Jaro, Iloilo City
Encyclopedia
Jaro is one of the six districts of Iloilo City
, in the Philippine
province of Iloilo
, on the island of Panay
, in the Western Visayas
.
It is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro
, that covers the whole Western Visayan region.
Its original name was Salog or Saro. It was also referred to as "Ilaya" or "mountain/dry land" together with La Paz
which was referred to as "Ilawod" or "sea/wet land". It had been one of the richer areas of Iloilo City even during the Spanish
colonial period (1521-1898) and probably the richest town of the entire colony. Historical artifacts indicate that it had once conducted trade with China
and Siam (Thailand) due to its port along the navigable river that ran through the town. It was also the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas
during the Spanish rule.
Jaro officially became a city in 1886. La Paz
was a part of Jaro until it became independent from Jaro and became a Town and incorporated into the City of Iloilo. It was later absorbed by the City of Iloilo along with the neighboring towns of Molo
, Mandurriao, La Paz
and Arevalo
in the early 20th century when all economic activities were shifted to the port of Iloilo.
Located between Dungon Creek and the Jaro River, Jaro fulfills the ideal design for establishing communities during that era: a site between two rivers, with a church and plaza
in the center, and homes of affluent families in the vicinity. The church is the famous Parish of Our Lady of Candles
, also known as the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Jaro
and the site of a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by the late Pope John Paul II
during his visit in 1982. The image is the only religious icon in the country to have been personally crowned by a Pope.
Jaro's celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) every February 2 is well-known in the Philippines. The fiesta features pageantry with a fiesta queen from one of the prominent families of the place, and a cockfight at the Iloilo Coliseum, where cockfighting aficionados from all over the Philippines converge.
The district is notable for its large amount of nineteenth century architecture
. Straddling the main plaza is the antique Jaro Catheral and the Palasyo, the Archbishop's residence.
Majority of the mestizo
families from Iloilo came from this town, because it was a center and main port during Spanish period and many Spanish traders married natives and settled on the island.
Also found in the district is the St. Joseph Regional Seminary, in Cubay. It is a theology seminary, as St. Vincent Seminary is a juniorate and philosophy seminary.
Iloilo City
The City of Iloilo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas, as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area...
, in the Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
province of Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
, on the island of Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
, in the Western Visayas
Western Visayas
Western Visayas, one of the regions of the Philippines, is designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces; Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo and 16 cities making it the region with the highest number of cities. Iloilo City is the regional center...
.
It is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro
Archdiocese of Jaro
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The cathedral for the archdiocese, the Parish of Our Lady of Candles, also known as the Jaro Cathedral is in Jaro a district of Iloilo City, Iloilo on the island of...
, that covers the whole Western Visayan region.
History
La Paz, Iloilo City
La Paz is one of the seven districts of Iloilo City, in the Philippine, on the island of Panay, in Western Visayas. It was formerly known as "Ilawod" or "sea/wet land" together with Jaro which was referred to as "Ilaya" or "mountain/dry land"....
which was referred to as "Ilawod" or "sea/wet land". It had been one of the richer areas of Iloilo City even during the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colonial period (1521-1898) and probably the richest town of the entire colony. Historical artifacts indicate that it had once conducted trade with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Siam (Thailand) due to its port along the navigable river that ran through the town. It was also the center of religious and economic power in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
during the Spanish rule.
Jaro officially became a city in 1886. La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
was a part of Jaro until it became independent from Jaro and became a Town and incorporated into the City of Iloilo. It was later absorbed by the City of Iloilo along with the neighboring towns of Molo
Molo
Molo is an ethnic group in Blue Nile state in Sudan.They number less than thousand and speak Molo, a Nilo-Saharan language. Most of them or all of them are Muslims....
, Mandurriao, La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
and Arevalo
Arévalo
Arévalo is a municipality in Spain, it is situated in the province of Ávila and is part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. The name came from Celtic word arevalon, meaning "place near the wall."-Regional importance:...
in the early 20th century when all economic activities were shifted to the port of Iloilo.
Located between Dungon Creek and the Jaro River, Jaro fulfills the ideal design for establishing communities during that era: a site between two rivers, with a church and plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
in the center, and homes of affluent families in the vicinity. The church is the famous Parish of Our Lady of Candles
Jaro Cathedral
The Jaro Cathedral is the seat or cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro. It is located in district of Jaro in Iloilo City, in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines...
, also known as the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Jaro
Archdiocese of Jaro
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. The cathedral for the archdiocese, the Parish of Our Lady of Candles, also known as the Jaro Cathedral is in Jaro a district of Iloilo City, Iloilo on the island of...
and the site of a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by the late Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
during his visit in 1982. The image is the only religious icon in the country to have been personally crowned by a Pope.
Jaro's celebration of the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) every February 2 is well-known in the Philippines. The fiesta features pageantry with a fiesta queen from one of the prominent families of the place, and a cockfight at the Iloilo Coliseum, where cockfighting aficionados from all over the Philippines converge.
