Jaro, Iloilo City

It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, which encompasses the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, and Negros Occidental, as well as the center of the Candelaria devotion in the Philippines.

[3][4][5][6][7] In recent years, Jaro has experienced significant economic growth, with investments in real estate and retail sectors leading to the development of various establishments and townships in the district.

Historical artifacts indicate that it had once conducted trade with China and Siam (Thailand) due to its port along the navigable river that ran through the town.

Recent economic boom in Iloilo ushered unprecedented growth with new malls, condominiums, hospitals, banks, hotels and townships by real estate developers either to be built or already opened in the district.

Jaro is the largest district in Iloilo City, spanning 27.48 square kilometres (10.61 sq mi) of total land area.

Le peuple de Haro est beaucoup plus civilisé que celui des deux autres villes voisines; son teint est plus blanc, conséquence d'un plus grand mélange du sang européen; on y parle mieux l'espagnol que dans aucun autre lieu de la colonie, la capitale exceptée; les femmes y sont fort belles, et je puis assurer que m'étant trouvé avec plusieurs d'entre elles, j'en ai vu dont la grâce, la taille et les traits eussent été remarqués en Europe; le goût préside à leur toilette, qui est riche et élégante, et comme toutes les créoles, elles ont généralement de l'esprit.

The color of their skin is whiter, consequence of a great mixture of European blood; and Spanish is spoken better there than in any place in the colony, the Capital excepted; the women are very beautiful and I can give assurance of this, having had the pleasure of being amongst them, that they have grace and figure and the features, which would call attention even in Europe.

The economic boom in Iloilo City from 2010 to 2020, resulted to an urban sprawl converting the once grass fields in the areas of barangays or barrios of Sambag, Tacas, Balabago and Bitoon (Coastal Road), McArthur (from Tabuc Suba to Buntatala) sprouted with subdivisions, retail centers and stores, malls, car showrooms and other establishments, which doubled the district's number of households and population.

The cathedral is known for its widely venerated image of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles) which was brought by the Spanish Catholics, the official patroness of Western Visayas and Romblon.

There are also congregations that established their presence in the district which gains a number of adherents – the Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the Iglesia ni Cristo, to name a few.

Since the Spanish colonial era, Jaro is well known for being the turn-table of land transportation to northern, western, central and eastern Panay, thus delivery of goods made way in the town as a transit area.

The sugar boom made riches that earmarked the rise of affluent old-rich Chinese mestizo Jareño families – Ledesma, Locsín, Lopéz of ABS-CBN Corporation, Hofileña, Jalandoni, Javellana, Javellosa, Jalbuena, Lizares, Montinola (of Bank of the Philippine Islands), and Villanueva, to name a few.

Barbara, ushered for big real estate, hospitals, banks and retail developers to launch or open malls and townships in the town.

Spanish culture is heavily imprinted in Jareños way of life – the celebrations of patronal fiestas, language, people, education and cuisine.

A plethora of art galleries and museums showcasing exhibits of fossils and historical artifacts and artworks from both local and international artists are found in Jaro.

It's a celebration in honor of Western Visayas's official Roman Catholic patron, Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of the Candles).

The feast is a month long celebration which includes an agro-industrial fair with carnival rides and a pageantry with a Reyna del Fiesta (Fiesta Queen) selected annually among the daughters of affluent and old-rich Jareño families – Locsin, Javellana, Lopéz, Hofileña, Jalandoni, Guadarrama, Villar, Ledesma, Cocjin, Jaranilla, and Javelosa.

On the feast day, a traditional banquet is held in every household around the town's square with various religious masses being celebrated in Jaro Cathedral from dawn to dusk.

A fireworks display and the traditional switching on of Christmas lights accompanied by orchestra music from the CPU Symphonic Band is held on the opening night with known invited personas like Senators, Congressmen, Mayors and Governors are present as guests.

