Iloilo City

Iloilo City
Highly urbanized city
City of Iloilo
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
Seal
Nickname(s): "Most Loyal and Noble City" (La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad) "City of Love" "The Queen's City of the South"
Map of Iloilo showing the location of Iloilo City
Iloilo City Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°43′N 122°34′E / 10.717°N 122.567°E / 10.717; 122.567Coordinates: 10°43′N 122°34′E / 10.717°N 122.567°E / 10.717; 122.567
Country	Philippines
Region	Western Visayas (Region VI)
Province	Iloilo (geographically only)
Legislative district	Lone district of Iloilo City
Founded	1581 (as La Villa Rica de Arevalo)[1]
Cityhood	5 October 1889
Reestablished	July 16, 1937
Barangays	180
City districts	List Arevalo City Proper Jaro La Paz Lapuz Mandurriao Molo
Government[2]
• Mayor	Jed Patrick E. Mabilog (Liberal)
• Vice Mayor	Jose S. Espinosa III (NUP)
• City Representatives	Geronimo "Jerry" P. Treñas (Liberal)
Area[3]
• City	78.34 km2 (30.25 sq mi)
• Metro	972.3 km2 (375.4 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population (2010)[4]
• City	424,619
• Density	5,981/km2 (15,490/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	5000
Dialing code	33
Website	www.iloilocity.gov.ph

Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Iloilo; Tagalog: Lungsod ng Iloilo; Spanish: Ciudad de Iloílo), is a highly urbanized city on Panay Island in the Philippines, and the capital city of the province of Iloilo. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area. In the 2010 census, Iloilo City had a population of 424,619 with a 1.8% population annual growth rate.^[4] For the Metropolitan Area, total population is at 878,621.^[4]

Iloilo City is bordered by the towns of Oton in the west, 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 consisting of: Jaro (an independent city-before), 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.^[5]

Iloilo City and Metropolitan Iloilo - Guimaras

Iloilo City being part of Metropolitan Iloilo - Guimaras is considered to be the only officially declared and recognized metropolitan area in Western Visayas as per Presidential Executive Order No. 559 duly signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on August 28, 2006. Metro Iloilo - Guimaras is composed of Iloilo City, the municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, San Miguel and Oton in mainland Panay and the municipalities of Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, Sibunag and Buenavista in the Island Province of Guimaras.

History

Period of Malay Mass Migration

According to ancient legends, some of the inhabitants of Panay island were originally from other islands, including Borneo, Sulawesi and Sumatra. Panay might be named after the state of Pannai which is located in Sumatra, since i and y are interchangeable in Spanish. Proof for this is corroborated by linguistic evidence^[6] or it may as well be as a shortening of the Ati word, "Ananipay".

The state of Pannai was a militant-nation allied under the Srivijaya Mandala that defended the conflict-ridden Strait of Malacca.

At this point, Visayan lore says that in the 13th century, ten Bornean datus came to the island which they named Panay, Pani or Panae (After the fallen kingdom of Pannai or a shortening of the Ati word for the island, Ananipay). This, after they dissented from the unjust rule of a certain Rajah Makatunao and exiled themselves. Upon arriving on the island of Panay, they gave a golden hat (salakot) and a long pearl necklace as a peace offering and treaty-items 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 (cf. also Confederation of Madja-as).^[6][7] The Confederation of Madja-as centered in Panay island eventually grew a powerful and strong naval presence that it rivaled the nearby states of the Rajahnate of Cebu, The Kingdom of Tondo and the Sultanate of Sulu when it came to wealth and prestige.

According to Friar Gaspar de San Agustín, O.S.A. That in Panay, "...in the ancient times, there was a trading center and a court of the most illustrious nobility in the whole island."^[8]

By the 14th century, under Datu Padojinog, this state had grown so powerful militarily and economically, their naval power regularly threatened Chinese Imperial shipping. So much so, that the Chuan-chou gazeeter specifically reported that the Pisheya (Bisaya) [Another term for people from Irong-Irong] consistently made devastating raids against the Empire's commerce ^[9]

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 ( Oton ).^[6]

Unlike the Indianized Cebuanos who were neutral to the Spaniards, or the Islamized Tagalogs of Manila who were more hostile, the people of Madya-as welcomed them as allies since at that time period, Madya-as was locked in a war against the invading Muslims, especially with the Sultanate of Brunei and its vassal states, Sulu and Tondo. Of which, According to Spanish Governor-General Franciso de Sande, the Muslims had made slaves of the native Bisayan/Visayan people of Borneo of which, the Visayans of the Visayas islands in the Philippines, are their blood-cousins.^[10] The people then fervently accepted Christianity as they supplied the bulk of the mercenaries used in the conquest of Islamic Manila which was then under occupation by Sultan Bolkiah. Then, years later, they, along with the Tagalogs, also supplied the troops in the Castille War which sent a punitive expedition to support the legitimate ruler of Brunei, Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna who had his throne usurped by his brother, Sultan Saiful Rijal, in a civil war in Brunei. The expedition was a success but the combined Filipino-Latino-Spanish forces retreated due to a dysentery outbreak. The pre-usereped ruler of Brunei then died (Presumably of poisoning) while his daughter went on to marry a certain Christian Tagalog by the name of Agustín de Legazpi of Tondo and had children in the Philippines.^[11]

In, 1581 Ronquillo afterwards, moved the town center approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates and Dutch and English privateers, and renamed the area La Villa de Arévalo in honor of his hometown in Ávila, Spain.^[1]

At the early days of the Spanish period; the first Manila Galleons were originally constructed at the port of Oton to the west of Iloilo. Since there was no precedent in Spain for the immensity of a Manila-Galleon, it could be argued that the proto-type Manila galleons were of Visayan design since the Visayans were already constructing huge multi-masted 4 to 5 decked Caracoas in their wars against the other kingdoms and thus, the technical know-how to construct the first Manila galleons was an amelioration of Visayan shipbuilding with Spanish shipbuilding. Oton built the first Manila galleons before operations were eventually transferred to the Cavite and Albay shipyards.

In 1700, due to ever-increasing raids especially from the Dutch and the Moros, the Spaniards again moved their seat of power some 25 kilometres (16 miles) eastward to the village of Irong-Irong, which had natural and strategic defense against raids. At the mouth of the river that snakes through Panay, the Spaniards built Fort San Pedro to better guard against the raids which were now the only threat to their 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.^[1]

Sugar boom era and the late Spanish colonial period

After its establishment under Spanish rule, Iloilo received Chinese migrants from the west which worked among the city's industries (The Lopez, Jalandoni, Lim and Sy families) and Latinos from across the Pacific (Viceroyalty of New Spain) to man its military fortifications (The Araneta, De Rama and Arroyo families). 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",^[12] 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 the textile industry, there was also a rise of the upper middle class. However, with the introduction of cheap textile from UK and the emergence of the sugar economy, the industry waned in the mid-19th century.

The waning textile industry was replaced, however, by the opening of Iloilo's port to the 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 the 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 introducing new technologies in sugar farming. The rich families of Iloilo developed large areas of Negros, which were later called haciendas, because of 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.

