Iloilo City has a long and rich history dating back to the 13th century when it was first settled by Bornean datus fleeing tyranny. It was originally called Irong-Irong due to the shape of the river, and became a prosperous trading port under the Spanish in the 1800s. Iloilo played a key role in Philippine independence, with the last Spanish governor surrendering there on Christmas Day 1898. Today, Iloilo City is a major economic hub in the Western Visayas region, with thriving industries, tourism, education, and as the regional center. It has low crime, a high quality of life, and the local government has prioritized urban development, heritage preservation, and community

1. ILOILO, BANWA KO!
Subtitle

2. ORAL EXAMINATION
ANZARY D. JUANILLO
HISTORY

3. The word “Iloilo City” came from the shape
of the city, cut by the river which looks like
the shape of a nose, “Irong-Irong”, nose-
like, later became Iloilo.

5. The Maragtas Legend tells the story of Iloilo way back in
the 13th century, when Datu Puti and his fellow Datus, fled
from the tyranny of Sultan Makatunao of Borneo and
landed at the mouth of the Siwaragan River, now known as
the town of San Joaquin, and eventually settled there.
At the that time, people called the "Atis", who were ruled
by King Marikudo and Queen Maniwangtiwang, inhabited
Panay. King Marikudo bartered the lowlands of Panay
Island for a golden hat, "saduk", and a long gold necklace,
"manangyad", and other assorted gifts to the Bornean
Datus.The latter then took complete control of the island
with the "Atis" retiring to the mountains.

6. It was Datu Paiburong who was assigned in Irong-Irong. Panay
Island was ruled under the Code of Kalantiao, where peace and
prosperity reigned for 300 years. But this was disrupted when
the Spaniards came and established the provincial government.
As early as 1855, Iloilo opened to the world of trade and
became the biggest port in the Philippines and premier
province of the country because of various economic activities.
Municipio de Iloilo became a city under the Bacura Law in 1893.
Because it progressed steadily, the Commonwealth Act No. 158
incorporated the surrounding towns of Lapaz, Jaro, Mandurriao
and Arevalo to form Iloilo City and was finally inaugurated on
Aug. 25, 1937, and was dubbed as the "Queen City of the
South". Gen. Martin Delgado became the first governor of the
province of Iloilo.

8. The City of Iloilo, also known as
Ciudad sang Iloilo, Dakbanwa sang
Iloilo, City of Love, original Queen
City of the South, and ‘La Muy Noble
Cuidad’ (Most Commendable City), is
a remarkably urbanized town in the
Philippines and it is the main city of
the province of Iloilo. It is additionally
the regional centre of WesternVisayas
and moreover the middle of the Iloilo-
Guimaras Metropolitan area.The city
of Iloilo has an extremely prosperous
history you would need to expect a
lengthy novella than the usual short
article post.

9. Going back to history, Iloilo has already
established much contact with Spaniards
way back early 1800s. In 1855, Iloilo had
become the second most important port of
call with the colony due to transshipment
of sugar received from Negros Islands.The
little city was then given the title of ‘La
Muy Noble Ciudad’ (The Best Noble City) by
the Queen Regent of Spain.Towards the
turn of the 20th century, Iloilo City was
second to Manila – with a range of stores
along side iconic Calle Real selling items
from different parts of the world,
telephone network system in 1894,
agriculture experimental station in Lapaz
at 1888, and an Arts andTrade school in
1891.

10. Moreover, American effect during the
latter years delivered large universities
including Central Philippine University,
the first Baptist and 2nd private
American university in Asia and in the
country) and Iloilo Mission Hospital,
the first protestant hospital in the
country. Iloilo’s rich history is not just
visible in the old books in the library –
it displays on the intricately designed
facades in buildings, existence, and
restoration of heritage sites, as well as
the undeniable Ilonggo attitude
associated with a very ‘maluming’
(sweet) accent.

12. Province of Iloilo is
a province in
the Philippines located in
the WesternVisayas region. Its
capital is the City of Iloilo.
Iloilo occupies a major
southeast portion of
theVisayan
island of Panay and is
bordered by the province
of Antique to the
west, Capiz to the north,
the Jintotolo Channel to the
northeast, the Guimaras
Strait to the east, and
the Iloilo Strait and Panay
Gulf to the southwest.

