Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 1674

ILOILO

Iloilo, the largest town of Panay and the capital of the province of the same name, is the most important port of western Visayas. The exact location of the city is latitude 10° 41′39′′ north, and longitude 123° 34′ 12′′ east. It is situated on the border of the narrow Iloilo Strait, formed by the south-eastern curve of the island of Panay and the adjacent Guimaras Island. It is distant 340 nautical miles from Manila, 175 from Cebu, 243 from Zamboanga, 295 from Jolo, and 24 from Bacolod.

The port is on a narrow arm of the sea, commonly called the Iloilo River. Its harbour is well protected and has good anchorage for steamers of any size. The river is at present silted up and there are only two deep water berths available and at these vessels can load up to a maximum of 19' at high tide. A new wharf is in course of construction along the right bank of the river in front of the godowns of the leading commercial firms, and it is proposed to dredge the river to 21' along the entire length of this new wharf. It is hoped to complete this project by the end of 1931. Vessels not exceeding 300' in length can load up to 15' at high tide at the river wall in front of the Custom House and the neighbouring Chinese godowns.

An aviation field is being constructed on reclaimed land at the mouth of the river and a regular air service with Manila and Cebu is planned for the near future. The landing field will be used by both military and civil aeroplanes.

Iloilo is an important commercial centre. It is one of the Philippine ports opened to the commerce of the world. Vessels from the ports of eastern and southern Asia, Europe, and the United States call for sugar and copra. The port has also bi-weekly steamship connections with Manila, and there is a regular steamship service with Cebu, and Dumaguete. In addition to this service, two steamers ply daily between this port and Occidental Negros. The Philippine Railway, which extends from Iloilo to Capiz, a distance of 73 miles, practically bisects the Island of Panay, and traverses an exceptionally fertile stretch of country. Each end of the line passes through alluvial plains devoted to the cultivation of rice, sugar-cane, corn, garden and minor products; while the central portion, being higher, is utilized for cattle- raising, the cultivation of tobacco, hemp, coffee, cacao, sugar cane, cocoanuts, and other tropical products. Roads from almost all the towns of the province also enter the city. Besides being the leading sugar port, Iloilo is the centre of the sinamay industry.

Iloilo is a first-class municipality with 50,000 inhabitants. It includes the neighbouring towns of Molo and Mandurriao. Among its principal streets mention may be made of J. M. Basa, wherein are found most of the stores; A. Ledesma, the potential business thoroughfare; and Progreso, where several banks are established. There are seven hotels-the Iloilo Hotel, the Eastern-American Hotel, the American Hotel, Hotel Madrid, Oriente Hotel, the Plaza Hotel and the Bilbao Hotel. The prin- cipal buildings are the Custom House, the Provincial Building, St. Paul's Hospital, Lizares Building, Cacho Building, Javellana Building, Tantoco Building, and Lopez Building. The secondary and elementary schools are among the largest in the Islands.: The means of communication are excellent; one can communicate by telegraph and telephone with all the other municipalities in Panay, and by cable and wireless with the other islands of the Archipelago, as well as with any other country in the world.

The town of Iloilo became the capital of the province in 1688. It was opened to the commerce of the world in 1855.. On the 23rd December, 1898, the Spanish Governor-General resident in Iloilo resigned, giving over the care of the town to the Mayor, or Alcalde, of Iloilo, preparing with his troops and Government officials, naval, military and civil, to evacuate the place, which, on the 25th December, was accomplished. On the 26th December, 1898, the town of Iloilo, which for over a month had been entirely surrounded on the land side by Revolutionary forces, was delivered over to them by the Spanish Alcalde, and the Philippine Republic flag was hoisted on all the public buildings. On the 28th December, 1898, the United