Iloilo City Proper

District of Iloilo City, Philippines

This article is about the district within Iloilo City. For the independent capital city of Iloilo, see Iloilo City. For other uses, see Iloilo (disambiguation).

Administrative and central business district in Western Visayas, Philippines

Iloilo City Proper

La Punta (Spanish)

Downtown Iloílo

Administrative and central business district

From top, left to right: Aerial view; Eusebio Villanueva Building; San Jose Church; Old Iloilo City Hall; Museum of Philippine Economic History; Iloilo Customs House; Casa Real de Iloilo

Nickname(s):

Old Iloilo, Heart of Iloilo

Motto(s):

La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad
(The Most Loyal and Noble City)

Location within Iloilo City

Iloilo City Proper

Location in the Philippines

Show map of Visayas, Philippines

Iloilo City Proper

Iloilo City Proper (Philippines)

Show map of Philippines

Coordinates: 10°41′42.7194″N 122°33′52.92″E﻿ / ﻿10.695199833°N 122.5647000°E﻿ / 10.695199833; 122.5647000
Country|  Philippines
Region| Western Visayas (Region VI)
Province| Iloilo (geographically only)
City| Iloilo City
Congressional District| Lone district of Iloilo City
Established| 1602
Cityhood| October 5, 1889
Reincorporated  (as district)| July 16, 1937
Barangays| 45 (see Barangays)
Area

• Total

| 3.75 km2 (1.45 sq mi)
Population

(2020 census)

• Total

| 46,350
• Density| 12,360/km2 (32,000/sq mi)
Demonym| Ilonggo
Time zone| UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
ZIP code|

5000

Area code| 33
Patron saint| Santo Niño (district patronal saint)
Feast day| Fourth Sunday of January in honor of Señor Santo Niño or Holy Child Jesus (coincides with Dinagyang Festival)
Native languages| Hiligaynon
Website| www.iloilocity.gov.ph

Iloilo City Proper, also known as Downtown Iloilo or simply Iloilo among locals, is an administrative district in Iloilo City, Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. It serves as the civic center of the city and province of Iloilo, hosting the seat of city and provincial governments, as well as other local, provincial, and regional government offices. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 46,350 people.[1][2]

Before its consolidation with the surrounding municipalities, Iloilo City Proper was the old town and the original city of Iloilo. Established in 1602, it gained cityhood status on October 5, 1889 through a royal decree, and was honored with the title "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" (The Most Loyal and Noble City). In 1898, it served as the last capital of the Spanish Empire in Asia and the Pacific.

Iloilo City Proper is known for its well-preserved 19th and 20th-century architecture, particularly along J.M. Basa Street, popularly referred to as Calle Real. It remains one of the major business districts of the city, alongside the rapidly developing district of Mandurriao.

## Etymology

[edit]

The name "Iloilo" is derived from the older name "Irong-irong" (Philippine Spanish: Ilong̃-ílong̃) meaning "nose-like", referring to the promontory between two rivers (Iloilo and Batiano) where the Fort San Pedro and the 17th-century Spanish port in the district were located.[3][4][5][6] Over time, the name influenced the consolidated greater city of Iloilo, as well as the entire province.[7]

## History

[edit]

See also: Iloilo_City § History

### Early history

[edit]

Images from the Boxer Codex (c. 1595), illustrating ancient Visayans

Little is known about the history of the region prior to the arrival of the Spanish. However, numerous legends exist about the origins of the Hiligaynon people. One of the most famous is the Maragtas epic by Pedro Monteclaro, first published in 1907. It tells the story of ten datus and their families, led by Datu Puti, who fled the "kingdom of Borneo" to escape the oppressive rule of Sultan Makatunaw. They arrived in Panay and negotiated the purchase of the lowlands from King Marikudo of the Ati people. The settlers established themselves at the mouth of the Iloilo River, naming the area Irong-irong, under the leadership of Datu Paiburong.[8][9]

Once widely accepted and included in school textbooks, the Maragtas (along with the Code of Kalantiaw) is now regarded as a 20th-century fabrication. Historian William Henry Scott’s 1968 critique debunked its authenticity, a view supported by experts like Gregorio Zaide and Teodoro Agoncillo.[10] A 2019 thesis by Talaguit highlights an earlier version of the story recorded by Augustinian Friar Rev. Fr. Tomas Santaren in 1902. Santaren’s account, based on manuscripts he obtained in Iloilo after 1858, corroborates much of Monteclaro’s narrative. However, these manuscripts, written in romanized Hiligaynon during the colonial era, likely reflect oral folklore rather than pre-colonial history. While the Maragtas may contain elements of local folk traditions, it is not considered an authentic historical document but rather a blend of myth and invention.[11][12]

### Colonial period

[edit]

Aerial view of Iloilo City Proper, circa early 1900s.

