Iloilo City is a highly urbanised city, the capital of the eponymous province on the island of Panay and the centre of the Western Visayas region. In 2007, the city's population was 418 thousand people. It is washed by the Iloilo Strait from the east and south.
The history of Iloilo begins during the Spanish colonisation, when several Spanish colonisation when several small fishing settlements were consolidated into one town, which became the second most important city after 1855, became the colony's second most important port due to the transshipment of sugar from ships coming from the nearby island of Negros. Later, the Queen Regent of Spain gave Iloilo the title of "most loyal and noble city". At the beginning of the 20th century, only the capital Manila and Iloilo had shops selling luxury items from around the world. An agricultural experimental station was opened in the La Paz area in 1888, a school of arts and crafts was opened in 1891, and telephone communications were established in 1894.
Iloilo's layout and architecture bear features of both Spanish Spanish colonial heritage as well as the American period in the country's history. Since the city was originally an amalgamation of independent settlements, today each neighbourhood has its own central square surrounded by administrative buildings and churches. In 1930, the architect Juan Arellano drew up a plan for Iloilo, which was inspired by Ebenezer Howard's idea of a "garden city".
One of the main attractions of Iloilo is the ancient Jaro Cathedral, dedicated to St Elizabeth of Hungary. During the annual celebration in honour of the saint, the church attracts several thousand of the faithful. The icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Candles is also kept here - this is the only icon in the Philippines consecrated personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Iloilo in 1981. Interestingly, the Jaro Bell Tower is one of the few in the country that stands apart from the church. It was built by the Spanish and served as a watchtower to prevent Muslim attacks from the island of Mindanao. During the 1948 earthquake, the bell tower collapsed, but was restored in the mid-1990s.
Other famous churches in Iloilo are the Molo Church, built in the 19th century neo-Gothic style, and the Jaro Evangelical Church, the first Baptist church in the Philippines. Molo Church is also known as the "Church of the Women", because its pillars are adorned with statues of female saints.
Jaro District is one of the oldest parts of Iloilo. Here you can see the mansions of the "sugar barons" and many of the city's noble families, built in the Spanish colonial style. Another "collection" of architectural treasures is Calle Real in the business centre of the city. The houses on it, built during the Commonwealth period, have been declared Iloilo's national heritage.
An interesting tourist attraction is Muelle Loni, a river port, named in honour of British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered to be the "father" of the sugar industry on the islands of Panay and Negros. Protected from typhoons by the island of Guimaras, Muelle Loni is recognised as one of the safest harbours in the country. For the international market, the port was opened in 1855.
Six kilometres south of Iloilo lies La Villa Rica de Arevalo, a town of flowers and fireworks. It houses the third oldest image of St Niño in the Philippines and a replica of the Spanish crown.
