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Iloilo is located in the center of the
Philippine archipelago. Located 283 statute miles south of Manila, it is
the gateway to the flourishing region that is Western Visayas. The province
comprises the southeastern part of Panay Island. Iloilo City, capital of
the province is set in a graceful repose between Iloilo and Batiano rivers
forming the angle of a nose. Hence, its old name "Ilong-Ilong" which means
noselike. Iloilo was made provincial capital in 1637, into a city in 1890,
was reverted to a municipality status under the American regime in 1901
and was chartered in 1937.
Iloilo is composed of one city and 43 municipalities; divided into 6 congressional districts and has 1,720 barangays. Climate is pleasantly tropical with 2 pronounced seasons-the rainy season from June to September and dry season from October to May. Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) is the major dialect but 99.4% of the population understand and speak English. Agriculture is the principal industry with rice, sugar, mongo and fish as major products. Cottage industry includes pottery, ceramics, weaving woodcraft and other complementary crafts. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: 1. Plaza Libertad, Iloilo City; where the flag of the First Philippine Republic was raised in triumph after Spain surrendered Iloilo on December 25, 1898.2. La Villa De Arevalo, 6 kms. southwest of Iloilo city proper; 2nd capital of the Alcaldia of Panay; flower village of Iloilo City. 3. Jaro, 3 kms. from city proper; old colonial houses of sugar barons and Hispano-Filipino houses of the elite still stand; seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas. 4. Jaro Belfry, Jaro; ruined by 1948 earthquake ,but now restored. One of the few belfries in the country that stands apart from the church. 5. Guimbal Watchtowers, Guimbal; 29 kms. southwest of Iloilo city proper; called "bantayan", built to warn the people of pirates. 6. Miagao Church, Miag-ao; 40 kms. southwest of Iloilo city proper; built in 1786; declared as national landmark in 1973; in UNESCO's World Heritage List. 7. Sta. Barbara Church, Sta. Barbara; 16 kms. north of Iloilo city proper; neo-classical church where Gen Delgado convened the junta that raised the first cry of revolution against Spain; made of red brick and coral stones. 8. Sta. Barbara Golf Course, Sta. Barbara; 16 kms. north of Iloilo city proper; 18 holes, 37-hectare golf course built in 1907; oldest in the Philippines. 9. San Joaquin Church, San Joaquin; 53 kms. Southwest of Iloilo city proper; sports a bas-relief of historic battle between Christians and Moors of Morocco in Tetuan in 1859. 10. Tigbauan Church, Tigbauan; 22 kms southwest of Iloilo city proper; baroque facade; site of first Jesuit school for boys in the Philippines established in 1592. 11. Panay Liberation Marker, Tigbauan; 23 kms. Southwest of Iloilo city proper; commemorates American liberation of Panay from the Japanese in 1945. 12. Iloilo City downtown area - has buildings that date back during the Spanish and American colonial periods. 13. Muelle Loney, Iloilo City's waterfront named after Nicholas Loney, father of the Phil. Sugar Industry; opened to foreign trade in 1855. 14. Molo District, Iloilo City; known as Chinese quarters of Iloilo during Spanish times. 15. Japanese fortification, Cabatuan; built by Japanese as a lookout for enemies. 16. Guimbal Church, Guimbal; yellow sandstone church built by Fr. Campos 17. Janiuay Church, Janiuay; ruins of the beautiful church with bells made in 1871 and 1898. 18. Concrete Pillboxes, Janiuay, Iloilo; pillboxes built by Japanese during World War II. 19. Siwaragan River, San Joaquin, Iloilo; where according to legend the barter of Panay took place. 20. Cabatuan Church, Cabatuan; neo-classical church built in 1880s. 21. Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City; built by the Spaniards in the early 1600s and was attacked by the British, American and Japanese troops. 22. Molo Church, 3 kms. from Iloilo city proper; Gothic Rennaissance church made of coral rocks. 23. Jaro Cathedral, 3 kms. from Iloilo city proper, seat of Jaro Archbisphoric embracing Western Visayas. 24. Janiuay Cemetery, Janiuay; 32 kms. from Iloilo City; Hispano-Filipino cemetery built in 1875. 25. Pavia Church, Pavia; 13 kms. northwest of Iloilo City; red brick church of Byzantine style built by Spanish Agustinians during the middle of the Spanish era in the Philippines. 26. San Joaquin Cemetery, San Joaquin; 53 kms southwest of Iloilo City; built in 1892 of coral rock. |
