The Casa Real, better known as the Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol Building, is finally going to have a major facelift soon. The development comes in light of the building’s declaration as a “National Historical Site” by the National Historical Institute (NHI) earlier this year. The Casa Real building has undergone a lot of renovations and additions from the time it became the seat of the civil government of Iloilo in 1901, used as a military garrison by Japanese Imperial Forces during WWII, up to recent years when a much bigger provincial capitol building was built and the original capitol building was left on the sidelines.
Two proposed designs have been presented by the Iloilo Provincial Government to show how the project will be able to restore the architecture of the Casa Real to reflect the style used during its date of construction. The Old Provincial Capitol Building Restoration Project is estimated to cost P20 million with actual construction to start by yearend. Here are more photos of the proposed designs taken from the Iloilo Provincial Government’s Facebook Page:
After the restoration project is complete, the Casa Real building will surely be a great landmark and tourist attraction that will be fitting reminder of Iloilo’s rich heritage.
to the iloilo city and province government:
sana lahat ng mga heritage buildings and landmarks sa city and province ay marestore…
USWAG ILOILO!!!
wow!!! so beautiful!!! uswag iloilo!!!
The “Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol” was never called as “Casa Real”. The ILONGGOS do call it as “Casa Govierno” and not as “Casa Real” I do agree with a certain “jo” that posted on May 17, 2011. Let us put the matter into proper perspective.
Even the Iloilo Provincial Government refers to the Old Provincial Capitol as “Casa Real”: http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/capitol-news-mainmenu-12/governors-office-mainmenu-161/information-office/951-casa-real-de-iloilo-restoration.
This is wonderful news indeed! The casa real into a museum is a befitting testament to Iloilo’s rich heritage. I have found memories of going to old provincial capitol buliding because my mom used to worked in the prov. treasurer’s office way back in the 1980′s. When I was in elementary school, I used to go to this buliding every after school day and play around while waiting for my mom to finish her work. This buliding has a lot of sentimental value for me personally. I would love to visit it someday when it officially becomes a museum. Great Post as always marcos! Keep up the good job :)
nag 52 yrs old na ko wala pa ako makasulod sa capitol in fact sa lapaz lang ako naga istar now i am in manila, for almost 30 yrs, wish i could visit this place later.. mis iloilo much
i wish they will utilize the casa real as the regional museum and turn museo iloilo into a modern art gallery for ilonggo visual artists. casa real is one of my fave building in iloilo… and i’m really glad it will be restored…
the present administration must be able to incorporate Green Architecture. for example, sources of natural light and air must be considered, I never saw or heared anything mentioned about reopening its Ventanillas. How do you activate its water, power, drainage, telecommunication?? All these utilities must be installed to meet the present demand which were not part of the old design.
excellent architecture
It is a historical “Must” that the “Iloilo was First” info’s installed long ago in the Mandurriao Airport terminal bldg. be revived and conspicuously displayed within the proposed new Iloilo Casa Real premises..Salamat! agurang dinggol.d~~~
Tani madayon ini upod sang pag rehabilitate sa calle real. This will be a nice tourism walk. Tourism walk starts at the Ledesma House beside Castle Hotel, inside the house is a pure hispanic mansion that is fitted for Ilonggo Nobility then direcho sa Casa Gobyerno or the provincial capitol tapos diretso sa centro de arco (Obelisk in the middle with the Fil – Chi arc, Fil – Spanish arc, the Fil – Korean arc, the Fil – Indian arc and the Fil – American arc) ang obelisk dunganga sa height and dapat maging imposive ang dating para center of attraction sa tunga sa mga arco. then ma proceed sa calle real with the rehabilitation of the cacho building inside is going to be plazuela or a garden then yung mga old buildings will be refurbished to look like that of macau then ma stop sa customs house and sa red brick bahay na bato (tanggalin iyung city hall offices diyan at gawin siyang museo then ma proceed sa plaza libertad na gawin din siyang world class plaza with fountains parang sa madrid then ma rehabilitate ang casino espanol and fort san pedro. along the way ang mga old houses sa sagrado including the other ledesma houses and the castelo house kasama na rin sa irehabilitate and naging bangko nga old building sa tubang sang plaza libertad including the masonic temple. Tapos cobbled stones ang dalan. Plus makakas ang mga nagabitay bitay nga kuryente kag marepaint ang mga building. Puedi man another de tour will showcase the Iloilo River, take out the Iloilo – Bacolod pier and move it to a reclaimed area para ang mga bodega will be turned into offices, restaurants and hotels with old charm. Then the aldeguer area as planned will have night markets hangang iznart. Te, kung madayon ini, tourist attraction to the max gid, atleast Iloilo will not showcase its old churches and cemeteries but the city itself is a cultural heritage. This will surely attract tourist plus madevelope and guimaras beaches and mountain resorts in bocare, leon. Lets start with this para there will be reasons for tourist both local and international to visit and enjoy Iloilo aside from the food that is superb. Te! madayon ini ayhan?