41-532: The Iloilo Provincial Capitol is the seat of the provincial government of Iloilo in the Philippines . The new Iloilo Provincial Capitol was built in 2006 after a 1998 fire of unknown source damaged the Casa Real de Iloilo , the old capitol, damaging almost half of the whole building, leaving only the main building. The old capitol has been renovated and restored to its former glory and is now being used as
82-469: A force of 1,000 Hiligaynon warriors and 70 Mexican arquebusiers under the command of Juan García de Sierra, the Spanish officer who died in the battle. The Spanish Christianized the area. Soon, the area itself began to prosper, due to its successful textile and sugar industry. As a result, it received Chinese immigrants from the west (that worked for its trades) and Latinos from the ports of Mexico in
123-465: A lesser extent, Buddhists and Hindus. Poverty incidence of Iloilo Source: Philippine Statistics Authority Iloilo is one of the most competitive provinces in the Philippines, recognized for its strong economy, resilience, and effective governance. This collaboration has resulted in an economic boom that has generated thousands of jobs and propelled the province to become one of
164-428: A lobby and reception area for visiting guests and dignitaries of government officials. The new capitol is considered one of the most modern and largest capitol buildings in the Philippines. The Iloilo Provincial Capitol was designed by Filipino architect Guillermo Hisancha. The capitol complex underwent redevelopment in 2019, including the building of a 6-storey with roof deck multilevel parking building; landscaping of
205-590: Is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region . Its capital and largest city is Iloilo City , the regional center of Western Visayas and politically independent from the province. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of the Visayan island of Panay and is bordered by the province of Antique to the west, Capiz to the north, the Jintotolo Channel to the northeast,
246-512: Is a Roman Catholic-predominated province comprising about 87% of the population. Independent Catholic and Protestant churches also exist such as members of Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Aglipayan Church, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Adventists, and other Evangelical Christians; There are also non-Protestant and other Christian sects such as Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church of Christ of Latter day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses while non-Christians are usually represented by Muslims, and to
287-460: Is a key economic driver in Passi City and nearby towns like Lambunao, Duenas, San Enrique, and Bingawan. In southern Iloilo, the economy is largely driven by tourism, with historical sites, colonial architecture, and coastal attractions in towns such as Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao, and San Joaquin playing a significant role in the local economy. The government of Iloilo was established in 1566 when
328-489: Is geographically located in the province and grouped under it by the Philippine Statistics Authority , but remains politically independent from the provincial government. According to the 2020 census, the population of the province (excluding Iloilo City) is 2,051,899. If Iloilo City is included, the population is 2,509,525 in total. Iloilo is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It
369-718: Is home to many Spanish-era historic sites, including the Miag-ao Church , a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Philippines . The province is also home to several other prominent structures, including the San Joaquin Campo Santo , San Joaquin Church , and Santa Barbara Church , all recognized as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines . The province offers diverse attractions, from well-preserved colonial structures in
410-543: Is included for geographical purposes, Iloilo has an area of 5,079.17 square kilometres (1,961.08 sq mi). The province is bordered by the province of Antique to the west, Capiz to the north, the Jintotolo Channel to the northeast, the Visayan Sea and Guimaras Strait to the east, and the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf to the southwest. The province is divided into two distinct geographic regions;
451-455: Is referred to as Ilonggo in Iloilo and Negros Occidental . More precisely, Ilonggo is an ethno-linguistic group referring to the people living in southeastern Panay and its associated culture. The boundaries of the language called Ilonggo and that called Hiligaynon are unclear. The disagreement of which name is correct extends to Philippine language specialists and native laypeople. Iloilo