The district is notable for its large amount of nineteenth century architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. Straddling the main plaza is the antique Jaro Catheral and the Palasyo, the Archbishop's residence.
Majority of the mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
families from Iloilo came from this town, because it was a center and main port during Spanish period and many Spanish traders married natives and settled on the island.
Schools
- St. Vincent Ferrer SeminarySt. Vincent Ferrer SeminaryThe Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary is the first institution of Higher Education in Western Visayas, which was founded in 1869. It is the fifth oldest and the last seminary that was established during the Spanish colonial period.-The beginning:...
(Founded 1865 - the oldest institution of higher education in Western Visayas) - Colegio de San JoseColegio de San JoseColegio de San Jose a school in Iloilo in the Philippines. It is located in East Lopez St. Jaro, Iloilo City. It was the first Catholic school for girls in Western Visayas.-Founding:Colegio de San Jose had its humble beginning in 1872...
(Founded 1872) - University of San AgustinUniversity of San AgustinThe University of San Agustin is a private Catholic university in Iloilo City, Philippines, the first in Western Visayas.-History:Augustinian friars from Spain belonging to the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines founded the University of San Agustin on July 15, 1904. They...
- High School Campus (Founded 1904) - Central Philippine UniversityCentral Philippine UniversityCentral Philippine University is a non-stock, non-profit Christian institution of higher learning in Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines. It was founded in 1905 by American Baptist missionaries as an elementary school for poor boys which eventually opened up a high school in 1920. It converted into...
(Founded 1905) - De Paul College
- Angelicum School Iloilo (Founded 1978)
- Pius XII Institute
- AMA Computer College
- West Visayas State University
Also found in the district is the St. Joseph Regional Seminary, in Cubay. It is a theology seminary, as St. Vincent Seminary is a juniorate and philosophy seminary.
Main sights
- Jaro Belfry, ruined in a 1948 earthquake, but now restored. One of the few belfries in the country that stands apart from the church.
- Jaro Plaza, now called the Graciano Lopez Jaena Park, is the center of activity in Jaro and is surrounded by the Jaro Cathedral, the Jaro Belfry, several old mansions, the former Jaro City Hall and the Archbishop’s Palace.
- Jaro CathedralJaro CathedralThe Jaro Cathedral is the seat or cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro. It is located in district of Jaro in Iloilo City, in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines...
, The Jaro Cathedral (Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary) was built in 1864, the year the district was named a diocese by Pope Pius the IX, by order of His Grace Mariano Cuartero, first bishop of Jaro. Destroyed in the quake of January 1948 and restored by order of His Excellency Jose Ma. Cuenco, first archbishop of Jaro in 1956. The cathedral’s style is basically Baroque, with the addition of Gothic elements over many renovations. - Archbishop's Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Jaro. It is located southwest of the Jaro Cathedral and southeast of the Jaro Plaza.
- St. Vincent Ferrer SeminarySt. Vincent Ferrer SeminaryThe Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary is the first institution of Higher Education in Western Visayas, which was founded in 1869. It is the fifth oldest and the last seminary that was established during the Spanish colonial period.-The beginning:...
- Nelly Garden, the Lopez Mansion, also known as Nelly Garden, is one of the landmarks of Iloilo and a much-desired wedding venue due to its elegant facade and garden surroundings.
- Casa Montinola y Sanson, the house is reminiscent of the Gaston houseBalay NegrenseThe Balay Negrense is a museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental in the Philippines, showcasing the lifestyle of a late 19th-century Negrense sugar baron. It is notable for being the first museum to be established in the province of Negros Occidental.-History:The Balay Negrense was originally the...
in Silay CitySilay CitySilay City is a 2nd class city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the August 1, 2007 census, it had a total population of 120,365 people...
, Negros Occidental. - Lizares Mansion, it was once the mansion of the Lizares family but was now turned into a school, Angelicum School Iloilo.
- Central Philippine University, the 24-hectare campus of CPU was chosen and declared as a tourism site by the Iloilo City Council. It was founded by the pioneer Protestant (BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
) missionary, Rev. William Orison ValentineWilliam Orison ValentineWilliam Orison Valentine was an innovative educator and missionary in service of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society...
on 1905.
Notable residents
- Graciano Lopez Jaena - great revolutionary hero, editor, orator, journalist, writer of "La Solidaridad"
- Fernando López - former Vice-President of the Philippines and brother of Eugenio Lopez Sr.
- Eugenio Lopez Sr. - former Chairman of the Lopez Group of Companies
- Eugenio Lopez, Jr. - former Chairman Emeritus of ABS-CBN
- Eugenio Lopez III - present Chairman of ABS-CBN
- Raul M. Gonzalez - former Secretary of Justice of the Philippines
- Magdalena Jalandoni - Hiligaynon poetess
- Gil Lopez Kabayao - renowned violinist
- Miriam Defensor-Santiago - Senator
- Franklin Drilon - Senator