A trip to Iloilo reminds you that this indeed was once the land of the sugar barons. There were the grand, palatial homes with servants waiting on hand and foot, and then there was the extravagant lifestyle of global travels and lavish soirees. But as with all good things, nothing lasts forever. War and labor conflicts caused by angry workers who lived at the opposite end of luxury cost the sugar barons plenty. And, as the demand for sugar declined, the flow of money slowed down to a trickle. The extravagance diminished but did not completely disappear.
Today, you can still get a peek at the grandeur of life that once was. Scroll through the gallery below to get a glimpse of Iloilo.
For more on Iloilo, check this out on FN:
For more travel destinations, try these:
- A Nature Lover's Bucket List: 30 Eco-Friendly Tourist Spots in the Philippines
- A Philippine Traveler's Bucket List: 30 Cultural and Historical Must-Sees
- Beyond Boracay: 15 More Beaches You Should Visit
- 8 Non-Beach Trips Within Driving Distance of Manila
- 8 Eco-Tourism Hotspots in the Philippines
(First published in Good Houskeeeping Philippines as "Now and Then: Sweet Life" in March 2009; adapted for use in Female Network)
