ILOILO

[The City of Iloilo]

The City of Iloilo is the sugar port. It is situated on the east coast

of the Island of Panay, along the lower reaches of the river whose

name it bears, and is about 300 miles from Manila, in a direction

a little east of south. It is one of the most important ports of the

Philippines and carries on with Cebu an amiable contest for the dignity

of ranking as the second city. It has direct shipping connections

with Europe, the Straits Settlements, China, Japan, and Australia;

and there are many boats sailing to other portions of the Archipelago,

including a regular service to Cebu. There are banking institutions

and a number of importing and exporting houses, and the local trade

reaches up into high figures. Substantial walls have been built along

the river, where large steamers can unload. Ships of greater draft

anchor in the harbor, where they are well in shore and protected.

Near it are two towns of considerable historic interest--Jaro and

Molo. A railroad runs through the province and its neighbor Capiz, thus

making it easy to see a considerable portion of the Island of Panay,

which is made up of the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, and Antique. There

are the white coral cliffs near Ventura, honeycombed with caves,

with interesting legends attached to them, as is the case with one

having its outlet in Dumalag, Capiz. The stone church at Miagao has

the most quaintly carved facade in the Islands. The hand weaving of

the delicate textiles jusi, piña, and the like is one of the leading

industries of Iloilo Province.