Old Plazoleta Gay
Calle Real in the 19th Century
Old Iloilo City Proper
The Iloilo City Proper today with the old International Business Hotel in the intersection
Muelle Loney - named in honor of Nicholas Loney, first British vice-consul of Iloilo and Father of Sugar Industry in the Philippines.
Iznart Street - was named after Spanish Iloilo Alcalde-mayor Manuel Iznart in 1860's .
Ortiz Street - named after Don Juan Ortiz Sr.
Don Joaquin Ortiz Sr - was a Spanish noble and wealthy family born in 1798 in Estepa, Sevilla, Spain and had the title of Marques de Luna. He traveled around the Philippines looking for a better location for establishing a business (shipyard) and he found that Iloilo was situated in the center of the Philippines and had ample supply of timber for his ships. Here he decided to invest shipping business. Frigates, Batels and Bergantins were what tobe found being built in his shipyard. It was also said that he built a beautiful Bergantine which he gave as a gift to Queen Maria Cristina de Bourbon.
He donated parts of his property for the widening of the roads and making new ones and so becoming one of the pioneers of in the development of the city. Because of this, in appreciation and acknowledgment for his selfless act, the officials then named Ortiz Street after him. His donations are now part of JM Basa Street, Ortiz Street, Iznart Street, Rizal Street and Gen. Luna Street and a piece of the Plazoleta Gay.
Delgado Street is considered the longest street in Iloilo City and is named after General Martin Delgado, the indomitable revolutionary who fought for Philippine independence against both the Spanish and American regimes.
Valeria Street, on the other hand, has the distinction of being one of the few streets to carry a first name rather than a surname. Valeria Ledesma, one of the 17 children of the original owner, Anastacio Ledesma donated the area to the city - and it was decided that since there was already a Ledesma street named after her father, the street would bear her first name instead.
A street from General Luna up to Rizal traversing Delgado and Ledesma was named after Valeria Lopez Ledesma (Born on April 27, 1866 ). She is daughter of Anastacio Lopez Ledesma and Clara Jalandoni Lopez who donated that piece of land.
Here are the rest of the street names and for whom they were named:
(Don Alfonso) Fajardo Street
or probably (Governor Enrique) Fajardo Street
(Don Teodoro) Benedicto Street
(Capt.) Simon Ledesma Street
(Don Manuel) Arguelles Street
(Graciano) Lopez Jaena Street
(Marcelo Hilario) MH Del Pilar Street
(Spanish Bishop Mariano) Cuartero Street
(Gov. and Businessman Eugenio) E. Lopez (Sr.) Street
(First Iloilo Mayor) Plazoleta (Jose N.) Gay
(Apolinario) Mabini Street
(Fuerza del) Santo Rosario Street
(Gov. Manuel) Iznart Street
(Merchant/Revolutionary Jose Maria) JM Basa Street
(Don Anastacio Lopez) Ledesma Street
(Municipal Pres. Juan) De Leon Street
(Gen. Martin) Delgado Street
General (Antonio) Luna Street
(Sen. Espiridion) Guanco Street
(British Consul and "Father of the Philippine Sugar Industry") Muelle (Nicholas) Loney Street
(Heiress) Valeria (Ledesma) Street
(Don Joaquin) Ortiz Street
(Father Jacinto) Zamora Street
(Pres. Manuel) Quezon Street
(Sen. Mariano) Arroyo Street
(Mr. Manuel) Aldeguer Street
(Sugar Baron Don Esteban) De La Rama Street
(Revolutionary Manuel) Jalandoni Street
(Chief Justice Victoriano) Mapa Street
(American) General (Robert) Hughes
(Austrian Propagandist Ferdinand) Blumentritt Street
Photo Source:
John Tewell, Life Magazine
RJDexplorer.com