Brief History

A. Origin of Name
The name Iloilo City was derived
from irong-irong, a reference to the
native word irong which means
nose. The name took after the noselike
configuration
of
the
main
settlement area during the preSpanish period as so shaped by the
Iloilo River. Chinese traders who
frequent
the
area
and
who
mispronounce the r sounds with l
sounds, soon popularized the term
ilong-ilong which later evolved into
the current name Iloilo Arial 9.5 The
name is said to have also evolved
from a local fish of the same name
which was indigenous to the place and
which was a staple in the early
inhabitants daily meals. Iloilo City was
also referred to as the Most Loyal and
Noble City or La Muy Leal Y Noble
Ciuded de Iloilo in Spanish. This is an
inscription in the Coat of Arms from
the Royal Decree of 1896 in
recognition of the local peoples
loyalty to the Spanish crown.
B. Key Historical Events
1560-1590
Spaniards Mateo Del Saz and Juan de
la Isla set foot in Panay.
The City became the source of food
supplies of Cebu during Spanish
Colonial period.
Oton-Arevalo area became the
nucleus of Spanish settlement headed
by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
Luis de la Haya came twice to Panay
and piloted the frigate Espiritu Santo,
accompanied by thirty others
and the Agustinian Fr. Martin de Rada
who preached the gospel to the
natives along the Araut River..

Legazpi wrote the Viceroy of Mexico

that the new settlement in Panay was
chosen as a more suitable
site, upon his return from Mexico.
Legazpi transferred to Manila,
leaving in Panay some people to build
a gallery of soldiers.
Francisco de Sande, governorgeneral of the Islands, reported the
work in progress at Oton.
The town called Villa, founded by
Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa, third
governor-general of the
Philippines.
The residence of the alcalde mayor
(provincial governor) was transferred
to the newly created Villa
de Arevalo.
The former site in Arevalo was
located in what is presently called
Santa Cruz.

Forty
Spaniards,
twenty
encomenderos and twenty soldiers,
were settled in Arevalo.
1620-1650
The chaplaincy made by Don Alfonso
Fajardo was turned over the Jesuits,
who built a wooden church in
Estanzuela, by Juan Nini de Tavora.
Pedro Murillo visited the fortress and
judged it to be a very good
fortress with strong bulwarks, heavy
artillery,
ammunitions,
and
strorerooms over a tongue of water
which
was not good when the waves beat
against it.
Trading of tobaccos and textiles were
started by Panayanos.
The alcalde mayor resided in Iloilo.
Gov. Gen. Hurtado de Corcuera
issued a decree in his expedition
against Sultan Kudarat , asking the
people
of Arevalo and the Chineseof Parian
(Molo) to move to Punta.

 Few Spaniards who remained in

Arevalo were asked by Gov. Gen.
Alfonso Fajardo to move to Iloilo.
1650-1680
Sugar was the most sufficient
resource of the Island during that
time.
Rice was distributed to Iloilo from
Panay.
After some conflicts with the parish
priest of Arevalo, the church was given
to the parish of Parian (Molo).
1680-1740
Economic transformation took over
the entire region and weaving became
the primary livelihood in Iloilo.
Two alcaldes mayors or provincial
governors governed the two provinces
in Panay Island, Province of
Oton and province of Panay.
Fernando de Valdes Tamon described
the Iloilo fortress as a structure made
of stonework, and had an,
partly in the sea and partly on land, on
tongue of land within the port itself.
The Iloilo fortress lost its importance
through the years and was kept to
protect the people against the
attacks of the pirates, which infested
those regions.
1740-1790
Tomas de Castro y Andrade was
commissioned to repair both the port
and the fortress of Iloilo.
Arevalo became an independent
town again after losing its importance.
The Jesuits ministered to Molo and all
the people living along Molo to Punta
when they were expelled
from the Islands by order of Carloss III.
The Dominicans were overseers.
D. Juan de Figueroa signed the
canonical books as the parish priest of
Iloilo, Guimaras Island, and

chaplain of the Fortress.

