Iloilo City

City of Iloilo Lungsod ng Iloilo Dakbanwa sang Iloilo
City
From top, left to right: Calle Real - Iloilo City's historic city center, The Aduana/Customs House of Iloilo and Muelle Loney, Saint Anne Church of Molo District, Smallville Commercial Complex in Mandurriao District, Nelly Garden, and the Arroyo Fountain and Casa Real/Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol
Official seal of City of Iloilo Seal
Nickname(s):  "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" "Reina La Ciudad del Sur -- Original Queen City of the South" "City of Love" "City of the Future" "Festival Capital of the Philippines" Also referred to in Official Documents as "The Queen's City in the South" during the Spanish Period, and as "The Queen City of the South" during the American Period.
Motto(s):  Sulong Iloilo! (Onward Iloilo!) My City, My Pride
Map of Iloilo Province showing the location of Iloilo City
Country	Philippines
Region	Region 6 (Western Visayas)
Province	Iloilo
Districts	Arevalo, City Proper, La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo, Jaro, Lapuz
public	180
Founded	1581: La Villa Rica de Arevalo 1890: Establishment of Ayuntamiento of Iloilo July 16, 1937: Incorporation of five towns and establishment of the City of Iloilo
Government
• Mayor	Jed Patrick E. Mabilog (Liberal)
• Vice Mayor	Jose S. Espinosa III
• City Representatives	Jerry Treñas (Liberal)
Area
• City	78.34 km2 (30.25 sq mi)
• Metro	972.3 km2 (375.4 sq mi)
Population
• City	418,710
• Density	5,981/km2 (15,490/sq mi)
Time zone	PST
ZIP code	5000
Area code	33
Gentilic	Ilonggo
Website	Official Web Site

The City of Iloilo (Filipino: Lungsod ng Iloilo, Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Iloilo) is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area. In the 2007 census, Iloilo City had a population of 418,710 with a 1.8% population annual growth rate. It is bordered by the towns of Oton in the east, Pavia in the north, Leganes in the northeast and the Iloilo Strait in its eastern and southern coastline. The city was a conglomeration of former towns, which are now the geographical districts, composing of: Jaro, Molo, La Paz, Mandurriao, Villa Arevalo, and Iloilo City Proper. The district of Lapuz, a former part of La Paz, was declared a separate district in 2008.

The history of Iloilo City dates back to the Spanish colonial period, starting out as a small and incoherent grouping of fishermen's hamlets from the Iloilo River by a large swamp which after 1855 became the second most important port of call in the colony due to transhipment of sugar products from the neighboring Negros Island. It was later given the honorific title of "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" (English: The Most Loyal and Noble City) by the Queen Regent of Spain and eventually earned the nickname, The Queen City of the South. At the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was second to the primate city of Manila, with stores along Calle Real selling luxury products from all over the world, an agricultural experimental station established at La Paz in 1888, a school of Arts and Trades which opened in 1891, and a telephone network system operating in 1894.

History

Main article: History of the Philippines

Even before the Spanish colonizers came, Iloilo had a flourishing economy. Lore has it that in the 13th century, ten Bornean datus came to the island of Panay and gave a gold hat (salakot) and a long golden necklace as a peace offering and to the Ati natives of the island. It was said that it was also a way of the ten Bornean datus to barter the flat lands of Panay from the Ati. One datu, named Paiburong, was given the territory of Irong-Irong.

Early Spanish Colonial Period

In 1566, as the Spanish conquest of the Philippines was underway and moving north toward Manila, the Spaniards under Miguel López de Legazpi came to Panay and established a settlement in Ogtong (now Oton). He appointed Gonzalo Ronquillo as deputy encomiendero, a position which would later become governor in later years.

In 1581 Ronquillo moved the town center approximately 12 km east due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates and Dutch and English privateers, and renamed the area La Villa de Arevalo in honor of his hometown in Ávila, Spain.

In 1700, due to ever-increasing raids especially from the Dutch and the Moros, the Spaniards again moved their seat of power some 25 km eastward to the village of Irong-Irong, which had a natural and strategic defense against raids and where, at the mouth of the river that snakes through Panay, they built Fort San Pedro to better guard against the raids which were now the only threat to the Spaniards' hold on the islands. Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong was shortened to Iloilo and with its natural port quickly became the capital of the province.

