Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch in Iloilo City Proper – May 2011 Update

By Marcos Detourista on May 11, 2011

Here’s a glimpse of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch construction along Iznart St. in the downtown area of Iloilo City. Launched by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo (FCCCI) as the organization’s centennial project, the new landmark pays tribute to the strong relationship between the city government and Chinese-Ilonggo community. Iznart St. along with J.M. Basa and Aldeguer streets are collectively regarded as the “Chinese Triangle” or China town of Downtown Iloilo City due to the significant number of businesses run by Chinese-Ilonggos in the area.

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch under construction in Downtown Iloilo City

Also in the downtown area, two prominent buildings are currently undergoing a “facelift.”

The “Cine Eagle” building,along J.M. Basa St., undergoing its transformation into a modern building. Soon to be renamed as the “TTW Corporate Center,” which will accommodate office spaces and retail/food shops on the ground floor.

The Iloilo Customs House (Aduana building) repainting to an off white color with light brown accents.

Don’t leave yet. There’s more!

Comments

Polls says
May 16, 2012 at 12:23 pm
@Vic
Flawed logic, Vic.
The Spanish oppressed our ancestors and treated them as slaves yet you continue to support restoring Spanish architecture in the city. Does it mean we should destroy every single trace that the Spanish left here? Certainly not and it goes with the Chinese. Any product that does not meet safety standards shouldn’t be allowed into the country and that is the government’s job. You can blame China all you want but if our government agencies fail to act then the fault lies with them.
“Muslim COuntries are ever willing to defend philippines”
Islamic cultures tend to be quite oppressive and even more so towards women and children. Our Democracy is fine where it is and the last thing we need is an Imam leading the country. Religion simply must not be entangled with politics and the administration of any government, objectivity dissolves at that point.
“We must stop this stupidity once and for all”
I agree so for all our sakes please stop posting ignorant things here.
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Vic says
May 15, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Some in philippines would really like to get manipulated by these chinese controlling-elite and they subject themselves a victim of chinese economic tyranny , and now it goes in a higher plane,
China claim that Philippines is part of CHina , and the Shoal and Spratley is their territoery sending war ships to those areas sending off filipino fishermans out , and then released a fishing ban over the area and then , suspend chinese tourist and junk banana over the sea that bancrupt filipino farmers , shippers in Davao with losses about 2 Billion Pesos, however they are sending here poisonous food , toys , drugs , cosmetics , clothing with lead and mercury that causes canser but the government is not doing anything , they have capsules with dead aborted fetus that stuff filipino mouth and watermelon that blast ,
My position I maintained that this Chinese Arc symbolizes our cultural stupidity about the oppresion of chinese and is not necessary
We must stop this stupidity once and for all,
Muslim COuntries are ever willing to defend philippines
Reply
- Bort Sampson says
  February 3, 2014 at 7:24 am
  The Philippines is a melting pot of culture: We are the combination of Malay, Chinese, Spanish, American and other cultures.
  So by your train of thought any nation or culture that have oppressed or seem oppressive to us should be stamped out of our own culture. Ridiculous when even our own constitution is copied from that of the Americans and our family system and values are heavily influenced by the Spanish catholic. Even our most beloved local cuisines have been influenced by others.
  Don’t be hateful. Learn to appreciate our culture and those of others.
  Reply
Spanish says
April 23, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I am spanish… angal?
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Biased One says
April 23, 2012 at 10:42 pm
This person Vic is really hateful and jealous towards the Chinese people it seems. I noticed he is fond of praising the Spanish though. I believe he still has colonial mentality at this point.
The arch is fine where it is. The fact that most of the funds for the project was donated by the Chinese community and that the area itself, for decades, is owned mostly by people of Chinese descent is reason enough. Get over yourself Vic. You are not the expert on history here and your previous posts reeks of nitpicking and jealousy.
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Vic says
November 4, 2011 at 9:09 pm
@anonymous, are you prompted to say that because youre wanting my inputs or youre bothered everytime i give on… or both ways …
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anonymous says
November 3, 2011 at 11:58 pm
wala na post si vic? basi nadalman na gid siya
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diabolique says
August 16, 2011 at 1:33 pm
I am so grateful that Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch is being erected in that area… At least, it adds to the aesthetic value of that place… That part of the city for me is almost denuded… A lot of dilapidated structures… Plus the ukay-ukay near the area… We, Filipinos, are so sentimental about our past most especially our heritage structures but somehow this sentiments only remain in our heart and mind but lack of actions… There are some who did great efforts to preserve them but, mostly they lose interest to restore them… Most building in that area ‘pinabayaan na’… Some businessmen don’t spend just even a small part of their income to paint their buildings… Some of them resort to the total demolition of the structures… Even, our government is too slow in cultural heritage preservation… Somehow instead of criticizing a piece of structure being erected in the area, we must be thankful of the benefit it can bring to the place which is to beautify… Than, having no improvement at all… We must be realistic sometimes…
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Vic says
August 12, 2011 at 9:27 am
@mur2s, I Billion Chinese is big enough to proclaim they exist , Spanish is only 40 Million but we are familiar with them since they are the one who established here the Capital in 16th century and here for 300 years… and only thing they left are the Churches and descendants…The Arch is very useless in the heart of the City…. that Arch will be significant if it would transfer to Museum….
