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 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.
The province offers diverse attractions, from well-preserved colonial structures in 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.
Etymology
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 the promontory between two rivers (Iloilo and Batiano) where the Fort San Pedro and the 17th-century Spanish port were located.[4][5][6][7]
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.[8]
While no current archaeological evidence exist describing pre-Hispanic Iloilo, an original work by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro published in 1907 called Maragtas details 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.[9] The author made no claim on the historical accuracy of the accounts.[10]
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 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.[11]
Left to right: Images from the Boxer Codex illustrating an ancient kadatuan or tumao of the Visayans of Panay wearing the distinctive colors of their social status: [1] a noble couple and [2] a royal couple. The wealth and prestige of these Visayans from Panay are clearly demonstrated vis-a-vis their loincloth-wearing Cebuano neighbors which the Spaniards called "Pintados" or "Tattooed Ones"
Spanish colonial era
Spain eventually succeeded on conquering of the island of Panay when Spanish conquistadorMiguel López de Legazpi moved his headquarters from the island of Cebu and creating 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, 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 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.[12]
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 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.[13] The Spanish Christianized the area.
Old Oton Church in Oton: consecrated 1891, destroyed by earthquake January 24, 1948
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 the east (to man its military installations). The Jesuits soon built a school for Spanish and Visayan boys in Tigbauan, Iloilo.[14] Later in the 1700s, Iloilo was home to 166 Spanish Filipino families and 29,723 native families.[15]: 113
American colonial era
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.[16]
Iloilo experienced severe devastation during 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.[17][18][19] 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, the "Primus inter pares" in their alliance network.[20]: 110
Philippine independence
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.
Geography
Map of Iloilo
The province covers a total area of 5,000.83 square kilometres (1,930.83 sq mi)[21] occupying the central and eastern section of Panay island in the Western Visayas region. If Iloilo City 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; 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 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).
Excluding Iloilo City Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[2][23][23][24]
The population of Iloilo in the 2020 census was 2,051,899 people,[22] 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/km2 (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 the province, especially to the northeast. Tagalog and English are widely used as administrative, educational, and commercial languages.
Language
The Ten Commandments in Hiligaynon, the predominant language of Panay
The language 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.
Religion
Iloilo 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 a lesser extent, Buddhists and Hindus.
Iloilo City, the economic center of the province and the whole island of Panay.
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 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 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 the largest central business district (CBD) in Iloilo.[35] Leganes is notable for its light industries and hosts the province's first agro-industrial economic zone, contributing to both agriculture and light manufacturing.[36] 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 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 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.
Government
Former provincial flag of Iloilo from 1886 to 1898 featured the white and blue ensign, which served as inspiration for elements adopted in the national Philippine flag
The government of Iloilo was established in 1566 when 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, 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.[37]
The old buildings in downtown Iloilo showcase 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 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 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 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 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 a strong sense of community.
La Paz Batchoy, one of the most popular dishes from Iloilo.
Its capital city, Iloilo City has been recognized as a UNESCOCreative City of Gastronomy. It is renowned for its distinctive and flavorful cuisine including La Paz Batchoy, a hearty noodle soup with pork innards, liver, and crunchy chicharon. Pancit Molo, a dumpling soup named after the Molo district, features wonton-style dumplings in a savory broth. Iloilo is also known for its Biscocho, a type of toasted bread topped with butter and sugar, and Barquillos, thin rolled wafers that are delightfully crispy. Seafood is abundant, and dishes like Grilled Talaba (oysters) and Kinilaw (raw fish marinated in vinegar and spices) are local favorites. Another local item is siopao, a steamed bun with a variety of fillings. Tinuom, a native dish of Cabatuan, is made up of native chickens seasoned with onions, tomatoes and lemon grass (tanglad) wrapped in banana leaves.[38]Baye baye, a well-known local dish of Pavia, made from grated young coconut mixed with either newly harvested rice (pinipig) or corn and shaped into patties.[39]
As a leading province during the Spanish Colonial Era, the province of Iloilo is widely known for its old world architecture similar to that of Latin American Countries. Spanish colonial churches are amongst the well-known tourist sites in the province, including the Miag-ao Church, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, features an Aztec-Baroque inspired design with intricate Filipino botanicals carved into its façade. The Gothic-RenaissanceMolo Church was used as a watchtower and is known for its classical and gothic details, often referred to as the 'feminist church' due to the female saints lining its interior. Jaro Cathedral boasts a Neo-Romanesque style with a distinctive bell tower located across a street from the church. Cabatuan Church, the largest red brick structure in the Visayas, is known for its Neoclassic design and three facades. San Jose Church in front of Plaza Libertad is considered the oldest church in Iloilo City, known for its Byzantine-Neoclassic architecture and for houses the replica of Santo Niño de Cebú, the patron saint of the Dinagyang Festival. Plaza Libertad is the historic plaza where the flag of the first Philippine Republic was raised after Spain surrendered Iloilo to revolutionary forces on December 25, 1898.
