Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Iloilo
Iloilo City has strung about 2,000 rainbow lanterns along 18 km of Diversion Road, many of them made with help from inmates at the BJMP male dormitory. Add lit plazas in Molo and Jaro, a Capitol Christmas Village and mall trees, and you have the city's Christmas story over the past few seasons.
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The story of Christmas in Iloilo
Rainbow lanterns made by inmates along Diversion Road
Past-season reports describe about 2,000 large rainbow lanterns lining roughly 18 km of Diversion Road in Mandurriao, running out toward the airport. Persons deprived of liberty at the BJMP male dormitory helped make them, and the display was an annual project of the Iloilo chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the city government. In 2022 the city called it its fourth partnership with the chamber. Plazas carried the season too: Molo Plaza had a 50-foot tree, and Jaro, Lapaz, Libertad and Mandurriao plazas were lit as well. Those undated reports are not a 2026 schedule.
A 60-foot tree and a circus tree-lighting in 2025
SM City Iloilo launched its season on October 24, 2025 by lighting a 60-foot tree, described as the tallest in Western Visayas. Around it were a Tunnel of Lights, a lighted giant gift box, giant Christmas balls and lighted arches, plus a Santa Squad Parade, Santa Meet and Greet and Santa Run. At Festive Walk Iloilo, The Magical Holiday Circus tree lighting opened that season, with a Christmas Fair from November 29 to December 7. At the Capitol grounds, the Candyland Christmas bazaar ran December 1 to 21, 2025.
A 50-foot bear and eight landmark replicas
In December 2018 a 50-foot Santa Bear was lit at the Iloilo Business Park showroom in Mandurriao and glowed nightly until the end of the month. In 2019 Passi City, in Iloilo province, built eight landmark replicas on a plaza of about 3,000 square meters for its Christmas Around the World lights, open from December 14 to January 6. In 2023 the Iloilo Provincial Capitol unveiled a Disney-themed light display on December 1, funded with P2.87 million for lights and decorations.
Traditions today
- Diversion Road lanterns: A past-season report describes about 2,000 rainbow lanterns along roughly 18 km of Diversion Road in Mandurriao, made with help from inmates at the BJMP male dormitory.
- Capitol Christmas Village: The Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds hosted a Christmas Village with a giant tree, light displays and family attractions. In 2024 its opening was moved to December 13.
- Plaza trees: Past-season reports say plazas in Molo, Jaro, Lapaz, Libertad and Mandurriao were lit, and Molo Plaza had a 50-foot tree.
- Mall tree lightings: SM City Iloilo lit a 60-foot tree in October 2025, and Festive Walk Iloilo held a Magical Holiday Circus tree lighting that November.
- Puto bumbong and bibingka: A past-season report says vendors outside Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church and Saint Anne Parish Church sell these rice cakes, often after Simbang Gabi dawn Masses that begin December 16.
- Community caroling: A past report describes local choirs and dance groups performing nightly at the plaza, and in 2019 the Daigon sa Plaza caroling was held at the Molo Mansion grounds.
A fact for kids
In 2018, Iloilo Business Park lit a Santa Bear that stood 50 feet tall, and it glowed every night until the end of December!
Questions about Christmas in Iloilo
Where did the Diversion Road lanterns in Iloilo City run?
A past-season report describes about 2,000 large rainbow lanterns along roughly 18 km, from Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan to major roads in the city. Persons deprived of liberty at the BJMP male dormitory helped make them. It was an annual project of the Iloilo chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the city government.
Who made the parols on Iloilo City's main roads?
Inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) helped make the parols. That year the city called it its fourth partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo chapter. The lanterns are switched on at the start of the season, and in 2022 the tentative date was November 25 at SM City Iloilo.
What is the tallest Christmas tree in Iloilo City?
In October 2025, SM City Iloilo lit a 60-foot tree, described as the tallest in Western Visayas. A 2022 report also called its 60-foot tree the tallest in Iloilo City, with 50,000 LED lights in green, yellow and red. Around the tree were gift boxes and a skating pond in 2022, and a Tunnel of Lights in 2025.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Iloilo City?
Reports from past seasons name the City Hall and Provincial Capitol light displays, the Diversion Road lanterns in Mandurriao, and plazas in Molo, Jaro, Lapaz, Libertad and Mandurriao. Malls added their own: SM City Iloilo lit a 60-foot tree in 2025 and Festive Walk Iloilo, in the Iloilo Business Park, held a tree lighting.
What is the Christmas Village at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol?
It is a yearly display on the Provincial Capitol grounds, with a giant tree, lights and family attractions. In 2024 the theme was Christmas Village sa Makabagong Pilipinas, with P4.8 million for upgraded decorations, and the opening was moved from December 6 to December 13. The opening night included a lantern parade and fireworks.
What do Iloilo City families eat on Christmas?
Puto bumbong and bibingka are sold outside Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church and Saint Anne Parish Church, plus pancit Molo and La Paz batchoy. Iloilo is recognized as a Creative City of Gastronomy. Many families return to Iloilo City for the holidays and gather in the plazas.
How are puto bumbong and bibingka made?
Puto bumbong is purple pirurutong glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes, served on banana leaves with coconut, muscovado sugar and butter. Bibingka is a rice cake cooked over coals, topped with salted egg and coconut, sometimes cheese. In Iloilo City they are sold outside churches such as Jaro Cathedral and Molo Church.
