A trip to the airport might come off as a stressful bout for many, but one visit to Clark might be enough to dispel that feeling.

Normally, there’s a notion that one has to be at the airport at least four hours before their flight if they want to be safe. It comes from nightmare stories of having to drive through the congested roads of Manila before having to undergo a lengthy check-in process, dropping off bags, and so on. Though these troubles were barely felt when we flew to Iloilo via the Clark International Airport (CRK).

Upon entry in CRK, it felt spacious, and the usual chaos of a busy airport was not felt. There were self-check-in machines by the check-in areas and an information booth dead center by the entrance, so no one can miss it. All the travel-related services one might need, including travel tax payments and quarantine handling, were lined up conveniently in one location. Plus, if you ever needed to kill time before your flight, there are nearby spots like the Clark Museum and 4D Theater to go through. There are also several restaurants and cafes to have a meal or grab a drink. We personally recommend the Here Cafe for your pastry and coffee fix.

These destinations are an estimated 15-minute drive away from the airport, allowing travelers enough time to roam freely before returning for their flight. Our evening flight was via Cebu Pacific and had us arriving in Iloilo in less than an hour and a half. For our trip, we stayed at the Richmonde Hotel in Megaworld Iloilo.

Recognized as the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City of Gastronomy in 2021, Iloilo City offers plenty of dining options to consider. Our first stop had us visiting one of the city’s agri-farms, where we had Chef CG Jalandoni demonstrate how to make a simple meal using vegetables harvested from the Uswag Agri-Nursery. After which, a drive around the city showed us the many old mansions standing, some having been converted to tourist attractions, others still lived in, and the few that remain as sad memories as time takes its toll on them.

One particular home that stood out was the Casa Mariquit, one of the oldest existing heritage houses in Iloilo, having been built way back in 1803. Lunchtime had us enjoying chicken and seafood dishes from Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood Restaurant. Our snack stops also had us dropping by Roberto’s for the iconic Queen Siopao, ice cream from the Happy Endings Creamery and Food Lab, and some fishballs from a Jo-Ann’s Fishball stall. For pasalubong, the Biscocho Haus and Panaderia de Molo are ideal stops for buying sweet treats to share with everyone. We wrapped up our day with special cocktail drinks from Urban Table and were served various Ilonggo dishes, the main draw being the La Paz Batchoy, for dinner at Richmonde Hotel’s The Granary.

Overall, even if we only had a day to explore these dining destinations, we found our tummies filled and our cravings satisfied. Flying back had us mostly thinking about when we’ll come back again. And even as we arrived at CRK, there was no hassle in getting our things and heading out, making the trip seamless from start to finish.