BRIDGING THE GAP
Business establishments at Iznart St. & Plaza Gay, 1920s
Prior to the 20th century, Iznart Street was part of Calle Real. Calle Real, the major thoroughfare of the town of Iloilo at that time covered a long stretch from Plaza Alfonso XII (Plaza Libertad today) up to the provincial government building, the Casa Real. However, somewhere in the 20th century, it was cut at the junction of Plazoleta Gay and the section from this point to Casa Real became part of Iznart Street.
From the 1927 Iloilo Telephone Directory and other printed materials of that period, one can surmise that Iznart Street was, indeed, a dynamic street. Found in the street were a movie house, bazaars or stores, printing presses, a garage of cars for hire, a furniture shop, a bakery, and other unclassified establishments.
The movie house, Cine Venus, was found in Iznart Street. Three printing presses were also located in this street, namely: Al Adalid, El Centinela, and Makinaugalingon. Other establishments were Conpinco de Hijos, a store specializing in the sale of furniture and other home appliances; Commercial Garage, a firm involved in transporting passengers; and Royal Bakery, engaged in the making of bread and different kinds of pastries.
A good number of establishments were bazaars and other firms whose business cannot be ascertained. The bazaars were La Estrella de Oro, owned by Chin Hong and Co.; Royal Bazar; and W & Company, managed by Wing Kee. The other business establishments were: Po Buan Pick & Co., Po Chiaco & Co., Sing Guan & Co., Tan Chao y Co., Tong Lam and Co., Lam Heng & Co., Estrella Products, Fusellas y Lahora, and a Taller de Bardados which was a machine shop.
In the vicinity of Plazoleta Gay were commercial establishments like Bazar Japones, owned by T. Murakami & Co.; El Naval, owned by Kian & Co; and La Filipiniana Uy Gongco & Co. The office of Imprenta Manilense, a printing press, was also found in this place.
As it is today, a greater majority of the business establishments at Iznart Street in the late 1920s were owned by Chinese. This has brought about the reputation of Iznart Street as a Chinese enclave in downtown Iloilo and, as if to give credence to this, the Chinese New Year celebration has been held in this street since the festivity had begun.