The Sugar Boom Era and the Late Spanish Colonial Period

The Customs House of Iloilo City and Muelle Loney

In the late 18th century, the development of large-scale weaving industry started the movement of Iloilo's surge in trade and economy in the Visayas. Sometimes referred to as the "Textile Capital of the Philippines", the products were exported to Manila and other foreign places. Sinamay, piña and jusi are examples of the products produced by the looms of Iloilo. Because of the rise of textile industry, there was also a rise of the upper middle class. However, the introduction of cheap textile from UK and the emergence of the sugar economy, the industry waned in the mid-19th century. Museo Iloilo is the repository of Iloilo's past.

The waning textile industry was replaced however by the opening of Iloilo's port to world market in 1855. Because of this, Iloilo's industry and agriculture was put on direct access to foreign markets. But what triggered the economic boom of Iloilo in the 19th century was the development of sugar industry in Iloilo and its neighboring island of Negros. Sugar during the 19th century was of high demand. Nicholas Loney, the British vice-consul in Iloilo developed the industry by giving loans, constructing warehouses in the port and introduced new technologies in sugar farming. The rich families of Iloilo developed large areas of Negros, which later called haciendas because of the sugar's high demand in the world market. Because of the increase in commercial activity, infrastructures, recreational facilities, educational institutions, banks, foreign consulates, commercial firms and much more sprouted in Iloilo. Due to the economic development that was happening in Iloilo, the Queen Regent of Spain raised the status of the town into a city, honored it with the title "La muy leal y noble ciudad de Iloilo", and in 1890, the city government was established.

In 1896, the initial reaction of Ilonggos in the outbreak of the Revolution in Manila was hesitant. Yet because of the Spanish colonizers blow by blow defeat by at first with the Katipunan and later by the Americans, Ilonggos later on got involved with the fight for independence. On the other hand, after surrendering Manila to the Americans, the Spanish colonial government moved their seat of power to Iloilo.

In October 1898, the Ilonggo leaders agreed to revolt against the Spaniards. By December 25, 1898, the Spanish government surrendered to the Ilonggo revoltionaries in Plaza Alfonso XII (Plaza Libertad today). Although the Ilonggos were victorious, the American forces arrived in Iloilo in late December 1898 and started to mobilize for colonization by February 1899. Resistance was the reaction of Ilonggos upon the invasion which went up until 1901.

The American Colonial Era

The Old Calle Real (JM Basa Street) in downtown Iloilo City, planned as a heritage site

In 1900, the Americans reverted the city's status into a township again, yet because of the continuous commercial activities and because it was an important port of call in the Visayas-Mindanao area, it gained cityhood status once more on July 16, 1937 incorporating the towns of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, La Paz and Villa de Arevalo through Commonwealth Act 158.

However, prosperity did not continue as the sugar's demand was declining, labor unrests were happening in the port area that scared the investors away and the opening of the sub-port of Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, has moved the sugar importation closer to the sugar farms. By 1942, the Japanese invaded Panay and the economy moved into a standstill. During the Commonwealth era, Iloilo was prosperous and was popularly known as "The Queen City of the South".

During World War II, Iloilo was controlled by several Japanese Battalions, Japan's ultimate goal was to entrench itself deeply into the Philippines so that at the close of the war they could occupy it just as the Spanish and the Americans had years before. However, when Filipino & American forces liberated Iloilo from Japanese military occupation on March 25, 1945 the remnants of these battalions were held in Jaro Plaza as a make-shift detention facility.

The Post-War Period

By the end of the war, Iloilo's economy, life and infrastructure were damaged. However, the continuing conflict between the labor unions in the port area, declining sugar economy and the deteriorating peace and order situation in the countryside and the exodus of Ilonggos to other cities and islands that offered better opportunities and businessmen moved to other cities such as Bacolod and Cebu led to Iloilo's demise in economic importance in southern Philippines.

By the 1960s towards 1990s, Iloilo's economy progressed in a moderate pace. The construction of the fish port, international seaport and other commercial firms that invested in Iloilo marked the movement of the city making it as the regional center of Western Visayas.