14. “Philippine Independence was
declared in Kawit, Cavite. But the
actual realization of our independence
happened here in Iloilo,” said Iloilo
Provincial Board Member Demy
Sonza.
A recognized historian, Sonza was
referring to the surrender of Spanish
Governor-General Diego de los Ríos on
Christmas Day of 1898 in Iloilo City,
considered as the last Spanish capital
in the country.
The surrender of De los Rios came
more than six months after Emilio
Aguinaldo declared independence at
the balcony of his house in Kawit.
Sonza noted how the majority of
Filipinos have forgotten the dual roles
played by Iloilo in the country’s road to
independence.

16. ILOILO

18. Iloilo City is a hub for trade, commerce, finance, technology, medical
tourism, hospitality, real estate, tourism, education, and industry in
the Western Visayas region. Major industries in the city include
management of port facilities, telecommunications infrastructure
and utilities, banking and finance, retail trading, real estate, tourism
and business process outsourcing. The local government has
provided incentives to businesses in certain investment areas, such
as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses. It is
the home of Mang Inasal headquartered in Iloilo.

20. The modernly built Iloilo
International Airport is the 5th
busiest airport in the country;
the Port of Iloilo which is one of the
historical ports in the Philippine
islands is now one of the busiest
ports and natural harbor in the
country by terms of passenger
movement and cargo handling;
and with the on-going building
construction boom especially in the
real estate and retail sectors. Iloilo
city has the lowest crime rate in
entire Philippines, lowest level of
corruption, highest life expectancy
in Visayas and Mindanao, huge
concentration of middle class and
rank 1 in happiness index, and the
most business-friendly city.

21. At present, Iloilo ranks 3rd in the
country as the city with most
deposits or savings account, fueled
by OFW remittances, IT-BPO
industry, and the local industries.
The surge of microfinancial and
other lending institutions in the
city has also sprouted. It is the
headquarters of LifeBank MFI, the
Iloilo's largest homegrown
microfinancial institution (3rd
largest microfinancial institution in
the country) with ~500 branches
across the Philippines.
Queen City Development
Bank (QueenBank) which is owned
by the Florete Group, is one of the
founding member of Megalink (the
first bank outside of Manila to
become a member of it) has its
headquarters and 1st branch in
Iloilo City.

22. There are myriad of selections of
attractions in the city that tourists can
visit - heritage landmarks, museums,
art galleries, parks, and restaurants,
to name a few. Nightlife in the metro
with Smallville Complex as the mecca
for party-goers is flocked by revellers
every night especially on Friday and
weekends.
A well known Philippine heritage city
built during the Spanish era, heritage
tourism adds also to the city's charm
which magnets visitors. Centuries old
churches, old edifices and mansions of
well known Ilonggo families, magnets
sightseers from different places who
wants to discover Iloilo City's rich and
glorious past. Iloilo City is also
respected gastronomic capital with
famous dishes originated in the area
that gained popularity throughout the
country - La Paz Batchoy, Pancit
Molo, Kansi, Laswa, and KBL (Kadyos,
Baboy kag Langka).

23. The city is endowed with various
parks, open spaces and gardens
which contribute the city's
government initiatives in
protecting and preserving its
urbanscape for city dwellers for
them to benefit from.The Iloilo
River Esplanade which stretches on
both sides of Iloilo River which has
been designed a renowned Filipino
Architect Paulo Alcazaren who
designed Clarke
Quay in Singapore, is the longest
linear park and riverside boulevard
in the Philippines.The mangroves
along the Iloilo River Esplanade is
also a breeding ground for marine
species.

25. CITY-WIDE Urban Poor
Network, which links
together the city's three poor
community federations,
provides a platform for
discussion and enables the
city's poor communities to
tackle common issues with
their collective strength,
instead of in isolation as
individual communities or as
competing and territorial
federations.

26. CITY-WIDE Settlement
Upgrading :The urban poor
community network and the
city government are working
together and combining their
resources towards a common
goal of making Iloilo a city
where everyone has secure,
safe land, decent housing and
access to basic infrastructure
and social services, even in a
context with extremely
limited resources.

27. The objective of the
Sustainable Livelihood
Program is to reduce poverty
and inequality by generating
employment among poor
households and by moving
highly vulnerable households
into sustainable livelihoods
and toward economic
stability.

28. CITY-WIDE Disaster Rehabilitation
: The city government and the
urban poor community networks
are also working closely together
to ensure the most vulnerable
families affected by calamities to
move to safe, secure land and new
houses as communities, and to
plan for the inevitability of future
disasters by relocating
communities in danger zones to
safer land and building up the
city's protections against floods
and storms in ways that don't
displace and impoverish people
but give them new opportunities
for a more secure future.