In 1602, Spanish and Chinese residents from Jaro and Molo, respectively, expanded their settlements to the nearby area of Irong-Irong, naming it La Punta. By 1700, due to continuous attacks by Moro pirates and Dutch forces, the Spanish transferred their capital and seat of power from La Villa Rica de Arevalo to La Punta, which later became known as Iloilo.

The area emerged into a significant trading port in the 19th century. Its strategic location and economic importance attracted leading countries like China, Norway, and the United Kingdom to establish consulates in the city. This was especially evident after Iloilo was declared an international port in the 1850s, which spurred a surge in commercial activity. The city saw rapid development, with the construction of infrastructure, recreational facilities, educational institutions, banks, and foreign consulates.

On October 5, 1889, due to its economic prominence as the second most important port in the Philippines after Manila,[13] Iloilo was elevated from a town to a city by royal decree.[14][15] The city government was formally established in 1890.

Iloilo’s loyalty to Spain earned it the perpetual title of 'La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad' (Most Loyal and Noble City), granted by Queen Regent Maria Christina on March 1, 1898. Over time, this title evolved into the city’s nickname, the 'Queen City of the South', being the second most important Spanish port after Manila and its location in the southern part of the archipelago.

On December 25, 1898, the Spanish government surrendered to Ilonggo revolutionaries led by General Martin Delgado at Plaza Alfonso XII (now Plaza Libertad). The event marked the first raising of the Philippine flag on the island of Panay, making Iloilo its last Spanish colonial center in Asia and the Pacific.[16]

Plazoleta Gay and Ledesma Street, 1920s

The city was re-chartered by the American government on July 16, 1937, incorporating the towns of Molo, Arevalo, Mandurriao, and La Paz into its jurisdiction. Later, on January 7, 1941, the city of Jaro was also integrated into greater Iloilo City.

### Late 20th and early 21st centuries

[edit]

On February 7, 1966, a fire devastated Iloilo City Proper, destroying nearly three-quarters of the area. The blaze lasted approximately 12 hours and resulted in ₱50 million worth of property damage (1966 value), making it the most destructive fire in the city's history.[17][18]

In the early 21st century, Iloilo City experienced a significant economic boom. While much of the new major developments occurred outside Iloilo City Proper, the district remains the economic and political center of both the city and the entire province.

## Geography

[edit]

Iloilo City Proper sits on the southeastern tip of Panay Island, facing the Iloilo Strait and Guimaras. It is bordered by Molo to the west, and separated from Mandurriao to the northwest, La Paz to the north, and Lapuz to the northeast by the Iloilo River. Just across the strait are Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras.

Iloilo City Proper, along with parts of Molo and Arevalo, is surrounded by the Iloilo-Batiano river system, which formed an almost-island area or a river island that separated from the mainland of Panay in the southern part of Iloilo City.

### Barangays

[edit]

Main article: Districts_of_Iloilo_City § Barangays

Iloilo City Proper has the most number of barangays in Iloilo City, with a total of 45.

* Arsenal Aduana
* Baybay Tanza
* Bonifacio Tanza
* Concepcion-Montes
* Danao
* Delgado-Jalandoni-Bagumbayan
* Edganzon
* Flores
* General Hughes-Montes
* Gloria
* Hipodromo
* Inday
* Jalandoni-Wilson
* Kahirupan
* Kauswagan
* Legaspi dela Rama
* Liberation
* Mabolo-Delgado
* Magsaysay
* Malipayon-Delgado
* Maria Clara
* Monica Blumentritt
* Muelle Loney-Montes
* Nonoy
* Ortiz
* Osmeña
* President Roxas
* Rima-Rizal
* Rizal Estanzuela
* Rizal Ibarra
* Rizal Palapala I
* Rizal Palapala II
* Roxas Village
* Sampaguita
* San Agustin
* San Felix
* San Jose
* Santo Rosario-Duran
* Tanza-Esperanza
* Timawa Tanza I
* Timawa Tanza II
* Veterans Village
* Villa Anita
* Yulo-Arroyo
* Zamora-Melliza

## Economy

[edit]

Calle Real, the center of business in old Iloilo.

