignor Juanit

THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will spearhead the P50-million restoration project of the Santa Barbara church and convent in Santa Barbara, Iloilo in preparation for the 2015 Philippine Independence Day celebration writes Maricyn Delos Santos for The Daily Guardian. In his visit Wednesday, NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy updated Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Santa Barbara Mayor Dennis Superficial that the project is a priority since President Benigno Aquino III will celebrate the country’s independence next year in the historic Iloilo town. He said the NHCP already allocated P20 million for the project in its 2013 budget and an additional P10 million in its 2014 budget. Badoy noted that Senate President Franklin Drilon committed P10 million for the project while the province and Second District Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta will contribute P5 million each. The restoration was first conceptualized when NHCP chairperson Ma. Seren