When does Simbang Gabi start for Iloilo City families?
Simbang Gabi, also called Misa de Gallo, is nine days of dawn Masses that start on December 16. In Iloilo City, families often have puto bumbong and bibingka outside the church afterwards. Churches named for this routine include Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church and Saint Anne Parish Church.
What is the Santa Bear in Iloilo?
In December 2018 a 50-foot Santa Bear was lit at the Iloilo Business Park showroom in Mandurriao. It glowed each night until the end of the month and could be seen from main roads in Mandurriao and nearby Jaro. Santa meet and greets were held weekends at Santa's Corner in the Festive Walk Mall atrium.
What happened at Festive Walk Iloilo's tree lighting in 2025?
Festive Walk Iloilo, in the Iloilo Business Park, launched its season with The Magical Holiday Circus tree lighting at the atrium. Ringo the Magician, Sidlangan Dance Company and students from Ramon Avanceña National High School performed. A Christmas Fair ran November 29 to December 7, and carols by the University of San Agustin Troubadours followed on December 20.
What did SM City Iloilo have for Christmas in 2025?
Its season launched on October 24, 2025 with a 60-foot tree. Attractions were a Tunnel of Lights, a lighted giant gift box, giant Christmas balls and lighted arches. The holiday program named a Santa Squad Parade, Santa Meet and Greet, Santa Run and a fireworks display, though no dates were given for them.
What was the Candyland Christmas at the Capitol Bazaar?
Candyland Christmas at the Capitol Bazaar was run by the Iloilo Provincial Government on the Provincial Capitol grounds. It opened softly on December 1, 2025 and ran daily to December 21. It offered handmade crafts, toys, clothing, caricature drawings and sweets such as cotton candy and popcorn, with a focus on local small businesses.
What was the Disney-themed Christmas light display at the Iloilo Capitol?
It was a Disney-themed Christmas light display at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, unveiled on December 1, 2023 and set to stay on until the end of that year. The province set aside P2.87 million for the lights and decorations. A lantern parade, fireworks and the Bahandi Trade Fair marked the opening.
Is there a Christmas lantern parade in Iloilo?
Yes. In 2023 a lantern parade began at 5 p.m. on December 1 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand and moved along Muelle Loney Street. A lantern parade was also part of the Capitol Christmas Village opening night in 2024. A Parol of Hope lantern competition has been among the citywide attractions in some seasons.
Is there a Christmas tree at Iloilo City Hall?
Yes, in past seasons. The City Hall grounds had a giant Christmas tree with ornaments and a glowing star on top, along with food vendors and local artisans selling delicacies and crafts. The City Hall and Capitol lights were switched on December 13, with Mayor Jerry Treñas speaking at the City Hall ceremony.
What is Christmas Around the World in Passi City?
It was a festival of lights in Passi City, Iloilo province, from December 14, 2019 to January 6, 2020. Eight landmark replicas stood on a plaza of about 3,000 square meters, with lights on until 1 a.m. The site also had about 50 food kiosks and a nightly acoustic band.
What is Daigon sa Plaza in Iloilo City?
Daigon sa Plaza was a caroling event held on the evening of December 12, 2019 at the Molo Mansion grounds, across from the district plaza. That same season the Jaro plaza hosted choir performances on the night of December 20. Both are examples of plaza-based caroling in the city's old districts.
Where can I find free Christmas concerts in Iloilo City?
In 2022 the city planned weekly Christmas concerts at City Hall open to everyone. Some seasons also have nightly choir and dance performances at the plaza. Those details come from past seasons, so check Rally Takes the Train's Iloilo Christmas events guide for dates confirmed this year.
Where could kids spend Christmas Day among Iloilo City's plaza lights?
The plazas are where many Iloilo families gathered in past seasons, since people return to the city for the holidays. Molo Plaza had a 50-foot tree, and Jaro, Lapaz, Libertad and Mandurriao plazas were lit. The City Hall grounds also had a giant tree, with food vendors selling local delicacies for kids and parents.
How do I find Christmas events for kids in Iloilo City this year?
Rally Takes the Train's Iloilo Christmas events guide collects family events once their 2026 dates are confirmed by the host. Iloilo's tree lightings, mall programs and Capitol displays tend to be announced in the weeks before they start, so dates from past seasons are only a guide.
Sources
- Disney in Iloilo: Capitol spends almost P3 million for Christmas display lights, Daily Guardian
- Biggest 50-foot Santa Bear lights up in Iloilo City, PTV News
- Iloilo hosts variety of Christmas attractions, Philippine News Agency
- SM City Iloilo Christmas launch and 60-foot tree, IBS Digital
- Iloilo Capitol Resets Christmas Village Opening to Dec. 13, Daily Guardian
- Candyland Christmas Bazaar 2025, Iloilo Provincial Government
- Festive Walk Iloilo's Magical Holiday Circus Shines with Light and Joy, Daily Guardian
- Spread holiday cheer: Iloilo City gov't, private sector partner for Yuletide season, IBS Digital
- Iloilo Dazzles with Christmas Lights and Attractions, Daily Guardian
- Christmas in the City of Love: Where to go, what to eat?, Daily Guardian