On 5 October 1889, due to the economic development that was happening in Iloilo, the Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain raised the status of the town to a city through a Royal Decree,^[13][14] and in 1890, the city government was established.^[15] Thus, Iloilo was officially a Royal City and events soon-after, caused it to be awarded with the Perpetual Title "La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad" (The Most Loyal and Most Noble City).

The Revolutionary Period

The immediate reaction of Ilonggo elite to the outbreak of the 1896 rebellion in Manila was that of surprise. They immediately responded with protestations of outrage and affirmed their loyalty to Spain. The Ilonggos themselves were united in their support of Spain during the first two years of the revolutionary period.^[16]

Shortly after the Cry of Balintawak, the Jaro Ayuntamiento (another colonial city adjacent to Iloilo City), composed of native Ilongos,^[17] convened a special session on September 1, 1896, where the Manila uprising was condemned as an unpatriotic act "that finds no echo in the noble hearts of Jareños, who do not forget the immense gratitude they owe Spain who, from nothing, raised us to a life of civilization and progress.^[18]

The Ayuntamiento of Iloilo^[19] also affirmed its allegiance and loyalty to Spain and made a similar protestation. Condemning the uprising, the City's letter to the Governor General says:

"Those dark betrayals, the mere notion of which embarrasses good and loyal Filipinos, have produced a unanimous sentiment of protest and indignation among the Ilongo people, who engraves its most honorable blazon in the sacred and inextinguishable love that it professes to the glorious Spanish nationality that it legitimately feels proud of. The Ilongos are Spaniards, Your Excellency, and Spaniards will they be until death, because they do not want to live and die in another way than under the shadow of the august Castillan standard, to which they owe being dignified and free men now." ^[20]

The foreign community in the city also asked its representatives to visit local authorities and to elevate their protests against the revolt. And so did the Filipino parish priests of Jaro, Molo, Mandurriao, and Arévalo.^[21]

Iloilo towns also condemned the Manila uprising, and those of the neighboring provinces of Antique, Cápiz, and Negros island followed suit. This emboldened the Ilonggo elite to initiate the organization of loyal volunteers in the region to be sent to quell what was seen as a mostly-Tagalog rebellion. The move was backed by the Spanish and foreign communities of Iloilo.^[22] A battalion of five hundred native volunteers was raised, which was divided into two companies, and placed under the cadre of mostly Spanish officers.^[23] They arrived in Manila on 16 January 1897.^[24] They were one of the largest native contingent to serve the government forces against Katipunan troops led by Emilio Aguinaldo, in the battlegrounds of Cavite province.^[25]

The Ilonggo volunteers established for themselves a distinguished combat record in Cavite. Once the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed, they returned to Iloilo. In April 1898 their homecoming, just like their departure, was met with much fanfare. This galvanized the Ilonggos into more public outpourings and manifestations of loyalty to Spain.^[26]

Moved by the Ilonggos's loyalty, the Queen Regent Maria Cristina honored the city of Iloilo (in the name of her son King Alfonso III) with the title La Muy Noble. The Royal Decree granting the perpetual ^[25] title La Muy Noble was signed on 1 March 1898 by the Queen Regent.^[27][28] Over time, this title earned for Iloilo City the reputation of it being "The Queen's Favored City in the South" or simply "Queen City in the South" (A title Iloilo legally holds, but is mistakenly attributed to Cebu for reason of economic progress, after that city eclipsed the economy of Iloilo during the aftermath of its economic decline).

Suffering defeats from the Katipunan, and later by the Americans, the Spanish authorities fled Manila, establishing the colonial capital in Iloilo. Thus, Iloilo was the last overseas province of Spain. Sooner, however, through the leadership of General Martín Delgado, the towns of Iloilo got involved in the struggle for independence, except for Iloilo City, Molo, and Jaro.^[29] The city of Iloilo proved themselves true to the moniker, most noble and loyal, by clinging on to Spain, in an era were majority of Spain's colonies in the Americas and Asia had already rebelled. On December 25 of that same year, the Spanish government surrendered to the Ilonggo revolutionaries in Plaza Alfonso XIII (Plaza Libertad today). In the name of the last Spanish Governor-General, Diego de los Ríos, Military Provincial Governor Ricardo Monet, together with Lt. Col. Agustín Solís, formally handed over Plaza Alfonso XIII to Delgado, who represented Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the newly established Philippine Republic, in Iloilo. Delgado was named provincial governor afterwards.

The newly found freedom of the Ilonggos would be short-lived. The American forces arrived in Iloilo in late December 1898. By February 1899, the Americans had started mobilizing to colonize anew the City and Province. They met resistance from the Ilonggos, which lasted up to 1901. In which case, Iloilo was also among the last cities to fall to America.^[7][30]

American colonial Era

In 1900, the Americans reverted the city's status into a township again. Later, they initiated the construction of the Baluarte and Arroyo streets, extension of Delgado Street to Valeria and from Fuentes and Jalandoni streets up to the present-day U.P. in the Visayas. Quezon and Mabini streets were asphalted while their sidewalks were also constructed. More significant was the installation of streetlights all throughout the city in 1921. in 1926, the widening of important streets, like General Luna, J.M. Basa and Ledesma was started. In 1927, an improved street, Valeria-Ledesma (formerly known as Weyler) was inaugurated (David 1937).^[31]

Protestant American Missionaries came to Iloilo, initiating large-scale enterprises in the predominantly Catholic province. The first Protestants to come were the Presbyterians and they established the first Protestant and American hospital in the country, Iloilo Mission Hospital; and supposedly it came also that Silliman University (the first Protestant and American university in the country and in Asia) was originally a location for its foundation, but due to Catholic opposition, the founder, David S, Hibbard moved to Dumaguete City, where the university is now presently found.^[32] Along with the Presbyterians, Baptists came and established Central Philippine University, the first Baptist founded university in Asia, founded in 1905; Jaro Evangelical Church, the first Baptist church in the Philippines; and the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, the oldest Baptist organizational body in the Philippines)^[33]

Central Philippine University was established through a grant given by the American industrialist and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller.^{[34][35][36][36][37][38][39]} Central Philippine University pioneered the work-study program in the country which was later patterned and followed by other institutions and has also established the first and oldest student governing body in Asia modeled on the American civil government, the Central Philippine University Republic in 1906 after the Jaro Industrial School, CPU's forerunner, was established. On other hand, Protestant Presbyterians who established the Iloilo Mission Hospital established the Union Mission Hospital Training School for Nurses which later became Central Philippine University University College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, the first Nursing School in the Philippines.

During this period, American Catholics countered the Protestant American missions and the American Catholic Bishops, like Frederick Rooker, Dennis Joseph Dougherty, and James McCloskey, were named for the Roman Catholic See of Jaro in Iloilo City. These Catholic Bishops sustained the educational achievements of the Spanish Friars by bringing in American and European Catholic missionaries, among whom were the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul, and Augustinian missionary priests. The Augustinians, who were the first to bring the Christian faith in the Philippines as well as in the Island of Panay and who built the centuries-old heritage Churches in this island,^[40] established an institution of higher education in the City in 1904 - the Collegio de San Agustin. During the American regime, their confreres from the United States developed evermore this institution, which later became the first University in Iloilo and in Region VI. The American Catholic Bishops also maintained and upgraded the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary (established in 1869 as the Collegio-Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer), which is the Region's first institution of higher learning.