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#1732780541281492-585: The Guimaras Strait to the east, and the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf to the southwest. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is the island province of Guimaras , once part of Iloilo but now an independent province. Across Panay Gulf and Guimaras Strait is Negros Occidental , occupying the northwestern half of the larger island of Negros . Iloilo City , its capital, is the center of the Iloilo–Guimaras metropolitan area or Metro Iloilo–Guimaras , and
533-492: The Iloilo Provincial Capitol . Historically, the governor, along with the alcalde-mayor and presidente municipal , held office at the Casa Real de Iloilo from 1869 until 2006, when the larger capitol building adjacent to it was completed. 1st District: 2nd District: 3rd District: 4th District: 5th District: Ex-officio Board Members: The old buildings in downtown Iloilo showcase
574-829: The Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles), featuring processions, a grand fair, and traditional performances. The Pintados de Pasi is a cultural festival honors the tribal tradition of body painting known as pintados in Passi City . Every municipality, barangay, and district in the province and city of Iloilo, has its own cultural, social, and religious festivals. Many of these festivals hold religious significance, honoring deities , saints , or important religious events. Others commemorate historical milestones such as independence days, national holidays, or significant local happenings. Some festivals focus on social bonding, bringing people together and fostering
615-516: The Sultanate of Demak and the Sultanate of Malacca , eventually caused the move of the city center further on to the mouth of the Irong-Irong river founding what is now Iloilo City and constructing Fort San Pedro to defend it in 1616. Nevertheless, when the 4,000 Moros led by Sirungan and Salikala tried to attack Iloilo City they were repulsed with heavy losses in the town of Arevalo by
656-516: The Visayan Sea and natural attractions like beaches and marine reserves. The central part of the province functions as an agri-industrial hub, producing a variety of agricultural products such as corn, rice, bananas, pineapples, and sugar. The highland areas, including Bucari in Leon and Alimodian , are known for high-value crops like strawberries and mangoes, and offer tourism opportunities through inland resorts and trekking sites. The sugar industry
697-732: The promontory between two rivers ( Iloilo and Batiano ) where the Fort San Pedro and the 17th-century Spanish port were located. No pre-Hispanic written accounts of Iloilo and Panay island exist today. Oral tradition, in the form of recited epics like the Hinilawod , has survived to a small degree. A few recordings of these epic poems exist. The most notable are the works of noted Filipino Anthropologist Felipe Jocano . While no current archaeological evidence exist describing pre-Hispanic Iloilo, an original work by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro published in 1907 called Maragtas details
738-478: The " Primus inter pares " in their alliance network. Iloilo became a province of the newly fledged Republic of the Philippines when the archipelago gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. The province covers a total area of 5,000.83 square kilometres (1,930.83 sq mi) occupying the central and eastern section of Panay island in the Western Visayas region. If Iloilo City
779-607: The 2020 census was 2,051,899 people, with a density of 410 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,100 inhabitants per square mile. If the highly urbanized city of Iloilo is included for statistical purposes, the province's total population is 2,509,525 people, with a density of 494/km (1,280/sq mi). People from Iloilo are called Ilonggos . There are three local languages used in the province: Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) , Kinaray-a and Capiznon . Hiligaynon and dialects/variants of it are spoken in Iloilo City and in some towns of
820-494: The Dinagyang, is a competition among cultural festivals from different parts of Iloilo and Western Visayas. The Paraw Regatta Festival is another significant event, celebrating the traditional sailboats known as paraws . This festival includes boat races, cultural presentations, and various activities showcasing the maritime culture of Iloilo. Jaro Fiesta, held every February, is a religious and cultural celebration in honor of