Geography and Climate

Iloilo City is located in the southern shores of Panay Island. The city faces Iloilo Strait and Guimaras Island across it, making it a natural harbor and a safe anchorage for ships. The city lies on a flat alluvial plain, reclaimed mostly from the swampy areas due to urbanization and industrialization in the late 19th century until the present. Traversing the city are the rivers of Iloilo, Batiano, Jaro and Dungon Creek. Iloilo River is an estuary that separates the districts of City Proper, Molo and Villa Arevalo from the rest of the city. On the other hand, Jaro River is fed by its tributary rivers, Aganan and Tigum and passes by the flood plains of the Jaro and La Paz districts. Iloilo City is 337.6 nautical miles from Manila. The city has a total land area of 70.3 square kilometers and is divided into 180 barangays with seven aggregate districts.

Iloilo City has a tropical wet and dry climate as according to the Köppen climate classification system, with pronounced wet season from June throughout November; then dry season from December to May.

Political subdivisions

The Geographic Disrtricts of Iloilo City

Iloilo City is politically subdivided into 180 barangays, which are grouped into seven geographical districts:

• Arevalo (13 barangays)
• City Proper (45 barangays)
• Jaro (42 barangays)
• La Paz (25 barangays)
• Mandurriao (18 barangays)
• Molo (25 barangays)
• Lapuz (12 barangays)

All of the geographical districts of Iloilo City were once individual towns, excluding Lapuz, which was a sub-district of La Paz until 2008. They were incorporated into one city when Iloilo gained cityhood status and was inaugurated as a charter city on August 25, 1937. All districts have their own churches, which are subordinate to the Archdiocese of Jaro. The districts of Jaro, Mandurriao and Molo are considered commercial areas, while Arevalo and La Paz are residential areas. Molo was once a residential district, while Mandurriao is home to the old Iloilo Airport (Mandurriao Airport) as well as the city's largest shopping mall, SM City Iloilo. City Proper is also a commercial area and the political center of the city and of Iloilo province. It is also home to the Iloilo's domestic seaport and river wharf. The newly-formed geographic district of Lapuz is primarily an industrial and residential area, with shipping companies, oil depots and a milling factory are located.

The city of Iloilo has only one legislative district.

Economy

The art-deco Iloilo Central Public Market

The strategic location of Iloilo City at the center of the Philippines makes it an ideal hub for trade, commerce and industry. Its universities and colleges provide the skilled and talented labor which together with its port facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and utilities have a major impact in attracting businesses and industries focused mainly in banking and finance, retail trading, and business process outsourcing or BPO. The BPO industry has been one of the most active economic sectors as of the current period. The city draws on the region's extensive range of raw materials and its large consumer market. The local government has provided incentives to business in preferred investment areas, such as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses.

Trade and industry

There were 8,407 business establishments as of December 2003 in Iloilo City, of which 1,182 are new. Total capital investments for new business establishments is P365,506,020.92. However, both new and renewed capital investments for the year 2003 amounted to Php 13.02 billion.

Of the employed person by type of industry from primary occupation 82 % belongs to service sector, 14 % belongs industry sector and only 4 % are in agriculture (as of April 2003 FIES, NSO).

Average annual family income (at current prices) is P 283,604 or a percentage increase of 32.3 between 1994 to 1997 while Average Annual Family Expenditures is P 226,887 or a 25.6% increase (2000 FIES). Average per Capita Income is P 65,036 and Average Per Capita Expenditures is P 51,557 (FIES 2000). Average Inflation Rate is 3.2, the Average Purchasing Power of the Peso is 0.62 and the Average Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 162.6 in 2003. (Source: NSO, Prices Section).

Government

Although Iloilo City is the provincial seat of government for the province of Iloilo, it maintains its independence from the province. Only the city government officials are voted by the residents of the city. The provincial government has no political jurisdiction over local transactions of the city government, as mandated by the 1937 Charter of Iloilo City.