1790-1850
The capital of the provinces from
Cebu
to
Panay
was
officially
transferred to Iloilo.
Sugar production increased during
the period.
Filipino Propaganda Movement was
initialized with Graciano Lopez Jaena
undertaking the Liberal
Revolution.
The earliest recorded direct foreign
exportation from Iloilo port took place
when the Brigantine, a
Portuguese ship, loaded some 500
piculs of sibucao (dye wood) for the
colony of Macau
Fr. Francisco Perez helped in
developing the textile industry.
Chinese textiles were imported and
accepted locally.
The French scholar Mallat visited the
place and wrote that it was poorly and
thinly inhabited.
Iloilo became the principal seaport of
the region and seat of the government
of the province.
1850-1870
Iloilo opened to foreign and nonSpanish commerce and transactions.

Iloilo
port
was
opened
to
international trade.
The city was given the title La muy
leal y noble ciudad de Iloilo
Iloilo begun its development.
The trade of Iloilo increased after it
opened, being second to Manila.
Pope Pius IX created a new diocese
through the brief Qui ab Initio with the
seat in Jaro separating it
from the one in Cebu.
Jose Romero identified the presence
of establishment that existed at that
time such as the Ker & Co. as
he arrived in Iloilo.

 The capitan de barrio of Iloilo was

opened by Gov. Manuel Iznart and
Andres Arroyo, which was
registered as one of the three houses
only established that time.
The widening of Real Street was
approved.
1870-1880
The town of Iloilo was a grouping of
irregular houses of nipa, among which
some wooden or stone
houses with tiles for roofing could be
seen.
The house of Mr. Manuel Aldeguer
blessed by Bishop Mariano Cuartero.
Aldeguer Street was named
after him.
A traveler from Manila described
Iloilo as a prosperous town which, in
the near future, would become
one of the leading cities in the Islands.
Two iron and wooden bridges were
constructed during the incumbency of
Gov. Enrique Fajardo.
Permission was granted to Federico
Luchsinger to construct a dock in the
Iloilo River.
The same permission was given to
Mr. Cirilo Corteza who was allowed to
build a warehouse for his
private use.
The house of Loney and Co. was
granted the same permission

from the nearby towns of Molo and

Jaro.
The government of Manila approved
the project to widen and improve the
town of Iloilo in accordance
with the indicated recommendations
of Junta Consultativa, and sanitize the
mangroves still existing
within the town limits.
Gov. Gen. Valerio Weyler sent the
Iloilo authorities a circular reminding
them of the past provisions
about the houses of nipa within the
main cask of the city.
There had been no repair on streets
when Iznart, Real and Progreso were
repaired at a cost of 8,000
pesos since these were the perennial
problem of the City Hall.
Spanish entrepreneur Don Jacobo
Zobel de Zangronis was permitted to
open a transportline that would
connect Iloilo with Molo and Jaro.
Dr. Jose Rizal, passing through Iloilo
in his way from Dapitan to Manila, was
much impressed by the
appearance of the city. He wrote:
The entrance to Iloilo is beautiful. From
afar can be seen the white
city set in water, a nymph of
galvanized iron, a modern creation,
poetic in spirit of its iron uniform The
liveliness of the Escolta [which he
meant Calle Real] pleased me.

1880-1890
Agricultural experimental station
called La Granja established at La Paz.
The overseas minister Manuel
Bacerra
promulgated
a
law
establishing the City Hall of Iloilo.
The Iloilo Ayuntamiento (City Hall)
was established.
There were already some 15,000
inhabitants in Iloilo registered, many
of them were laborers coming

1890-1900
The city was referred to as the
Queen City of the South.
The Plaza de Alfonso XII was
converted into a beautiful garden and
park with trees, pathways, and a
monument in the middle.
A small house was established and
later
on
occupied
by
Bazar
Cosmopolita of Isidro de la Rama and
was burnt.

