CRISTY IN THE CITY

The old and once-dilapidated wet markets of Iloilo City are finding their second lives.

What used to be crowded, worn, and often overlooked spaces are now being reimagined through redevelopment initiatives that aim to breathe life back into these familiar corners of the city. Jaro, La Paz, Super Terminal, and Central Market have all been redeveloped almost simultaneously. After what felt like a long wait, these cultural institutions are finally open again—reborn, but not entirely changed.

So what is there to see and experience?

Plenty.

I personally gravitate toward Central Market along Rizal Street, City Proper. That area has always held a special place in my memory. Back in the ’80s, it was my stomping ground. I studied in a Catholic school nearby, and after classes, I would wander into the market—usually in search of snacks, comics, or small toys that felt like treasures at the time. The place was messy, chaotic, and alive in a way only wet markets can be.

It was never pretty—but it was real.

As the years passed and adulthood quietly took over, my reasons for visiting changed. I found myself returning for more practical things—fresh flowers, native crafts, rice cakes, and of course, fruits, vegetables, and fish. The market, in its own way, grew with me. It adapted to my needs without losing its essence.

On one particularly hot Saturday afternoon, fresh from an indoor pool swim at a nearby hotel, I decided to check out the newly redeveloped Central Market.

And I was genuinely surprised.

The space now hosts cafés, froyo kiosks, and charming little gift shops—things I never imagined seeing in a place I once associated with muddy floors and makeshift stalls. It felt lighter, more curated, more intentional. And yet, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Because tucked within all that newness were the things that mattered most.

The native craft shops were still there—quietly holding their ground. Small remnants of childhood, still present despite the gloss of modernization. Seeing them felt like running into an old friend who hadn’t changed much at all.

That, to me, is the beauty of it.

Redevelopment often risks erasing the past in favor of something shinier. But here, it feels more like a layering—where memory and modernity coexist. Where the city evolves without completely letting go of who it used to be.

And in that space, somewhere between old and new, I found something familiar.

It still is my city, after all.

Put your headphones on and explore Iloilo City on foot with a Spotify playlist made for slow walks and golden hour moments. From sun-drenched afternoons to breezy twilight strolls, this curated mix of gentle OPM and energizing indie beats is designed to help you fall in love with the City of Love—one step at a time.

Languid strolls can lift a sour mood.  Picking up the pace can untangle an overthinking mind. 

As you move, inhale the city’s calm, unhurried energy. Let the good vibes sink in while a heady mix of gentle OPM melodies and energizing indie beats sets the rhythm of your walk. There’s something about the cadence of the music blending with the city’s pace—it settles into your soul before you even realize it.

Feel it already? Do a gentle warm-up, press play, and let the streets, skies, and familiar corners unfold around you. This is your time to slow down, look up, and rediscover the quiet charm of Iloilo City—one step, one song at a time.

Don’t forget to save the playlist on Spotify. See you around the City of Love. 

Cloud Dancer (Pantone 11-4201) feels like a held breath—quiet, weightless, and reassuring. It lives in that liminal space between white and sky, where blue and gray dissolve into something barely there. Like almond milk poured into tea, it softens without erasing, calms without dimming. It is a color that does not ask for attention, yet creates the perfect atmosphere for everything else to be seen more clearly.

To bask in its contemplative softness, imagine pairing Cloud Dancer with a sound bath—tones that drift, linger, and gently fade, much like clouds themselves.

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Cloud Dancer Sound Bath

A calming Spotify playlist for rest, reflection, and gentle becoming

You can search these tracks directly on Spotify or build your own playlist inspired by them:

• ✨ Opening – Light & Air
• Marconi Union – “Weightless”
• Brian Eno – “An Ending (Ascent)”
• Hammock – “Turn Away and Return”
• ☁️ Floating – Dreamy & Spacious
• Nils Frahm – “Says”
• Ólafur Arnalds – “Near Light”
• A Winged Victory for the Sullen – “Steep Hills of Vicodin Tears”
• 🕊️ Resting – Soft Piano & Ambient Calm
• Joep Beving – “Sleeping Lotus”
• Max Richter – “Dream 3 (in the midst of my life)”
• Hania Rani – “F Major”
• 🌙 Closing – Stillness & Breath
• East Forest – “10 Laws”
• Julianna Barwick – “Look Into Your Own Mind”
• Sigur Rós – “Samskeyti”