The St. Paul Sisters, took charge of St. Paul Hospital that was originally owned by the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Jaro. Bishop Dougherty, who later became Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia, gave the medical facilities to the Sisters. Now St. Paul Hospital is the largest and most advanced hospital in the Region. To commemorate the generosity of the American Bishop, the hospital named a more recent section of the facilities after him - the CADMA (Cardinal Dougherty Medical Annex).

Because of the growing needs to provide nurses for the hospital, St. Paul Sisters also opened a Nursing School. Today, this institution has also become a University (St. Paul University Iloilo), and has ever since supplied high quality healthcare professionals known worldwide for their skills and dedication to work.

Iloilo regained the cityhood status on July 16, 1937, through Commonwealth Act 158. Incorporated as part of Iloilo City were the towns of Molo, Jaro, Mandurriao, La Paz and Villa de Arevalo and inaugurated in August 15, 1937 .^[41] 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.

1942-1945 Japanese occupation

By 1942, the Japanese invaded Panay and the economy moved into a standstill. 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 and American forces liberated Iloilo from Japanese military occupation on March 25, 1945, the remnants of these battalions were held in Jaro Plaza as a makeshift detention facility.^[7]

Post-War Decline

The war heavily damaged infrastructure in Iloilo. 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, 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. Rural agricultural areas continued to help the local economy. Iloilo's economy progressed in a moderate pace^[42] The construction of the fish port, international seaport and commercial firms that invested in Iloilo helped the city to its eventual recovery.

Iloilo was declared into a highly urbanized city by the virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 51. their residents effectively lost their eligibility to vote for provincial officials because of this new status^[43]

Geography

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. Lately a new escape channel for floodwaters coming from these two rivers to Iloilo Straight was developed, the Jaro Floodway. Iloilo City is 337.6 nautical miles from Manila. The city has a total land area of 70.3 square kilometres (27.1 sq mi).^[45]

The city is divided into seven districts. All of the districts were once individual towns, excluding Lapuz, which was a sub-district of La Paz until 2008. They were merged into one city on August 25, 1937 when the current Iloilo City inaugurated as a charter city. All districts have their own town centers complete with a plaza, a Roman Catholic church, a fire station, a police station and a public market. City Proper is a commercial area and the political center of the City and the Province of Iloilo and the Regional Government Center of Western Visayas.

Iloilo City is further subdivided into 180 barangays.^[46]

Iloilo City is the center of the only officially recognized Metropolitan Area in Western Visayas.^{[lower-alpha 1]} The metropolitan area is composed of the City of Iloilo, the municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, San Miguel, Oton, the Island Province of Guimaras and its five municipalities, namely - Sibunag, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista and Jordan.

The city of Iloilo has only one legislative district.

Climate

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.^[45]

Climate data for Iloilo, Philippines — NOAA Station Id: PH98637
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	29.7 (85.5)	30.2 (86.4)	31.7 (89.1)	33.1 (91.6)	33.1 (91.6)	31.6 (88.9)	30.7 (87.3)	30.4 (86.7)	30.8 (87.4)	31.1 (88)	30.9 (87.6)	30.2 (86.4)	31.12 (88.02)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.1 (79)	26.5 (79.7)	27.6 (81.7)	28.9 (84)	29.1 (84.4)	28.1 (82.6)	27.6 (81.7)	27.5 (81.5)	27.6 (81.7)	27.7 (81.9)	27.5 (81.5)	26.8 (80.2)	27.59 (81.66)
Average low °C (°F)	22.7 (72.9)	22.7 (72.9)	23.5 (74.3)	24.6 (76.3)	25.1 (77.2)	24.7 (76.5)	24.4 (75.9)	24.5 (76.1)	24.4 (75.9)	24.2 (75.6)	24.0 (75.2)	23.4 (74.1)	24.02 (75.24)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	39.9 (1.571)	19.1 (0.752)	27.1 (1.067)	47.7 (1.878)	117.9 (4.642)	255.2 (10.047)	313.2 (12.331)	363.7 (14.319)	266.8 (10.504)	264.1 (10.398)	174.8 (6.882)	64.2 (2.528)	1,953.7 (76.917)
Average relative humidity (%)	82	80	75	73	77	82	85	85	85	84	84	83	81.25
Source: "Climate (Average Weather) Data". climate-charts.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.

Demographics

Population census of Iloilo City
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	309,505	—
1995	334,539	+1.47%
2000	366,391	+1.97%
2007	418,710	+1.86%
2010	424,619	+0.51%
Source: National Statistics Office[4]

Economy

Iloilo City is a hub for trade, commerce, medical tourism, real estate, tourism, education, and industry in the Western Visayas region. Major industries in the city include management of port facilities, telecommunications infrastructure and utilities, banking and finance, retail trading, real estate, tourism and business process outsourcing. The local government has provided incentives to businesses in certain investment areas, such as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses.^[47]

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.^[45] 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).^[45] 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 65,136 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).^[45]

The BPO industry has spurred employment. BPO locators are attracted to Iloilo because of the literacy rate and number of graduates per year.^[48] The Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), has named Iloilo City as one of the next wave cities. This means that Iloilo city is capable to host information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies on the basis of availability of talent and relevant infrastructure.^[49] Iloilo City has a number of IT/BPO centers among them is the Iloilo Ayala Techno Hub, Amigo Plaza Mall, SM City Iloilo estates and Plazuela de Iloilo which houses BPO companies.^[50][51][52] Another IT/BPO centers is in Iloilo International Business Park at the Sta. Barbara Heights and Iloilo Business Park, both by Megaworld Corporation and the Iloilo City Center by the Gaisano Group. It has business process outsourcing (BPO) office buildings undergoing construction.^[53]

Shopping and Business Centers

Among the notable shopping and business areas in Iloilo City are:

a. City Proper District:

a.1 Downtown Area (Calle Real, Arroyo Street, Arsenal Street, Aldeguer Street, Sto. Nino Street - formerly Guanco Street, Macario Peralta Street, Ortiz Street, Rizal Street and within the environ of the Iloilo City Government Center and at the Western Visayas Regional Government Center)

a.2. China Town (South Iznart Street, Magsaysay Road, De leon Street, Valeria Extension)

a.3. Midtown Core (North Iznart Street, Montinola Street, Solis Street, Yulo Street, Valeria Street, Delgado Street, Quezon Street, Mabini Street, Ledesma Street)

a.4. Uptown Strip (Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo Provincial Government Center, Gen. Luna Street, Jalandoni Street, Infante Avenue, North M.H. del Pilar Street)

b. Mandurriao District:

b.1. Central Business Area (Sen. Benigno Aquino Avenue, Smallville Business Complex, Atria Park District, Iloilo City Center, Iloilo Corporate Center, SM City Estates, Centrale Park - Iloilo, Iloilo Business Park and Iloilo Central Park)

b.2. Mandurriao District Center

c. Molo District:

c.1. Molo District Center

d. Villa de Arevalo District:

d.1. Villa de Arevalo District Center

d.2. Villa Beach Tourism Strip

e. Jaro District:

e.1. Jaro District Center

e.2. Jaro North Strip (Mc Arthur Drive - Tabuc Suba to Tagbak)

e.3. Aquino Crossroad Area (Upper Sen. B.S. Aquino Jr. Avenue corner Pres. Cory Aquino Avenue)

e.4. Old Town Lane (along E. Lopez Street, Jaro to Luna Street, Lapaz)

f. Lapaz District:

f.1. Lapaz District Center

f.2. Prime Estates

Infrastructure

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 their sleek and sedan-like design. These often serve fixed routes and mostly travel on the city's major and secondary roads. Jeepneys are also the main mode of transportation to Metropolitan Iloilo areas. 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 Metro Manila, Mindoro, Batangas, Cebu, Negros and Mindanao are also available via the Roll-on, Roll-off ferry services of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. Mini-shuttle vans also serve major points in Panay Island.

