Iloilo City

	Iloilo City ; Lungsod ng Iloilo ; Ciudad sang Iloilo
Location of Iloilo City in the Iloilo Province
Basic data
Region :	Western Visayas
Province :	Iloilo
Barangays :	180
PSGC :	063022000
Income class :	1st income bracket
Households :	72,218 May 1, 2000 census
Population :	447.992 August 1, 2015 census
Population density :	7993 inhabitants per km²
Area :	56.05 km²
Coordinates :	10 ° 42 ' N , 122 ° 34' E Coordinates: 10 ° 42 ' N , 122 ° 34' E
Postal code :	5000
Area code :	+63 33
Mayor :	Jed Patrick E. Mabilog
Website:	www.iloilocity.gov.ph
Geographical location in the Philippines
	Iloilo City
	Iloilo City

Iloilo City ( Hiligaynon : Ciudad sang Iloilo ; Filipino : Lungsod ng Iloilo ) is the capital of the Philippine province of Iloilo . It is located on the south coast of Panay Island in the western part of the Visayas archipelago .

The city, located on the river of the same name, has 447,992 inhabitants (August 1, 2015 census) on an area of around 56 km² and consists of the seven districts: Iloilo City Proper , Jaro , Molo , Mandurriao , La Paz , Lapuz and Arevalo . Politically, it is further subdivided into around 180 barangays or districts. Iloilo City is often referred to as the "Heart of the Philippines" or "Princess of the South". The metropolitan area of Metro Iloilo (263,150 km²; 510,230 inhabitants) is one of the most densely populated cities in the Philippines. Iloilo City is also a major cultural center.

history

Calle Real (2005)

In 1600 the small port city was founded by the Spanish as La Punta . Its current name is derived from the original name of the province of Irong-Irong , which can be translated from Old Malay as "nose shape" and refers to the nose-shaped land area of the province. Historical finds such as porcelain and jewelery from the Middle Ages indicate that trade with China , India and Siam took place here centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards.

La Punta served as a port facility for the then city of Jaro . Later the Spanish and Chinese settled here. In the 17th century the city was taken over by Dutch conquerors until they were later driven out of the country. From 1800 trade and shipbuilding grew at a rapid pace, so that the city grew into a metropolis, it was regarded as the second most important port in the Philippines.

On March 31, 1855, the port opened for international trade and agricultural products such as sugar cane and coconuts as well as local textiles were exported all over the world (especially to Australia and Hong Kong ). The port has attracted many merchant fleets from Japan and Europe . As a result, diplomatic missions from foreign countries such as Great Britain , Portugal , China and Norway opened their consulates here. The city was soon known as "the richest city in the country". Emigrants and traders from Scotland , Ireland , India and China were drawn here, as well as wealthy descendants of Spaniards from Manila. Around this time, the opening of the first golf course (1860) in Southeast Asia and the construction of the first railway line outside of Luzon followed. Several steel bridges and a well-developed road network have been built for the transport of goods throughout the province. In 1893 the city was re-established as Municipio de Iloilo . The King of Spain named the city La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo .

After the Philippine Revolution , Iloilo was named the capital of the short-lived Estado Federal de las Visayas (Free State of the Visayas), about a year before the first Philippine Republic was proclaimed.

Asia's oldest private airline, Iloilo-Negros Air Express Co. and the first Filipino-operated shipping company, Negros Navigation , were established by the Lopez family in 1933 , almost sixteen years before the commercial Philippine Airlines was founded . On August 25, 1937, the city was created by merging the two neighboring cities Jaro and Iloilo and their surrounding municipalities of Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Arevalo into one metropolis, officially called Iloilo City. When Japanese occupation troops took over the city in World War II, many historical monuments and the well-developed infrastructure were destroyed. After the Second World War, the city lost its economic and industrial importance and the port facility was only used as a local transport port. It was not until the 1990s that the city saw a renewed upswing.

Culture

Museo Iloilo (August 2013)

Hiligaynon , or better known as Ilonggo, is the most widely spoken language. Kinaray-a , Tagalog , Mandarin, and English are also widely understood.