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mur2s says
August 11, 2011 at 7:32 pm
just a cultural thing telling that they exist nd who knows someday theyll get over u. hope dat arch wud not fall on u.
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Vic says
August 11, 2011 at 1:08 pm
@mur2s, hello.. yeah… try to walk past it and its haunting the ilongo psyche in you… it said ” it must not suppose to be there..” if they want , they should have put arch somewhere in Museum for Cultural History of Diversity…
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mur2s says
August 11, 2011 at 1:02 pm
letz celebrate diversity bcoz wer already diverse. f we luk on our hx tells we r diverse ppol even from d start aetas, mangyan, igorots etc. den her comes d traders nd colonizers. maybe d chinese cx s a little bit more showy compared 2 ader cx nd we live n a free country so we hav 2 respect 8. f u dont like d arch den hers d site wer u can express ur distaste.
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Vic says
August 10, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@Marcus, first of all nice to hear from you since you are actively engaging than it was before :)
I am totally aware how the ethnic enclave operates in trade in all history , How Jewish people lived in Corinth and sell silk , How Arabs lived in Spain through Medieval and do business , But hardly these cultures build massive structures just after centuries to commemorate that distant past diversity just like here, Chinese-Arch is useless structure in the bustling narrow street , their intention would not have been implicated by other reasons if they put it inside — Museum …
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fewzam says
August 10, 2011 at 2:45 pm
NOW IT CAN BE TOLD! What I’ve been driving out, incidentally, the foregoing comment stressed the fact of the so-called “CALLE REAL”. This is one source that proved my information/statement. With regard to the “Casa Real” or better known as the “Casa Govierno” (Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol), I’m pretty sure some will give their insights on this issue.
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Marcos says
August 10, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@Vic: I think you’re just grossly unaware of how far back and widely influential Chinese culture is in Filipino society. Chinese have traded with Iloilo way before the Spaniards even knew our islands existed. I don’t understand how is it that you’ve lived in Iloilo for so long yet not noticed this fact.
Did you know that Chinese-Filipinos are one of the largest enthnic Filipino groups with Iloilo having one of the largest concentration of Chinese-Filipinos?
Can you name the most prominent schools in downtown Iloilo, specifically elementary-high schools in the vicinity of Calle Real? Have you gone inside the stores in Calle Real / Iznart St. and noticed anything common among the shopowners / shopkeepers? It’s so obvious that there’s an overwhelming Chinese influence in Iloilo City … even the architecture of the heritage buildings in Calle Real themselves have a touch of Chinese architectural details.
You are so terribly wrong Vic.
Having the Chinese arch doesn’t and was not intended to mean that we are yielding ourselves to the China (Chinese Government / Chinese culture). It was built to celebrate the diversity of cultures in our society. Almost all major cities have their own Little China, Little India, Little Tokyo etc…
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Vic says
August 10, 2011 at 10:27 am
@Marcus, yeah horribly its a new political construct and tragically there’s no apparent local Chinese influence on our religion, language and culture, The Apostolic Credo exterminate chine paganism , our language is mixture of Old Malay and Spanish hardly any chinese , Iloilo is too alien for a roaring dragon and setting ablaze candles for Budha , Dinagyang is commemoration of Malayo-and Spanish encounter , and civil calendar have no respect for any Chinese holidays ,
Obviously… i sense that— Chinese-Arch is Calle Real to china town in the making …. forcibly injecting Chinese… so when the newer generation who would walks on the downtown will be inadvertently conditioned in their subconscious mind , that eventually be well-established universally in the psyche of society….. I once walked past that ill-fated chinese-arch … i thought i lost all my memories of the past of Calle Real, its all gone … what’s swallowing my memories is the newly-built Giant-Chinese-Meteor-Arch that screams and overshadow all over me giving a DEEP-IMPACT on the psyche—- and i told myself, gone are the days of Era of genuine Calle-Real …
So the process goes on and on … in next years , its too good to expect expansion of Giant Chinese Arch in Molo Plaza , Giant Chinese Arch in Jaro Plaza , so that every corner you bump into there’s Collosal Chinese Arcs, Towering Chinese Gates, Huge Monuments , Landmarks , enough to conclude , Look it’s China Town is all over … imagine and consider the Cultural Subjugation… you lost your identity as distinct civilization …
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diabolique says
August 9, 2011 at 5:41 pm
@Fewzam… We want a concrete basis for your information… If your claim is right then, you’ve to give the source to make sure your information is right… We don’t need your qualification to prove your statement…
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Marcos says
August 9, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Again fewzam, I refer you to the articles published by the late Prof. Henry Funtecha, who is a regarded historian in Iloilo. He has clearly mentioned multiple times that the Old Provincial Capitol is considered as the “Casa Real” not just “Casa Gobierno” and that “Calle Real” extended from Plaza Libertad (where the center of Roman Catholicism in the city proper is located: San Jose Church) upto the center of government. If you choose to disregard his studies, that is your decision.
