The Jaro Plaza, now called the Graciano Lopez Jaena Park, is the center of activity in Jaro, which is most prosperous among Iloilo City’s 6 districts. Even during the late 1800s, Jaro used to be a city (separate from the city of Iloilo). It was in Jaro where the Sugar Barons built their grand mansions and a thriving commercial and industrial economy was established.
Even though the Jaro Plaza of today is not as grandiose as it used to be, it is still a nice place to visit because of its historical value and the numerous attractions around it, which include: the Jaro Cathedral, the Jaro Belfry, Old Mansions, the former Jaro City Hall, and the Archbishop’s Place
Plaza Jaro is rich in history, but sad to say ,politicians left it to the Barangay Captains of Jaro, to make it a milking cow every year for the the fiesta. It should be restored to her former glory for the sake of our history and culture.
Agree. Everyone treats it as some sort of marketplace. During fiestas, vendors occupy the sidewalks. The entryways to the plaza itself are closed and the plaza turned into a carnival/bazaar. Worse, members of the public are then required to pay entrance fees to get in. Local officials have always turned a blind eye to this practice. Everyone seems unaware of the fact that public plazas are public properties and should be open to public use. They are beyond the commerce of men and no one, not even the city government, has the right to require the members of the public to pay to use these public spaces. I wonder where the money collected as entrance fees go to.
It is a sad reality that Jaro plaza remains to be one of the ugliest plaza in Iloilo City. And I really believe that this is because no NGO, government officials, or any affluent family from Jaro would like to invest in its beuatification. WHY? Because, sad to say, the plaza is being destroyed EVERY Jaro fiesta. Just by looking at it, it says a lot about the people who use the plaza during the fiesta. After the event, tons of garbage are produced. Yes they clean it after, but if I were a person who can afford to spend my own money to beautify the whole plaza so it would be of the likes of the best plazas in the country, I would not waste my money on that project wherein, after January 2 of the following year, all the beauty of the plaza will just be destroyed, espcially if you lanscape it.
vaya,que buena lugar como voy a llegar alli