 Real Street, the main and most

beautiful street of Iloilo City, was being
urbanized day after day as
reported by El Eco de Panay.
Junta asked for a loan to buy
equipment for cleaning the Iloilos
rivers.
Don Antonio Domenech was
commissioned to make a feasibility
study of railway system of the City to
improve its transportation.
1900-1930
The first Baptist Church known as
Jaro Evangelical Church is established.
The Central Philippine University
ministered theological training among
local schools.
The Manila Daily Bulletin cited Iloilo
City as the metropolis of the Visayan
Islands, second city
importance in the archipelago and the
greatest market for sugar in this part
of the world.
Philippine Railway Co. in Manila is
authorized to connect as railway
network to Panay known as
Panay Railways.
Inception of the Arellano Plan.
Commercial buildings enhanced the
citys distinction in business and
established first-class infrastructure
Structures are designed in the
feminine, lacy Iloilo wedding-cake
style
1930-1960
Iloilo gained its cityhood status again
after it was reverted into township by
the Americans.
Panays largest bus company, Panay
Autobus Co. was established.
Panay was conquered by the
Japanese but the economy of Iloilo was
still stable.

The Jaro Plaza was used as an

alternative detention area of Japanese
Batallions during World War II.
Transportation networks advanced
their linkages throughout Iloilo City.
The Jaro Belfry was ruined by an
earthquake.
The Citys architecture started to be
influenced by International styles.
1960-1980
The construction of fish port,
international sea port and other
commercial establishments made the
City
the regional center of Western
VIsayas.
Rice was distributed to Iloilo from
Panay.
Iloilo is known for being the Visayan
region entry of commerce because of
its ports.
1980-2000
Restoration of old structures that
have heritage value was initiated.

Investment
of
business
establishments increased more.
The average annual family income
percentage increased.
The Metro Iloilo Development Council
composed of the city of Iloilo, and
municipalities of Leganes, Pavia,
Oton
and
San
Miguel
was
conceptualized..
2000-2011
The Comprehensive Land Use Plan
and Zoning Ordinance of Iloilo is
approved by the Sangguniang
Panlungsod and HLURB making the
plan to be the first approved for the
Highly Urbanized City Category
The rehabilitation, development and
sustainability of the Iloilo River is
formulated by the Iloilo Business

Club in partnership with the Iloilo City

Government, US-AEP, and The Asia
Foundation, consolidated by
Mayor Jerry P. Treas.
The Jaro Floodway Channel was
completed.
Typhoon Frank damages Iloilo City.
The Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic
Development
Council
was
institutionalized through presidential
Executive Order 559 s- 2006

The
Iloilo
City
2011-2020
Comprehensive Land Use Plan was
prepared
Five presidential proclamations were
issued for the establishment of on-site
site upgrading projects for
the urban poor.
Another Presidential Proclamation
was issued turning over the Parola site
to the city government of
Iloilo.
The rehabilitation and development
of the Iloilo-Batiano River was
intensified under the leadership of
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Senator
Frank Drilon.
The new Iloilo City Hall is constructed
with green concepts
Other major infrastructure projects
were initiated during the term of
Mayor Jed Mabilog through the help
of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon.