The city has only one legislative district to represent in the Congress of the Philippines. The current representative of Iloilo City is Geronimo "Jerry" Pontenciano-Treñas of the Liberal party, after three-terms serving as the city mayor. The mayor is Iloilo City's chief executive and heads the city government. The current mayor of Iloilo City for 2010-2013 is former city councilor and vice mayor, Jed Patrick Escalante Mabilog of Partido Liberal. The current vice-mayor seat is held by former councilor José Espinosa III. The vice-mayor heads the legislative branch of the local government, which is composed of twelve duly-elected city councilors. Being the regional center of Western Visayas, regional offices of national government departments and agencies are located here and are managed by regional chairpersons. Agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Professional Regulatory Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Departments of Education, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, and Health handle transactions coming from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.

Infrastructure

Public Transport

The passad jeepney, Iloilo City's primary public transport

Iloilo City is served mostly by passenger jeepneys, white metered taxis and tricycles within the city limits. The passad jeepneys of Iloilo are known for its sleek and sedan-like design. These often serve fixed routes and mostly plies on city's major and secondary roads. Jeepneys are also the main mode of transportation to MIDC (Metro Iloilo) towns. Tricycles serve most secondary roads and city communities.

Large passad jeepneys and buses link Iloilo City to the rest of the province and the island of Panay. Buses bound for Manila are also available due to the Roll-on, Roll-off ferry services of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. Mini-shuttle vans also serve provincial towns.

Since the opening of the new airport in the town of Cabatuan, air-conditioned airport shuttle vans have served the passengers, crew and the employees of Iloilo Airport from the designated strategic locations in the city, such as in SM City Iloilo and Plaza Jaro.

Roads

The Metro Iloilo's roadways are among the country's busiest. The Diversion Road, Gen. Luna St., Mcarthur Drive, Iznart are Metro Iloilo's major roads. The highway from Diversion Road to Vice President Fernando Lopez Avenue was renovated and widened into a 4 lane road. It connects Iloilo City, Pavia, Sta. Barbara and the Iloilo International Airport. There are two Flyovers in the City, the Infante Flyover and the Gen. Luna - Jalandoni St Flyovers.

Airport

File:Iloilo Airport Exterior.jpg

The Iloilo International Airport Passengers Terminal

Main article: Iloilo Airport

Iloilo International Airport (Iloilo Airport) is the airport serving the general area of Iloilo City. It is located 19 kilometers (12 mi) northwest of Iloilo City on a 188-hectare (460-acre) site in across the towns of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and San Miguel. It opened to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007 after a decade of planning and construction, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City which had been in service for over seventy years. The new airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes, as well as its position as the fourth-busiest airport in the Philippines, from its predecessor. It is linked to the city through Tomas Confessor Highway and served by metered taxis, airport shuttle vans and multicabs.

Seaport

Main article: Port of Iloilo

The Port of Iloilo, is the port serving the general area of Iloilo and the premier port on Panay Island. The new port of iloilo is strategically located at a new site away from the older port facilities. Situated in the Southern coast of Panay Island, in the Panay Gulf, it has one of the country’s safest and most natural harbors. Guimaras Island guards the port from violent storms and makes it ideal for harboring ships and vessels.

• The Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (Iloilo International Port/Loboc Wharf)

Iloilo International Port/Loboc Wharf

It is located on 20.8 hectares of reclaimed land. It has modern facilities that include 11,400 sq. meters of open space for unhampered operations, supplemented by a backup area of 97,000 sq. meters, a crane,[1] rails of 348 lineal meters; roll-on-roll-off support; a 7,800 container freight stations; and a 720 sq. meter passenger shed. The port complex is ideal for ships plying international routes having a berth length of 400 meters, a width of 26.26 meters and a berthing depth of 10.50 meters.

• The Iloilo Domestic Port (formerly the Old Foreign Pier)

The Iloilo Domestic Port or popularly known as "Fort/Port San Pedro", serves inter-island passenger and cargo ferries which serves the routes Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. It is located near Fort San Pedro and the mouth of Iloilo River at the City Proper district. It is also the port of call for several domestic shipping companies such as SuperFerry, Negros Navigation, Sulpicio Lines, Cokaliong Shipping, Trans-Asian Shipping and others. The colloquial name "Port San Pedro" refers to the old Spanish fort besides it that was destroyed during World War II.

• Muelle Loney/Iloilo River Wharf

It is the original port of the city. Opened to international trade in 1855, it has served as the trans-shipment docks for muscovado sugar in the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century. It has undergone several times of expansion and improvement. Today, it serves smaller cargo ships, roll-on roll-off ferries bound for Guimaras and Negros Island and fast ferries that ply Iloilo-Bacolod route regularly.

