ILOILO
1643
J
75,000. Among the foreign population are Spaniards, Chinese, Japanese, Americans, English, Swiss, Hindus, and other nationalities. The natives are predominatingly Catholics. There are a good number of Aglipayans and Protestants.
EDUCATION
Almost all the people are literate. A good number of them have at least a high school education. Besides its public schools for boys and girls, the city has several private institutions of learning among which are the Colegio de San Agustin and the Iloilo Institute, both for boys with the latter also receiving girls, and the Colegio de la Asuncion, the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon and the Colegio de Santa Ana, all for girls. The Protestants have recently established the Central Philippine College which is located in the adjacent town of Jaro. There are also commercial schools in the city as well as a number of kindergarten schools.
NEWSPAPERS
A testimony to the culture of the people is the number of newspapers and magazines in circulation. Besides the foreign and Manila newspapers and magazines which can be had in the city, Iloilo has four Spanish dailies, one English Daily, two Visayan Weeklies, one Visayan monthly, and one Visayan paper issued every three days. Papers may be easily had from the newsboys. Magazines may be bought at several stores.
RECREATION
.
There are three first class theatres in the city showing American or Spanish sound pictures in addition to several cheaper grade and one theatre showing Chinese film. On occasion, world-known artists give performances in the city. Out-of-door recrea- tion can be had at the beach alongside the city, particularly at the Cota Drive which forms part of the beach and serves Iloilo in the same way the Dewey Boulevard serves Manila.
TRANSPORTATION
.
The Iloilo Transportation Company offers a high grade yellow taxi-cab service. The Bilbao Garage has several Austin cars for hire at remarkably reasonable rates. PU cars can also be hired. Trucks offer transportation within city limits and to far as well as to nearby towns. The Panay Autobus Company has regular routes for the whole of Panay Island. The Philippine Railway Co. has for its southern terminal the city of Iloilo. Iloilo ranks next to Manila, and compared to her population well ahead of Manila, in the excellence and variety of transportation facilities afforded.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety is protected by a police force of one hundred men who at the same time serve as traffic cops, and by an adequate Fire Department.
HOTELS--PUBLIC UTILITIES, COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.
The city has at least six good hotels, all situated in prominent places. Water for drinking and other uses is supplied by the lloilo Metropolitan Waterworks. Electric light is supplied by the Panay Electric Company Inc. Telephone service is offered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. Telegraphic and postal service are -offered by the government with connections to all parts of the Philippines as well as
to foreign countries.
LOCAL PRODUCTS
The most important local products of Iloilo are: Sinamay cloth, patadiongs, buri hats, sawali mats, potteries, shell craft, cutleries, and locally made cigars. All of them may be had at the public market or at particular stores. Sometimes travelling
vendors sell them in the streets.
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FOREIGN COMMERCE
The following statistics taken from the 1930 report of the Iloilo Branch of the, Bureau of Commerce and Industry shows the growing importance of Iloilo as a port of entry:--
1903
1909
1919
1929
Import P.6,045,340
4,210,270
10,284,988
16,123,240
Export P.6,669,908
9,589,356
20,353,136
71,763,413
Total Trade P.12,715,248
13,799,626
30,638,118
87,886,702
From the above data one can see that the foreign trade of 1919 almost trebled that of 1909, and, the foreign trade of 1929 that of 1919.