861-524: The Philippines" with various renowned festivals in the country celebrated in the province. The Dinagyang Festival is the most popular and largest festival in Iloilo, held every January in honor of the Santo Niño in Iloilo City. It features elaborate street dancing, vibrant costumes, and a festive atmosphere that attracts both locals and tourists. The Kasadyahan Festival , which is celebrated during
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#1732780541281902-577: The Spanish settled a colonial center in Ogtong (now Oton ). Control was later shifted to La Villa Rica de Arevalo (now Arevalo, Iloilo City ) in 1581, which also served as the seat of the Spanish Government overseeing vast territories encompassing Iloilo, Capiz , Aklan , Antique , and surrounding islands such as Negros , Guimaras , Cuyo , Palawan , Caluya , Romblon , and Boracay . Over time, these territories gained independence. By 1616,
943-411: The alleged accounts of the founding of the various pre-Hispanic polities on Panay Island. The book is based on oral and written accounts available to the author at the time. The author made no claim on the historical accuracy of the accounts. According to Maragtas, Madja-as was founded after ten datus fled Borneo and landed on Panay Island. The book then goes on to detail their subsequent purchase of
984-469: The coastal lands in which they settled from the native Ati people. Datu Paiburong, one of the ten fleeing datus, established a settlement and named it Irong-Irong after an islet of the same name on the Batiano River. Spain eventually succeeded on conquering of the island of Panay when Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi moved his headquarters from the island of Cebu and creating
1025-626: The east (to man its military installations). The Jesuits soon built a school for Spanish and Visayan boys in Tigbauan , Iloilo. Later in the 1700s, Iloilo was home to 166 Spanish Filipino families and 29,723 native families. During the American colonial period, Iloilo became a home to many firsts: including the first department stores and cinema theaters in the Commonwealth of the Philippines . Iloilo experienced severe devastation during
1066-634: The encomienda in Ogtong was moved to La Villa Rica de Arevalo , because of frequent coastal raids by the Dutch privateers. Furthermore, an attack in the year 1600 (Part of the Spanish–Moro conflict ) where there was a large Muslim armada to destroy Iloilo City, led by two Moros named Sirungan and Salikala who lead the Muslim force of 70 ships and 4,000 warriors that had raided and attacked several Visayan islands in order to abduct slaves to sell to their allies in
1107-583: The events of World War II. The Japanese built "comfort stations" in Iloilo in 1942, where they imprisoned Filipino " comfort women " who they routinely gang-raped, brutalized, and murdered for entertainment. Nevertheless, during the Japanese occupation, Macario Peralta Jr. , freed most of Panay (with little exceptions) from Japanese Imperialism, thus other allied guerillas in other provinces from Romblon , Palawan , Marinduque and portions of Masbate and Mindoro , considered majority liberated Panay Island ,
1148-623: The first Spanish settlement in the island in Ogtong in 1566. This is mainly due in part to the rivalries between the Bisaya and the Moro , of which the former found an ally in Spanish against the latter. The Bisayas accepted alliances with Spain, to defend themselves against the enslaving Moros. To this end, Iloilo contributed troops in the Castille War against the Sultanate of Brunei . In 1581,
1189-714: The front of the Capitol building up to the Casa Real , or the Old Provincial Capitol; improvement of the grounds adjacent to the Western Visayas Regional Museum ; and the improvement of the power station. The centerpiece of the redevelopment project is the mural titled "Panaysayun sang Paranublion." The two-meter by 15-meter mural, which depicts the rich culture and heritage of the province, was designed by architects Victor Jacinto, Ryan Angelo Braga, Kenneth Torre, and Jorge Cadiao Jr. It
1230-481: The highlands of the Central Panay Mountain Range on the western border and the lowland plains which account for a larger portion of the province. Small islands east of its northernmost tip also dot the Visayan Sea - of these, Pan de Azucar and Sicogon are well-known. Mount Baloy is the highest mountain in Iloilo with an elevation of 6,424 feet (1,958 m) above sea level, located on
1271-667: The influence of Spanish architecture, reflecting the historical presence of the Spaniards in the region. However, even before the arrival of the Mexicans, Spaniards, and other Europeans, Iloilo had already established trade relations with ancient Indonesians , Malaysians and Vietnamese , Indian , Arab , Chinese , Korean and Japanese merchants. The Spanish government encouraged foreign merchants to trade in Iloilo, although they were not granted land ownership privileges. Over time, intermarriage between foreign merchants, Spaniards, and
