The city of Iloilo is likely home to the most number of museums in the country. Within its roughly 79 square kilometer area, one can find several museums that will satisfy one's curiosity about arts, heritage, and history. These include the Museo Iloilo, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Philippine Economic History, the National Museum of Western Visayas, the Museum of Philippine Maritime History, and even the University of San Agustin campus in the city, has its own archives and museum.

Inside the grounds of the University of the Philippines Visayas is another must-visit museum due to its vast collections pertaining to Visayan culture, as well as the presence of several works by our national artists.

The University of the Philippines Visayas, or UPV Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage, was one of the places we visited during the #PhilippineExperience #WesternVisayas leg, which took place in Bacolod and Iloilo. In this program, the Department of Tourism sampled a three-day itinerary to explore both cities, which tourists can replicate — and it included everything that appeals to travelers such as culinary, nature, history and cultural destinations.

Housed inside the main building of the UP Visayas, Iloilo City campus, the UPV Museum of Art and Culture Heritage was formally launched on October 22, 2022. In his opening remarks, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement C. Camposano characterized culture as not only varied but also fluid. "(culture) is constantly moving," Chancellor Camposano said. He spoke of what academics describe as culture, a dynamic and ongoing journey of meaning-making that is constantly evolving.

"These galleries, which I will dare call the cultural crown jewel of Panay and Iloilo, are really a space to celebrate both the plurality and fluidity of culture." Chancellor Camposano emphasizes the importance of this place as a democratic haven, a generous offering from the university that fosters the creation of platforms for diverse voices to be heard.

The renovation of the main building's interior to achieve museum standards was made possible by a 44-million-peso grant from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on top of a 15-million-peso grant given by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) in 2019.

According to its mission statement, the museum aims to create engaging programs and exhibitions in the visual arts and cultural heritage, catering to a wide range of audiences both within and beyond the University. It also aspire to foster learning and inspire a lasting passion for art and cultural heritage, not only in the Visayas region but also of the whole country. Seeking to enhance both academic and civic life, by positioning itself as a vital component of the University of the Philippines Visayas and the surrounding community.

Iloilo is known as the “City of Love” because the Hiligaynon, the language predominantly spoken here, sounds very soothing to the ears and has a sweet intonation, making the speaker sound more friendly, loving, and kind-hearted.

Given the abundance of museums, the city could easily earn the reputation of being a hub for individuals who have a passion for learning. The city's numerous exhibition halls, galleries, and art spaces offer a glimpse of history and culture, transforming a visit into an educational experience.

After listening to the museum's curator's fascinating insights in the reception hall, we were divided into three smaller groups with a guide being assigned to each group before we entered each gallery.

In the past, I had the tendency to experience information overload and settle into zoning out, but inside this museum, I remained attentive to our guide as I absorbed a continuous flow of captivating anecdotes, historical context, and the cultural importance of each exhibit.

Housed inside the neo-classical walls of the UPV Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage, which used to be the old Iloilo City Hall during the pre-war years, are seven galleries: Panapton Textile Gallery, Taliambong UPV Art Gallery, Ed Defensor Gallery, Nelfa A. Querubin Gallery—dedicated to two Ilonggo artists, Duna Intangible Cultural Heritage Gallery, Lantip Gallery 1, and Hanas Gallery 2.

The Hanas Gallery 2 stands out as a personal favorite, showcasing the art collection of former UPV Chancellor Dr. Dionisia Rola. This impressive display features a selection of paintings from renowned national artists, including Carlos "Botong" Francisco, Ang Kiokok, Jose T. Yoya, and Arturo Luz.

Because of the many significant artworks on display I wasn’t able to take note of all the paintings on display. According to Iloilo Art Life, it also houses “masterpieces by Manuel D. Baldemor, Mauro Malang Santos, Romulo Olazo, and Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. Norberto Carating, Virginia Flor-Agbayani, Solomon Saprid, Philipp Badon, Jonah Salvosa, Esther Bailey, and Manene.

The exhibit also has earlier works by Alan Cabalfin, Nelson Ferraris, Nelfa Querubin, Ed Defensor, Joseph Decierdo, Edsel Moscoso, Edgar J. Gonzales, and JM Castociano”

The Panapton Textile Gallery captured my attention with its showcase of locally crafted textiles, prominently highlighting hablon cloth. Derived from the Hiligaynon word for "clothing," Panapton showcases an array of traditional attire, including the camisa (undergarment), Barong Tagalog, Traje de Mestiza (gowns), scarves, and infant baptism garments known as the Panyal, alongside the Saypang, a traditional garment from the Panay-Bukidnon region.