The San Joaquin Church features a large pediment with a sculptural relief of the Spanish victory in the Battle of Tetuan, making it a National Cultural Treasure along with San Joaquin Campo Santo, a Roman Catholic cemetery with a Spanish Baroque mortuary chapel. Passi City Church is a fortress church with massive buttresses built to replace earlier structures destroyed by natural disasters. The Casa Real de Iloilo, a National Historical Site, once served as the capitol when the civil government of Iloilo was founded in 1901. Santa Barbara Church, known as the "Cradle of Independence" in Panay and the Visayas, was the site of General Martin Delgado's junta leading to the first Cry of Revolution against the Spaniards outside Luzon. The Calle Real Heritage District houses numerous old colonial buildings, including the Eusebio Villanueva Building, formerly known as the International Hotel. The Iloilo Golf and Country Club, the oldest golf course in Southeast Asia, was established in the 1850s by British Vice Consul Nicholas Loney, known as the "Father of the Philippine Sugar Industry."
The province also boasts a variety of natural attractions including Bucari, situated in the highlands of Leon, is known as the "Summer Capital of Iloilo" due to its cool climate and highland attractions. Bulabog Putian National Park, a protected rainforest area within San Enrique and Dingle, features diverse flora and fauna, and over 30 caves, making it a popular eco-tourism destination in the province. Mount Napulak in Igbaras, one of the highest mountains in Iloilo, is the most popular mountain for hikers in the province. The Islas de Gigantes, known for island-hopping adventures, is an island group off the shores of Carles renowned for its white sand beaches, clear waters, lagoons, and rock formations. Cabugao Gamay is the most popular island in the archipelago, features two white sand beaches that forms like a sandbar connecting two islets. Sicogon Island, another island in Carles south of the Islas de Gigantes, is a resort island developed by Ayala Land, Inc..
The airport serves the Province of Iloilo, including its capital city, Iloilo City, the regional center of the Western Visayas region in the Philippines. It opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007, after a decade of planning and construction located at Cabatuan, Iloilo, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo City and inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes from its predecessor. The fourth-busiest airport in the Philippines, it is the first airport in both Western Visayas and the island of Panay to be built to international standards, and one of the four airports in the region planned to be an international gateway. It is one of two international airports in Western Visayas, the others being Kalibo International Airport.
The airport serves tourists to the island of Sicogon in Carles, Iloilo. The airport has been redeveloped and opened in 2018. Charter flights to and from Sicogon to Manila and vice versa took place in late 2018. It is located in Barangay San Fernando on the island.
The Port of Iloilo, considered the leader of trade and a commercial hub for Western Visayas is also one of the safest natural seaports in the Philippines. The Iloilo Commercial Port Complex is located on 20.8 hectares of reclaimed land. It includes 11,400 sq. meters of open space for operations, supplemented by an area of 97,000 sq. meters, a crane, rails of 348 lineal meters; roll-on-roll-off support; a 7,800 container freight stations; and a 720 sq. meter passenger shed. The port complex is ideal for ships plying international routes having a berth length of 400 meters, a width of 26.26 meters and a berthing depth of 10.50 meters.
