Among the most illustrious in Iloilo City is the heritage district of Jaro. Home of the national hero Graciano Lopez y Jaena, the district pays him tribute through numerous streets, building and statues in his honour throughout the place. Jaro has brilliantly combined heritage and gastronomy amidst the changing times. Its glorious past is now being enjoyed at present and what its future may hold depends on the present.
Here are some places of interest in Jaro and visiting them all may take a little more than half a day. Enjoy the heritage and gastronomic attractions of this district.
Mansions
Known to have the first millionaire’s row in the country, Jaro boasts of numerous grand and stately mansions. Most well known of which is Nelly Garden, former home of one of the country’s richest families, the Lopezes. The mansion’s grandeur is matched by the vast expanse of its front lawn making it a sight to behold . Toursits can arrange for a tour a day before their visit for PhP200/pax minimum of 5. See Photos
In the same splendor is the Lizares’ mansion in the outskirts of the plaza and now home to Angelicum School run by the Dominicans. Made into a garrison by the Japanese during the war, this regal mansion is a spectacle of lights during Christmas. Then there's the 200 year old Casa Mariquit in one of the side streets of Jaro. It is the dedicated to the former Vice President of the Philippines Fernando Lopez. A number of other mansions and heritage houses dot the district among them the antillian Sanson-Montinola House and the Ledesma mansion.
Catholics and Protestants
The Jaro Cathedral is the seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas and is the center for Candelaria devotion in the country. Its fiesta every February 2 is marked with pageantry, gastronomy and cockfighting. A gift shop is found beside the church and blessed candles are always a good buy – for pasalubong or personal use.
The plaza holds the church’s belfry which can be seen almost all throughout Iloilo City. Statues and tributes to its famous son abound the park and is now renamed after him. The archbishop’s residence popularly called as “palasyo” holds a host of relics enough to be a museum itself.
Across the street is the first Baptist church in the Philippines, the Jaro Evangelical church. Founded in 19, it sparked the protestant movement in Iloilo and founded one of the biggest educational institutions of in the region, Central Philippine University. Popularly known as CPU, was found in 1905 and is the only school in Iloilo City to be named as a tourist destination by the local government.
Eat’s all in the mind
One can never go hungry while in Jaro for as a “city within a city”, it has a good share of restaurants catering to a variation of taste. Go local and you’ll get chicken inasal, batchoy, and Pat-pat’s kansi (the local bulalo) on top of the regular fast food and turo-turo restaurants.
Satisfy your pizza and pasta craving at Afrique’s right behind the cathedral and savour Germany in an aptly named restaurant - Bavaria, nearby. Challenge yourself with Perri Todd’s gigantic burgers with drinks to match.
Get a load of native delicacies in the market most especially on Thursdays (market day) as ibos, suman latik, puto lanson, puto, baye baye, alupe, linupak, aripahol, puto lanson and other local treats flood the market. One of Iloilo’s famous bibingka, Balasan’s RCJ bingka has a stall in front of one of the mansions near the plaza. Thin but very rich and tasty you’ll want more.
Going home won’t be complete without some goodies to bring back. Good thing Jaro is a well stocked pasalubong district that won’t fail visitors. First stop is Biscocho House, the ultimate pasalubong shop in Iloilo City. Biscocho, butterscotch, yemas, garlic toasts, pinasugbo, meringue, piaya and a whole lot, lot more! They also have fresh lumpia, puto manapla and even dried seafoods. Also check out their adjacent snack shop and restaurant – Carlito’s (now The Corner Bistro). A few steps away is PJ’s Delicacies and they have great butterscotch, toasts and piaya among others.
Furthermore is one of the oldest bakeries in the country, Panaderia ni Pa-a, founded in 1896 and makes an almost iconic pan de sal. Right across are Nene Squidhaus and another iconic bakeshop from another district – Panaderia de Molo. A bit further is another famous bakeshop and a well know maker of a popular treat- barquillos. The Deocampos have been making them since 1898. Also try their mamon tostado, butterscotch and sio pao. But if time permit a visit to Rgies Delicacies in Gran Plains Subdivision is worth the few minutes of the tour. Don't forget to take their butterscotch and other delectable delights, home.
Make sure to bring a lot of pasalubong for they aren’t always enough when the pleasure of gastronomy starts.