Every year on January 18, the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Day and at the end of the month the Dinagyang Festival is celebrated in the city. On February 2nd, Jaro celebrates the festival of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria . The Paraw Regatta Festival will follow in Arevalo at the end of February. Here local sailing boats are artistically painted and sailed as far as Guimaras.

The urban population consists mainly of Ilonggos and migrants from all over the western Visayas as well as descendants of migrant workers from Luzon and Mindanao . Several descendants of Spanish mestizos , Filipino Chinese , Indians, and Western retirees live in the city .

Special sights of the city are the Spanish colonial buildings made of coral and marble stones as well as the old churches from the Baroque period in Molo, La Paz and Jaro. The Arroyo Fountain in front of the provincial capitol and the bell tower of Jaro Plaza are major landmarks of the city. Important monuments are also the several hundred year old Fort San Pedro , the Plaza Libertad and the Museo Iloilo . The Bulabog Putian National Park is about 40 km north of the city.

Economy & Infrastructure

Iloilo Rush Hour (June 2006)

The metropolitan area of Iloilo City is considered to be the economic center of all of Panay. A large part of the regional government authorities are located here, as well as the headquarters of numerous companies, industrial companies, offices, corporations and banks. The main streets are General Luna St. , Iznart St. and JM Basa St. (Calle Real) in the city center as well as MH del Pilar St. in Molo and Lopez Jaena St. in La Paz and Jaro. The old port facility of the city is still considered an important entry and exit point for agricultural products ( rice , sugar , coconut , mango and fish ) from Panay, Guimaras and Negros to Luzon and Cebu.

In 1995 an economic urban expansion was planned with the surrounding municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and the island of Guimaras, which became known as "Metro Iloilo-Guimaras". It was planned to build an international airport outside the city, a modern bridge for the neighboring island of Guimaras , the modernization of the old commercial port for international shipping and new industrial centers outside the city center. The plan also included the revitalization of the old railway line that will connect Iloilo with Passi City and Roxas City . An expansion of the motorway is also currently planned.

Many industrial plants are located in Jaro. New commercial centers also largely exist in Mandurriao. Particularly noteworthy is Benigno Aquino Ave. (diversion road) , where many new shops have settled. The Smallville Business Complex and Iloilo Esplanade are particularly well known . In June 2007 the newly built New Iloilo International Airport opened outside the city, as well as the reconstruction and modernization of the old port facility. The infrastructure, especially the city bridges and the road network, have been greatly improved. It has hotels and resorts for the increasing tourism in the city.

Business associations

Iloilo Business Club
Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc.
Rotary Club of Iloilo, Inc.
Iloilo Integrated Lions Club, Inc.
Zonta Club Iloilo, Inc.
Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council
Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) - Iloilo

Exhibition / event locations

Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), under construction (second building from left)

Iloilo International Convention Center
Iloilo Freedom Grandstand
Iloilo Sports Complex
Museo Iloilo
Iloilo Provincial Capitol Amphitheater
Sarabia Manor Hotel & Convention Center
CPU Rose Memorial Auditorium
UPV auditorium
USA auditorium
USA high school

Public facilities

Power supply:

Panay Electric Co.

Water supply:

Metro Iloilo Water District

City cleaning:

JS Layson & Co., Inc.

Shopping centers:

SM City Iloilo
Robinsons Place Iloilo
Gaisano City Iloilo
Gaisano Guanco
The atrium
Marymart Mall
Amigo Plaza
Plazuela de Iloilo
Jaro Town Square
SM Delgado
SM Jaro

media

Regional newspapers:

Panay News - The Biggest Daily in the Visayas
The News Today
Hublas - The Biggest Hiligaynon Daily in the Country
Sun.Star Iloilo
The Daily Guardian
The No.1 Daily Informer
Visayan headlines

Journals / Magazines:

Hiligaynon
Yuhum
CREAM

Broadcasting station:

Bombo Radyo Philippines
Aksyon Radyo
RMN Iloilo
MOR (My Only Radio) for life!
Star FM
Campus radio

structure

Iloilo City consists of seven boroughs:

education

Iloilo City is the regional center for education and research in the western part of the Visayas. The city is also known nationwide as an intellectual center for its relatively high level of education. It now owns 30 private elementary schools and universities as well as seven universities (2 state, 5 private).