I would love to spend more time inside the museum, but since we’re following a strict schedule, we had to leave after a couple of hours. I think I should allocate more time to revisit this museum during my next visit to the City of Love, Iloilo. While I enjoy exploring the city's gastronomy scene, the heritage district, and exchanging pleasantries with the people, I also enjoy delving into the city's rich history and culture. It is now evident that the city's array of museums provides an enriching experience that ensures those with a thirst for knowledge depart with a treasure trove of fresh understandings not only about the city and the province, but of the whole Visayas region as well.

The scene was reminiscent of a disaster movie, with gloomy skies, heavy rain, and dozens of us huddled together on a floating jetty made of plastic pontoon cubes, waiting for our boat. Everything I imagined from experiencing a pleasant morning on the island seemed to have a near-zero chance of happening.

As the rain grew stronger, so did the waves, pushing the floating jetty like a fish out of water, thereby forcing us to scramble and fall out of balance as we crawl into our boat. Hopping one foot aboard, I looked at the sky, hoping it would open up a large enough window for the sun and the blue skies to show.

Half an hour into our sea voyage, the tide turned literally into smaller waves, and figuratively, as the thick clouds parted to expose glimpses of the blue sky.

The province of Camarines Norte has long been on the radar of beachgoers and island junkies, thanks to the popularity of the Calaguas group of islands, which have some of the best powdery white sands.

Unbeknownst to most, another group of islands numbering at least 7 lay scattered off the coast of the town of Mercedes, sharing many of the same features as Calaguas: verdant foliage, turquoise waters, coral reefs, and powdery white sands.

Dubbed the Siete Pecados, these islands east of Camarines Norte, namely Apuao Grande, Malasugui, Canton, Canimog, Caringo, Quinapaguian, and Apuao Pequeña, can be hopped in a day or two. Since we only had half a day to explore, we only visited Quinapaguian and Apuao Pequeña.

We docked at the other side of Quinapaguian because of the rising tide level, and from there, we walked for about 45 minutes to the other side to check out a new beach resort. As we did so, we passed by a small community, affording us the chance to get a glimpse of an incredibly simple way of life. Friendly smiles greeted my from the small windows of tiny nipa huts as children ran and play over big lawns, and gardens, while fishermen make their way along a path that leads to the shoreline.

Rain threatened once again as we made our way back to our boat. However, as we set out for our next stop, Apuao Pequeña, the weather finally improved as the clouds gave way to the sun and the bright blue sky.

Just as we were approaching our next stop, the weather became friendlier and as the sun begins to shine brightly, I saw the long sandbar of Apuao Pequeña and its neighboring island Apuao Grande glistening glossily against the blue colored sea water.

As our boat captain turns off the engine and we glide over the soft sand, the towering trees in the island arrested my attention. “I would love to sleep on a hammock there”, I told myself.

Indeed, the 40-hectare island is ideal for laying out a hammock and unwinding, since it is dotted with numerous Agoho trees, which at first glance resemble a pine tree. The Agoho tree, indigenous to the Philippines and other countries in Asia and the Pacific, can grow up to a height of 40 meters, providing ample shade over Apuao Pequeña.

An annual Hammock Festival takes place here in the summer peak of May. It is an event that brings campers to the island, sleeping on hammocks and tents and engaging in activities such as beach clean-up and other conservation efforts.

As our group readied our sumptuous boodle-fight feast on the island, I hurriedly got my drone camera and walked over to the edge of the sandbar taking my shoes in the middle to feel the powdered sands beneath my feet.

Apuao Pequeña, which is joined by the long sandbar to the larger Apuao Grande, is everything I imagined it to be. Following our hearty lunch, I found a lone hammock tied between two Agoho trees and lied there for half an hour, just enjoying the cool breeze while staring at the swaying branches above me.

I felt tranquility wash over me, like the stillness one gets after a good meditation. Suddenly, whatever worries I had with me upon waking up, such as concerns about the weather and some personal doubts, the precious moments spent on the idyllic Apuao Pequeña seem to have replaced them all with bountiful positive energy.

Nature, as beautiful as idyllic Apuao Pequeña, is indeed the greatest remedy for blues.