The sugar boom during the Spanish and early American colonial periods became a factor for old rich Jareño families to build abodes that became testament for it that still stands to this day.

The declaration further implies the structure having "an exceptional art deco design" [38] The present Municipio de Jaro has been restored and turned into as the regional headquarters of the National Museum of the Philippines for Iloilo and Western Visayas.

The establishment of church affiliated schools during the Spanish colonial era resulted to the founding of Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer, the first institution of higher learning in Western Visayas and Negros Island.

The University of Santo Tomas rolled out a plan to convert it into its Iloilo campus, a move to integrate all UST-Dominican Order run institutions in the Philippines.

A part of De Paul's remaining school building and property has been bought and now occupies the St. Robert's International Academy campus.

The Iloilo City Health Office operates satellite district and barangay clinics throughout the town, offering various immunization and medical programs for Jaro's residents.

The Department of Health of the Philippines established and completed an auxiliary healthcare unit for the hospital, known as the WVSU Cancer Center for Western Visayas.

Moreover, plans are underway for the construction of the 10-story WVSU Lung, Kidney, and Heart Center for Western Visayas within the hospital premises, overseen by the mentioned government agency.

The Port of Iloilo serves domestic shipping and cargo routes to/from Manila, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Davao and General Santos.

It serves domestic air routes to Manila, Clark, Cebu, Cuyo Island, Puerto Princesa, Sipalay, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao City.

Associated Jareños are the town's people who are not citizens by birth or who stayed in Jaro either as professors, staff or studied in its academic institutions; took a residence for a short or long period of time in the district; and other factors.

Preparations for the arrival of Governor General William H. Taft , 1900s
Aerial view of Jaro, circa early 1900s.
Aerial view Central Philippine University in the 1960s. The university's main campus was heavily destroyed during World War II. Post war reconstruction resulted to a well laid and organized campus plan.
Mansion de Lopez or Lopez Heritage House (Nelly's Garden) which is regaled as Queen of all heritage houses in Iloilo and Panay .
Lizares Mansion or Villa Lizares ( Angelicum School Iloilo ) are one of the notable mansions built by the old mestizo and old-rich Ilonggo families in Jaro.
Jaro Evangelical Church , the first Baptist Church in the Philippines (the first Protestant Church outside Manila).
The Jaro Cathedral or National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, the seat of Roman Catholicism in the Western Visayas region.
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Candelaria) perched atop the facade of Jaro Cathedral, the Catholic patron of Western Visayas.
Aerial view of Jaro district
The Henry Luce III (Museum and Library) of Central Philippine University , is the largest library/museum in Western Visayas with museum and special collections ranging from Sacred Music, Asian Arts and Artifacts, World War II and American-Philippine History.
The Rose Memorial Auditorium , the largest university auditorium in Western Visayas .
The Festival of Lights and Music at Central 2016 of Central Philippine University .
The Jaro Belfry ( Campanario de Jaro )
The Jaro Cathedral (National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles)
Central Philippine University , founded in 1905 during the early years of American colonization by the American Protestants, is the first Baptist and second American university in the Philippines and in Asia.
The CPU Republic which houses at the Stuart Hall on the main campus of Central Philippine University is the first and oldest student government in South East Asia.
Central Philippine University which was founded as legacy institution of the American titan John D. Rockefeler , is the first Baptist and second American founded university in the Philippines and in Asia. It is the first university in the Western Visayas region to be ranked as one of the best in Asia and the world by Quacquarelli Symonds , one of the renowned and big 3 international university ranking agencies. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ]
Central Philippine University College of Nursing , the first nursing school in the Philippines established in 1906.
The CPU–Iloilo Mission Hospital , which was founded in 1901 by Joseph Andrew Hall, a Presbyterian American missionary and medical doctor, is the first American and Protestant hospital in the Philippines.
Graciano López Jaena , Filipino journalist, orator, reformist and national hero who is well known for his newspaper, La Solidaridad [ 46 ] . [ 47 ]