Iloilo City

Iloilo City
Highly urbanized city
View of Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district
Eusebio Villanueva Building on Calle Real Heritage Zone
Molo Church in Molo district
Jaro Cathedral in Jaro district
Molo Mansion in Molo district
Camiña Balay Nga Bato in Arevalo district
Lopez Mansion in Jaro district
Iloilo River, with the Iloilo River Esplanade along its banks
Flag of Iloilo City
Flag
Official seal of Iloilo City
Seal
Official logo of Iloilo City
Logo
Nickname(s): 
City of Love and others
Motto(s): 
La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloílo[1] (transl. The Most Loyal and Noble City of Iloilo)
Map of Western Visayas particularly Iloilo with Iloilo City highlighted
Map of Western Visayas particularly Iloilo with Iloilo City highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Iloilo City is located in Philippines
Iloilo City
Iloilo City
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°43′N 122°34′E / 10.72°N 122.57°E / 10.72; 122.57
CountryPhilippines
RegionWestern Visayas
ProvinceIloilo (geographically only)
District Lone district
Founded1566 (Spanish settlement)
CityhoodOctober 5, 1889
ReincorporatedJuly 16, 1937
Highly urbanized cityDecember 22, 1979
Barangays180 (see Barangays and districts)
City geographical districts
List
Government
 [3]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorJerry P. Treñas (NUP) (Leave of absence)
 • Vice MayorJeffrey P. Ganzon (PFP) Acting Mayor; Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, Acting Vice Mayor[2]
 • City RepresentativeJulienne L. Baronda (Lakas-CMD)
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate330,470 voters (2022)
Area
[4]
 • City78.34 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)[7]
 • City457,626
 • Density5,800/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
 • Urban
574,000[5]
 • Metro
1,007,945
 • Metro density910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
 • Households
104,313[6]
Demonym(s)Ilonggo (masculine)
Ilongga (feminine)
Economy
 • Gross domestic product (GDP)₱145.05 billion (2022)[8]
$2.563 billion (2022)[9]
 • Income class1st city income class
 • Poverty incidence
3.30
% (2021)[10]
 • Revenue₱ 3,437 million (2020), 1,670 million (2012), 1,688 million (2013), 1,043 million (2014), 2,113 million (2015), 2,303 million (2016), 2,675 million (2017)
 • Assets₱ 9,408 million (2020), 3,890 million (2012), 4,184 million (2013), 4,323 million (2014), 5,159 million (2015), 6,529 million (2016), 7,151 million (2017)
 • Expenditure₱ 2,279 million (2020), 1,361 million (2012), 1,388 million (2013), 1,440 million (2014)
 • Liabilities₱ 2,082 million (2020), 1,614 million (2012), 1,718 million (2013), 1,516 million (2014), 1,948 million (2015), 2,349 million (2016), 2,017 million (2017)
Service provider
 • ElectricityMonte Oro Resource Electric and Power Corporation (MORE)
 • WaterMetro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
5000
PSGC
063022000
IDD : area code +63 (0)33
Native languagesHiligaynon/Ilonggo
Catholic dioceseArchdiocese of Jaro
Patron saintNuestra Señora de la Purificación y la Candelaria (English: Our Lady of Purification and Candle)
Websiteiloilocity.gov.ph

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. According to the 2020 census, Iloilo City has a population of 457,626 people, making it the most populous city in Western Visayas.[7] For the metropolitan area, the total population is 1,007,945 people.[11]

It is the largest city and capital of Iloilo province, where the city 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 of the Western Visayas region. The city serves as the regional hub for education, culinary arts, religion, healthcare, tourism, culture, industry, governance, and economy.

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).[12]

In 1566, the Spanish settled in Iloilo, establishing it as one of the oldest Spanish colonial centers in the Philippines. The city was bestowed with the honorific title "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad" (The Most Loyal and Noble City) by Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain and served as the last capital of the Spanish Empire in Asia and the Pacific,[13][14] as well as the capital of the short-lived Federal State of the Visayas.[15] In modern times, Iloilo City remains prominent in the country, with its Spanish influence still highly evident in its architecture, culture, cuisine, and historical landmarks.[16][17]

Renowned for dishes like La Paz Batchoy, Kansi, Kadyos, Baboy, kag Langka (KBL), Laswa, and Pancit Molo, Iloilo City has been recognized as the first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines.[18] The city is also home to several notable institutions, including the Central Philippine University, the first Baptist and second American and Protestant-founded university in the country and Asia, which is ranked globally by Quacquarelli Symonds and Times Higher Education.[19][20] It is also known for housing the UNESCO-listed Hinilawod Epic Chant Recordings.[21][22]

Iloilo City is also popular for the Dinagyang Festival, well-preserved heritage houses, centuries-old Catholic churches, museums, river esplanades, and Spanish colonial and American-era architecture buildings, as well as being the center of Candelaria devotion in the Philippines.

  1. ^ Burgos, Nestor P. Jr. (June 11, 2015). "Groups see Iloilo title as 'badge of betrayal'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  2. ^ Lena, Perla (October 9, 2024). "Treñas on path to full recovery after surgery". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  3. ^  City of Iloilo | (DILG)
  4. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Demographia World Urban Areas PDF (March 2020)" (PDF). Demographia. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  6. ^ "Housing Characteristics in the Philippines (Results of the 2015 Census of Population)". Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "2022 Economic Performance of Highly Urbanized Cities Outside the National Capital Region". Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "PH₱56.598 per dollar (per International Monetary Fund on Representative Exchange Rates for Selected Currencies for December 2022)". IMF. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Member Municipalities of Metro Iloilo–Guimaras". MIGEDC: Metro-Iloilo–Guimaras Economic Development Council. Archived from the original on October 29, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  12. ^ City to recognize Lapuz as separate district from La Paz Archived March 26, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. Thenewstoday.info (December 22, 2008). Retrieved on November 7, 2011.
  13. ^ Burgos, Nestor P. Jr. (June 11, 2015). "Groups see Iloilo title as 'badge of betrayal'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  14. ^ The end of the Spanish Empire in Iloilo Archived October 28, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Greater Philippines:Captaincy General of the Philippines". Presidential Museum and Library. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  16. ^ "Iloilo City History | Tourist Spots, Language and Festivals | Philippines Cities". Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Funtecha, Henry F. (September 7, 2007). "Communication facilities in Iloilo, early 20th C." www.thenewstoday.info. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  18. ^ Mallard, Thomas (October 31, 2023). "55 new cities join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on World Cities Day". UNESCO. Archived from the original on March 24, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  19. ^ CPU enrolment figures surpass that of last school year Archived October 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  20. ^ QS Asia University Rankings 2023 Archived March 22, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 07-03-2023.
  21. ^ UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MOW) Regional Register inscribes 20 new items in recognition of human innovation and imagination in Asia-Pacific. Retrieved June-08-2024.
  22. ^ Hinilawod Records of Jocano inscribe in the UNESCO MOWCAP. Retrieved 06-08-2024.