Arevalo: Home of Paraw Regatta
It was then known as "La Villa de Arevalo," a name given by Governor Ronquillo who founded it in 1581 in honor of his hometown in Avila, Spain. For the early century, Arevalo became a Spanish naval station, a busy seaport, a textile emporium and the jumping point of Spanish expeditions against the Moros and the Dutch.
The first Jesuit boarding school in the Philippines was established in Arevalo in February of 1553 by a Jesuit historian named Pedro Chirino. In 1937, it became a district of the city together with the old towns of Jaro, Molo, Lapaz and Manduriao.
Arevalo, now dubbed as the flower capital and the jusi and weaving center of Iloilo, is a rapidly developing site for business, industry and real estate.
Complementary to Arevalo's stature as one of the best tourist stop in the city are its well-known seafood restaurants. With obviously a lot to enjoy, no visit to Arevalo would be complete without tasting the food from Tatoy's Manokan, Breakthrough and Villa Regatta. With an interesting menu of authentic IIonggo delicacies, meat dishes---notably of chicken and pork, both cheap, best grilled over a fire and flavoured with salt and calamansi and easily available, form the bulk of the Ilonggo diet. At special celebrations in Iloilo, Arevalo is best remembered for their lechon or roasted pig stuffed with pandan leaves and cooked so the skin turns to crackling.
Most Ilonggos have even made Arevalo as their weekend hideaway for years now. And to complete its tourism centerpiece is the Paraw Regatta---an annual domestic tourism promotion program instituted in 1973
Considered as the only event of its kind in the Philippines, Paraw Regatta is a 36.5-kilometer route boat race along the waters of the strait between the island province of Guimaras and Iloilo City using a dugout averaging to 16-25 feet in length, fitted with double outriggers mainly used as balancers against the tilting effect of the craft on cross currents and waves. It attracts local and foreign tourists of different ages every year.
To call attention to Iloilo's wealth in terms of its world-class festivities and the significant role it plays, Paraw activities will make its special events free to the public. Ilongos may easily enjoy the excitement and fun through a series of special events darting the Paraw Regatta's week-long calendar. Leading the list is the Search for Miss Paraw Regatta on February 16 at 4 p.m., SM City Activity center. The Pinta Paraw is a whole day activity on February 17 at Tatoy's, Arevalo, alongside with the LGU Trade and Travel Exhibit at SM City and Samba sa Villa with its food festival along beach. The elimination round of Miniature Paraw Race is at 8-10 a.m. along Tatoy's area. The Slalom Race along Tatoy's, Beach Volleyball at Villa Regatta, Grappling Tournament in SM City and Bongga Variety Show and Concert and the Governor's Cup (Fishing) at Guimaras Strait are all scheduled for February 18. The Dinghy Sailing Race and the much-anticipated Paraw Race culminates on February 19, 2006.
Paraw Regatta's quest to become a foundation pushed through late last year with formation of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc. The festivity this year is an effort among the 30-member organization from the different committees to promote Iloilo as one tourist destination. Now, as a foundation, it is willing to lend support to the development initiatives of this administration. Similarly, the foundation is run by a strong and dynamic management team and is driven by a potent combination of experience and youthful creativity.