Iloilo City
Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo (Hiligaynon: Dakbanwa sang Iloilo ; Filipino: Lungsod ng Iloilo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of the island of Panay. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo, where it is geographically situated and grouped under the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent in terms of government and administration. In addition, it is the center of the Iloilo–Guimaras Metropolitan Area, as well as the regional center and primate city of the Western Visayas region. According to the 2020 census, Iloilo City has a population of 457,626 people. For the metropolitan area, the total population is 1,007,945 people.
Iloilo City | |
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From top, left to right: Mandurriao district skyline; Calle Real; Molo Church; Jaro Belfry; Molo Mansion; Iloilo River with Iloilo Provincial Capitol Complex | |
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Flag Seal | |
| Nickname(s): Most Loyal and Noble City, City of Love, Queen City of the South, Bike Capital of the Philippines, Royal City of the South, Museum City of the Philippines, and others | |
| Motto(s): La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloílo (The Most Loyal and Noble City of Iloilo) | |
Map of Western Visayas particularly Iloilo province with Iloilo City highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap | |
Iloilo City Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 10°43′N 122°34′E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas |
| Province | Iloilo (geographically only) |
| District | Lone district |
| Founded | 1566 (Spanish settlement) |
| Cityhood | October 5, 1889 |
| Reincorporated | July 16, 1937 |
| Highly urbanized city | December 22, 1979 |
| Barangays | 180 (see Barangays and districts) |
| City geographical districts | List
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| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Jerry P. Treñas (NUP) |
| • Vice Mayor | Jeffrey P. Ganzon (NUP) |
| • City Representative | Julienne L. Baronda (NUP) |
| • City Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 330,470 voters (2022) |
| Area | |
| • City | 78.34 km2 (30.25 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 91 km2 (35 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 1,105.53 km2 (426.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 175 m (574 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | −1 m (−3 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
| • City | 457,626 |
| • Density | 5,800/km2 (15,000/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 574,000 |
| • Metro | 1,007,945 |
| • Metro density | 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| • Households | 104,313 |
| Demonym(s) | Ilonggo (masculine) Ilongga (feminine) |
| Economy | |
| • Gross domestic product (GDP) | ₱132,380 million (2021) $2,627 million (2021) |
| • Income class | 1st city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 3.48 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 3,437 million (2020) |
| • Assets | ₱ 9,408 million (2020) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 2,279 million (2020) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 2,082 million (2020) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Monte Oro Resource Electric and Power Corporation (MORE) |
| • Water | Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5000 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)33 |
| Native languages | Hiligaynon/Ilonggo |
| Catholic diocese | Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Patron saint | Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) – Official Roman Catholic Patron of Western Visayas and Romblon. |
| Website | www |
The city is a conglomeration of former towns, now organized as geographical or administrative districts. These districts include Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City Proper, Jaro (an independent city before), La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo, and Lapuz (declared a separate district in 2008).
Iloilo City holds historical significance as one of the earliest Spanish colonial centers in the Philippines, settled in 1566. It was recognized as one of the royal Spanish cities in the country and received the honorific royal title "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" (The Very Loyal and Noble City). Iloilo played a significant role as Spanish Empire's last capital in Asia and the Pacific. It was also the capital of the short-lived Federal State of the Visayas. Today, the city remains prominent in the country, exerting influence over its history, culture, politics, and economy.
Iloilo City is the "first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines". It is notable for its dishes like La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, kag Langka), Inasal nga Manok, Tinuom, Laswa, Kansi, Binakol, and Inubadan nga Manok.
The city serves as the regional hub for education, culinary arts, religion, healthcare, tourism, culture, industry, governance, and the economy in Western Visayas. Central Philippine University (CPU), a university established under the auspices of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society trough a grant of the American industrialist and philanthropist, John D. Rockefeller, as the "first Baptist and second American and Protestant-founded university in the country", is a prominent academic institution that attracts students from various parts of the Philippines and abroad. The university has been ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education, two renowned global university ranking agencies.
Iloilo is well known for the Dinagyang Festival held every January. It is hailed also as the "Asia's City of Love" and the "Heart of the Philippines" because of its central location in the Philippine archipelago and the reputation of the Ilonggo people for their sweetness and gentleness, attributed to the tone of the Hiligaynon language. It is also known as the "Royal City of the South" due to being the second city after Manila to receive a Spanish royal title, the "Bike Capital of the Philippines" in contrast to the cycling culture and infrastructure the metropolis is famous of, and as the "Museum City of the Philippines" and the "City of Mansions" due to a number of heritage houses and landmarks found throughout the city. Furthermore, it is considered a "Pilgrim City" and the "Center of Candelaria devotion in the Philippines", as Roman Catholic pilgrims from throughout the country flock to the Jaro Cathedral (National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) annually for the "Fiesta Candelaria" held on February 2 in honor of Western Visayas's patroness, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. This festival is the second-largest Marian festival after Peñafrancia in Naga, Camarines Sur, in the Philippines.
The city's urban planning, real estate development, and demand for business process outsourcing (BPO) have contributed to its reputation as one of the most livable cities in the country. It has been identified as a top location for the expansion of outsourcing activity outside Metro Manila and is projected to become the third-largest hub for the IT-BPO industry in the country by 2025, according to CBRE Group.