• Iloilo-Guimaras Jetty (Banca) Ports

Jetty ports for Guimaras outrigger ferries are located at Calle Ortiz and Parola. The terminal at Calle Ortiz serve Jordan, Guimaras-bound passenger and cargo outrigger boats, while Parola terminal serve Buenavista, Guimaras-bound ferries. On the other hand, the City Government of Iloilo plans to construct a modern ferry terminal serving Iloilo and Guimaras through public-private partnership.

Roll-on/roll-off ferry service, known in as RO-RO, is available from to Iloilo City. There is also a ro-ro service to Cebu via Negros. It is ranked third in terms of shipcalls at 11,853, fourth in cargo throughout at 491,719 million metric tons and fourth in passenger traffic at 2.4 million annually.

Communication

The presence of advanced telecommunications infrastructure not only makes the Philippines readily accessible through the Internet, but also allows investors to ignore limitations imposed by the inadequacy of physical infrastructure. Iloilo’s economy benefits from the presence of key players in the telecommunications industry, which provide the necessary “info-structure” for commerce.

Available communication services in Iloilo are: telephone services including domestic and international direct dial, facsimile; mobile communications, internet, telegraph and telex stations, post offices and other messengerial and courier services.

There are three (3) telephone service providers in Iloilo providing landline connections to almost all of the municipalities. These are: PLDT, INNOVE and BayanTel. These companies are capable of providing fiber optic, copper and microwave T1 and E1 lines.

Cellular telephone facilities are also provided by three (3) cellular companies namely SMART Communications, Globe and Sun Cellular.

Medical facilities

Among the top medical facilities of Iloilo City is the St. Paul Hospital, founded by the Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the American Bishop of Jaro who later became Archbishop of Philadelphia and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. There is also the Iloilo Mission Hospital, which was founded by American Protestant Missionaries in 1901 as the first mission and protestant hospital in the country, Iloilo Doctor's Hospital, West Visayas State University Medical Center (formerly the Don Benito Lopez Memorial Hospital), Amosup Seamen's Hospital; the Western Visayas Medical Center, St. Therese Hospital, The Medical City - Iloilo (formerly Saviour International Hospital) and Western Visayas Medical Center.

Soon to cater to the emerging health needs of the city are the Medicus Medical Center and the Park Medical Center.

The Iloilo City Emergency Responders is a response unit established in 2003 which caters to emergency cases within the city. It has provided a hotline that would expedite emergency response similar to that of United States' 911.

Culture

Language

Main article: Hiligaynon language

Hiligaynon is the language spoken in Iloilo City. English is used as the language of business and education. In addition, Tagalog and other local dialects such as Karay-a (also known as Kinaray-a) are also spoken. Spanish is still spoken by the elders members of the micro-community of sugar-plantations related families. Hiligaynon is part of the Austronesian language branch spoken in Western Visayas. The Austronesian languages are a family of languages widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members on continental Asia. Hiligaynon is concentrated in the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

The language is referred to as "Ilonggo" in Iloilo and in Negros Occidental. More precisely, "Ilonggo" is an ethno-linguistic group referring to the inhabitants of Iloilo and the culture associated with native Hiligaynon speakers. The distinction between the terms, Ilonggo and Hiligaynon, is unclear.

Festivals

Iloilo City has numerous fiestas and events, from the barangay religious feasts all the way to a city-wide mardi-gras. The city itself has four main festivals which are secular, cultural, and religious in nature. These are held during the "festival season" in the months of January and February.

• Dinagyang Festival (every 4th weekend of January)

Main article: Dinagyang Festival

The Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth weekend of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan. It is the city's largest festival and held to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis. The highlight of this week-long revelry is the street dance competition, wherein revelers are painted with soot to mimic the original settlers of Panay Island, the Ati, dancing in fast choreography in tune with the drumbeats and interpreting cultural events and praise of the Holy Child.

• Jaro Fiesta/Candelaria Fiesta (every February 2)

Jaro Belfry during Jaro Fiesta.

