Iloilo, the second oldest city in the
country, is also known as the "Queen City of the South."
Iloilo is a port city at the center of the Philippine
archipelago, but nevertheless, is considered the bowl of
Western Visayas, owing to its fertile soil suitable for
any kind of agricultural products. It is a city that
throbs with promise and potential, mainly due to its
rich aquatic resources and abundant mineral deposits.
Iloilo has a rich colonial past coupled
with a colorful cultural heritage. It boasts of
different festivals, historic landmarks, excellent
cuisines and delicacies, calming white sand beaches and
resorts, and a wide array of recreation and
entertainment, to while away the time of tourists and
shoppers.
BRIEF
HISTORY
Irong-Irongappears in the Maragtas
legend of the coming of the ten Bornean datus to Panay
who bartered gold for the plains and valleys of the
island from a local Ati chieftain. One datu, Paiburong
by name, was given the territory of Irong-Irong in what
is now Iloilo. For 300 years before the coming of the
Spaniards, the islanders lived in comparative prosperity
and peace under an organized government and such laws as
the Code of Kalantiaw.
In 1566, the Spaniards under Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi came to Panay and established a
settlement in Ogtong (now Oton, Iloilo). He appointed
Gonzalo Ronquillo as deputy encomiendero, who in 1581
moved the seat of spanish power to La Villa de Arevalo,
named in honor of his hometown of Avila in Spain. By
1700 due to recurrent raids by Moro pirates, Dutch and
English privateers, the Spaniards moved to the Village
of Irong-Irong, where close to the mouth of the river
they built Fort San Pedro. Irong-Irong or Ilong-Ilong
which the Spaniards later shortened to Iloilo later
became the capital of the province.
Its capital which is of the same name
became a chartered city on August 25, 1937.
LANGUAGES/DIALECTS
Negrenses, as practically all
Filipinos, are poly-lingual. Of the 87 dialects in the
country, two Visayan dialects are predominantly used in
the province: Ilonggo, spoken by 80-90% of the populace,
and Cebuano, used by the rest. English and Filipino are
taught in elementary and high school. Spanish and other
languages are also taught in colleges and universities.
English, is also widely spoken.
Content
from:
REGION VI- WESTERN VISAYAS
Mr. Edwin
Trompeta-Regional Director
Department of
Tourism
Western Visayas Tourism Center
Capitol
Ground, Bonifacio Drive 5000, Iloilo City
Tel : (033)
3375411 / Telefax : (033) 3350245
Email : deptour6@iloilo.net
Images
from:
http://www.dinagyang.org/
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