Maybe you’ve been away from Iloilo too long, not ALL Ilonggos are aware of the history of Iloilo. “ALL Ilonggos,” which doesn’t only encompass your generation.
Mostly likely, if you ask people on the streets of Iloilo City about Calle Real, many will give you a blank stare, especially the younger Ilonggos. Which is why, I think it’s good that you’re undertaking an effort to share your memory of Iloilo but being to absolute about it will get you nowhere. Times are always in constant change.
@Vic: There WAS no China town in Iloilo. It’s a recent development spearheaded by the Iloilo City Government and the Ilonggo-Chinese Community. I don’t think they/we/I use the term “Chinatown” in a “purely Chinese sense” … it’s a globally recognized term, which refers to the congruence of Chinese and local influence in an area.
Would you rather to call it “Iloilo’s China-Ilonggo Town” instead? that would sound rather redundant. Chinese-Ilonggos are and have been a significant influence in downtown Iloilo. It’s already part of the “legacy and heritage” of the city. Well anyways, it’s not up to personal opinion. If you don’t like the Chinese Arch and the Chinese influence in Iloilo, just turn a blind eye to it … but if it really bothers you, you can go on a personal crusade to purge Iloilo City of “Chinese manipulative undertakings.”
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Vic says
August 8, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@fewzam,,, we must agree on– There’s no china town in Calle Real …
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fewzam says
August 8, 2011 at 2:23 pm
As to evidence, my favorite line – ASK ANY ILONGGO.
About myself: I was born in the Province of Iloilo. Earned the BS degree in Education, English and History as field of concentration. An Ilonggo de Zamboanga, Mindanao.
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fewzam says
August 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Calle Real is J.M.Basa St. and Casa Govierno is Casa Govierno, not Casa Real. Ask any Ilonggo.
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Vic says
August 7, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@all… Calle Real is a Spanish catch term that denotes the downtown of Iloilo … It’s one of a kind , how it developed as established Ilongo Word through Centuries we could only surmise ,But it reflect Ilongo cultural development , how we think, how we feel and react to events uniformly as distinct ethnic group. Only Iloilo City have it than all cities all over the world … and of course Chinese Arch is concrete Arch Itself that they wanted their cultural and economic dominance here … please do not call ” CALLE REAL ” as china town for God sake… do not crushed our cultural identity testified by ” Calle Real Legacy and Heritage ” using Chinese manipulative undertakings
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diabolique says
August 6, 2011 at 8:53 am
Honestly, I’m not very keen to my city’s history and background in regards to its streets, or several structures. But if your (Fewzam’s) argument is right, can you sight some sources of your statements so that your arguments would be credible. We need evidence to prove it, or if you’re an Ilonggo historian, identify yourself. We don’t need much bashing here from what we believe wrong information.
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Marcos says
August 6, 2011 at 4:06 am
Well fewzam, you can argue with the myriad other online/offline literature, which trivializes your arguments. I grew up reading them, which is why I’ve come to regard them as truth. Take it up with the historians, who’ve written a great body of work about Iloilo, not me. I’m just the messenger. My only intention is to inform other people that there is this “Chinese arch” (again, I did not coin this term) being put up in Iznart St. (I never mentioned Calle Real in the article).
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fewzam says
August 5, 2011 at 5:15 pm
It is only now that J.M. Basa, Iznart and Aldeguer Streets are being regarded as the “Chinese Triangle” or “China Town” by the one who posted herein. This caused some reactions. What the Ilonggos know is that there is no such thing as “Chinese Triangle” or “China Town”.
Also, some facts about Iloilo City is being twisted such as Calle Real which according to him is not only J.M. Basa St. Well, for his information what we ILONGGOS know that J.M. Basa St. is CALLE REAL.
The other historical fact that surpised us ILONGGOS is the CASA GOVIERNO being called or referred as CASA REAL. Is he an ILONGGO? Every Ilonggos know the history of de la Ciudad de Iloilo.
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fewzam says
August 3, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Ilonggos never came to know of the so-called CASA REAL referring it to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. The Iloilo Provincial Capitol, the seat of the provincial government, was better known as CASA GOVIERNO, not CASA REAL as one in the foregoing averred. Let’s put the matter into proper perspective.
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fewzam says
August 2, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I fully agree with Andrew Marcella regarding the issue on CALLE REAL.
