LA RUTA ILONGGA: PAROLA-SUPER

Text credits to http://www.habagat.i.ph/

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

San Jose Chruch

Calle Rizal and Central Market/Maria Clara

Rizal Street was named after the country’s national hero. Runs from Plaza Libertad all the way to Barangay Tanza in the western fringes of the city proper district. The Parola jeepney will turn right from Plaza Libertad passing by the Celso-Ledesma Mansion in Bannga Ortiz in which eagle gargoyles guard the beige bathed mansion owned by a prominent family in the city. Gaisano Iloilo in Guanco is the first store of the Cebuano magnates in Iloilo. Just across it is the University of Iloilo, known for its criminology course in the region. Owned by the Lopezes, the establishment itself was believed to be a former bus station before it was converted into a school after World War II.

Across it is the Central Market of the city with it’s art deco motif. Here, you can buy fresh foods and other bargain pasalubong from Iloilo.

With the monument of Maria Clara in the middle of the street, it is where the southern border of the Ilonggo Chinese community ends. Calle Iznart and in the distance is the imposing Capitolio Ilonggo.

Supermarket, Robinson’s Place and Santa Teresita

May it be going straight by Rizal Street or turning left to De Leon St, the Parola is approaching its terminus. On its port side of the jeepney is the Robinson’s Place Iloilo mall (proposed as temporary site of the City Hall offices during the construction period). In 2003, the dark DeLeon Street was converted into a nightspot for concerts and gimmick for the barkada as Paseo Iloilo opened. Just across the mall is the Church of Santa Teresita.

On its final approach, the Parola jeep stopped by at the Terminal Market known as “Super”. This is the “bagsakan” or where the goods from the province is being sold to city consumers and being traded to other places as well. In its second floor is the temporary site for the Legislative branch of the City Government. Isn’t it amazing? Part of the city hall is a market?

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