BRIDGING THE GAP
General Luna Street in Iloilo City
General Luna Street in Iloilo City is a four-lane highway that stretches from the point where the provincial Capitol is located up to the vicinity of Hotel del Rio. It is connected with Iznart Street in the east, which said street is in turn linked to J.M. Basa Street. J.M. Basa Street or Calle Real was the nerve center of Iloilo City in the past when she was known as the commercial capital of Western Visayas.
General Luna Street is named after the famous General Antonio Luna, the brilliant military strategist of the Filipino Revolutionary Army that fought against the Spaniards and, later, the Americans. Prior to its being called General Luna Street, it was supposedly already existing as early as the 18th century of Spanish rule. It connected the town of Iloilo in the east with the town of Molo in the west. It was used mostly to accommodate calesas and caretelas and, occasionally, caruajes, during that period. In 1921, however, under the American regime, to accommodate motorized vehicles, major street projects and improvements were implemented, including General Luna Street, which were also installed with street lights.
General Luna Street is one of the widest and busiest streets in the City of Iloilo nowadays. This is because on both sides of the street are major infrastructures and businesses that operate briskly in the area. The street is also main artery of commuters from the central towns and southern towns of Iloilo. The major institutions found along its length are the Provincial Capitol and the Arroyo Fountain, Panay Electric Co., Atrium, St. Paul's Hospital, Philippine National Bank, University of San Agustin, U.P. in the Visayas, John B. Lacson Maritime University, and Hotel del Rio. There are many offices, a police headquarter, and other business and commercial establishments situated in the area.
The original Iloilo Provincial Capitol or Casa Real was built in 1840. The present old Provincial Capitol is no longer the original one but has underwent renovations through time. The Arroyo Fountain, in front of the old Provincial Capitol, was constructed in 1927. The structure was in memory of Senator Jose Ma. Arroyo who authored Republic Act 3222 in the Philippine Legislature establishing the Iloilo Metropolitan Waterworks in 1925.
The Panay Electric Co. started operating in 1921, although electricity was already available in Iloilo City as early as 1902 with the Iloilo Light Co. Atrium, on the other hand, is a recent addition to the physical landmark of the city. It is quite an imposing and beautiful building not far from the Provincial Capitol. It houses Days Hotel, a grocery store, eateries and shops of various kinds, and products and services. Run by the Sisters of St. Paul de Sartres, St. Paul's Hospital was opened in 1911 and, nowadays, is considered one of the most modern hospitals in Western Visayas. The Philippine National Bank along General Luna Street is a recent addition to Iloilo's fast-changing skyline. The Universidad de San Agustin, the earliest university in Iloilo, started serving the region in 1904 and since then has made a name for itself as a bulwark of good education. UP in the Visayas was established in 1947 as a branch of the UP system at Diliman. John B. Lacson Maritime University, on the other hand, is a two-campus University, specializing in Nautical and Marine Engineering. And, finally, there is Hotel del Rio, a respected Hotel in western stretch of General Luna Street.
As can be gleaned from the description, General Luna Street is a rich artery of Iloilo City. One can find a lot of commercial offices and private houses in it. The street is also a show-window of what a good public work project is all about. Despite its long years of existence, it has not been affected yet by the law of wear and tear. All these, make General Luna Street a major player in Iloilo's march to development.