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fewzam says
August 2, 2011 at 3:37 pm
ON CALLE REAL
Calle Real only encompasses J.M.Basa St. It starts from Plazoleta Gay. Not a section of Iznart St. was ever a part of Calle Real. Regarding on the so-called Casa Real (Iloilo Provincial Capitol) – it is not so. We, ILONGGOS do call it Casa Gobierno, and not Calle Real. On the length and breadth of Calle Real – it is only according to that Prof. Funtecha. What Ilonggos do know that Calle Real stretches from Plaza Libertad to Plazoleta Gay. Calle Real was then the busiest business and shopping center in Iloilo City.
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vicky says
July 5, 2011 at 7:35 am
ang lalim parang politiko na walang alam.
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11:01 says
July 4, 2011 at 11:02 pm
regarding the underground wiring:
There are still certain areas in the city where the drainage doesn’t function at all. This means the area is usually flooded when it rains heavy, imagine a small swamp or river at times.
Most of the city isn’t built on solid ground and the ground in some parts of the city still shifts.
So take the flooding problem with a not so stable platform(ground) and you have yourself a problem. If the electric wiring is underground this could be penetrated by the water and could cause electrocution during rainy days. The wiring are not aesthetically pleasing but they are a great deal safer.
You have to ask yourself, would you trust the local electric company to be able to maintain an underground system for their wiring when the posts above ground are doing an Eiffel tower and some are even hollow(termites). Don’t even mention the government since most of the roads in the city haven’t even been fixed yet.
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mur2s says
June 22, 2011 at 11:42 am
also lets offer a goat n skunk 2 wipe away evil chinese spirit. may dey let go of spratly.
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- Vic says
  July 5, 2011 at 10:15 am
  @mur2s… Yaawnnn pls stop on your remark to Billy… hes quite fine anyway hahahaha….
  Reply
Vic says
June 19, 2011 at 9:14 am
@mur2s…. lets donate the cheap plastic trash made in China and stuff their mess back to their mouth
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mur2s says
June 19, 2011 at 9:12 am
y not we donate dat arch 2 spratlys island?
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mur2s says
June 13, 2011 at 10:05 pm
dats right so they will appreciate wat dey have… dey will say at least we all hav dis while other countries doesnt hav 8.
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Vic says
June 12, 2011 at 9:59 am
@mur2s… its hard just what to do to clean it up….where to put it…etc… lets accept its our intractable problem with no viable solution… we can just keep on living with them… so when foreign people returned back to thier countries , that nagging mess will always haunt them… lol
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mur2s says
June 12, 2011 at 3:22 am
kud we petition peco 2 clean der mess pati na ang naga jumper. f i know dey r like corrupt politicians dey steal electricity. kap klala mo na cla ah.
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Vic says
June 12, 2011 at 2:56 am
@tagadiri lang…very messy ( cable wires/telephone wires/electrical wirings etc)… its very disrupting … sometimes, it posed hazard too to people who cross street of Diversion Road… another maddening scene in Iloilo
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tagadiri lang says
June 8, 2011 at 10:52 pm
san o pa ayhan mahimuan sulusyon ang mga wiring nga balinsuli lang?
ang smallville ga amat naman build up ang mga wiring. gapahigko tulukon.
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- mur2s says
  June 11, 2011 at 9:31 am
  datz d reality in other words they dont plan ahead and bsides underground cost much and iloilo is just a meter above sea level f m not mistaken.
  Reply
Vic says
June 4, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@vicky it doesnt make any sense at all… and what the heck are you talking about ” bizarre luv triangle”??? you know i am engaged and i am very happy of my life,,,,what could i ask for more?….lol….for me i feel in love with Iloilo from San Joaquin to Carles… to Passi City to Janiuay to Leon…everything, the people the place….the people are cool nice sweet peaceful and warm people…very kind…. very soft spoken and peace loving too….. i could never leave this place….
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- mur2s says
  June 7, 2011 at 10:41 am
  how do u like ur cp vicky. shes saying n things 2 u.
  Reply
april dawn says
May 25, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Iloilo is still as great since the last time i saw it… and i’m still hoping 2 have the chance makabalik sa lugar ko…
i miss Iloilo.
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- mur2s says
  May 26, 2011 at 2:01 am
  i think wat u miss n iloilo s ur 1st luv. 8s really hard 2 4get the city wer u have ur 1st kiss and night. well ders d arch if u can still come back u can kiss under 8.
  Reply
  - vicky says
    June 4, 2011 at 2:05 am
    how bout u vic n mur2s do 8? also include steve. bizarre luv triangle.
mur2s says
May 25, 2011 at 12:07 pm
keep 8 up vic.