Integrated Transport Terminals

Iloilo City has five Major Integrated Transport Terminals located at the city's perimeter areas: the Northern Iloilo Integrated Transport Terminal(NIITT)/North Ceres Bus Terminal(NCBT) located at Tagbak, Jaro District is the transport hub serving passengers to/from north western municipalities of Iloilo, City of Passi and northwestern Panay(Capiz and Aklan including Boracay Island); Iloilo Central Line Integrated Transport Terminal(ICLITT)/Pavia Peoples Terminal(PPT) in Ungka, Jaro District is the transport terminal for passengers to/from central municipalities of Iloilo; Aleonsan Integrated Transport Terminal(AITT) at Hibao - an in Mandurriao for those to/from the upland municipalities of San Miguel, Alimodian and Leon(including Bucari, Leon); Iloilo Southern Line Integrated Transport Terminal(ISLITT)/South Ceres Bus Terminal(SCBT) located at Mohon in Villa de Arevalo for going to/from the southern municipalities of Iloilo and to/from the province of Antique; and Iloilo North Coastal Line Integrated Transport Terminal(INCLITT) at Ticud, Lapaz District for those going to/from the northern coastal municipalities of Iloilo(including Sicogon Island and Isla de Gigantes).

Floodway

Jaro Floodway is a 4.75 kilometer artificial waterway north of Iloilo City. The floodway project was constructed to serve as a channel to divert excess water discharge from Tigum, Aganan and Jaro River directly to the Iloilo Strait. Since the completion of the Jaro Floodway project in 2010, flooding problems in the plains of sub urban areas of Jaro and Lapaz has been controlled.

Railroad

From 1907 to the 1980s, Panay Railways operated a railroad from Roxas City to the port area of Muelle Loney along the Iloilo River in Iloilo City.

Iloilo International Airport

Iloilo International Airport is the 4th busiest in the Philippines^[54] with international flight to Singapore and Hong Kong and vice versa serving passengers from Western Visayas Region, Palawan and Mindanao.^[55] For domestic flights to/from Metro Manila, Cebu, Palawan, Tacloban, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro and Davao City, Iloilo International Airport is the airport serving the general area of Metropolitan Iloilo - Guimaras, the province of Antique and the rest of Iloilo Province. It is located 19 kilometres (12 miles) 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, replacing the Old Iloilo Airport at the Mandurriao District. The new airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes.^[56] It is linked to the city through Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and served by metered taxis, airport shuttle vans and multicabs.

Recently, the national government has approved the Php 791 million budget for the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport.

International and Domestic Seaports and Fish (Marine) Port Complex

The Port of Iloilo, is the port serving the general area of Iloilo and the premier port in the Western Visayas Region. The new port of iloilo is located on a site away from the older port facilities. It is situated in the Southern coast of Panay Island, in the Panay Gulf. With Guimaras Island guarding the port from violent storms, it has one of safest and most natural harbors in the Philippines

The Iloilo International Port Complex(IIPC) 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. It is currently expanding with the reclamation of the west side sea front portion of the complex

The Iloilo Domestic Port Complex(IDPC), located near Fort San Pedro and formerly the Old Foreign Pier, serves inter-island passenger and cargo ferries which serves the routes Manila, Palawan, Cebu, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. It is located near the mouth of Iloilo River at the vicinity of the Western Visayas Regional Government Center at the City Proper District. It is also the port of call for several domestic shipping companies such as SuperFerry or 2GO Travel, Negros Navigation, Sulpicio Lines, Cokaliong Shipping, Trans-Asia Shipping Lines and others. The colloquial name "Fort San Pedro" refers to the old Spanish fortress beside it that was destroyed during World War II and soon to be restored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) under TIEZA.

Muelle Loney or Iloilo River Wharf 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. Last September, 2014, the newly opened Iloilo River Port Complex(IRPC) at Lapuz District started its operation to replace the Iloilo River Wharf.^[57]

Iloilo-Guimaras 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. Soon the Iloilo Jetty Port Complex(IJPC) at the Western Visayas Regional Government Center will replace the two jetty ports, the complex is complete with a modern passenger terminal building, a pumpboat fuel refilling station, a 1.3 hectares (3.2 acres) children's park with a marine museum and a CityMall complex by Double Drangon Properties. This project of the City Government was achieved through public-private partnership.^[58]

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 ship calls at 11,853, fourth in cargo throughout at 491,719 million metric tons and fourth in passenger traffic at 2.4 million annually.

The Iloilo Fish Port Complex(IFPC) is the only and the major center of fish trading and marine products processing in entire Visayas. The port complex is the traditional landing site of bagnetters and other fishing bancas in Iloilo City and nearby towns. This strategic location has made the port the major fish/marine source of major supermarkets, hotels and restaurants and local public markets in the country and abroad.

Its services includes, unloading and marketing facilities for fish and other fishery/aquatic products both for local and foreign markets; services and facilities for harbor operations such drydocking/repair shop, fuel, oil, water and ice conveyance and for transshipping products; processing, refrigeration and other post-harvest services including product pre-processing, freezing through contact freezer, cold storages and top-grade facilities for the processing of marine products such as Prawn, Abalone, Cuttlefish, Lobster, Nylon Shell, Octopus, Slippertail, Squid, Whiting and Bangus; and raw land for establishment of fishery-related factories.

The complex is situated in a 21 hectare reclamation at southern part of the City Proper District. Recently, the fish port complex was granted Php 570 million for the expansion of its facilities which will include the construction of a new fish processing plant, establishment of a fish canning facility and the construction of an alternative energy source.^[59][60]

Medical Facilities

Among the top medical facilities of Iloilo City are:

City Proper District:

• St. Paul Hospital, founded by Dennis Joseph Dougherty, the American Bishop of Jaro who later became Archbishop of Philadelphia and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. They are the first accredited Kidney Transplant facility outside Manila. They are said to be launching Stem Cell Therapy in Visayas and Mindanao.^[61] St. Paul Hospital is located at Uptown Strip in the City Proper District.
• St. Therese Hospital at Jalandoni Street, Iloilo City (beside University of San Agustin Gymnasium)

Jaro District:

• Iloilo Mission Hospital, which was founded by American Protestant Missionaries in 1901 as the first Protestant hospital in the country and the first American hospital in Asia. The hospital established the first nursing school in the country in 1906, the Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing (the present Central Philippine University College of Nursing.^[62] Iloilo Mission Hospital serves as the university hospital of Central Philippine University .
• West Visayas State University Medical Center (formerly the Don Benito Lopez Memorial Hospital)- is a 300 bed tertiary teaching, training hospital that serves as a functional laboratory for the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences Institute of the West Visayas State University.^[63]
• Iloilo City Hospital along Old Town Lane at E. Lopez Street, Jaro, Iloilo City
• CPU Birthing Hospital at Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City
• Metro Iloilo Hospital and Medical Center (under construction) located at Jaro North Strip (Tagbak, Jaro, Iloilo City).
• ACE Hospital and Medical Center (under construction) located at Aquino Crossroad (Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City).

