A Brief Stopover in Iloilo on the Road to Bacolod

“We’re here, Ma’am. You can take that bus to Iloilo,” the driver from the Boracay beach hotel told me, pointing to the line of buses outside.

After living in Bahrain for ten years, public buses were a rare sight in my life. My sister usually drove me everywhere during my Philippine visits. Now, stepping onto a local bus to Iloilo, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a different dialect, felt both daunting and freeing.

I purposely chose a front-row seat: partly to strike up conversation with the driver if needed, partly to enjoy the passing vistas. But the previous day’s Boracay adventures left me unexpectedly sleepy. I nodded off and had to admit I missed out on most of the ride, from the road conditions to catching glimpses of Capiz. My bad, I know.

My only proof of being in Iloilo is one photo. Grainy, yes, but a souvenir of spontaneity.

By 2 PM, I’d reached Jaro, one of Iloilo City’s six districts. I took a taxi to the SuperCat ferry terminal by the river, cutting my Iloilo stay short as I needed to press on to Bacolod that same day.

The ferry ride was calm and smooth, an hour across serene waters to Banago Port, Bacolod. The passengers were lively and chatty. It was a lively slice of local life I’d missed when aboard a bus.

So, while I didn’t get to explore much of Iloilo this time, I came away with something more important: a reminder that travel isn’t always about seeing everything. It’s about making every moment count, even in transit. And I know I’ll return to Western Visayas someday with more time, more stories, and a camera ready for more than just buses.