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1312-438: The largest central business district (CBD) in Iloilo. Leganes is notable for its light industries and hosts the province's first agro-industrial economic zone, contributing to both agriculture and light manufacturing. Santa Barbara is known for its historical sites and a growing tourism industry. The northern part of Iloilo is notable for its robust fishing industry and expanding tourism sector, benefiting from its proximity to
1353-703: The locals led to the emergence of the Mestizo class, who eventually became the ruling class of the Ilonggos, known as the Principalía . Iloilo is also home to two of the nation's cultural minorities: the Sulod-Bukidnon and the Ati . These indigenous groups contribute to the cultural diversity of the province and add to its vibrant tapestry of traditions and customs. Iloilo is dubbed as the "Festival Capital of
1394-481: The overall development of the province. Metro Iloilo, which includes the neighboring municipalities of Pavia, Oton, Leganes, and Santa Barbara, also plays a significant role in the province's economy. Pavia is known as an agricultural-industrial center, combining farming with industrial developments, and is also recognized for its commercial centers and residential developments. Oton contributes with its agricultural production and emerging retail sector, and will soon host
1435-592: The province, especially to the northeast. Tagalog and English are widely used as administrative, educational, and commercial languages. Hiligaynon is concentrated in the city of Iloilo and surrounding areas, as well as the northeastern portion of the province, Guimaras and the Negros Island (especially in Negros Occidental and to a lesser extent in Negros Oriental ), as well as
1476-692: The provinces of South Cotabato , Sultan Kudarat , and North Cotabato in Soccsksargen , Mindanao . It is also spoken in the neighboring provinces, such as Capiz , Antique , Aklan , Masbate , Palawan and Romblon as well as in some parts of Maguindanao . It is also spoken as a second language by Cebuano speakers in Negros Oriental , Kinaray-a speakers in Antique , Aklanon/Malaynon speakers in Aklan , and Capiznon speakers in Capiz . The language
1517-458: The richest in the country. Its capital, Iloilo City, is one of the largest cities in the country in terms of economic activity. It serves as the economic center of the province and supports a wide range of industries and services, including real estate, accommodation, healthcare, education, retail, business, and IT/BPO sectors. It also functions as a key port for domestic and international trade. The city's diverse economy significantly contributes to
1558-519: The seat of government was transferred to La Punta, now known as Iloilo City Proper . This relocation marked a significant increase in colonial power, and the city's economy boomed, making it the largest in the Philippines after Manila during the Spanish period until the American period . The Governor of Iloilo serves as the local chief executive of the province, with the official office located at
1599-679: The south to pristine beaches and islands in the north, namely the Bantigue Sand Bar, the Tangke Lagoon, Cabugao Island , and Antonia Island, all part of the Islas de Gigantes . Additionally, Sicogon Island , situated south of the group of islands, has gained popularity as a luxury tourist destination. The name of the province is derived from Iloilo City , which in turn is derived from the older name "Irong-irong" ( Philippine Spanish : Irong̃-írong̃ ) meaning "nose-like", referring to
1640-711: The triple border of Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique. Other peaks are Mount Llorente 4,409 ft. (1,344m), Mount Sansanan 4,219 ft. (1,286m), Mount Napulak 4,095 ft. (1,248 m), Mount Balabag 3,728 ft. (1,136m). Expansive fishponds and mangrove wetlands are found along the coasts and rivers of Iloilo City and the towns of Oton , Leganes , Zarraga , Dumangas , Anilao , Banate , Barotac Viejo , Barotac Nuevo , Ajuy , Balasan and Carles . List of peaks in Iloilo by elevation: List of rivers in Iloilo by length: The Province of Iloilo consists of 42 municipalities and two cities (one component and one highly urbanized ). The population of Iloilo in
1681-468: Was sculpted by architects Margarette and Albert Pampliega. Iloilo Iloilo ( / ˌ ɪ l oʊ ˈ iː l oʊ / ih-loh- EE -loh ; [ɪlo.ˈilo] ), also called Iloilo Province , officially the Province of Iloilo ( Hiligaynon : Kapuoran sang Iloilo ; Kinaray-a : Kapuoran kang Iloilo/Kapuoran ka Iloilo ; Filipino : Lalawigan ng Iloilo ; Spanish : Provincia de Iloílo ),