Molo District:

• Iloilo Doctor's Hospital^[64]
• The Medical City–Iloilo, an acquired hospital of the Medical City Group of Hospitals, which performed successful open heart surgeries and the first ever Angioplasty in the region.^[65] It also boasts it's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, being first in Western Visayas.^[65][66]

Mandurriao District:

• Amosup Seamen's Hospital at Mandurriao District Center, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
• The Western Visayas Medical Center - a 425-bed capacity Medical Center is the end referral facility among government hospitals in the region.^[67]
• Qualimed Medical Center at Atria Park District, Central Business Area in Mandurriao, Iloilo City
• Medicus Medical Center at SBC, Atria Park District, Central Business Area in Mandurriao, Iloilo City
• Medicus Cancer Institute (under construction) at Atria Park District, Central Business Area in Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Lapaz District:

• Lapaz Maternity Hospital at Lapaz District Center, Lapaz, Iloilo city

Convention Facilities

Iloilo Convention Center which is under construction is the centerpiece of the Iloilo Business Park by Megaworld Corporation in Mandurriao. The main hall on the ground floor will have a 4,000 seat capacity and a 500-seat function room at the second floor.

Iloilo International Convention Center at Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention Center located at Jaro District is a 2,700-seat capacity convention center.

Soon to rise in Iloilo City Center is the state of the art Iloilo City Trade and Convention Center. Other big venues that can cater international events are Kalantiao Hall of Sarabia Manor Hotel, Crown Ballroom of Punta Villa Resort and Royal Garden Hall Convention Center.

Sports Venue and Stadium

Iloilo Sports Complex, also known as Iloilo Sports Center, is the major sports venue in Western Visayas. The center complete with a 10,000 capacity stadium, a rubberized track oval, a football field, a soccer field, an Olympic size swimming pool, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, two open tennis courts, four badminton courts and an indoor gymnasium.

Power and Energy

A 72 MW Diesel Fuel Power Plant operated by Panay Power Corporation and a 164 MW coal power plant operated by Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) provides power generation for Iloilo City, both situated in Brgy. Ingore in Lapaz district.^[68][69] Panay Energy Development Corp.(PEDC) plans for a third coal-fired power generation facility. The newest generator will be on top of the existing 164-MWs for an additional 150-megawatt to be generated that will help produce a total of 404 MW supply for Panay, Guimaras and Negros islands.^[70]

Power distribution is facilitated by Panay Electric Company (PECO) . PECO is the sole power distributor in Iloilo City and it is one of the oldest private electricity distribution utilities in the country which has been operating since 1923.^[71]

Culture

Language

Hiligaynon is the language spoken in Iloilo City.^[72] English is used as the language of business and education. In addition, other local dialects such as Karay-a (also known as Kinaray-a) is also spoken. Spanish is still spoken by the elderly and some wealthy families and also the elder members of the micro-community of sugar-plantations related families. The Spanish language was the official language of Iloilo since the colonial period until the 1970s. It is still spoken. Hiligaynon is part of the Austronesian language branch spoken in Western Visayas, It was heavily influence and based on the Spanish language and its orthography. 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 which has mixed Cebuano.

The language is referred to as "Ilonggo" or "Ilongo/Ylongo" 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, however, most of the townspeople are claiming that Hiligaynon is the language being spoken and Ilonggo is a term used to refer a person living in Iloilo.

Festivals

Iloilo City has numerous fiestas and events, from the barangay religious feasts all the way to a city-wide mardi-gras. The city has the following main fiestas and festivals which are secular, cultural, and religious in nature. These are the following:.^[73]

• Feast of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo (every 3rd Sunday of January)

The Feast of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo is a religious fiesta in honor of the 3rd oldest (1581) image of the child Jesus in the Philippines held every 3rd Sunday of January at the district of Villa de Arevalo. A religious procession around the town center is held on the "bisperas ng pista" attended by thousands of the devotees. And on the day of the fiesta, a high mass is celebrated in honor of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo with the Archbishop of Jaro as the main celebrant. Other festivities includes, the coronation of the fiesta queen and fireworks display competition which is being held on the night of the fiesta.

• Dinagyang Festival (every 4th weekend of January)

The Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth weekend of January, is the country's largest festival and is 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 Dinagyang Festival is considered as the Queen of all Philippine Festivals, hundreds of thousands local and foreign tourist visit Iloilo to witness the pageantry and merrymaking. The highlight of this week-long revelry is the street dance competition.^[74]

• Feast of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria" (every February 2)

Jaro's celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles), the Patroness of Western Visayas, every February 2. The religious celebration, which is well known in the Philippines and in some parts of Asia, is also an occasion of more secular events like the pageantry of the daughters of the rich families in the District during the coronation of the Jaro Fiesta Queen, and the international cockfighting. Eucharistic celebrations in honor of the miraculous image starts at dawn until noontime to accommodate thousands of devotees that flocked the national shrine. The grand procession follows in the afternoon with the coronation of the fiesta queen in the evening of the fiesta.

• Valentine's Day in the City of Love (Feb. 14)

Considered as the second busiest holiday in the City of Love, the Valentine's Day is a favorite event for the Ilonggos to spend the day to eat and dine with their special someone or with the entire members of their family.

The highlight of this event is a mass wedding by the City Mayor to hundreds of couples in a civil right ceremony. This year 200 couples joined the mass wedding dubbed as "I do, I do", a growth from last years number of only a 100 participant. The event is organized by the City Government through the Red Lions and Pag Ibig Fund.

• Chinese New Year Celebration (variable)

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.

• Paraw Regatta (3rd week of February)

The Paraw Regatta is a race among seafarers on colorful sailboats called Paraws (the oldest traditional seacraft in Asia) in the Iloilo Strait between Guimaras Island and the city of Iloilo.^[75] 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.

• 'Iloilo Art Festival (variable)

• Semana Santa (variable)

Holy week in Iloilo City is a well observed religious, cultural and social holiday. Experiencing the week long spiritual and devotional holy week activities in Iloilo City is an enriching commemoration of the passion of Jesus Christ. The religious activities includes the "Visita Iglesia" to 14 major Catholic Churches located around the city of Iloilo (Spousal of Mary and Joseph Church, Our Lady of Monseratt Church, Our Lady of Fatima Church, St. Joseph the Worker Church, National Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Nuesta Senora de Lapaz Y Buen Viaje Church, San Jose de Placer Church, Sta. Maria Parish Church, Sta. Terisita Church, The Immaculate Conception Church, Shrine of the Sto. Nino de Arevalo, St. Anne's Cathedral and Espousal of Our Lady Church).

