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When in Panay Island, particularly in Iloilo, during the
Christmas season, never miss visiting Pototan and see the shimmer and the
glitter that bedeck its plaza, enough to definitely fill your heart with
holiday delight.
Pototan is hailed as the Christmas capital of the Visayas. There’s
no question why. The Iwag Festival will definitely offer you a colorful extravaganza
that will not only offer you a glowing delight for your sight but also some
festive hope to your weary hearts. After all, that’s what Christmas is all
about—spreading cheer and merriment to the downtrodden… the sparkle of the
holiday lights that bedeck everywhere, from the trees to the buildings will
restore yourself to your faith in life and believe that all else will
eventually get better.
The Iwag Festival was organized as a Christmas bonanza way
back in 1997. “Iwag” is a Hiligaynon term for “light” and there’s a plethora of
iwag to light your soul when you join the locals in their nightly outings in
the town center. People from all over Western Visayas flock to get a glimpse of
the fun and cheer that the Iwag Festival beholds.
Just merely strolling the park will make you enjoy the
moment. A view by the fountain is a magical one, thanks to the colored lights
that makes the fountain look like its dancing. Also on the look out is the
plaza’s obelisk, which is adorned and made into a stage where local performers
star in every night.
A hit among locals and visitors is the Kuliglig ride chauffeured
no other than Santa Claus! The ride costs P15 pesos per head and will take you
on a short ride around the town center. And no Filipino festivity is complete without the Ferris-wheel,
octopus rides and the perennial Pinoy
style peryahan.
If you feel like enjoying some local gastronomic adventure,
fill in your tummy and satiate your palate with the local delicacies and yummy street
food served fresh and hot by the stalls scattered around the plaza. For those
who love to go on a shopping spree, tiangges
where clothes, toys, and local products are in place to sell you items at
bargain prices.
