"To Europeans accustomed to nostalgia about old things Filipinos can sometimes seem strangely matter-of-fact about impermanence. In an architecture of light wood structures and grass or palm thatch, termites and typhoons between them make a fifty-year-old house an antique. Houses are quickly built and newness is valued as a sign that the family fortunes are on the up-and-up."

Quoted from "Playing with Water: Passion and Solitude on a Philippine Island", by James Hamilton-Paterson. To my mind, one of the best and most sympathetic books by a foreigner about Filipino culture.

I worked in the field of historic preservation in New York for nearly 25 years so I can't resist snapshots of old buildings. I hope you'll enjoy them and if you can supply more information please do so. Be sure to click the images to expand them.

Iloilo City has more historic integrity than many other Philippine larger cities. Manila was virtually destroyed during WW II and Cebu City extensively damaged. Iloilo's old downtown "Calle Real" commercial area has real potential. Despite the expansion of "suburban" commercial areas, especially Diversion Road, Iloilo's downtown businesses seem to be holding their own.

Iloilo does seem poised to lose several landmarks; the old Provincial Capital has been replaced and the fate of the old capital is uncertain. The grim and atmospheric old provincial prison near the capital is empty. Plans are afoot to replace demolish the old city hall and replace it with a new building on the same site.

General Luna Street, a main Iloilo City artery is well-planned and quite attractive, a four lane boulevard with a median planted with trees and flowering plants. Maintenance of the trees and plants has been spotty. Now there is a "fly-over" under construction aimed at easing traffic at a busy intersection. While it may improve traffic flow, it may well degrade the appearance of this attractive location near the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.