On "Biyernes Santo", devotees joins the grand procession of "Pasos" of century old Castilian religious sculptures depicting the passion of Jesus Christ paraded in different parishes in Iloilo City. The most notable are in Jaro, Molo and Villa de Arevalo where the "pasos" are elaborate and life - size. These "pasos" are owned and maintained by the "buena familias" of Jaro, Molo and Villa de Arevalo.

"Domingo de Pascua" or "Easter Sunday" is a festive celebration in Iloilo City. After the "Salubong" and the Eucharistic celebration to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an egg hunting is being held.

• Iloilo Bike Festival (evening of 1 April)

• Double Dragon Boat Race Festival (variable)

• 'Light of Peace Festival (variable)

• Flores de Mayo/Santacruzan Festival (last Sunday of May)

• Feast of Sta. Ana (July 26)

• Semana sang Iloilo (August 22 to 24)

• Iloilo Baroto Race Festival (September)

• Korean - Ilonggo Friendship Festival (September)

• Christmas Festival of Lights (Dec. 1 to Dec. 31)

• Iloilo New Year's Eve Count Down and Fireworks Celebration (Eve of 31 Dec)

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 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 1967, TV-6 Iloilo (a TV5 affiliate) stated its initial broadcast in Jaro, Iloilo City. By 1974 change its affiliation to GMA Network as their local television station. TV-6 Iloilo started upgrading its facilities and relocated their TV tower to Guimaras and serving Iloilo City, Guimaras and Panay Island provinces and some parts of Negros Occidental in 1998. Studio 23 Iloilo (UHF 38) (change its name to ABS-CBN Sports and Action in January 18, 2014) initiated its broadcast in 1999. In 2000, ABS-CBN launched TV-10 serving Iloilo City and the neighboring towns and separated its news team from Bacolod news team and launched TV Patrol Iloilo. The government television station, NBN (VHF 2) in 1992 and IBC (VHF 12) in 1977 are also broadcasting local programs for Iloilo. In the first quarter of 2010, QTV-28 Iloilo (UHF 28) (change its name to GMA News TV in February 28, 2011) & UNTV-42 (UHF 42) commenced operations in the city. In second quarter of 2012, TV5 Iloilo (UHF 36) and AksyonTV Iloilo (UHF 46) commenced operation and serving the southern part of Western Visayas Region that includes the Guimaras Island, Iloilo City, Panay Island and Negros Occidental and at the same time started its News5 team coverage.

Education

Being the center of education in Western Visayas Region, the city and the province of Iloilo has a total of ten (10) major universities.

Iloilo City alone hosts 8 large universities such as the Central Philippine University (CPU), University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), West Visayas State University (WVSU), Iloilo Science and Technology University (formerly WVCST) (ISAT-U),^[76] University of San Agustin (USA), University of Iloilo (UI), St. Paul University (SPUI), and John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU).

There are two state universities located outside Iloilo City, the Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) and Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State University (NIPSU).

Iloilo is also home to numerous private colleges and schools such as the Iloilo Doctors College (IDC), St. Therese - MTC colleges (ST-MTCC), Western Institute of Technology (WIT), De Paul College (DPC), ABE International College of Business and Economics, Computer College of the Visayas, Dominican College of Iloilo, Great Saviour College, AMA Computer University (AMACU Iloilo), STI College - Iloilo, Informatics, Interface Computer College, IMAPF - School of Midwifery, Philippine College of Aeronautics, Science and Technology, ACSI College Iloilo, ABBA Institute of Technology, Iloilo Scholastic Academy, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Sun Yat Sen High School, Cabalum Western College, St. Anne College of Iloilo, St. Agustin School of Nursing - 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, San Jose Catholic School which is run by the Order of St. Agustin, Colegio de San Jose (CSJ), and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (CSCJ) which are both run by the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and Asian College of Aeronautics. Colegio de San Jose is the oldest school for girls in Western Visayas which is now 141 years old. In June 2012, the city government opened the Iloilo City Community College at Molo, Iloilo City. These universities and colleges in Iloilo is a testament to the city being the center of education in Western Visayas.

The Department of Education – Division of Iloilo City covers 88 private schools^[77] and 52 public schools.^[78]

Landmarks and Tourist sites

Iloilo City's urban planning and architecture reflect the plans of the Spanish and the American colonial administrations. Since Iloilo City is a conglomeration of towns, the districts have their own plazas 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."^[79]

