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Major Hubs 5 Major Destinations
Manila and Its Spokes
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Cebu and its Spokes
Laoag / Baguio and its Spokes
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Davao and its Spokes
Clark/Subic and its Spokes |
Others and its Spokes
Iloilo
THE PROVINCE AT A GLANCE
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
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