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ILOILO
The Spaniards began to enter Iloilo as early as the time of Legaspi. Finding themselves harassed by the natives of Cebu, they sailed westward to Panay and estab- lished settlement in the town now called Oton. The Spanish power really asserted itself when Governor Ronquillo in 1580-1583, founded the villa de Arevalo. The town of Iloilo became the capital of the province in 1688. It was opened to the commerce of the world in 1855.
With the revolution of 1898 and the coming of the Americans, Spanish power immediately melted away. On Dec. 23, 1898, the Spanish Governor resident of Iloilo resigned, giving over the care of the provincial capital to the Mayor Alcalde of the city. The Spanish forces subsequently evacuated Iloilo on Dec. 25.
On Dec. 28, 1898, the U. S. forces, composed of the s.s. Baltimore and three tran- sports with 3,800 troops under the command of Brigadier General Miller, arrived at Iloilo and demanded its surrender. The revolutionary forces, awaiting general orders from Aguinaldo, declined. Thereupon, Gen. Miller advised the foreign consulates in the city that hostilities would commence at 5.00 p.m. on Feb. 12th.
The revolutionary forces having no means to hold their positions, set fire to the city and retired to the mountainous interior of Panay. The city was thereupon oc- cupied by Americans. After some guerilla warfare, the revolutionary forces sur- rendered. On April 11, 1901, civil government was established in the Province of Iloilo.
According to the pressent ranking of Philippine Provinces, Iloilo is classified as a first class province. The provincial capital, Iloilo is now a chartered city of the Philippine Islands
LOCATION AND IMPORTANCE
The City of Iloilio, 340 miles from Manila, 175 miles from Cebu, and 234 miles from Zamboanga, is situated on the southeast of the Island of Panay, just at the mouth of Iloilo River. It is the capital of the Province of Iloilo, and being safely protected from the adjoining seas by the island of Guimaras, it naturally became the leading: Visayan port of the Philippines.
SIZE
The City, consisting of Iloilo proper and its suburbs, Molo and Mandurriao, is estimated to cover 14.25 square kilometers. It is a conglomerate of cement, wooden, and nipa houses, with the first two kinds greatly predominating. Some of its build- ings, specially those of its suburb Molo, are notedly old in their style of construction. The principal streets are of either asphalt or cement.
CLIMATE AND RAINFALL
The climate of the city is in general mild and agreeable; at times it may be better than that of Manila. The hottest months are March and April, the coolest December and January. During the months of June, July and August, the southwest winds blow, bringing the heaviest rains of the year. February is the driest month.
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POPULATION AND RELIGION
The census of 1938 gives the population of the City of Iloilo within city limits as 90,480. Among the foreign residents are included Spaniards, Chinese, Japanese, Americans, British, Swiss and Germans. The natives are predominantly Catholic but there is an increasing number of Protestants and a few Aglipayans.
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, on Englisli