Tourist attractions

• Plaza de la Villa Rica de Arevalo 6 km (4 mi) southwest of the city proper. It is 2nd capital of the Alcaldia of Panay* and known as the flower garden of Iloilo.
• The Crown Monument of Queen Isabela ll is located on the east side of the plaza. Erected in 1896, the monument holds the replica of the crown given by Queen Isabela ll of Spain to Iloilo which symbolizes the friendship of Spain and Iloilo.
• The Shrine of Sto. Nino de Arevalo houses the miraculous image of the child Jesus in the Philippines. It is considered as the third oldest image in the country as it is dated back in 1581.
• Convento de Villa Rica de Arevalo or the rectory of the Shrine of Sto. Nino de Arevalo.
• The Black Cross, a 12 - foot long century old cross at Santa Cruz Chapel in Villa Rica de Arevalo was used to be the cross enshrined inside the Jesuit chapel located at the same spot it was founded by a local farmer.
• Don Fernando Avancena Ancestral House (The Camina Balay na Bato), built in 1860 is the ancestral house of the Avancena - Melocoton clan of Iloilo. Its famous descendants are the Avancena Sisters (Jovita and Ramona) - founders of Colegio de St. Ana, Chief Justice Ramon Avancena, Dona Rufina Avancena and Don Crispino Melocoton.
• St. Anne's Cathedral at Molo district is a Gothic renaissance church made of coral rock, located three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the City Proper. It was completed in the 19th century. The church, which is also referred to as the "Church of Women" because of the statues of women saints that decorate its pillars, was visited by Jose Rizal on his way to exile in Dapitan, Mindanao.
• Convento de Molo, a century old rectory of the St. Anne's Cathedral in Molo district.
• Plaza de Molo
• Senator Rodolfo Ganzon Memorial Circle
• Carpenter's Bridge River Park
• Don Donato Pison Chimney Monument at Atria Park District in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
• Iloilo River Esplanade A well landscaped linear park in the riverbanks of Iloilo River.
• Iloilo River and Mangrove Forest
• University of San Agustin, founded in 1904: An institution of Catholic Higher Education 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. Elevated as a University on 1 March 1953, the University of San Agustin holds the title as the "First University in Western Visayas".
• Fort San Pedro
• Plaza Alfonso XII or commonly known as Plaza Libertad. The central park of the city proper district of Iloilo. It is a National Historical Institute site for its contribution to the Philippine liberation and freedom. Within the environs of the plaza are the City Government Center of Iloilo, the San Jose de Placer parish church, the heritage buildings such as the Masonic Temple, Lacson Ancestral House, the Botica Lacson ruins, the San Jose Catholic School of the Agustinian Fathers, Iloilo Plaza Hotel Building(now Land Bank of the Philippines), the Campos Building, and nearby the Ker and Company Limited Heritage Building and the Ynchausti Mansion(old COA Building).
• Iloilo City Government Center and the Lin - Ay Sang Iloilo Monument.
• Nicolas Loney Monument
• Calle Muelle Loney (Iloilo Promenade) or the old river port of Iloilo named after British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered the father of the Philippine sugar industry. The 3.5 kilometer old river port is protected by the Island of Guimaras from typhoons and it is one of the safest harbours in the Country. It is also considered as one of the major port in the country having established and opened to international market since 1855.
• Iloilo Customs House and the Sunburst Park - Also called as Iloilo’s “Aduana”, the Customs Building in Iloilo was built during the American colonial period. It is the biggest custom house in the Visayas and Mindanao Region or outside Manila. The architecture of the Iloilo Customs house is similar to the Bureau of Immigration building in Intramuros, Manila, which is characterized by a tall tower rising at the center of the building. The Iloilo Customs is located in Muelle Loney St. and Aduana St. along the Iloilo River, which also serves as a lengthy harbor. The view from the tower of the Iloilo Custom’s House is breathtaking. One can clearly see an overview of the Iloilo River Port, Iloilo’s DownTown Area or popularly known as "Calle Real", and Guimaras Island in the distance. A proposal from Mayor Jed Mabilog to revive the Sunburst Park fronting the Custom House is being studied. If the plan pushes through the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand which stands at the park area will be transferred along Mulle Loney Drive beside the Custom House.^[80]
• Calle Real or the Iloilo City Heritage and Cultural District old buildings that were constructed in the Commonwealth era in Calle Real, Iznart, Aldeguer and Guanco were declared as a heritage site of Iloilo by the National Historical Institute. Also known as the downtown area of Iloilo City.
• Fuente Arroyo, is a classy and stylish water fountain depicting a neoclassical design situated in front of the Casa Real de Iloilo or the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, also considered as the kilometer zero point of Panay Island.
• Casa Real de Iloilo or the Iloilo Provincial Capitol
• Museo de Iloilo, the Repository of Iloilo's cultural heritage.
• National Museum - Iloilo
• Iloilo City Wetlands and Bird Sanctuary at Brgy. Hinactacan, Lapaz.
• Nelly's Garden and Mansion, The Lopez Heritage House or otherwise known as the Nelly's Gardens is a national heritage house built in 1928 located at Jaro, Iloilo by an Ilonggo statesman Don Vicente Lopez and his wife, Doña Elena Hofileña. The mansion was named after the couple's eldest daughter, Lilia Lopez y Hofileña. The house is a classic example of Beaux-Arts mansion with its decorative enhancement largely influenced by Western aesthetics evident on its façade. It is designed to portray the extravagant lifestyle of Iloilo's most affluent families during the American period. In March 28, 2004, it was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute.^[81] Nelly's Garden and Mansion is considered to be the mother of all ancestral mansions in the Philippines.
• Jaro Evangelical Church, The first Baptist Church in the Philippine Islands established by the Northern Baptists (now American Baptist Churches).
• 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.
• National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles - Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral The first and only cathedral in Western Visayas built in 1864. It is the seat of Jaro Archbishopric (comprising the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Western Visayas). The Cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, is famous for its Shrine of Our Lady of Candles which, according to pious tradition has been miraculously growing. The devotees of the Blessed Virgen, who invoke her under this title of "Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria" come in thousands during her feast day, 2 February. The image was canonically crowned by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, during the Roman Ponriff's visit to Jaro in 1981. Until the present, the miraculous image is the only sacred icon in the Philippines ever crowned personally by a Pope.
• Campanario de Jaro (Jaro Belfry/Jaro Bell Tower), One of the few belfries in country that stands apart from the church. It was constructed by the Spaniards to serve as a watchtower to monitor Muslim invasion from Mindanao. The colonial structure was ruined by an earthquake in 1948 and was restored decades later, in the mid-1990s. The Jaro Belfry will undergo a new retrofitting this year to be financed by the Dept. of Tourism.
• Granciano Lopez Jaena Park or the Plaza de Jaro
• Arco de Jaro
• Jaro Heritage and Cultural District: The old section of the City boasts of the colonial mansions and Hispano-Filipino houses of the Ilonggo sugar barons and elite families during the Spanish regime.
• Palacio del Arzobispo, The official residence of the Archbishop of Jaro. It is located southwest of the Jaro Cathedral and of the Jaro Plaza.
• Jaro Town Hall
• Casa Mariquit is the Ancestral House of Dona Mariquit Lopez, the matriarch of the Lopez Clan of ABS CBN. It also serves as a museum of the late Vice President Fernando Lopez, the husband of Dona Mariguit and the partriarch of the Lopez Clan.
• Villa Lizares/Angelicum School Iloilo It was once the mansion and villa of the Lizares Family. The Lizares mansion 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). The Angelicum is a popular landmark visited by local folks every Christmas because of the display of Christmas lights that decorate the Lizares Mansion – its oldest building being the main feature of the panoramic view of the school.
• (Rose Memorial Auditorium) of Central Philippine University is one of the largest theaters outside Manila, has been a famous venue for local and international various types of concerts in Iloilo.
• Central Philippine University, founded in 1905: The first Protestant and American higher education institution in Western Visayas, which was founded by the Baptist missionary, Rev. William Orison Valentine. It was founded in 1905 as a two separate schools: an elementary school for poor boys which eventually opened up a high school in 1920 and a bible school to train ministers and other Christian workers. It converted into a college in 1923 and attained university status in 1953. Central is the first Baptist founded and second American university in Asia. The university has pioneered and established the first nursing school in the country* the first and oldest organized student government in Asia (still in continuous operation), the Central Philippine University Republic (CPU Republic) and the oldest student publication in the country, The Central Echo* among others. The university has been declared as a cultural property by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and is the only university in Asia declared as a tourist site by a local government.^[82] The university is host to the Henry Luce III Library, the largest library in Western Visayas. Central Philippine University is a famous landmark and is visited by locals and tourists every December because of the display of Christmas lights, which the university hosts annually.
• Nanak Darbar Indian Sikh Temple, Iloilo is an Indian Sikh/Hindu temple at the Mandurriao district.^[83]
• Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple
• Iloilo Pioneer Mosque

Iloilo City with its International Airport can be your jump off point to historical, cultural and natural tourist destinations outside the city proper.

Notable people

Twin towns – Sister cities

• Bilbao, Spain
• Dededo, Guam
• Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• Qingdao, Shandong, China
• Stockton, California, USA
• Yulin, Guangxi, China
• Batangas City, Philippines
• Bacolod, Philippines
• Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
• Makati, Philippines
• Marikina, Philippines
• Quezon City, Philippines
• Paranaque City, Philippines
• Naga City, Philippines
• Koronadal City, Philippines
• Tacurong City, Philippines
• Tirana, Albania

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iloilo City.

