My 10th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Iloilo City Marathon 2025

Filipino Marathon Slow Runner Solo Joiner 23-Aug-2025 Saturday in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines

7 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Iloilo City (Marathon, Chill Walk)

This Fun Run served as my official Tenth FULL-MARATHON 42.2KM and Ninth Road Marathon as a Solo Joiner, following the Manila Marathon last Aug. 2025. My main objective is just to finish the race (beating my previous PR is optional), I want to enjoy the run at my own pace.

My 10th Full Marathon (42.2KM) Solo Joiner; Iloilo City Marathon 2025

Race Name:	ILOILO CITY MARATHON 2025			Distance:	FULL MARATHON (42.2KM)
Registration:	₱2,199	Inclusion:	Race Bib, Singlet, Finisher Shirt/Medal, Loot Bag, Pack Meal
Location:	ILOILO CITY MAIN ROAD ROUTE (one loop)			Cut-off Time:	23-Aug-2025 Sat (8 hours)
Requirements:	NONE, registration fee only			Shoes I used:	NB FuelCell SuperComp Elite 4
Finished:	YES	Time:	05:42:00	Altitude Gain:	66m
New PR:	NO	Pace:	08:00	Rank:	56.25% (81st of 144)
My Rating:	5 of 10	well-organized, minimal water stops, manual time recorded (no timing chip)

Route difficulty: Almost flat on the entire one-loop route along Iloilo City's main road (less than 100m total altitude gain ideal for PR), excellent for marathon beginners and slow runners like me.

Remarks (My rating: 5 of 10 stars): (1) Full Marathon route is awesome due to its almost flat terrain; passing through Iloilo City's main road (2) Well-organized, started on time. (3) Minimal water stops. (4) 42km Singlet/Finisher shirt design is good, finisher medal is ok. (4) manual time recorded (no timing chip)

If given the chance, would I like to join this race again? No (due to no electronic timing chip)

7 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Iloilo (Marathon, Chill Walk)

Chill Rainy Adventure in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines August 22 to 28, 2025

My First Visit to Iloilo Budget DIY Group Trip (2011)

My 2nd Visit to Iloilo for Lakbay Rizal Quest Final Leg (2011)

This trip served as my 2nd visit to the Northeast province of Mindanao Archipelago. Also, the main reason why I came back is because of my 10th Full Marathon Solo Joiner Adventure.

Revisited after 14 years #iloilo

Preparation:

Iloilo City Marathon = ₱2,199     Cebu Pacific (return fare) = ₱2,987

OYO 799 Ddd Habitat Hotel (6 nights) = ₱3,783

TOTAL: ₱8,969

Day 1: August 22 Friday FLIGHT OUT

0000H ETD Home; commute to NAIA T3 103

0300H ETA NAIA T3; check-in / breakfast 

0455H ETD Manila MNL; Cebu Pacific flight 5J447

0620H ETA Iloilo ILO; van to City proper 100

OYO 799 Ddd Habitat Hotel (6 nights); Festival Walk Mall Race Kit Claiming; Lunch 200, dinner 165

TOTAL: ₱568

Day 2: August 23 Saturday MARATHON

Lunch 125; dinner 275; Marathon Preparation

2130H Race Village Arrival 

2300H Marathon Start (8 hrs cut-off)

TOTAL: ₱400

Day 3: August 24 Sunday MARATHON

0500H Marathon Finish; photography and eat; Walk back to hotel; sleep, unch 140

Sleep, Walk to SM Iloilo; dinner 352

OYO 799 Ddd Habitat Hotel

TOTAL: ₱492

7 Days Budget DIY Solo Trip in Revisiting Iloilo (Garin Farm DIY Tour)

Islas de Gigantes Day-Tour

5 Days Solo DIY Trip to Best White Sand Beaches near Panay Island

Malalison (Mararison) Island Afternoon Tour

The second island beach among the four I targeted on this Panay Island solo trip. In my honest opinion, Gigantes group of islands is becoming the best white sand beach tourist destination of Iloilo province. It is believe that tall human beings believed to be giants lived in the place a long, long time ago. Also, it is further believed that Gigantes Sur and Gigantes Norte were husband and wife while the surrounding islands and islets were their siblings.

How to Go to Islas de Gigantes;
From Iloilo City, there is a direct bus that goes to Carles (Bancal Port) on 3 hours travel time. From Caticlan Port, ride bus that goes to Kalibo, Aklan (2hrs), then Roxas, Capiz (2hrs) then Estancia, Iloilo drop-off to Balasan (2hrs). There is also direct bus to Carles from Roxas but only one departure daily at 430pm. From Balasan, either take a direct bus to Carles or ride a tricycle to Carles (PhP17) then habal-habal ride to Bancal Port (PhP15). Then, I contacted Patrick's tour service (+639988571692 / +639206193209) which includes environmental fee, island entrances, picnic lunch and whole day boat service.

