LA RUTA ILONGGA: JEEPNEY TRIPS SERIES

 Tagsa-lugar nga maagyan, may istorya nga makit-an.

May be the shortest jeepney route in Iloilo City but it do pass some historical landmarks that are significant in the national history. Starting from the Parola or the lighthouse of the mouth of Iloilo River and ends up in Iloilo’s Terminal Market or locally called "Supermarket". The jeepneys may not be as attractive as those of the other routes but its serves as a shuttle from the port area towards the city center.

Streets passed by this route:
Muelle Loney-Zamora-Rizal-Iznart-DeLeon and back (all within city proper)

Sa Lugar lang (Landmarks along the route)

Parola y Muelle Loney
Starting from Parola, the place where the Iloilo-Buenavista (Guimaras) ferry terminal is at. The lighthouses are the port guides at the mouth of Iloilo River, both of its banks have witnessed ecstasy and agony in history. The Muelle Loney served as the lifeblood of once Queen City of the South. Opened to international market in 1855 and pumped by sugar economy, it made Iloilo the second most important city in the country by the late 19th century and all the way towards the Commonwealth era before the recession of the sugar economy. The wharf was named after the "father of the modern sugar industry of the Philippines", Nicholas Loney, a British Vice-Consul who introduced modern technology of sugar industry that skyrocketed Iloilo’s economy in the late Spanish era. It has witness the diaspora of Ilonggos and Panaynons to Negros, Mindanao and other places in the 50’s.
Today, remnants of Iloilo’s glorious past is manifested. Old establishments in contrast with modern cars and sleek catamarans. The Aduana watches over the river wharf, and  still is a vital infrastructure to the economy of Iloilo.


Muelle Loney and the Aduana*

Plaza Libertad
After passing Muelle Loney and went thru the streets of the waterfront district, we pass by on one place that the Spanish colors were lowered in Asia. In December 1898, Plaza Alfonso XVII witnessed the surrender of the last Spanish governor-general in the Philippine islands. It was  renamed Plaza Libertad because of its historic significance. Surrounding this historic square is the San Jose Church, which is the seat of the Iloilo parish and besides it is the Lacson Ancestral House were on the corner was the the site of Botica Lacson. Across the street in the northern part of the plaza is the decript City Hall of Iloilo, in which a new city hall will rise soon. Opposite to it was Hotel Iloilo now known as Landbank Plaza Libertad. Government offices such as the Social Security System and Census Office are found in the western side and the imposing Masonic temple stands as a sentinel in Calle Real area.

Masonic Temple*

For more info and images of Iloilo, go to www.exploreiloilo.com