A number of shipping companies use the Port of Iloilo, including Lorenzo Shipping Corporation, 2GO, Amigo Shipping Company, New Panay Shipping Company, Sulpicio Lines, and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. Fast ferries serve Iloilo-Bacolod routes eight times daily. 2GO inter-island, overnight ferries serve longer routes, going to Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro City. Pumpboat ferries cross the Iloilo Strait to Guimaras constantly during the day and on special trips at night.
Roll-on/roll-off ferry service, known as RO-RO, is available between Iloilo City and Guimaras, but the ro-ro to Negros is available from Dumangas, Iloilo including ro-ro from Iloilo to Palawan.
It is ranked third in terms of ship calls at 11,853, fourth in cargo throughout at 491,719 million metric tons and fourth in passenger traffic at 2.4 million annually.
The Iloilo–Guimaras Bridge, a component of the larger Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project, is currently undergoing a feasibility study and is scheduled to begin construction in 2025. Once completed, it will reconnect Iloilo to its former sub-province of Guimaras.
The Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway (ICAEx) is a proposed expressway on the island of Panay that will link the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan. Its entry point will be located in Leganes, where the proposed approach of the Panay-Guimaras Bridge, a component of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project, is situated.
Panay Railways has been proposed for revival to restore its defunct rail connections between Iloilo City and several key destinations in the province and across Panay, including Passi, Roxas, Kalibo, Malay (Aklan), and San Jose (Antique). The railway previously had stations in Iloilo City and Santa Barbara, in Iloilo province.[40]
Accessibility
Festive Walk Transport Hub and the Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus servicing Iloilo City to Iloilo International, Kalibo International, and Caticlan Airports and vice versa.
Iloilo is one of the most accessible provinces in the Philippines. Iloilo can be reached by plane on regular commercial international flights from Hong Kong and Singapore to the Iloilo International Airport. Direct domestic flights connect Iloilo to other major cities in the Philippines including Manila, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. Direct ferry routes and roll-on roll-off connections on the Philippines’ nautical highway are also available between Iloilo and all other major cities in the country.
By plane, travel time to the Iloilo takes around 1 hour from Manila, 30 minutes from Cebu, 2 hours and 30 minutes from Hong Kong, and 3 hours and 30 minutes from Singapore. By direct ferry, Iloilo is approximately 1.5 hours away from Bacolod, and 15 minutes away from Guimaras. By land, Iloilo is around 4–5 hours away from Boracay, 3 hours away from Kalibo, and 2 hours away from Roxas City.
Iloilo transportation gateways
Iloilo International Airport – The Iloilo International Airport is the primary gateway to Iloilo. It serves regularly scheduled direct domestic flights to Iloilo from major Philippine airlines including Manila, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, and Cagayan de Oro. The airport also serves international flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore. Flights to Iloilo are served by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, and TigerAir. The Iloilo Airport is located approximately 19 kilometers or 20 minutes away by taxi from Iloilo City.
Iloilo Seaports – Ferries in Iloilo depart and arrive at various seaports in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province depending on the route and vessel type. (1) Ferry terminals along the Iloilo River in Lapuz district, Iloilo City serves fastcraft ferries to and from Bacolod, RORO ferries to and from Guimaras, and ferries to and from Palawan. (2) The Iloilo Domestic Port in Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City Proper, serves shipping companies with routes to and from Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga.[41]
The province of Iloilo, including the city of Iloilo, is a major center of education in the Western Visayas region. It is home to one of the largest numbers of universities in the country, with a total of ten major institutions. Two notable universities are also set to open new campuses in the city and province of Iloilo: the University of St. La Salle in Pavia and National University in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
^To distinguish it from its capital city, Iloilo City
References
^"List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
^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. ISBN9781351876346.
^Originally titled Maragtás kon (historia) sg pulô nga Panay kutub sg iya una nga pamuluyö tubtub sg pag-abut sg mga taga Borneo nga amó ang ginhalinan sg mga bisayâ kag sg pag-abut sg mga Katsilâ, Scott, William Henry (1984). Pre-hispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. pp. 92–93, 103.
^"Philippine Ethnography: Ilongo"(PDF). CCP encyclopedia of Philippine Art. Vol. 1. manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines. 1990. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 4, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
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