Jaro's celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) every February 2 is well-known in the Philippines. The fiesta features pageantry with a fiesta queen from one of the prominent families of the place, and a cockfight at the Iloilo Coliseum, where cockfighting aficionados from all over the Philippines converge.

• Paraw Regatta (3rd week of February)

Claimed as the oldest traditional craft in Asia, the Paraw Regatta is a race among seafarers on colorful sailboats called Paraws in the Iloilo Strait between Guimaras Island and the city of Iloilo. The present-day paraw managed to maintain its original design from the sailboats of the first settlers from Borneo who were in search of a peaceful home in 1212 A.D. Surviving centuries, the paraws have become a vital part of the Filipino seafaring life. The first race started in 1973 with the mission to preserve the historic value of the paraws. It is held every 3rd weekend of February at Villa Arevalo District in Iloilo City. Today, the event has grown from being a boat race to a festival with various interesting and exotic activities.

• Chinese New Year (movable)

Chinese lion dancers pass by Arroyo Fountain at Chinese New Year Celebrations in Iloilo City

Celebrated by Ilonggos of Chinese descent, the festivity is highlighted by cultural presentation of the Chinese schools in the city, Chinese food festival and grand fireworks display.

Media

The city and the province of Iloilo is served by mostly tabloid-type English newspapers such as Panay News, The Daily Guardian, News Express, and Sunstar Iloilo. Hublas of Panay News is the sole Hiligaynon tabloid newspaper.

Iloilo City is the main headquarters and the flagship of Bombo Radyo Philippines, which owns Bombo Radio AM stations and Star FM stations across the country. Being the urban center of the province, most of the AM and FM radio stations serve the province of Iloilo and Guimaras, mostly local stations of national radio stations.

In 2004, ABS-CBN launched TV-10 serving Iloilo City and the neighboring towns. GMA Network also has TV-6 as their local television station serving Iloilo City, Guimaras and Panay Island provinces and some parts of Negros Occidental. The government television station, NBN (VHF 2) and IBC (VHF 12) are also broadcasting local programs for Iloilo. In the first quarter of 2010, QTV-28 Iloilo (UHF 28) & UNTV-42 (UHF 42) commenced operations in the city. Aksyon TV UHF 34 of NBC/TV5 and TV5 UHF 46, reported to broadcast soon. Some network also announce there plans to broadcast are SMNI on UHF 30 and GNN on UHF 54.

Education

Main articles: Education in the Philippines and List of colleges and universities in the Philippines

Iloilo is the educational center of Western Visayas. St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, the first institution of Higher Education in the Region, was established in the City, through the Papal Bull of Pope Pius IX, dated 27 May 1865. In this Seminary Ilonggo heroes and many distinguished citizens, such as Graciano Lopez Jaena, Martin Delgado, Archbishop Gabriel Reyes, and Jaime Cardinal Sin, obtained their education.

The City also boasts of the presence of state universities and colleges such as The University of the Philippines Visayas, West Visayas State University, and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology. There are six private universities: University of San Agustin which is managed by the Order of Saint Augustine Fathers located in the city proper, the Protestant founded Central Philippine University (Baptist) in Jaro district, University of Iloilo, St. Paul University which is managed by the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University with its flagship on maritime courses.

Iloilo is also home to numerous private colleges and schools such as the Iloilo Doctors College, Western Institute of Technology (WIT), De Paul College, AMA Computer University, STI, Informatics, ABBA Institute of Technology, Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Sun Yat Sen High School, Cabalum Western College, Ateneo de Iloilo, Assumption Iloilo run the Congregation of the Religious of the Assumption, Ateneo de Iloilo – Santa Maria Catholic School run by the Society of Jesus, Angelicum School Iloilo run by Order of Preachers, Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas, and one PAREF affiliated high school, Westbridge School for Boys, Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus which is run by the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus, or simply Hijas de Jesus, Colegio de San Jose, and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus which are both run by the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. The city government mulls to establish the Iloilo City Community College in Molo District.

The Department of Education - Division of Iloilo City covers 88 private schools and 52 public schools.

Cityscape

Iloilo City's urban planning and architecture reflect the plans of the Spanish colonial and the American colonial administrations. Since Iloilo City is a conglomeration of towns, the districts have their own plaza complexes or town squares which are surrounded by establishments of political and ecclesiastical influence, such as churches and old administrative halls. In 1930, Juan M. Arellano of the Bureau of Public Works designed the schematic plan for Iloilo City, which was influenced by Ebenezer Howard's "Garden City."