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Vic says
May 24, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@ mur2s agree… she/he disgraces her alma mater really… and she/he taught were stupid about Spanish…. we have translate dot com to help us speak language we want…mur by using that as codigo, you could speak mandarin, romanian danish, japanese, arabic, you name it …
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Vic says
May 24, 2011 at 1:06 am
@mur2s….you said–>>>>>@ j roby youre not a women well i guess ur a half and half. perra fea badingi. pls dont bring shame 2 ur alma mater.
proceed with caution mur2s….But you cannot win over with the twerp (aka JR)… i would change perspective when he/she/it will have a change of heart… But i doubt that… she/he/it is comfortable of nonsensical stuff and she/he/it quite enjoys that much….let her amuse herself as that nourish her so-called idiocy ( not intended) ….as much as we discuss things here seriously what the Arch might mean to us Ilongos…
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- mur2s says
  May 24, 2011 at 12:34 pm
  its just that why he/she had 2 put the name of one of the prestigious school w/ his/her senseless stuff. people would think that all the people in that school are like him/her.
  for the arch its already there so well just enjoy it.
  Reply
Vic says
May 24, 2011 at 12:58 am
@mur2s… ( shruggs) i guess, its wise we could safely ignore him… he did not contribute anything at all… not of worth or value :)…
going back to the topic, There are strong evidences on genetic mapping… these archipelago have certain Chinese genes in their DNA mixed with Malayan blood…a drop of Spanish too.. but it doesn’t warrant him to speak Spanish altogether…noticeably…. our Old Malay Language
Balik—to return
Balu- widow
Balai—hall or station House
Baldi- Pail
Bangkai- carcass
Bangun—to rise up
Basah—wet
Batu—stone
Bau—smell or odor(bahu)
Beras—rice( Bugas)
Biras- elationship between two brothers’ wives or between two sisters’ husbands
Buar—to make( buhat)
Buka—to pen
Bulan—moon
Bunoh—to kill
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jason robin says
May 22, 2011 at 8:48 am
El comentario que existe tal tipo que se Gringo! … hablando en Ingles de manera tal !. Gringo!! porque es chino y es comentar de esa manera !……
PERRA FEA!
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jason robin says
May 22, 2011 at 8:47 am
El comentario que existe tal tipo que se Gringo! … hablando en Ingles de manera tal !……. Gringo!! porque es chino y es comentar de esa manera !……
PERRA FEA!
Centralian —CPUHS 2009
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Vic says
May 21, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Do we need Marco Polo to change the world ? lol… What makes life beautiful is your relationship to you family , your love ones and friends… how they are happy when you’re around and you make a difference in thier lives too… Friendship Arch is superfluous … Ilongo exact what Chinese ought to give us… after the millions upon millions of their profits ( i will not mention of their massive business in Iloilo)
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Marcos says
May 18, 2011 at 11:49 am
On the issue of Calle Real, you are right Kirbs that technically Calle Real is just one street. But I have never mentioned that Calle Real equates to so called “Chinese triangle.” That’s why I used the present street names to be more accurate.
Calle Real is not just J.M. Basa St. According to Prof. Funtecha, Calle Real during the Spanish-colonial times did not only encompass J.M. Basa St. but also a section of Iznart St. It used to extend from the Casa Real (Iloilo Provincial Capitol) all the way to Plaza Libertad (taking a gentle turn at Plazoleta Gay).
Reply
- Steve A. says
  May 19, 2011 at 3:43 pm
  And with that you can already tell that there is a lot of history in calle real…which is essential in making a place attractive to potential tourists. dapat icapitalize ina sing aton mga tourism officials. Case in point: Ang mga art deco buildings diri sa miami are considered attractions because gin preserve sila sing city of miami. Dira sa calle real damo kita sing mga buildings of historical value which are attractions in themselves.
  Reply
  - mur2s says
    May 21, 2011 at 1:48 am
    steve is the man here. hes not only well travelled but also well educated. unlike some that just been in 1 place and yet they seem to know everything. and mostly he could still write or maybe speak in our very own ilonggo dialect. humble man. way to go steve. hope you could tell the readers here not just the buildings of miami but also what the girls in miami wear while roaming the city.
ricks says
May 18, 2011 at 4:22 am
Iloilo Filipino-Chinese groups donate motorcycles for Iloilo City Police
Read more: Iloilo Filipino-Chinese groups donate motorcycles for Iloilo City Police | Iloilo News | Iloilo Today
“These motorcycles will be the mobilization fleet of our policemen to further improve their work especially in maintaining peace and order here in our city,” Mabilog said.
Reply
Darlene Holzhausen says
May 18, 2011 at 2:50 am
I think the arch is a waste of money. They should renovate the buildings that they used as their stores instead… But of course, this is just my opinion…
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- mur2s says
  May 21, 2011 at 1:36 am
  no worry, i think youre entitled to it. but sometimes it is better you keep it to yourself.
  Reply
jason says
May 17, 2011 at 2:09 pm
So to say……….