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

	San Miguel	Pavia	Leganes
	Oton		Iloilo Strait / Buenavista, Guimaras
	Iloilo City
	Panay Gulf	Iloilo Strait Jordan, Guimaras

Articles Related to Iloilo City Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Iloilo Iloilo Leganes Oton Pavia San Miguel Santa Barbara Cabatuan Guimaras Buenavista Jordan Nueva Valencia San Lorenzo Sibunag Metropolitan Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council Province of Iloilo Iloilo (capital) Municipalities Ajuy Alimodian Anilao Badiangan Balasan Banate Barotac Nuevo Barotac Viejo Batad Bingawan Cabatuan Calinog Carles Concepcion Dingle Dueñas Dumangas Estancia Guimbal Igbaras Janiuay Lambunao Leganes Lemery Leon Maasin Miagao Mina New Lucena Oton Pavia Pototan San Dionisio San Enrique San Joaquin San Miguel San Rafael Santa Barbara Sara Tigbauan Tubungan Zarraga Component city Passi Highly urbanized city Iloilo (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under the province of Iloilo by the National Statistics Office) Western Visayas (Region VI) Regional Center Iloilo City Provinces Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occidental Metropolitan Areas Metro Bacolod Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Highly Urbanized Cities Bacolod Iloilo City Component Cities Bago Cadiz Escalante Himamaylan Kabankalan La Carlota Passi Roxas Sagay San Carlos Silay Sipalay Talisay Victorias Provincial Capitals Bacolod Iloilo City Jordan Kalibo Roxas San Jose de Buenavista Municipalities Ajuy Alimodian Altavas Anilao Anini-y Badiangan Balasan Balete Banate Banga Barbaza Barotac Nuevo Barotac Viejo Batad Batan Belison Binalbagan Bingawan Buenavista Bugasong Buruanga Cabatuan Calatrava Calinog Caluya Candoni Carles Cauayan Concepcion Cuartero Culasi Dao Dingle Dueñas Dumalag Dumangas Dumarao Enrique B. Magalona Estancia Guimbal Hamtic Hinigaran Hinobaan Ibajay Igbaras Ilog Ivisan Isabela Jamindan Janiuay Jordan Kalibo La Castellana Lambunao Lauaan Leganes Lemery Leon Lezo Libacao Libertad Maasin Maayon Madalag Makato Malay Malinao Mambusao Manapla Miag-ao Mina Moises Padilla Murcia Nabas New Lucena New Washington Nueva Valencia Numancia Oton Panay Pandan Panitan Patnongon Pavia Pilar Pontevedra (Capiz) Pontevedra (Negros Occidental) Pototan President Roxas Pulupandan Salvador Benedicto San Dionisio San Enrique (Iloilo) San Enrique (Negros Occidental) San Joaquin San Jose de Buenavista San Lorenzo San Miguel San Rafael San Remigio Santa Barbara Sapian Sara Sebaste Sibalom Sibunag Sigma Tangalan Tapaz Tibiao Tigbauan Tobias Fornier Toboso Tubungan Valderrama Valladolid Zarraga Visayas, Republic of the Philippines Cities of the Philippines Highly Urbanized Cities Angeles Bacolod Baguio Butuan Cagayan de Oro Caloocan Cebu Davao General Santos Iligan Iloilo Lapu-Lapu Las Piñas Lucena Makati Malabon Mandaluyong Mandaue Manila Marikina Muntinlupa Navotas Olongapo Parañaque Pasay Pasig Puerto Princesa Quezon City San Juan Tacloban Taguig Valenzuela Zamboanga Independent Component Cities Cotabato Dagupan Naga Ormoc Santiago Component Cities Alaminos Antipolo Bacoor Bago Bais Balanga Batac Batangas Bayawan Baybay Bayugan Biñan Bislig Bogo Borongan Cabadbaran Cabanatuan Cabuyao Cadiz Calamba Calapan Calbayog Candon Canlaon Carcar Catbalogan Cauayan Cavite Danao Dapitan Dasmariñas Digos Dipolog Dumaguete El Salvador Escalante Gapan Gingoog Guihulngan Himamaylan Ilagan Imus Iriga Isabela Kabankalan Kidapawan Koronadal La Carlota Lamitan Laoag Legazpi Ligao Lipa Maasin Mabalacat Malaybalay Malolos Marawi Masbate Mati Meycauayan Muñoz Naga, Cebu Oroquieta Ozamiz Pagadian Palayan Panabo Passi Roxas Sagay Samal San Carlos, Negros Occidental San Carlos, Pangasinan San Fernando, La Union San Fernando, Pampanga San Jose San Jose del Monte San Pablo San Pedro Santa Rosa Silay Sipalay Sorsogon Surigao Tabaco Tabuk Tacurong Tagaytay Tagbilaran Tagum Talisay, Cebu Talisay, Negros Occidental Tanauan Tandag Tangub Tanjay Tarlac Tayabas Toledo Trece Martires Tuguegarao Urdaneta Valencia Victorias Vigan Provincial capital cities and municipalities of the Philippines   Luzon Abra: Bangued Albay: Legazpi Apayao: Kabugao / Luna1 Aurora: Baler Bataan: Balanga Batanes: Basco Batangas: Batangas Benguet: La Trinidad Bulacan: Malolos Cagayan: Tuguegarao Camarines Norte: Daet Camarines Sur: Pili Catanduanes: Virac Cavite: Imus / Trece Martires1 Ifugao: Lagawe Ilocos Norte: Laoag Ilocos Sur: Vigan Isabela: Ilagan Kalinga: Tabuk La Union: San Fernando Laguna: Santa Cruz Marinduque: Boac Masbate: Masbate Mountain Province: Bontoc Nueva Ecija: Palayan Nueva Vizcaya: Bayombong Occidental Mindoro: Mamburao Oriental Mindoro: Calapan Palawan: Puerto Princesa Pampanga: San Fernando Pangasinan: Lingayen Quezon: Lucena Quirino: Cabarroguis Rizal: Pasig / Antipolo1 Romblon: Romblon Sorsogon: Sorsogon Tarlac: Tarlac Zambales: Iba   Visayas Aklan: Kalibo Antique: San Jose Biliran: Naval Bohol: Tagbilaran Capiz: Roxas Cebu: Cebu Eastern Samar: Borongan Guimaras: Jordan Iloilo: Iloilo Leyte: Tacloban Negros Occidental: Bacolod Negros Oriental: Dumaguete Northern Samar: Catarman Samar: Catbalogan Siquijor: Siquijor Southern Leyte: Maasin   Mindanao Agusan del Norte: Cabadbaran Agusan del Sur: Prosperidad Basilan: Isabela Bukidnon: Malaybalay Camiguin: Mambajao Compostela Valley: Nabunturan Cotabato: Kidapawan Davao del Norte: Tagum Davao del Sur: Digos Davao Occidental: Malita Davao Oriental: Mati Dinagat Islands: San Jose Lanao del Norte: Tubod Lanao del Sur: Marawi Maguindanao: Shariff Aguak Misamis Occidental: Oroquieta Misamis Oriental: Cagayan de Oro Sarangani: Alabel South Cotabato: Koronadal Sultan Kudarat: Isulan Sulu: Jolo Surigao del Norte: Surigao Surigao del Sur: Tandag Tawi-Tawi: Panglima Sugala / Bongao1 Zamboanga del Norte: Dipolog Zamboanga del Sur: Pagadian Zamboanga Sibugay: Ipil 1 de facto provincial capital