City Proper, Iloilo City

Iloilo City Proper is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, the capital of Iloilo province on the island of Panay in the Western Visayas in the Philippines. City Proper is considered heart of Iloilo City.

The township and small hamlet was founded in 1600 by Pedro Bravo de Acuña spanischcen governor as La Punta. 1602 was built here the first Spanish fort and Gazett for the military.

It was then known as Estanzuela, because of the local fishing villages that were close to the coast at the port. 1616, the municipality was invaded by the Dutch conquerors, but were soon driven out. 1637 promoted the then Spanish Governor General Corcuera the settlement of Spaniards from Arevalo and Chinese from Molo to make better use of the economic situation of La Punta. This was followed by the rapid development in the borough, which grew into the largest economic center of Panay soon. The port was opened in 1855 for international trade. Many Chinese traders and wealthy British migrants have driven the growth in the province. 1893, the municipality was renamed in Iloilo. After the Philippine Revolution, the township was named as capital of the short- lived Federal Estado de las Visayas ( Free State of the Visayas ), a year before the proclamation of the First Philippine Republic. In 1937, shortly before the Second World War, the city Iloilo was formed by the merger of the two cities Iloilo and Jaro and the four townships Molo, Mandurriao, La Paz and Arevalo.

Today is located in Iloilo City Proper, a large part of the government administrative buildings, banks, offices, shops and large retail chains. It has three universities and several colleges. Main attractions are the old buildings from the Spanish colonial period in the main streets of Calle Real ( JM Basa St. ) and Iznart St., and Plaza Libertad.

• Location in the Philippines
• Iloilo City