Iloilo City Proper has long been the hub for trade, commerce, banking, finance, education, retail trading, real estate, and industry in Iloilo since its establishment in the early 17th century. As the original territory of the city, it has maintained its position as the economic center of Iloilo. The district has one of the highest concentrations of banks and financial institutions in the country.[19] Major streets like Calle Real, Iznart Street, General Luna Street, and Ledesma Street are major thoroughfares home to numerous service and commercial establishments.

However, the district has faced space limitations for further growth due to its dense urban development. In recent years, proposals have emerged for island-type reclamation along the southern shores of the City Proper. The expansion plan aims to create additional commercial areas, addressing the challenge of limited space and ensuring the district’s continued economic growth. The proposal comes as modern developments have increasingly concentrated in other districts, particularly Mandurriao, over the past two decades.

## Government

[edit]

Iloilo City Hall grounds.

Iloilo City Proper serves as the government center for both the city of Iloilo and the province of Iloilo. It houses major government buildings, including the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and the Iloilo City Hall. Numerous other government agencies and offices are also located within the district, making it the administrative center of the region.

## Education

[edit]

Iloilo City Proper is home to half of the universities in Iloilo City. Some of the notable universities and schools in the district are the following:

University of the Philippines Visayas – Iloilo City campus's oblation and main hall.

Higher education institutions:

* University of the Philippines Visayas – founded in 1947.
* University of San Agustin – the first university in Western Visayas, founded in 1904.
* University of Iloilo – founded in 1947.
* St. Paul University Iloilo – founded in 1946.
* Hua Siong College of Iloilo – founded in 1912.
* Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus – founded in 1936.
* Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus – founded in 1917.
* Cabalum Western College – founded in 1945.

Basic educational institutions:

* Assumption Iloilo
* Sun Yat Sen High School
* Ateneo de Iloilo – Santa Maria Catholic School
* Iloilo Central Elementary School
* SPED Integrated School for Exceptional Children
* Iloilo American Memorial School
* Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School – Kahirupan
* Rizal Elementary School – Bonifacio Tanza
* I. Arroyo Elementary School
* San Jose Elementary School – Rizal Street
* Rizal Elementary School
* Center for West Visayan Studies
* A. Montes Elementary School I
* A.Montes Elementary School 2
* Fort San Pedro National High School

## Transportation

[edit]

### Public transport

[edit]

Jeepneys roaming in Calle Real, Iloilo City Proper.

The primary modes of public transportation in Iloilo City Proper are passenger jeepneys and metered taxis. The transportation routes in Iloilo City are mostly focused on the district, which is the center of commerce in the city.

In contrast to President Rodrigo Duterte's administration's plan to phase out old, dilapidated jeepneys as the primary mode of mass public transportation in the Philippines, the city has recently begun to adopt mini-buses like modern PUJs or modern Jeepneys that are now plying in the city, including Iloilo City Proper.[20][21]

### Cycling

[edit]

Iloilo City has been hailed as the "Bike Capital of the Philippines." There are also several painted bicycle lanes in Iloilo City Proper that can be found on its main roads, including General Luna Street, Delgado Street, Mabini Street, Infante Street, and the esplanade along Muelle Loney Street.[22]

### Railway

[edit]

Main article: Panay Railways

From 1907 to the 1980s, Panay Railways operated a railroad from Roxas City to the port area of Iloilo City Proper.[23] In 2022, Panay Railways announced its opening to foreign ownership to reconstruct its former train lines, which will reconnect the district and city to other major cities in Panay, including Caticlan in Malay, Aklan.[24]

### Airport and seaport

[edit]

Main articles: Iloilo International Airport and Port of Iloilo

Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal in Parola

The Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, is the primary airport serving the district of Iloilo City Proper, as well as the whole Metro Iloilo–Guimaras. It serves domestic air routes to Manila, Clark, Cebu, Cuyo Island, Puerto Princesa, Sipalay, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Davao City. It is also served by international routes to and from Singapore and Hong Kong.[25]

The Port of Iloilo, which is located near Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City Proper, serves domestic shipping and cargo routes to/from Manila, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Davao, and General Santos. The Iloilo International Cargo Port, in the adjacent Lapuz district, is a port of call for foreign cargo vessels.

The Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal, which is located in Parola, serves ferry routes to Jordan and Buenavista in Guimaras, and vice versa.

## Gallery

[edit]

* San José de Placer Church, the first ever church in the city of Iloilo, and was built in 1607.

* Plaza Libertad, a historic plaza where the flag of the first Philippine Republic was raised.

* Calle Real, a historical street, contains several fine neoclassical, beaux-arts, and art-deco buildings.

* Eusebio Villanueva Building, once known as the International Hotel, located along Calle Real.

* Iloilo Central Market, an art-deco public market, built during the early 20th century.

* Museo Iloilo, a museum that houses the city and province of Iloilo's cultural heritage.

* Lin-ay sang Iloilo (Lady of Iloilo), an 18-foot bronze statue on top of Iloilo City Hall's dome.

* Aduana de Iloilo (Iloilo Customs House), one of the three customs houses in the Philippines.

* Edificio de Elizalde y Cia, a hundred-year-old structure that now houses the Museum of Philippine Economic History.

## See also

[edit]

* Calle Real
* Dinagyang Festival
* Iloilo City

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Iloilo...My City...My Pride". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
2. ^ 2021–2029 Iloilo City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) Volume 1
3. ^ de Mentrida, Alonso (1841). Diccionario De La Lengua Bisaya, Hiligueina Y Haraya de la isla de Panay. En La Imprenta De D. Manuel Y De D. Felis Dayot. pp. 202–203.
4. ^ Doeppers, Daniel F. (2017). "The Development of Philippine Cities Before 1900". In Frost, Lionel (ed.). Urbanization and the Pacific World, 1500–1900. Lands, Peoples, and History of the Pacific, 1500–1900. Vol. 15\. Routledge. ISBN 9781351876346.
5. ^ Law, Gwillim (2015). Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 289\. ISBN 9781476604473.
6. ^ Romuáldez, Norberto (1908). A Bisayan Grammar and Notes on Bisayan Rhetoric and Poetics and Filipino Dialectology. Tacloban: Pag Pahayag Co.
7. ^ "Iloilo...My City...My Pride". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
8. ^ Scott, William Henry (1968). Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine Histor. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Press. ISBN 978-9711002275.
9. ^ Duka, Cecilio D. (2008). Struggle for Freedom' 2008 Ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. pp. 21–23\. ISBN 9789712350450.
10. ^ Duka, Cecilio D. (2008). Struggle for Freedom' 2008 Ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. pp. 21–23\. ISBN 9789712350450.
11. ^ Talaguit, Christian Jeo N. (2019). Mga Maragtas ng Panay: Comparative Analysis of Documents about the Bornean Settlement Tradition (PDF) (Thesis). De La Salle University.[permanent dead link]
12. ^ Tomas Santaren, Bisayan Accounts of Early Bornean Settlements in the Philippines, trans by Enriqueta Fox, (Chicago: University of Chicago, Philippine Studies Program, 1954), ii.
13. ^ Funtecha, Henry (2000). "The Urbanization of the Town of Iloilo, 1865–1900". Selected Papers on Cities in Philippine History. Philippine National Historical Society: 89–108.
14. ^ The actual words of the Royal Decree says: "A propuesta del Ministro de Ultramar, y teniendo en cuenta el creciente desarrollo que en la industria y el commercio ha alcanzado la cabecera de la provincia de Ilo-Ilo, la más importante de las islas de Filipinas, despues de la de Manila; En nombre de mi Augusto Hijo el Rey D. Alfonso XIII, y como Reina Regente del Reino, Vengo en conceder el titulo de la Ciudad á la cebecera de Ilo-Ilo, en dichas islas. Dado en San Sebastian á cinco de Octubre de mil ochocientos ochenta y nueve. Maria Cristina" Cf. Decreto Real de la Reina Regente Maria Cristina (5 Octubre 1889) en Gazeta de Madrid, N. 298, 25 Octubre 1889, p. 238.
15. ^ "TIF file".
16. ^ John, Foreman, The Philippine Islands: a political, geographical, ethnographical, social and commercial history of the Philippine Archipelago, embracing the whole period of Spanish rule, with an account of the succeeding American insular government, New York: 1907, C. Scribner's Sons, p. 478.
17. ^ Albay, Rhick Lars Vladimer (October 13, 2018). "Unwavering Federation Fire". Panay News. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
18. ^ Tayona, Glenda (January 30, 2023). "MORNING INFERNO: Fire razes nearly 300 Molo houses; Over 1,000 residents displaced". Panay News. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
19. ^ Nicolas, Jino (January 23, 2018). "The beacon of Western Visayas". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
20. ^ Modern jeepneys to ply 3 new Iloilo routes. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
21. ^ 'Modernized' jeeps start plying Iloilo routes. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
22. ^ Tour on two wheels: Seeing Iloilo City's historic sights by bike. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
23. ^ "Panay Railways". www.thenewstoday.info. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
24. ^ Guardian, Daily (March 23, 2022). "Panay Railways chief open to foreign ownership to rehab defunct rail system". Daily Guardian. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
25. ^ "Philippines' Iloilo airport readies for int'l flights". Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to City Proper, Iloilo City.

