The legacy of Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr.
Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr. was one of those who donated parts of his property for the widening of the roads and making new ones and so becoming one of the pioneers of in the development of the city
Buldings in Ortiz street near the
pumpboat terminal.
Ortiz Street. Taken simply as a street named after some person in the course of our very long history. Most of the young generation of today, if asked, would not even know Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr. on whom the street was named after.
Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr. was born to a noble and wealthy family in 1798 in Estepa, Sevilla, Spain and had the title of Marques de Luna. With business flowing in his blood, he, along with some of his friends came to the Philippines with an intention to start a business. One of his friends, Don Joaquin Ynchausti, invited him to invest in the sugar industry. He declined the invitation, however because he wanted to be in the shipping business. He was able to stay in Manila for a few years before coming to Iloilo and was able to get familiar with Philippine life. While staying there, he met a beautiful young Batanguena named Justa Porras. Later on he and the Batanguena happily got married.
Residents going about their daily
activities.
He traveled around the Philippines looking for a better location for establishing a business (shipyard) and he found that Iloilo was situated in the center of the Philippines and had ample supply of timber for his ships. Here he decided to establish his shipping business.
He began his ship building and shipping business in the year 1830. Just like any business, he started within his capacity; he began with inter-island transactions and, fortunately, got very successful. With confidence etched in his heart, and with the hope that fortune will still be on his side, he ventured into overseas shipping. Frigates, Batels and Bergantins were what to be found being built in his shipyard. It was also said that he built a beautiful Bergantine which he gave as a gift to Queen Maria Cristina de Borbon.
With his success, he began to invest in properties. He was progressing with the city of iloilo. It was said that iloilo had narrow streets and many swampy areas but with the joint efforts of the officials and the residents, Iloilo slowly became a town fit to be called a city.
Buldings in Ortiz street near the
pumpboat terminal.
Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr. was one of those who donated parts of his property for the widening of the roads and making new ones and so becoming one of the pioneers of in the development of the city. Because of this, in appreciation and acknowledgment for his selfless act, the officials then named Ortiz Street after him.
His donations are now part of the JM Basa Street, Ortiz Street, Iznart Street, Rizal Street and Gen. Luna Street and a piece of the Plazoleta Gay.