ILOILO

     As the heritage Champion of the Country, Iloilo holds the legacies of her bygones. Many churches of stone stood high, a sign that Iloilo is proud of a being a Christian nation. Reliefs are artistically carved on the walls while limestone saints overlook the vicinities of the entire town from its brick niche. Their faded facade are signs that they are aged and weary of being fortresses of a forgotten empire. Old mansions still lives with life like they were just built yesterday, but few, were not able to stay intact as their possessor gave them up for a new one. Many Majestic cemeteries, damaged by time and war wail to be retouched. their limestonewall, fall like sand on one's grasp. Untill this legacies remain, let us not waste time for them to tremor and crumble down like a matchstick pyramid blown by a strong breeze.

Iloilo's Calle Real, now J.M. Basa St. is considered  to be the City's living museum. Old world architecture flourished in the area. Today, what is left of the old Business center are few dilapidated buildings. Some of these century old infrastructures had been burned and has never been rebuilt ever since.

An concerned organization  namely, Canada-Philippines Partnership Program for Good Urban Governance, had been dreaming of renovating the famous Calle Real.

Regent Building is one of the oldest cinema theatres in the country. The design is a combination of baroque and neo-classic elements characterized by corinthian columns and archways.

S. Vilanueva 1 Building

S. Vilanueva 2 Buildings
The Buildings of S. Vilanueva are both in american colonial architecture. This is proven by the dominant vertical movement of both edifices.

For more information of "Do You Care About Calle Real?" visit http://www.philippines.canurb.com/publications/heritageforum.pdf

Historical Value:

The Fortress of San Pedro, Built to protect the city from Dutch, English and Moor invaders during the early 1600's was been one of the greatest euilateral defense fortresses built in the Philippines. The Fort does not exist till this except for some of it's limestone base which was used to support the fort.

The Cause of It's Fall:

At the end of the Duth invasion, the fort was not used and therfore neglected by the people. It was too exposed to the open waters causing the waves to crush and dilapidate its walls.. The fort was then completely destroyed after World War II.

Today, the fort is being used as a park, where people could watch the romantic ilonggo sunset and feel the lifting fusion of the ocean breeze and the salty waves crashing on the shore.   

Historical Value:

Though the church was unfinished, it was still one of the longest church built in Panay. the artistic clash of fossil stones and baked bricks enhanced the church simple neoclassic architecture.

Why was it Ruined?

In world war II, the fall of Cabatuan, the last defense of Western Visayas, gave way for the Japanese army to invade the central part of Iloilo. They burned the Convent of Cabatuan and the Church of Janiuay and used their bricks to build the Tiring Landing Feild (Japanese Airfield). The church of Janiuay was never restored after world war II.

In 2000, the Parish  of Janiuay, now having a newer church did some restorations to the older church, standing on a hill infront of the municipal park. Instead of reviving the church itself, the parish converted the church grounds(including the ancient church) into a promenade garden.The garden contrasting the church, gave way to a beautiful flowery garden which is admired by passers-by and tourist.

Historical Value:

This church is one of the first churches in the Philippines built in stone. It is obviously gothic in architecture. The facade is cfrowned by a corinthian pediment which isolates the gothic styles of the church.

Why not Finish?

The church's belfries is obviously unfinished. They outbalance the facade and takes away the solemnity from it. There are many possibilities why the church was unfinished. It might be because there was a sudden shift of parochial priests, or the lack of financial stability and conflicts between the parish and the architect, whatever the reason, the church should really be reconstructed. The original plan might have been lost, but the best thing to do is to install third level box towers(similar to the old Sto. Domingo Church in Intramuros) on the belfries. 

Historical Value:

The Church of Leon was said to be the largest church in the Philippines in terms of floor area. The facade is renaissance in style, decorated with graceful arches and two leveled pilasters. Both the belfry and the interior of the church was never finished.

Restorations???

The church wsa "reconstructed" lately, they installed a third level tin roofed belfry which destroys the overall appeal of the church. The interior was then shortened. The Apse of the church including retablos and altars were left in ruins behind the new modern semi-circular apse.

Make Use and Re-use:

The ruined apse of the church is now used as the oficial meeting place of Leon's Knights of Culumbus.