Calle Real de Iloilo (Downtown Iloilo City Heritage Zone)
Time stood still amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown traffic of modernity. Decades old establishments still stand against the test of time, reflecting the glorious days of commerce and trade of what was then, the Queen City of the South.
From its humble beginnings as a fishing community along the swampy riverside, Iloilo grew up to be one of Philippine’s premier cities when in 1855, the Spanish colonial government opened the sea port of Iloilo to international trade, and with the introduction of modern sugar farming by the British Vice-Consul Nicolas Loney.
Calle Real is the manifestation of Iloilo’s glorious past. The street itself is a museum of old edifices that survived the onslaught of war, elements and time. Old establishments still stand up to this very moment, still vibrant with commercial and vehicular traffic.
JM Basa Street (and also Iznart St.), or known popularly as Calle Real is referred as the ”Escolta” of Iloilo City. Named “Calle Real” or “Royal Street”, it spans from Plaza Alfonso XII (now known as Plaza Libertad) all the way to Plazoleta Gay and the location of commercial establishments, the Casa Real (Iloilo Provincial Capitol) as well as the residences of the Ilonggo elite.
Reclaimed from the swamps, the street became the central business district since the opening of the city to international trade, it has experienced construction boom while riding along with the economic reaping of harvest from the sugar trade. Most of the commercial and residential establishments are of one or two-story buildings which display European and American of the late 19th and early 20th century influence such as art-nouveau, art-deco, baroque, Venetian-inspired or platoresque. The first levels are used as shops or stores and the second level are used as either offices but mostly as residential spaces.
Most of the heritage buildings were constructed during the late Spanish colonial era all the way to the 1930’s, which made this street the shopping district and a center for commerce and entertainment of the region. The first department store in the region is also located here which was owned by an Englishman Henry Hoskyn, nephew of Nicholas Loney. The Elizalde and Company building, which is now the City Hall Annex, used to sell foodstuffs and benefited from the sugar trade, manifested its plateresque architecture with the usual balay-nga-bato feature of stone walls in the first level and wood in the second level of the establishment.
Cine Palace (1928) and Cine Eagle, which are, located just a few meters away from Plaza Libertad, were once the witnesses to bodabil, theatrical plays and movies, one of the most modern cinemas outside Manila during the early 20th century.
The Masonic Temple on the other hand was once Iloilo Lodge No. 11 was finished in 1928 that faced the Catholic Church of San Jose de Placer across Plaza Libertad and it was made a headquarters of the Japanese Imperial forces for Iloilo.
On the southern end of Calle Real lies Plaza Libertad, formerly known as Plaza Alfonso XII. Surrounded by the old buildings such as the Masonic Temple, Lacson Ancestral House, the ruins of Botica Lacson and Iglesia de San Jose de Placer, it has been the witness of the dusk of the Spanish power in Asia as the last Spanish Governor General Diego de los Rios surrendered to the Ilonggo revolutionaries led by General Martin Delgado in Christmas Day 1898. Iloilo was the last Spanish colonial capital in the Philippines after they have surrendered Manila to the Americans in August 1898.
On the northern end of the street are the Casa Real (Royal House) or the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and Arroyo Fountain. The former was built from wood and stone in 1840, which features Greek columns dominate the facade. The once flagpole in front of the Casa Real was torn down in 1927 to give way to Arroyo Fountain, with its caryatids carrying a basin with fish gargoyles that sprout water. The fountain was dedicated to Senator Jose Maria Arroyo who created the Iloilo Metropolitan Water Works.
Commonwealth-era establishments lined up not just the main street of Calle Real, but also its branches of Aldeguer, Iznart and Guanco Streets. The Public Market of Iloilo for example displays predominantly of art deco in design.
But damages from wear and tear of the time, World War II, the great earthquake of 1948 and the the big conflagration in the downtown area has left the old buildings to be neglected, mismanaged and left to decay.
In April 2000, the Local Cultural Conservation Ordinance was enacted by the City Government of Iloilo to prevent further destruction of heritage sites in the city, preservation of the establishments and to be reused again for commercial, tourism, educational or institutional functions. The ICCHCC or Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council is the overseer of the heritage conservation efforts in the Calle Real area. Today, educating the citizens and efforts from the building owners themselves for preserving or restoration the cultural heritage structures of the establishments has been gradually being implemented.
