Campanario de Jaro (Jaro Belfry), Jaro District, Iloilo City

Iloilo City has a rich historical and cultural heritage which started way back during the Spanish colonial times (and even before it). In 1566, the Spaniards came to Panay Island and settled in Ogtong (now Oton). But due to the raids of the Dutch and the Moros, they moved eastward to La Villa de Arevalo and eventually to Irong-Irong, which is now Iloilo City proper.

Today, there remain churches that are remnants of the Spanish times and places that preserve the heritage of Iloilo City. I visited five in my trip:

Camiña Balay Nga Bato

Camiña Balay Nga Bato (literally Camiña House of Stone) is an ancestral-house-turned-heritage-attraction located in the Villa Arevalo district. It features the ancestral house of the Avanceña family and its heirloom. An entrance fee of P150 already includes an A/V presentation, a quick tour of the house, and a snack of Ilonggo biscuits and tsokolate (hot cocoa).

An interesting part of the house is the escalera principalia (grand staircase) going to the 2nd floor, which is very steep. This was to ward off the tulisan (bandits). The style to get upstairs easily is to walk sideways.

If you coming to the Camiña house as a group of 10 or more, you can even avail of a heritage buffet that features Ilonggo dishes. Too bad I was alone! Oh well! The merienda (snack) was nice, anyway.

If you enjoyed the merienda, you can buy the biscuits and even the batirol set (for making hot chocolate) at the almacen (store) downstairs. There are other souvenir items there as well.

Batirol Set (left) and "Pulseras" (right)

If you want to have a virtual tour before your actual visit, check out this video made by Rappler. This is the same A/V presentation included in the tour.

Address: 20 Osmeña St., Brgy. Sta. Filomena, Villa Arevalo District | Operating Hours: Daily, 8AM-6PM | Fee: P150 (inclusive of merienda)

Jaro Cathedral

Formally known as the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles and Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (so many names!), the Jaro Cathedral was built in 1874 and went through renovation in 1956 after it got destroyed by an earthquake. (The Cathedral’s architecture was either Baroque or Neo-Romanesque, according to my research. I’m not good with architecture so if you know this stuff, feel free to let me know.)

Unlike other Catholic churches where the belfry is beside the church, Jaro Cathedral’s is found across the street.

Jaro Cathedral is said to be a “male” church because most of the statues of its saints are male.

Address: Plaza Rizal St., Jaro District

Miagao Church

Of the three churches I visited, the Miagao Church is the most beautiful. Also known as Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, it is located at Miagao, a municipality south of the city. It was built in 1580 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Baroque in its architecture, the church’s most prominent feature is the façade, which consists of a bas-relief with Chinese, Muslim, Spanish, and local elements, most notably the coconut tree.

This is worth a drive outside the city.

Address: Beside Iloilo-Antique Road (Zulueta Ave.), Miagao, Iloilo

Molo Church

Formally called the St. Anne Parish Church, the Molo Church was built in 1831 using Gothic architecture, the only one outside Manila. It is also dubbed as a “feminist church” because of its patron saint, St. Anne, and all the statues of female saints. That’s a stark contrast to Jaro Cathedral!

The Molo Church is found at the Molo Plaza, a public area good for an afternoon stroll. It’s also across the Yusay-Consing Mansion, also known as Molo Mansion, a former ancestral house adaptively reused into an art gallery and a Kultura store (yes, the souvenir shop by SM).

Address of Molo Church: San Pedro St., Molo District

Museo Iloilo

If you want to learn Ilonggo history, head out to Museo Iloilo (Iloilo Museum), which showcases that rich cultural heritage not only of Iloilo but of the whole Panay Island. The museum features historical artifacts (such as potteries from China and Siam, and goods from a British sunken ship), religious images, and contemporary artworks by Ilonggo artists.

The contemporary artworks displayed are for sale:

Address: Bonifacio Dr., Iloilo City Proper | Operating Hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM | Fee: P50

Iloilo City Trip: Visiting Churches and Museums

Camiña Balay Nga Bato

Jaro Cathedral

Miagao Church

Molo Church

Museo Iloilo