MUNICIPAL PRESIDENTS/MAYORS
OF ILOILO CITY
Inclusive Date
Name
Position/ Designation
1900-1901
Hon. Jose N. Gay
Municipal President
1901-1902
Hon. Matias Ybiernas

Municipal President
1903-1904
Hon. Rosauro Jocson
Municipal President
1904-1905
Hon. Juan de Leon
Municipal President
1906-1908
Hon. Rosauro Jocson
Municipal President
1909
Hon. Rosauro Jocson
Municipal President
1910-1912
Hon. Quirino Abeto
Municipal President
1913-1916
Hon. Quirino Abeto
Municipal President
1917-1919
Hon. Gerardo Hervas
Municipal President
1920-1921
Hon. Vicente Ybiernas
Municipal President
1921-1922
Hon. Vicente Ybiernas
Municipal President
1923-1925
Hon. Serapion Torre
Municipal President
1926-1928
Hon. Eulogio Garganera
Municipal President
1929-1931
Hon. Eulogio Garganera
Municipal President
1932-1934
Hon. Leopoldo Ganzon
Municipal President
1935-1936
Hon. Eulogio Garganera
Municipal President
1936-1941
Hon. Ramon Campos
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of RA
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158

1941-1944
Hon. Vicente Ybiernas
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1945
Hon. Mariano Benedicto
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1945-1947
Hon. Fernando Lopez
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1947-1949
Hon. Vicente Ybiernas
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1950-1952
Hon. Rafael Jalandoni
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1953
Hon. Juan Borja
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1954
Hon. Dominador Jover
City Mayor (Appointed by virtue of
365/ Commonwealth Act # 158
1955-1959
Hon. Rodolfo T. Ganzon
First Elected City Mayor (RA 1209)
1960-1961
Hon. Rodolfo T. Ganzon
Elected City Mayor
1962-1963
Hon. Reinerio Ticao
Elected City Mayor
1964-1967
Hon. Reinerio Ticao
Elected City Mayor
1968-1971
Hon. Reinerio Ticao
Elected City Mayor
1972
Hon. Rodolfo T. Ganzon
Elected City Mayor
1972 (Oct.) 1976 (April)

RA

RA

RA

RA

RA

RA

RA

Hon. Francisco Garganera

Actg. Mayor by virtue of succession
1976 (May) 1979 (April)
Hon. T.S. Zafiro Ledesma
City Mayor (Appointed)
1979 (May) 1986 (March)
Hon. Luis C. Herrera
City Mayor (Appointed/Elected)
1986 (April) 1987 (Nov.)
Hon. Rosa O. Caram
City Mayor (Appointed)
1987 (Dec.)- 1988 (Jan.)
Hon. Antonio Hechanova
City Mayor (Appointed)
1988 (Feb.) 1991 (June)
Hon. Rodolfo T. Ganzon
City Mayor (Elected)
1991 (July) 1992 (Mar.)
Hon. Mansueto A. Malabor
Actg. City Mayor
1992 (April) 1992 (June 30)
Hon. Jerry P. Treas
City Mayor (By Succession)
1992 (June 30) PM 1995 (June 30) NN
Hon. Masueto A. Malabor
City Mayor ( Elected)
1995 (June 30) PM 1998 (June 30)NN
Hon. Mansueto A. Malabor
City Mayor (Elected)
1998 (June 30)PM 2001 (June 30)NN
Hon. Mansueto A. Malabor
City Mayor (Elected
2001 (June 30) PM- 2004 (June 30)NN
Hon. Jerry P. Treas
City Mayor (Elected)
2004 (June 30)PM 2007 (June 30)NN
Hon. Jerry P. Treas
City Mayor (Elected)
2007 (Jun3 )PM 2010 (June 30) NN
Hon. Jerry P. Treas
City Mayor (Elected)
2010 (June 30)PM Present
Hon. Jed Patrick E. Mabilog
City Mayor (Elected
History of Urban Growth of Iloilo City
Pre-Spanish Period