As these old edifices of art and labor stands mute against time and the noise of the city, the edifices of Calle Real has shared its experiences with the Ilonggo people, from the glories to tragedies. The legacies that the old Iloilo left, reminded every Ilonggos of its regal past and its contribution to history of the Filipino people.
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Acknowledgement to Center for West Visayan Studies (UP Visayas), Prof. Henry Funtecha and Prof. Melanie Padilla, Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council, Mr. Butch Peñalosa, Mr. Scott Sarria and Museo Iloilo.
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michael arnold betita » June 19th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
My Grand Father work for the ELIZALDE COMPANY IN ILOILO CITY WHILE HIS FAMILY LIVED IN LA PAZ, ILOILO AND BACOLOD OCCIDENTAL AS A ACOUNTANT. SALVADOR VITERBO OR SALVADOR VILLANUEVA WORK MANY YEARS AT THE PRESTIGOUS COMPANY. MY GRAND FATHER WAS FROM A WEALTHY & RICH FAMILY OF THE VITERBO CLAN
CITY OF CAPIZ. DIEGO VITERBO AND ROSARIO VILLANUEVA PARENTS. YET HE WAS BETRAYED BY HIS 2 BROTHERS THAT STOLE MONIES AND ASSETS. HIS LOVING MOTHER AWARE OF THIS GAVE HIM AND SIGNED TO ALL HER REAL ESTATE LAND HOLDINGS TO HER 2ND ELDEST SON SALVADOR VITERBO OR SALVADOR VLLANUEVA IN PONTE VEDRA HIPONA, YATINGAN, AND BAILAN. THE LAND MASSES CONSIST AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE BEYOND THE HUMAN EYE. HIS ASSETS AND MONIES WERE ALL TIED TO HIS REAL LAND PROPERTIES FOR THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF HIS CHILDREN.
IT IS CRIMINAL,DISGUSTING,DEMORALIZING,HEART BREAKING,A TRAVESTY, A UNSPEAKABLE ACT,DESRESPECT, SINFUL, GREED, DISGRACE WHEN MY MOTHER MARIETTA VILLANUEVA, MARIETTA VITERBO WAS PHYSICALLY ROBBED,HIJACKED,LIED TO, STOLED,TAKEN FROM HER DAD’S LEGAL REAL ESTATE TITLES FROM HER TO REMEDIOS BERIBER OQUENDO AND FAMILY. THE OQUENDOS CRONIES AND COHORTS NOW CONTROL ALL THE LANDS. THE MONEY THEY LAUNDER,EMBEZZLE FOR THEMSELVES TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH MULTIPLE VISAS; STOLEN MONEY TO SEND THE OQUENDOS AND COMPANY TO EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS, HAVING 12 TO 15 HOUSE MAIDS WITH SALVADOR VITERBO OR SALVDOR VILLANUEVA MONEYS THATS STOLEN IN THE HAND OF EVIL THUGS WITH BLACK HEARTS; THEY DON’T HAVE HEARTS OF ANY COMPASSION;GULITY OF ALL WHITE COLLAR CRIMES EVER ACTED UPON. MY MOTHER AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAD TO LIVE LIKE POOR BARN RATS, POOR POOR NOTHING WHILE THE OQUENDOS HAVE MILLIONS DOLLARS THATS STUFFED IN EVERY CREVICE IN THEIR BODIES INCLUDING WHERE THE SUN DONT SHINE; THEY EVEN TOLD US WHEN REMEDIOS BERIBER OQUENDO WAS SICK AND DYING THAT SHE COULD NOT DIE; SHE WAS BUSY COUNTING ALL HER MONEY ON HER BED WHILE SICK AND DYING; HER KIDS GAVE HER TOILET PAPER TO COUNT FOR YEARS. THEY HAVE REAL CLASS JUST LIKE THE SEWERS RATS THEY FED UPON. SHE WOULD NOT DIE EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS DONE. THEY SAY THAT IS REAL CURSE.
UPON KNOWING THE OQUENDOS AND COMPANY WAS NOT IN THE RIGHTFUL, TRUTHFUL, LEGAL ENTITY,DOCUMNENTED, WITNESS SIGNED TO SALVADOR VITERBO OR SALVADOR VILLANUEV AND ROSARIO VILLANUEUVA REAL LAND PROPERTIES LEGALLY THAT HE HAD A MASSIVE BRAIN HEMMORHAGE.
