Discover. Experience. Enjoy STA. BARBARA, ILOILO

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. Monsig...

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...

Ilonggos celebrated the 115th Philippine Independence Day with much history and more baye-baye at SM City Iloilo! Measuring 8x16 feet, more than 100 kilos of baye-baye were made by D' Original Jaspe Special Baye-Baye from Bgry. Cabugao Sur in Santa Barbara, Iloilo to create this gastronomic masterpiece. The Jaspe family and their gigantic gastronomic creation! Baye-baye is among the most popular native delicacies in Iloilo. It is made from pinipig, which is pounded rice and mixed with coconut and sugar, among others.  It was among the highlights of the mall's Freedom Day celebration that had cultural, musical and gastronomic components. Santa Barbara Mayor Doc Dennis Superficial (left)  and Gilbert Domingo, Asst. Mall manager of SM City Iloilo led the ceremonial slicing of the giant baye-baye.  Afterwich mall goers had the chance to partake of the popular native Ilonggo delicacy.  Here are the SM ladies donning their Filipiniana attire overseein...

All roads in Iloilo lead to Santa Barbara as the historic town celebrates Philippine Independence Day 2013. This year's celebration comes in four parts starting with a mass, flag-raising and wreath-laying triumvirate. These will be held at the Santa Barbara Parish Church, Flagpole Park and Dr. Jose Rizal's Monument respectively. Ilonggos will once again witness the raising of one of the biggest Philippine flags measuring 30x60feet atop the 120 feet flagpole.  The second part will be held at the Centennial Museum as Santa Barbara opens its Andres Bonifacio @ 150 Exhibit. It is among the first municipalities in the Philippines to celebrate this momentous event as it had its soft opening last Nov. 30, 2012.  Guest of Honor, Dr. Ivan Henares of the Heritage Conservation Society, headlines the third part of the celebration as he will deliver a keynote speech on "Sustainable Development Business" at the Santa Barbara Parish Church Auditorium To cap off this y...

The imposing edifice had its beginnings in 1760.  In 1617, the parish was called “VISITA CATMON” and was considered part of Jaro Vicariate.  Pioneer priest, Fr. Juan Ferrer, OSA, was the head in the year 1760 when Santa Barbara was constituted as “pueblo”. Father Francisco Aguerria, OSA, initiated its construction in 1845.  This coincided with the building of the road system which runs through the pueblo as it sneaked its way to Cabatuan, Maasin and Janiuay; as it did towards Leon and Alimodian. This structure made use of the quarried stones, the “Piedra Tsina” and the “Piedra Silleria”.  These slabs of rocks were transported from the mountains of leon, Alimodian and Tubungan.  Other materials were steel, wood and galvanized iron.   With the use of animal and human strength, these materials were transported.  Wood such as mulawon and mangle were tugged from far  away mountains & hills, these slabs these slabs of stone...