To Iloilo and Back

My breakfast at Highway 21 Hotel. Room service was quick but food slightly cold. The staff were so nice. Asked for a rectangular tray so I can eat in bed and got it.

Went to Iloilo last week. Stayed two nights at Highway 21 Hotel (in building/wing with elevator) on Gen. Luna St. beside Sarabia Manor. Highway 21's airport pick-up and drop-off were efficient. We paid P700 each way.

The vacation was short but sweet. We met relatives, shopped and ate. We slept at Highway 21 and had dinners next door at Sarabia's restaurants. Aldente's was delicious but the Margherita pizzas they served us had green tomato slices. At Suehiro's, the server insisted on the buffet, ala carte would take too long daw because they were covering too many in-house orders.

Sarap ng aircon.

Had rain on our first night, earthquake on our second night, and rain, thunder, lightning and power outages at Iloilo airport on our last day. But our PAL flight was on time and we landed safely in Manila.

Wheelchairs at NAIA Terminal 2 (Centennial) and Iloilo International Airport need to be replaced ASAP. They are old, parts are missing and brakes do not work.

When we arrived at Iloilo airport, they accidentally dropped my wheelchair from the baggage cart. The foot rests/legs fell off but we put them back at the hotel easily, they were detachable anyway. Was worried they were scratched or cracked from the impact but they weren't so it's ok.

During check-in (departure from Iloilo airport), I lifted the foot rests/legs off and packed them in my suitcase. We folded my wheelchair and tied the chair's arms together to secure it for check in. I can't be too careful when I travel with my wheelchair now. I still attach an old sheet of paper with my contact info and handling instructions on it, hoping handlers don't ignore it.

Wheelchairs are free to check in with PAL and Delta, and I assume with other airlines as well. When I get a power wheelchair, I'll make sure it's OK for travel too.

The family/disabled-friendly restroom at NAIA 2 departure area was large and clean with a pull-down changing table. The problem was the door. A staff had to pull it wide open so we could roll the wheelchair through the narrow way outside and then sharply turn left to get in. Maybe they were still renovating, it was closed in with wooden walls.

The family/disabled-friendly restroom at Iloilo International Airport is large, clean and has a changing table too.

There were Globe prepaid card vending machines at NAIA 2. There were Smart prepaid card vending machines at Iloilo International Airport (ILO).

I needed a Globe card at ILO. We had to leave the departure area to buy one at Wewin's (still inside the airport).

We arrived at ILO maybe 6 hours before our flight. We ate a lot while we waited to board.

My batchoy at Wewin's inside ILO airport (outside departure area). Inside the departure area, we had the obligatory cappuccino at Coffee Break and spaghetti at JD.