Historical sites

File:Jaro Cathedral - Facade.JPG

Jaro Cathedral Facade.

Jaro Cathedral Belfry. One of the few freestanding bell towers in the country.

Molo Church

3 kilometers from the city proper; Gothic renaissance church of coral rock; completed in 19th century. The church was visited by Jose Rizal along the way to his exile in Dapitan, Mindanao.

Jaro Cathedral

3 kilometers from the city proper; seat of Jaro Archbishopric embracing Western Visayas. The church contains the "miraculous" Our Lady of Candles, which the feast day is celebrated every 2 February.

Jaro Belfry

Ruined in 1948 earthquake, but now restored. One of the few belfries in country that stands apart from the church.

St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary

The first institution of higher education in Western Visayas. Following the Papal Bull of Pope Pius IX, dated 27 May 1865, the Dominican Bishop Mariano Cuartero, O.P., the first Bishop of Jaro, laid the foundation of this seminary in 1869, in honor of St. Vincent Ferrer.

University of San Agustin

Founded on July 15, 1904 by Spanish Augustinian friars belonging to the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines and their American confreres from the Augustinian U.S. Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.

Villa Lizares/Angelicum School Iloilo

It was once the mansion and villa of the Lizares Family, and one of the most beautiful mansions in Iloilo. It was sold to the Dominican Order of the Philippines in the late 1970s, and is now the seat of Angelicum School Iloilo- a private, Catholic school run by the Order of the Preachers (Dominicans), who made the school a pioneer in a non-graded, open-classroom education system in the Philippines.

Distrito Jaro

3 kilometers from the city proper; old colonial houses of sugar barons and Hispano-Filipino houses of the elite still stand, seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas.

Archbishop's Palace

(Spanish: Palacio del Arzobispo) The residence of the Archbishop of Jaro. It is located southwest of the Jaro Cathedral and southeast of the Jaro Plaza.

Calle Real (Downtown Iloilo City Heritage District)

Old buildings that were constructed in the Commonwealth era in J.M Basa (Calle Real), Iznart, Aldeguer and Guanco were declared as a heritage site of Iloilo. It showcases the unique architecture of the downtown area.

Museo Iloilo

Repository of Iloilo's cultural heritage.

Muelle Loney

The River Port of Iloilo named after British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered the father of sugar industry in Panay and Negros. Considered one of the safest harbours because Guimaras protects it from winds. It was opened to international market in 1855.

Arroyo Fountain

The regional kilometer zero point.

Central Philippine University

Chosen for its relatively quiet and beautiful campus as a tourism site by the Iloilo City Council. It is found here the largest Library in Western Visayas. It was founded by the prominent Protestant (Baptist) missionary, Rev. William Orison Valentine Every December to the month of January, the 24-hectare campus of this university was turned into a Christmas-fairytale land as kaleidoscope colors of Christmas lights and scenes decorate the major roads, buildings of the university.

Casa Montinola y Sanson

The house is reminiscent of the Gaston house in Silay, Negros Occidental. The similarities can be explained by the fact that most of the rich families of Iloilo, at one point, all transferred to Bacolod, instigated largely by the spirit of unionism that had workers clamoring for reforms.

Jaro Evangelical Church,

The first Baptist church in the Philippine Islands established by the Northern Baptists (now American Baptist Churches).

Doane Baptist Church,

Founded by Northern Baptists that took a more fundamentalist turn during the modernist-fundamentalist controversy in the Northern Baptist Convention. It is one of the largest Baptist congregations in Iloilo, and home to Doane Baptist Seminary. It recently dedicated its new sanctuary built on the same location where the old structure stood right across the Provincial Capitol.

La Villa Rica de Arevalo

6 kilometers southwest of city proper; 2nd capital of the Alcaldia of Panay; flower and firecracker district of Iloilo City. This is also home to the 3rd oldest image of the Sto. Nino in the Philippines. Also found in the plaza is the replica of the crown given by the Spanish Queen Isabela in 1896.