* Iloilo City Government Official Website
* Iloilo travel guide

* v
* t
* e

Iloilo City Proper

Downtown Iloilo

Buildings|

* Casa Real de Iloilo
* Celso Ledesma House
* Fort San Pedro (Iloilo)
* Iloilo Central Market
* Iloilo City Hall
* Iloilo Freedom Grandstand
* Iloilo Provincial Capitol
* Old Iloilo City Hall
* San Jose Church (Iloilo)
* SM Delgado
* Terranza Residences Iloilo

Calle Real|

* Elizalde Building
* Eusebio Villanueva Building
* Hoskyn's Department Store
* Iloilo Customs House

Squares and monuments|

* Arroyo Fountain
* Plaza Libertad
* Sunburst Park

Museums|

* Museo Iloilo
* Museum of Philippine Economic History
* Museum of Philippine Maritime History
* National Museum Western Visayas

Education|

* Assumption Iloilo
* Ateneo de Iloilo – Santa Maria Catholic School
* Cabalum Western College
* Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus
* Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus
* Hua Siong College of Iloilo
* St. Paul University Iloilo
* Sun Yat Sen High School
* University of Iloilo
* University of San Agustin
* University of the Philippines Visayas

Transportation|

* Forbes Bridge
* General Luna Street
* Iloilo Fish Port Complex
* Iznart Street
* J.M. Basa Street
* Muelle Loney Street
* Panay Railways
* Plazoleta Gay
* Port of Iloilo

Related|

* Dinagyang
* Kasadyahan
* Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Iloilo
* Santo Niño de Cebú

Italics denote buildings under construction or defunct.

* v
* t
* e

Iloilo City

La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloílo

Topics|

* History
* Metropolitan area
* People
* Media
* Districts
* Skyscrapers
* Nicknames

Districts|

* Arevalo
* City Proper
* Jaro
* La Paz
* Lapuz
* Mandurriao
* Molo

Geography|

* Iloilo River
* Batiano River
* Iloilo Strait
* Panay Gulf
* Ortiz
* Metro Iloilo-Guimaras
* Iloilo Province

Landmarks|

* Arroyo Fountain
* Calle Real
* Camiña Balay Nga Bato
* Casa Mariquit
* Casa Real de Iloilo
* CPU Church
* Iloilo Business Park
* Iloilo Central Market
* Iloilo Convention Center
* Iloilo Customs House
* Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art
* Iloilo River Esplanade
* Jaro Belfry
* Jaro Cathedral
* Lizares Mansion
* Lopez Heritage House
* Molo Church
* Molo Mansion
* Museo Iloilo
* Old Iloilo City Hall
* Old Jaro Municipal Hall
* Plaza Libertad
* San Jose Church

Education|

* Primary and secondary schools
* Universities and colleges
* Central Philippine University
* Iloilo Doctors' College
* Iloilo Science and Technology University
* John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
* St. Paul University Iloilo
* University of Iloilo
* University of San Agustin
* University of the Philippines Visayas
* West Visayas State University

Culture|

* Ilonggo language
* Ilonggo people
* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro
* Dinagyang
* Kasadyahan
* Paraw Regatta Festival
* Our Lady of the Candles
* Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Iloilo
* Santo Niño de Arévalo
* Lopez Jaena Day
* La Paz Batchoy
* Pancit Molo
* Mang Inasal
* Newspapers

Transportation|

* Airport
* Seaport
* Panay Railways

* Western Visayas
* Philippines
* Category

10°41′43″N 122°33′53″E﻿ / ﻿10.6952°N 122.5647°E﻿ / 10.6952; 122.5647
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