ISLAS DE GIGANTES BUDGET PACKAGE DAY-TRIP ITINERARY
0700H ETD Bancal Port; Gigantes Island Tour c/o Patrick (+639988571692 / +639206193209)
includes environmental fee, island entrances, picnic lunch and whole day boat service 900
Tanque Salt Lagoon (may vary upon lowtide/hightide, we did not visited due to strong waves)
Cabugao Gamay Island, Bantique Sandbar, Antonia Beach, Calumpang Beach, Pulo Pandan
Picnic lunch in Antonia Beach (scallops, wasay-wasay, fried fish, unli-rice, soda and water)
1430H ETA Bancal Port; souvenir shirt 200; Beverly Hills Lodging check-out 300
habal-habal back to Carles centertown 15; tricycle back to Balasan 17; snacks 30
1600H ETD Balasan; van to Roxas City 65
1800H ETD Roxas; van to Kalibo drop-off to Kalibo Bus Terminal (Ceres) 120
2000H ETD Kalibo; bus to Caticlan Port 111
Total: PhP 1,758

Islas de Gigantes Day-Tour (Cabugao Gamay Island)

5 Days Solo DIY Trip to Best White Sand Beaches near Panay Island

Malalison Island (Antique), Gigantes Island (Iloilo), Boracay Island (Aklan) and Carabao Island (Romblon)

July 07 to 12, 2016 

My 49th solo backpacking trip, 2nd local long travel after Babuyan Islands trip last May 2016 and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself (DIY) itinerary from arrival to departure. Also, this was my 62nd (Antique) and 63rd (Romblon) provinces to visit on my quest to conquer the 81 provinces of the Philippines.

Panay Island is a triangular island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. It is about 160 kilometres across ranking the sixth largest of the islands in the country. It is divided into four provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. 

5 Days Solo DIY Trip to Best White Sand Beaches near Panay Island (Gigantes Island)

5 Days Solo DIY Trip to Best White Sand Beaches near Panay Island (route map)

Ferry and Bus Trip from Iloilo to Dumaguete

2nd flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

iloilo-dumaguete-cebu on weekend only
iloilo city morning drive (lakbay rizal final leg)

continued...

ferry and bus trip from iloilo city (iloilo) to dumaguete city (negros oriental) has estimated travel time of 9.5 hours combined (without side trip). i left iloilo city at 0900H then arrived to dumaguete city at around 1830H.

ferry boat from iloilo city to bacolod city;
i arrived in the pier at 0820H. there were 2 open ferry company's that offer nearest departure time, ocean jet (0915H) and supercat (0900H). i am in amazing race type of plan so i availed supercat trip (which is also i think more cheaper than ocean jet) economy class seat costs php200 (student discount from php230). business class worth php330 and a VIP with meal worth php500. earliest supercat departure from iloilo to bacolod id 0730H while the last trip is 1700H at over an hour travel time.

iloilo ferry terminal

Iloilo City Morning Walk (lakbay rizal final leg)

2nd solo flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

iloilo-dumaguete-cebu on weekend only

continued...

i woke-up as early as 0215H for the earliest domestic flight i had. arrived in NAIA terminal 3 around 0300H. took breakfast first in the mezzanine area on the 2nd floor. afterwards, entered the express check-in counter for passengers who don't have check-in luggage. then paid terminal fee of php200. at 0430H, aircraft took-off at 15 minutes early departing time.

boardwalk jogging place by ilongo's

Iloilo - Dumaguete - Cebu on Week-End only

2nd flashpacking around the visayas region in 2 days
september 24-25, 2011 saturday-sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly
additional task: finalizing my lakbay-rizal quest, completing the 26 stamps in 2 months

i made this route (manila to iloilo by plane, iloilo to dumaguete by ferry and bus, then dumaguete to cebu by ferry and bus) just to finalize my quest in finishing off the 3 remaining stamps on lakbay rizal quest. i just know during previous researches in visayas region that these mode of transportation are available from and to the key cities i needed to visit.

lakbay rizal visayas region route (black line)

Iloilo - Guimaras Barkada Trip 1st part

bakasyonista year after specials
may 13-15, 2011 friday to sunday

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my budget at limited amount of time. additional tasks: to celebrate 1 year of enjoying the company together.

tatoy's eatery

museo iloilo city