As with other civilizations, Filipino

settlements began along bodies of
water. In Iloilo, the typical dwelling
was the hut made of bamboo and
grass or palm, which lined up along
the coasts or the banks of Jaro, Iloilo
and Batiano Rivers. Rich landscape of
forests, ricefields, mountains or brush
and bamboo thicket provided the
natives with materials for clothing,
shelter and tools. The simple ways of
Ilonggos were reflected in the lack of
public buildings or places of worship.
Spanish Period
Under Spanish colonization the early
type of dispersed settlement called
barangays
evolved
into
towns
(pueblos) and provinces (alcaldias).
Parish churches, beside the nearby
town hall (casa tribunal) and town
plaza, became the heart of town plans.
From the town center, residences filled
up the streets which radiated in a gridiron pattern. Today, the town plaza
remains a center of public and
religious celebrations.
The seat of government was first set
up along the coastlines of Arevalo,
which was always under the threat of
Muslim or Dutch pirates. Political
survival prompted the Spaniards to
transfer the seat to Ogtong (now Oton)
and eventually near the mouth of Iloilo
River (now Fort San Pedro). Since its
establishment, a radial road network
which radiates from the fort is still
being used today.

strengthening the booming sugar

industry. In 1857, Nicholas Loney, the
first British vice-consul in Iloilo, was
responsible for the kilometer long
Road Calle Progreso (now Isidro de
Rama Street), which linked the
warehouse (bodegas) of sugar with the
Iloilo towns. Loney also led the gradual
reclamation of the whole western bank
of the river and eventual relocation of
the business center to the nearby
Calle Real (now J.M. Basa Street).
The 1920s witnessed the introduction
of the working class districts (barrio
obreros) to accommodate the lowincome labor sector. Barrio Obrero was
established in Lapaz to the north of
the Iloilo Rivers mouth. During this
time, Art Nouveau and Neo-Colonial
architecture also flourished in the
citys 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, Iloilos
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.

American Period
In Iloilo, the American Period brought
about further economic development
through road networks. The British
cannot
only
be
credited
for

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.

in the Coat of Arms from the Royal

Decree of 1896 in recognition of the
peoples loyalty to the Spanish crown.

Modern Period
The next three decades saw the
moderate growth of Iloilo City with the
establishment of fish ports, an
international
seaport,
and
other
commercial firms. Iloilo City also
became the Regional Center of
Western Visayas.
In 1977, a Comprehensive Urban
Development Plan for Iloilo City was
approved and was adopted by the
Sangguniang Panlungsod. The Land
Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance was
the implementing tool. However, the
1977 Plan was unable to cope with the
demands of rapid urbanization.
By the end of 1993, a multi-sectoral
group
prepared
the
1994-2010
Comprehensive Development Plan of
Iloilo City to amend the old plan and
address the present and future
challenges of urban development. The
plan, however, was not carried
pending the approval of the Housing
and Land Use Regulatory Board
(HLURB).
Back to top
Fast Facts
The word Iloilo City came from the
shape of the city, cut by the river
which looks like the shape of a nose,
Irong-Irong, nose-like, later became
Iloilo. Other accounts point the origin
of the name to a fish.
Monicker: Most Loyal and Noble City
or La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciuded de
Iloilo in Spanish. This is an inscription

A replica of the Spanish Crown

architechtural structure can be seen in
the Arevalo District of the City.
Zip code: 5000
Area Code: 33
Land Area: 78.34 square kilometers
Population: 442,511 (projected SEP
2010)
Population Density: 5,649 persons per
square kilometer (Updated as of 2011
projection)
Number of Households: 85,518 (2007
Census)
Population Growth: 1.86% (2007
Cesus)
Coastline Area: 21.3 kilometers
Riverfront: 113 kilometers
Literacy Rate: 92.8 %
Lingua franca: Filipino, Hiligaynon,
Kinaray-a, English
Economic activity:
Service sector : 82%
Industry : 14%
Agriculture : 4%
Climate
Iloilo Citys climate is moonsonal and
has two (2) pronounced seasons
namely, the dry and wet seasons.
The following are the tables of the
2009
Meteorological
Profile,
Climatological Data and the Tropical
Cyclones.
source: SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE
2011, City Planning and Development
Office, Iloilo City
http://www.iloilocity.gov.ph/aboutiloiloc
ity.php