In other topic…
Ang gina patindog nga Chinese Arch dira sa parte nga na sang Iznart Street, damu nga mga Ilonggo (of not Chinese) nga gina criticize ang pagpa-tindog sang Arch nga dira…..Gapa guba kag gapa law-ay sang view kag according to some and also to some radio stations—–wala gid sila kuno ga butang sang mga warning sign dira!……kag ano na ya ang mga salakyan sang mga tsinoy o intsik dira sa may Iznart kag Calle Real!—-gina park nila sa kilid sang kalsada! kapila nana sila gin hambalan ni Mayor Mabilog! pero daw wala lang!…kay gapa hina nalang sila kag wala na dungkaan kung manaog kag magkuha pasahero ang mga jeepney drivers!….Sabad sabad ah!……
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- ryan says
  May 17, 2011 at 2:13 pm
  ah oo!…..ako man. amo gid man na sila yah!
  Reply
- mur2s says
  May 21, 2011 at 1:56 am
  jason and ryan why your so hard on chinese or tsimoy. just be patient w/ them coz they can only do it here. some chinese cant even afford 2 go 2 china. and in fairness theyre filipino too. be a good boys to animals ok. unless you 2 are half half.
  Reply
andrew marcella says
May 17, 2011 at 10:13 am
calle real is j.m. basa….period!
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mur2s says
May 15, 2011 at 10:02 pm
yo
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Steve A. says
May 15, 2011 at 12:38 pm
@Everyone: I think the friendship arch is a good idea as you will see in others cities (San francisco, New york, Washington DC) they ususally put the chinese friendship arch in the area where chinese business is concentrated. I guess let us look it from a tourism standpoint, it will be a welcome addition as an attraction to the tourists who visit our city.
@Marcos: I do hope there is somekind of a Iloilo city masterplan to perserve the old style architectural bulidings in the calle real district as they become tourist attractions themselves…just look at how San francisco profits from the tourist who flock to see the old architectural houses in the old San Fran district….the whole surrounding area of calle real is full of such bulidings that are potential tourist attractions themselves if only they are preserved well….
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- mur2s says
  May 15, 2011 at 10:10 pm
  u r right steve a. i bet u have been 2 san francisco and dc. others here just made comments but havent been to the place or experience 8 first hand.
  @j. robin i could not blame her if she hates chinese. maybe she worked w/ chinese b4 as a dh and was treated bad or if he was a guy maybe he was busted by the chinese parents of the girl hes courting w/.
  Reply
  - Steve A. says
    May 19, 2011 at 3:35 pm
    @mur2s: Thanks…yes I have.
  - jason robin says
    May 22, 2011 at 8:43 am
    @mur2s: Yo no soy un que! Gringo!…..I am not a woman….comprende! and I am not some kind of DH!….. Adieu et Merci! PERRA FEA!
pty says
May 15, 2011 at 7:28 am
you know what lets not dwell in the past … let us unite as 1 ilonggo wheter local, chinese, hispanic, tisoy o tisay, tsinoy o tsimoy- we all came from one city w/ a heritage.
Reply
Elp says
May 14, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Yes… i came from a Chinese school there in Iloilo.. But I am afraid that our FILIPINO CULTURE will be forgotten because of so much “CHINESE” stuffs are being built there…
THIS should not be named “as CHINA TOWN” sorry guys.. this is CALLE REAL…
I don’t have any against chinese projects there, in fact, i welcome any development there.. BUT please ASSURE US, filipinos and chineses alike… CALLE REAL should remain and called CALLE REAL not LITTLE CHINA TOWN…
PLEASE lang be
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Pierro says
May 14, 2011 at 12:39 am
Nami man na ang Friendship arc kon ma tapos na kay ma cover ang old buildings sa likod. ngaa pa galing man nga hulaton pa nila nga ma provide ang city government sa ila sang fund para mag rehabilitate sang heritage buildings dira. kay dira man ang mga chinese friends naton ga istar kag ga negosyo. tani sila na mag mato mato man. look up kamo bala while riding the jeep kay may mga carton ang bintana kag ka higko lantawon. ang friendship arc someday will look like one of the buildings da sa kalye full of smog and grime.
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Vic says
May 13, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@ Lee thank you for the INFO about the history of Glorietta. Yes when I first visited it in 2003, it’s not square anymore its misnomer… Ive only passed by there when I went to Rockwell last year…Going back here in Iloilo :) thanks for educating KIRBY he seems to be little bit confused of trianle Marcus is saying and apply the —> Right Angle triangle with the same equal side and curved degree ( 90 Degrees all side)…. he seems inclined to confusion is Bermuda triangle a Right ANgle triangle?… hope he will thank you for that…
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Vic says
May 13, 2011 at 8:55 pm
@ calos i know how you psychologically attached to Iloilo as much as I do… what separates us is how we deal things , i made a sincere and honest comments… while you’re stuck with “praise ye”… and i want you to refrain from ” ad personam” arguments… lets deal “things” not me… and I repeat as you would here the same answer”” I am a bona fide Ilongo . . . no matter how poor Iloilo was or no matter it will be better in the next…. I am born here , my ancestors were born here, although mixed with Hispanic blood , I am sure enough i will spend all my time living in Iloilo walking on its street everyday and every night … No matter what , i will be here till all my days are gone and my spirit will be here for eternity….. i think i have said enougth on this stuff…. glad to meet you as my friend :)
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Marcos says
May 13, 2011 at 3:15 am
Such a harsh comment j.robin, let’s not dwell na lang on that … but it’s worth appraising the Chinese influence in Molo considering that it has been known as the city’s Parian (Chinese) district since the colonial era.
