Rejane Sapico

History of Iloilo

The province of Iloilo is famously known as the Heart of the Philippines since it is located in the middle
of the archipelago. Its capital, Iloilo City, is also known as the City of Love, and Ilonggos are famous for
being soft-spoken and sweet. Iloilo City prides itself on having a vibrant cultural and artistic ecosystem.

The Dinagyang Festival a religious spectacle featuring dancers

with elaborate costumes and headdresses attracts tourists within and outside the Philippines who want
to experience the Ilonggo version of merrymaking. The architecture of the Iloilo Customs House is
neoclassical and similar to that of the Bureau of Customs Building in Manila, which is characterized by a
tall tower rising at the center of the building. In the American period in 1920s witnessed the
introduction of the working class districts (barrio obreros) to accommodate the low-income labor sector.
Barrio Obrero was established in Lapaz to the north of the Iloilo River’s mouth. During this time, Art
Nouveau and Neo-Colonial architecture also flourished in the city’s downtown. Typical designs were
arcaded ground floors set back in near straight alignments.Although Manila was the focus of planning
then, Iloilo was elevated as chartered city on 16 July 1937. During this time, Ilonggos, who received
American grants to study architecture abroad, returned and brought American architecture to their
homes. Usual Commonwealth elements were the eagle, scroll and olive leaves. By the end of World War
II, Iloilo’s blooming economy was in ruins. The decline in sugar economy and exodus of people and
investors to other cities such as Bacolod and Cebu, led further to its economic demise. Iloilo gradually
recovered as the planning focus was on reconstructing and reviving war-torn Philippines. In 1959, Iloilo
City joined other chartered cities in implementing the urban planning strategies and policies of the
National Planning Commission. The crown monument at villa plaza in arevala, Iloilo city is now an
important cultural property(ICP). ICP refers to a cultural property having exceptional cultural, artistic
and historical significance to the Philippines as determined by national museum(NM). The crown was
dedicated to Spanish queen Isabella II by the women of villa as the inscription reads. By virtue of royal
decree. She also opened the Iloilo part to world trade exporting mainly sugar to America, Australia and
Europe on September 29, 1855. La Villa de Arevalo is iloilo’s flower capital. This district is one of the top
orchids producers nationwide. Arevalo was the first town in the country to bear the name of a Spanish
town.
 Conceptualization

Since it is located in the center of the archipelago, the province of Iloilo is known to as the "Heart of the
Philippines." Ilonggos are recognized for being gentle and soft-spoken, and its capital city, Iloilo City, is
also referred to as the "City of Love." The Bureau of Customs Building in Manila, which is distinguished
by a large tower rising at the center of the building, is designed by the Iloilo Customs House's
neoclassical architecture. Presently considered a significant cultural value is the crown monument at
Villa Plaza in Arevala, Iloilo City (ICP). As decided by the national museum, an ICP is a cultural property
with outstanding cultural, artistic, and historical significance to the Philippines (NM). Based on the
inscription, the women of Villa presented the crown to the Spanish queen Isabella II. because of a royal
decree. The flower capital of Iloilo is La Villa de Arevalo. One of the nation's top producing regions for
orchids is this region. The first town in the nation to use a Spanish town's name was Arevalo.