Night spots Smallville Entertainment Complex in Mandurriao district is famed in Iloilo City to be the center of night life activities. Hotels such as Westown Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo Business Hotel and newly opened Smallville21 Hotel are located here. It is home to several bars, clubs, cafés and restaurants.

Paseo Iloilo of Robinsons Place Iloilo is located in De Leon Street in the City Proper district. Several bars and restaurants are located there.

Paseo de Arcangeles is home of bars and resto such as Stufyerface, B-code, Langford others u/c.

Notable people

Revolutionary Heroes

• Graciano Lopez Jaena - Great revolutionary hero, Writer, editor, orator, and journalist, founder of La Solidaridad,
• Martin Teofilo Delgado - Revolutionary hero, soldier, politician
• Teresa Magbanua - The Joan of Arc of the Visayas

Sports

• Paulino Alcántara - International football player who played for FC Barcelona
• Eugene Torre - First Filipino and Asian Grandmaster

Executive Service

• Fernando López - former Senator and Vice-President of the Philippines

Legislative Service

• Miriam Defensor Santiago - current Senator 15th Congress
• Franklin Drilon - current Senator 15th Congress
• Rodolfo T. Ganzon - former Senator of the Philippines, who authored the Ganzon Law on Free Tuition fee for public High school)
• Jose Ma. Arroyo - former senator of the 5th Philippine Legislature (1919–1922) and 6th Philippine Legislature (1922–1925)
• Anna Dominique M.L. Coseteng - Former Senator, 8th Congress

Judiciacy

• Ramón Avanceña - Former Chief Justice Supreme Court of the Philippines and Vice President
• Gregorio Perfecto - Former Associate Justice Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Florenz Regalado - Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and ecord holder for the highest average in the Philippine Bar Examinations, with his 1954 mark of 96.7%.

Religious Service

• Jaime Sin- Former Archbishop of Jaro, Former Cardinal Archbishop of Manila and a very important figure during the EDSA I and EDSA II Revolutions
• Gabriel Reyes - the first Filipino Archbishop of Cebu, and first Filipino Archbishop of Manila.
• Angel Lagdameo - (Archbishop of Jaro and former President of Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines)
• Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion - Servant of God, founder Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines

Business

• Eugenio Lopez, Jr. - Formerly the Chairman Emeritus of ABS-CBN
• Oscar Lopez, Sr. - The Chairman Emeritus of Lopez Holdings Corporation and First Philippine Holdings Corporation
• Eugenio Lopez III - The 3rd generation Eugenio of the Lopez family and the present Chairman of ABS-CBN
• Injap Sia - Founder, Mang Inasal Foodchain

Literature

• Magdalena Jalandoni - Hiligaynon poet

Performing Arts

• Jed Madela - Singer and Songwriter
• Gian Carlos - Actor, Model, and Dancer
• Prince Stefan - Actor, Model, and Dancer
• Nel Rapiz - TV host, Actor/Pinoy Big Brother: Season 2 housemate)
• Saicy Aguila - Pinoy Big Brother: Season 2 housemate) and Dancer
• Emman Abatayo - Singer, Songwriter/Pinoy Dream Academy Season 1 scholar)
• Edu Manzano - TV host, Actor
• Rica Paras - Pinoy Big Brother: Season 2 housemate
• Jose Mari Chan - Singer, Songwriter
• Cynthia Patag - Actress
• Dawn Zulueta - Actress
• Young JV - Singer, Actor, Model, and Dancer
• Arthur Solinap - Actor
• Claudine Barreto - Actress, model
• Gretchen Barreto - Actress, model
• Marjorie Barreto - Actress, model
• Nina - Singer

Military Service

• Vicente Piccio, Jr. - Formerly Philippine Air Force Chief
• Dionisio Santiago - 31st Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Elvegia Ruiz Mendoza - First Woman Nurse General, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Ramona Go - First Woman General in Active Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Alexander Pama - Commander-in-Chief, Philippine Navy

Twin cities and Sister Cities

Iloilo is twinned with:

• Qingdao, Shandong, China
• Yulin, Guangxi, China
• Dededo, Guam
• Bacolod City, Philippines
• Makati City, Philippines
• Bilbao, Spain
• Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Stockton, California, USA

External links

• Iloilo City Government Official Website
• Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation
• Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc.
• Iloilo Directory