Bridging the Gap
City streets in Iloilo
Nomenclature or the art of naming is as old as man himself. Since the beginning of speech and knowledge names have been given to persons, animals, birds, plants, other organisms as well as inanimate objects for the purpose of identification, classification and order. Various methods were used through time until it reached the point when names are given not only for the purposes stated above but also to honor, perpetuate or commemorate important figures, events, places and things.
In the case of naming places, specifically streets, a variety of choices ranges from peculiar shapes, events that happened, industry present, landmarks to names of saints, discoverers, heroes, martyrs, politicians, and others. In the Philippine setting, streets are usually named after prominent figures in history. The bustling streets of the city proper district of Iloilo City are typical of this practice. It is evident that the streets in the downtown area were named after the famous sons of Iloilo and other important figures who have influenced the city of the country in one way or the other.
Martyrs were chosen as names, like for instance Gomez Street and Zamora Street in the downtown area. It is to honor the memory of the three martyr priests, Fathers Burgos, Gomez and Zamora who were executed at the Bagumbayan field on February 17, 1872. General Luna, Mabini and Rizal streets, on the other hand, were named after three national heroes of the Philippines - Gen. Antonio Luna, Apolinario Mabini and Jose Rizal, respectively. There is also the busy street of Quezon where hardwares, spareparts shops, and wholesale stores lined both sides. It was named after the late Manuel Quezon, president of the Philippines during the Commonwealth period.
Many other streets in the city proper, although not bearing the names of national heroes, were also given names of the prominent personalities, mostly natives of Iloilo. Aldeguer Street at the heart of the city is famous among the seamstress, tailors and houswives in search of cheap cloth. The street is in memory of Jose Aldeguer, former congressman of the city. Arroyo Street was named after Mariano Arroyo, a prominent son of Molo who became a senator in 1928 to 1930 during the American era.
De la Rama Street behind Plaza Libertad was known as Calle Progresso during the Spanish Period due to its position as the financial center of the city. Later, it was renamed as De la Rama Street to honor Don Esteban de la Rama who owned the largest shipping line based in Iloilo during the 1920s and the 1930s. Delgado Street, which is flooded with big and small commercial establishments was named after the greatest general and hero of the Visayan phase of the Philippine Revolution - Gen. Martin Delgado. Another busy section in the city is De Leon Street. It was named after Juan de Leon, a dynamic fighter for freedom during the Philippine Revolution, who not only fought in the West Visayan front but also in the national scene.
Guanco Street is where the old Gaisano is located. The street is so-called to recognize the deeds done by Espiridion Guanco, a dynamic politician from Molo who became a senator during the early part of the American era. Jalandoni Street, on its part, was named after Manuel Jalandoni of Jaro, member of the Comite Central Revolucionario de Visayas. The name Ledesma Street is to honor Gen. Pascual Ledesma, who was the first Flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy and Secretary of the Navy and Commerce in the Aguinaldo cabinet.
Mapa Street is named after Victoriano Mapa, a prominent son of Iloilo who was an active member of the Comite de Conspiradores. He becamechief justice of the Supreme Court during the American Regime. The name Melliza Street is to give recognition to the Ilonggo revolutionary leader, Raymundo Melliza. He also became governor of Iloilo from 1904 to 1906.
The other streets that were not named after Ilonggo personalities are J.M. Basa, Blumentritt, General Hughes and Iznart. J.M Basa Street was the original shopping and business artery of the city and was well known in the past as "Calle Real." The streetwas named after Jose Ma. Basa, Filipino propagandist and businessman. Blumentritt Street was named after the close friend and mentor of Rizal, Ferdinand Blumentritt of Austria. General Hughes Street bears the name of Gen. Robert Hughes, the commanding general of the American forces that landed in Iloilo. Iznart Street is so-called to perpetuate the memory of Manuel Iznart, governor of Iloilo during the second half of the last century of the Spanish rule.