For me, however, I think its more fitting to build the friendship arch within Calle Real since China towns are usually found in a commercial district of a city.
We love to romanticize about the Hispanic “affluence” (can’t think of a more appropriate term right now) of Calle Real, sometimes, I think we think too much of it. Our society in Iloilo is a mixture of different cultures which is truly Ilonggo … it is neither purely Spanish, Chinese, or any other Foreign influence.
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- Vic says
  May 13, 2011 at 7:48 pm
  well said Marcus…… i think ive seen you in the airport in May 10,2011 :) take care
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nonoy says
May 13, 2011 at 1:02 am
@ j.robin…dont be such a racist….
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j.robin says
May 12, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Well, okay man na sa akon ang Chinese Arch dira kag basi himuon nila nga dira nga parte sang Calle Iznart, himuon nila nga China Town. I slightly hate the Chineses in our society…..Why? wala lang..hate ko lang sila….Sa akon malang, ang dapat nga himuon nga China Town o District si ang Molo, di ang City Proper o ang Calle Real………Basta, suya gid ko sa mga Chinese…..something like pests, joke lang……I love the Hispanic society and the typical Filipino society of Iloilo…….than the Chinese….
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- Vic says
  May 13, 2011 at 7:46 pm
  @ Robin i respect your opinion..however there’s nothing to worry about Chinese … they established their civil society here in Iloilo… they are often with good credentials and manners… avoid prejudiced… if you love Spanish society be christian at least , and do not character assassinate them … DOnt give Ilongo a bad reputation
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- Elp says
  May 14, 2011 at 7:16 pm
  @Robin: I understand what you mean and meant..
  i can feel you sentiments.. Our FILIPINO History and our city is a precious gift and honor to us na dapat indi ta malimtan or tapakan by making or building any facade in her..
  pero as part of our history, we should recognize that they (chineses) did their part on making this city in the past..
  Let me get this clear thou, I believe Robin has good intentions but delivered lang in a wrong way (in my opinion). I believe that certain part of Iloilo city, specifically the CALLE REAL should remain FILIPINO in nature and style.. please do not make any non-related (in the sense of architecture) Filipino/Hespanic renovations there sa mga buildings na built na daan in that kind of way…
  CALLE REAL should remain the way she is, as Rizal saw her before.. We should keep Calle Real the way Rizal met her when he came here..
  Any changes that brakes that simple wish, is a mock to the very essence of our history(Filipinos and Chinese) Please keep Calle Real the way she is.. Just improve her.
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Pablo says
May 12, 2011 at 3:06 am
It’s amazing what a new paint job can do to the Custom House! Ugaling ano na sa kanto ya? may nag squat na dayon, o shed lang para pasilungan?
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nonoy says
May 12, 2011 at 12:36 am
toto, tingala ko man nga daw pabalo-balo nya gid ang british passport nya, ang 40 thousand nya nga gin gastos kag ang business class airfare nya kay… Kinahanglan pa na bala isugid para mabal-an sang mga tao? Anyway for me, i personally have no qualms whether it is called “calle real” or “china town” as long as the whole city is peaceful and developed – since both spaniards and chinese had an enormous contributions to what our city has attained then and now.
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- midnightclubPCL says
  May 13, 2011 at 11:47 am
  si simon choi? nag tikal naman d, indi kamo magtingala kay taga piyak isla na sya. gin hambal ya na diri. british passport? 40,000 pesos? tinikal na ya.lol
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toto bom says
May 11, 2011 at 9:16 pm
hinugay-a ko gani Simon Choi ah… taga bacolod ka gid lang pro.. d pa Britih passport British passport kaw pa nabal-an ha… ay naano ka? abi pagbugtaw…
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- calos says
  May 13, 2011 at 8:15 pm
  sakto ka gid duha sila ni @Vic. bal anon gid ang indi tga iloilo kay wala pagpalangga sang lugar. good and bad sa iloilo love na love gid namon ini iya.
