Iloilo: A Growing Metropolis

Iloilo has always been a premier province in the country.  Located at the center of the Philippine archipelago, it comprises the southeastern part of Panay island.  It is a province with rich historical and cultural heritage, the home of various fiestas and festivals celebrated in the city and various towns of the province with “Dinagyang” as the most popular and nationally acclaimed shindig.  The city is also known for its grand and magnificent mansions, majestic century-old churches and exotic food and extraordinary delicacies.   The capital city of the province of Iloilo is Iloilo City.  It is a fast-growing modern city yet has always maintained its old charm and unspoiled environment.  Iloilo was a forerunner in business and trade way back in the Spanish and American colonial periods.  Before the turn of the twentieth century, the first department store in the country called Hoskyns and Co. opened in Calle Real, the prime shopping district of the city back then.  Today, Iloilo City is also one of the major urban...