Bridging the Gap
Tourist attractions in Iloilo, early 1900s
Considered to be the historical and cultural cradle of Panay Island, Iloilo has long been of great national and international renown. In addition to its strategic location at the center of the Philippine archipelago are numerous tourist attractions which its natural resources and cultural primacy endowed. Iloilo abounds in scenic spots, wholesome and inviting beaches, historical landmarks, classical and modern buildings, baroque and gothic churches, old Spanish houses, great culinary delights, and grand colorful fiestas and festivals.
While some of the beautiful scenes and significant structures in Iloilo during the early days and until the period of American occupation did not survive the Filipino-American War and World War II, as well as several conflagrations, many have been preserved and maintained up to the present times.
During the early 1900s, there was Fort San Pedro, an impressive historical landmark of Spanish colonization that stood on a promontory at the entrance of the Iloilo harbor and also an ideal place for viewing the "floating island" of Guimaras. Near Fort San Pedro, there used to have a beautiful waterside esplanade where the cosmopolitan society of Iloilo promenade on a sultry afternoon. (David 1937)
There were still some other great sights which used to have been Iloilo's pride to its visitors. Around Plaza Libertad was a number of banking and commercial houses and hotels. Just a little beyond were the Casino Español of the Spanish community and the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus. In the same section of the city, some old stone houses built during the Spanish times were still in sight. A walking distance away was the proud Iloilo Custom House which, at that time, was the tallest structure in the city. Jose Ma. Basa Street, popularly known as "Calle Real", and the liveliest place in the commercial district had a lot of entertainment to offer, being the hub of show houses, restaurants, and cafes, as well as business, professional, and commercial establishments.
A sight-seeing trip to Iloilo can never be complete without seeing the districts of Jaro, Molo, La Paz and Arevalo. Jaro Plaza was then the most beautiful plaza in the island of Panay. Around it were the imposing Cathedral and its lofty tower looming magnificently over the place, the Bishop's Palace, the Catholic Society Building, the modern town hall, and the Jaro Evangelical Church, the oldest Baptist church in the Philippines.
About a kilometer away from the Jaro Plaza towards the north was the Iloilo Industrial School, established by the American Baptist missionaries, that catered to the educational needs of poor but deserving students. This was the school that later became the Central Philippine College.
At the outskirts of Jaro were the Sambag battlefield where many American and Filipino soldiers fell during the Filipino-American War, the Iloilo Jockey Club in Balantang; and a little beyond, the Leganes Catholic Church which was considered to be the "Mecca" of Iloilo as thousands of people from other places in the region flocked to it yearly to pay homage to its miraculous patron saint.
La Paz, another district located between Jaro and Iloilo, had the Redemptorists' Monastery, Iloilo Tennis Club, the Lopez and Cacho Mansions as well as the famous Nelly Garden.
The District of Molo was, and still is, recognized for its gothic church considered to be one of the most artistic churches in the archipelago with its fine symmetry and beauty of architecture. Another suburb, Arevalo, also show-cased valuable relics of the past, among which were the weaving looms reminiscent of the Iloilo being the Textile Capital of the Philippines, and the old Spanish tower at the plaza.
Other interesting sights were the Miag-ao Church, San Joaquin Church, the Janiuay Cemetery with many steps, the ruins of the Dumangas Church, the long lines of beaches in the coastal towns, as well as the lakes, springs, hills, caves and hunting grounds scattered all throughout the province.