Iloilo City Proper is the historic central business district of Iloilo City. Its most famous street, Calle Real, now known as J.M. Basa Street, is lined with heritage buildings built as far back as the late 1800s. Many of these buildings were recently restored in an effort to recapture its “old glory,” and make the Ilonggos and tourists aware of its historical significance.

Before 2013 ended, the plan of transforming Calle Real into a walking street every weekend came to realization. From 3PM to 9PM, the whole stretch of J.M. Basa street was closed down to vehicles for pedestrians to fully enjoy. The city government later changed the schedule to Sundays only.

This is how Calle Real looks now at the start of 2015. I’ve also included photos of Plaza Libertad, Muelle Loney Street, a section of the Iloilo River, and new developments happening at Iloilo City Proper.

Calle Real

Plazoleta Gay intersection facing J.M. Basa Street (left) and Iznart Street (right)

Plazoleta Gay intersection facing J.M. Basa Street (left) and Iznart Street (right)

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Filipino-Chinese Friendship arch along Iznart Street.

Facing the north-end of Iznart Street that leads to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

 

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Entering Calle Real from the side of Socorro Drug.

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Celso-Ledesma Building (1923) currently under restoration.

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Closer view of the Celso-Ledesma Building.

Pilar Building

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Ng Chin Beng Hermanos / Iloilo Lucky Auto Suppy Building (1922)

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S. Villanueva Building (1927)

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Intersection of J.M. Basa and Aldeguer Streets, the most photographed angle of Calle Real. Only this part is partially cleared of overhead power/telco lines. The rest of Calle Real is still covered with them.

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Javellana Building (left) and S. Villanueva Building / International Hotel (right)

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Facing Tayengco Building

Villanueva Building / New Central Bazaar building (1936)

Villanueva Building / New Central Bazaar building (1936)

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Villanueva building (left) / Hoskyn's building (right; 1877)

Villanueva building (left) / Hoskyn’s building (right; 1877)

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University of Iloilo facade

Regent Arcade building (left), Iloilo Central Trading Building (center), Villanueva Building (right)

Regent Arcade building (left), Iloilo Central Trading building (center), Villanueva building (right)

Front view of Regent Arcade building (left), Iloilo Central Trading building (right)

Front view of Regent Arcade building (left), Iloilo Central Trading building (right)

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The Jollibee branch at the Villanueva Building had transfered to its new location in this building across the Freedom Grandstand

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Ted’s Oldtimer Lapaz Batchoy branch along J.M. Basa Street.

Plaza Libertad area

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Iloilo City Hall facade.

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Side view of the Iloilo City Hall building.

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Collage of ongoing and completed projects by the Iloilo City Government

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One of the entrances of Plaza Libertad

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San Jose Church

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Train engine of the Panay Railways displayed at Plaza Libertad.

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Closer view of the 15-foot Lin-ay statue made to represent the Ilongga woman.

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Ker & Co. building found behind the Iloilo City Hall

 

Muelle Loney and Iloilo River

Statue of Nicholas Loney, considered as the father of the the modern sugar industry of the Philippines.

Statue of Nicholas Loney, considered as the father of the the modern sugar industry of the Philippines.

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View of Iloilo City Hall and Iloilo Customs House / Aduana building (right) from Muelle Loney Street.

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Iloilo Customs House / Aduana building overlooking the Iloilo River.

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Cleared up section that is the former site of the Iloilo-Bacolod Ferry Terminal.

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New location of the Iloilo-Bacolod Ferry Terminal found across the river from the old site.

Iloilo Provincial Capitol

Iloilo Provincial Capitol

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The construction of the 7th and newest bridge crossing the Iloilo River and Grand Imperial Hotel (12 floors)

View from Iloilo City Hall

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Facing San Jose Church and Plaza Libertad.

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Facing the Masonic Temple and J.M. Basa Street.

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Facing the Iloilo Customs House and Iloilo River

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Facing the Iloilo River. According to a proposed plan, that section with the cluster of houses with rusty roofs on the bottom part of the photo is to be cleared out for the site of a new grandstand that will replace the Freedom Grandstand. With a panoramic view of the Iloilo River, it will be the new main stage of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival in years to come. The current Freedom Grandstand will be demolished and transformed into an open space / park.

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View of the new bridge and Grand Imperial Hotel construction

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View towards Iloilo Business Park by Megaworld.

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Closer view of Grand Imperial Hotel under construction.

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Overlooking the new Iloilo-Bacolod Ferry Terminal.

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View of Balaan Bukid in Guimaras Island.

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View of the Aduana Tower with some of Iloilo City’s tallest modern buildings. Currently the tallest building in the city is Injap Tower Hotel rising at 21-storeys (far right).

Note: These photos were early morning on a weekday (before the traffic rush hour and office hours).