Here are some places of interest in Jaro and visiting them all may take a little more than half a day. Enjoy the heritage and gastronomic attractions of this district.
Mansions
Known to have the first millionaire’s row in the country, Jaro boasts of numerous grand and stately mansions. Most well known of which is Nelly Garden, former home of one of the country’s richest families, the Lopezes. The mansion’s grandeur is matched by the vast expanse of its front lawn making it a sight to behold . Toursits can arrange for a tour a day before their visit for PhP200/pax minimum of 5. See Photos
In the same splendor is the Lizares’ mansion in the outskirts of the plaza and now home to Angelicum School run by the Dominicans. Made into a garrison by the Japanese during the war, this regal mansion is a spectacle of lights during Christmas. Then there's the 200 year old Casa Mariquit in one of the side streets of Jaro. It is the dedicated to the former Vice President of the Philippines Fernando Lopez. A number of other mansions and heritage houses dot the district among them the antillian Sanson-Montinola House and the Ledesma mansion.
Catholics and Protestants
The Jaro Cathedral is the seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas and is the center for Candelaria devotion in the country. Its fiesta every February 2 is marked with pageantry, gastronomy and cockfighting. A gift shop is found beside the church and blessed candles are always a good buy – for pasalubong or personal use.
The plaza holds the church’s belfry which can be seen almost all throughout Iloilo City. Statues and tributes to its famous son abound the park and is now renamed after him. The archbishop’s residence popularly called as “palasyo” holds a host of relics enough to be a museum itself.
Across the street is the first Baptist church in the Philippines, the Jaro Evangelical church. Founded in 19, it sparked the protestant movement in Iloilo and founded one of the biggest educational institutions of in the region, Central Philippine University. Popularly known as CPU, was found in 1905 and is the only school in Iloilo City to be named as a tourist destination by the local government.
Eat’s all in the mind
One can never go hungry while in Jaro for as a “city within a city”, it has a good share of restaurants catering to a variation of taste. Go local and you’ll get chicken inasal, batchoy, and Pat-pat’s kansi (the local bulalo) on top of the regular fast food and turo-turo restaurants.
Satisfy your pizza and pasta craving at Afrique’s right behind the cathedral and savour Germany in an aptly named restaurant - Bavaria, nearby. Challenge yourself with Perri Todd’s gigantic burgers with drinks to match.
Get a load of native delicacies in the market most especially on Thursdays (market day) as ibos, suman latik, puto lanson, puto, baye baye, alupe, linupak, aripahol, puto lanson and other local treats flood the market. One of Iloilo’s famous bibingka, Balasan’s RCJ bingka has a stall in front of one of the mansions near the plaza. Thin but very rich and tasty you’ll want more.
Going home won’t be complete without some goodies to bring back. Good thing Jaro is a well stocked pasalubong district that won’t fail visitors. First stop is Biscocho House, the ultimate pasalubong shop in Iloilo City. Biscocho, butterscotch, yemas, garlic toasts, pinasugbo, meringue, piaya and a whole lot, lot more! They also have fresh lumpia, puto manapla and even dried seafoods. Also check out their adjacent snack shop and restaurant – Carlito’s (now The Corner Bistro). A few steps away is PJ’s Delicacies and they have great butterscotch, toasts and piaya among others.
Furthermore is one of the oldest bakeries in the country, Panaderia ni Pa-a, founded in 1896 and makes an almost iconic pan de sal. Right across are Nene Squidhaus and another iconic bakeshop from another district – Panaderia de Molo. A bit further is another famous bakeshop and a well know maker of a popular treat- barquillos. The Deocampos have been making them since 1898. Also try their mamon tostado, butterscotch and sio pao. But if time permit a visit to Rgies Delicacies in Gran Plains Subdivision is worth the few minutes of the tour. Don't forget to take their butterscotch and other delectable delights, home.
Make sure to bring a lot of pasalubong for they aren’t always enough when the pleasure of gastronomy starts.
Acknowledgment: Some photos courtesy of www.EXPLOREILOILO.com, www.VISITA-IGLESIA.com, www HABAGATCENTRAL.com, www.BYAHILO.com, www.GIGSILONGGO.com, www.DATREKKER.blogspot.com, www.TIGABALUARTE.blogspot.com, www.SKYSCRAPERCITY.com, Dept. of Tourism - Region 6, IAMME of SSC, FHEL from FB and others through GOOGLE and FLICKR