  Reply
  - Vic says
    May 13, 2011 at 8:53 pm
    @ calos i know how you psychologically attached to Iloilo as much as I do… what separates us is how we deal things , i made a sincere and honest comments… while you’re stuck with “praise ye”… and i want you to refrain from ” ad personam” arguments… lets deal “things” not me… and I repeat as you would here the same answer”” I am a bona fide Ilongo . . . no matter how poor Iloilo was or no matter it will be better in the next…. I am born here , my ancestors were born here, although mixed with Hispanic blood , I am sure enough i will spend all my time living in Iloilo walking on its street everyday and every night … No matter what , i will be here till all my days are gone and my spirit will be here for eternity….. i think i have said enougth on this stuff
Simon Choi says
May 11, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I used my British passport to visit Iloilo for 20 days in March. I notice many Phillipino become not so welcome to me when I am touring and spending money at iloilo as I am Chinese look. I spend forty thousand peso during my touring excluding my business class airfare at Philippine airline. If iloilo is a big city, citizen should not be so narrow minded to refuse Chinese or China town. You can see there are many China town at big city all over our world.
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- Vic says
  May 13, 2011 at 7:41 pm
  @ SImon CHoi… i am asking apology for anything you might have think about how Iloilo treated you but im quite suspecting its your misconception… Iloilo caters Korean as you see them all around in malls, in streets, in clubs etc… they look like Chinese or something… they are quite comfortable here…
  Reply
Vic says
May 11, 2011 at 10:23 am
Hey Anita…. no single Ilongo will assign the name of Calle Real as china town, china triangle whatsoever although many stores are run by our fellow Chinese descent Filipinos to whom we co exist harmoniously through centuries… Calle Real remains the name of our City, some are comfortable with downtown .
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- kirbs says
  May 12, 2011 at 11:56 pm
  Calle Real is only one street — how can it be triangle. And Calle is not Downtown Iloilo but a street in Downtown area of Iloilo City. Reading your posts here in Explore Iloilo are kinda confusing to all visitors and Ilonggos. Thanks.
  Reply
  - Vic says
    May 13, 2011 at 7:36 pm
    AT Kirbs——“”Calle Real is only one street “””” wrong….. calle real is a business district it does not pertain to a street although the Spanish Term Suggest it so….
    — how can it be triangle……. Don’t be strict on Geometry—- notice the Glorietta in Makati—is it Square?? yet they call it Glorietta ( meaning square in Spanish) same way with City Square Store….
    And Calle is not Downtown Iloilo but a street in Downtown area of Iloilo City.<—— you repeat the same error here……
    Reading your posts here in Explore Iloilo are kinda confusing to all visitors and Ilonggos. Thanks.<—— If you're not keen… you would confused… i very rarely confused in Marcus post… they are technically right… if not ill be the one to complain…….and this time…. youre confusing people by your equating calle real and one street street… and saying its not downtown…….
  - Lee says
    May 13, 2011 at 9:49 pm
    @KIRBY: you’re, indeed, confused regarding “Calle Real (de Iloilo)”. If you read up Marcos’ post on May 8, 2007, it will tell you that Calle Real used to be a bustling business district of Iloilo akin to Escolta in Manila. It expands from Plaza Libertad (south) intersecting Plazoleta Gay (central) and the now Iloilo Provincial Capitol (north) & the surrounding mansions around them. Albeit, Calle (street in Spanish)is not truly a SPECIFIC street in Iloilo City. I hope that clears up the confusion.
    CHINA TOWN. Marcos refers it as “Chinese Triangle” because it is TRULY a triangle… where JM Basa St/Iznart St & Aldeguer St intersects each other forming a “true triangle”. Check your Google map or try Google earth.
    @Vic: Glorietta used to be called “QUAD MAKATI” short term for quandrangle…4 sides. I used to enjoy walking around Quad makati as it was truly a square (believe me!). Later, to my dismay, they built Glorietta with its odd shaped buildings/structures. Indeed, Glorietta, as its name implies, A SQUARE. Don’t get people confused… Glorietta is a square and when Marcos says Chinese Triangle, it’s REAL TRIANGLE!
- jo says
  May 17, 2011 at 7:50 pm
  Naglagay ng Filipino – Chinese arc sa may Iznart pagadto sa Maria Clara; maglagay na rin ng Filipino – Spanish arc sa may Calle Real, then lagyan din ng ibang arc diyan like Filipino – Korean arc and Filipino – American arc yang the other side of Iznart and a Filipino – Indian arc iyung Ledesma Street. Tapos lakihan ang Obelisk para prominent siya. Parang tourist attraction na rin. Basta ang mga arc same size with different design lang. para hindi law ay tanawon. I don’t know kung appropriate iyung groupings.
  Reply
Anita says
May 11, 2011 at 9:24 am
So Downtown will no longer be Calle Real ? Because it would already look more like China Town….I know most of the businesses there are Chinese owned, but it should be preserved.
I am not really sure who really built it but I believe its from the Spanish time because of the name CALLE REAL…I think it should not be called China Town.
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