IN KINDNESS, AND BIG HEARTS THE ELIZALDES TOOK TAKE OF MY GRANDFATHER. THEY MADE ALL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND MADE SURE HE HAD A DECENT BURIAL. THANKS TO THE ELIZALDES OF ILOILO,PHILIPPINES. ALSO, MY MOTHER STILL HAS HIS LIFE INSURANCE DOCUMENT FROM THE ELIZALDE COMPANY FOR THE RECORD NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO TRAVEL LOS ANGELES TO PICK UP THE LIFE INSURANCE AT THAT TIME.
GOD BLESS THE ELIZALDES AND THEIR FAMILIES
MICHAEL ARNOLD BETITA
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mike betita » February 1st, 2011 at 11:19 am
VITERBOS, OQUENDOS-MALEZAS,CRONIES AND COHORTS FROM ROXAS CITY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARE CHEATERS.LIARS, AND STEALERS WHO HAVE ILLEGALLY PROFITED FROM SALVADOR BADOY VITERBO AND HIS FAMILY FROM GENERATION TO GERNERATION DONOT ABIDE BY OR ADHERE TO THE RULE OF LAW; THEY HAVE ROBBED MY MOTHER MARIETTA VITERBO HER WEALTH OF A LIFETIME THAT HAVE NO MORALS AND CHRISTIAN FAITH; THEY FAKE EVERYTHING; THEY ARE FULL OF BALONGE,SHIT,GARBAGE MOUTHS, AND WHATEVER THE DEVIL SPEWS.
jomariesalvador » March 11th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
pls maintain this building this our heretage, proud to an ilonggo
mike betita » May 12th, 2011 at 3:28 am
This a truth life story of Salvador Badoy Viterbo of Capiz, Iloilo,Phiippines. He was the son of Diego Viterbo and Rosario Villanueva of Capiz. The family was pretty well off and owned many Real Land Properties in Capiz including Vineyards,Canning Companies, Businesses, Developed Lands and Undeveloped Land approxiametly over 1000 hectares or more. Salvador Badoy Viterbo had siblings in the name of Antonio Viterbo and Tomas Viterbo. Most importantly his daughther named Remedios Beriber Oquendo Viterbo who later would become the bad and the ugly Witch(Iswang)criminal actor against a her own brothers and sisters to steal their share of Real Land Properties. As the final act she pull off the white crime collar crime of the Century in Capiz Manslaughter against Salvador Badoy Viterbo as of her direct criminal actions and robbery against my Mom Marietta Viterbo or Marietta Villanueva Betita who let Remedios Beriber Oquendo Viterbo just to look at the many Land Titles Official Documentation “LAND AS FAR BEYOND THE EYE CAN SEE” LAND TITLES ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIGNED,SEALED,WITNESSED,RECORDED,VERIFYED IN BEHALF OF ROSARIO VILLANUEVA/AND OR SALVADOR BADOY VITERBO whom the Government of the United States was fully in charge over seeing the Philippines after the Spanish American War.
The 3 brother’s had a close relationship until about their 20′s or so. They were known in the town as 3 Amigos. My mom would say when they would get together and have big fiestas and everybody spoke Spanish. Salvador Badoy Viterbo was going to be priest so he went Manila. While he was their his brothers Confiscated Documentation where they defrauded him. Before this happenend all Official Documents showed that all 3 brothers were equally shared in all Land Properties and Assets but Antonio and Tomas Viterbo cheated,lied,and stole 33 1/3% Illegally and Criminally to become greedy, corrupt, seedy, and richer leaving Salvador Badoy Viterbo with zero shares. When he decided the priesthood was not for him he came home to Capiz. And then to find out what they did to him to his Shares and Assets made him very angry and resentful. His Mother Rosario Villanueva disgusted and very miserable at her 2 other sons. She owned other Real Land Propeties in Capiz hundreds and hundreds of Hectares that was bigger than towns so she signed her Real Properties to Salvador Badoy Viterbo. That’s when he used his Mother Rosario Villanueva maiden name. My Mother was born Marietta Villanueva along with her other sister Pilar
Villnaueva and Brothers but they are Viterbos by Legal Marriage and by blood and the heirs of Salvador Badoy Viterbo and Diego Viterbo and Rosario Villanueva.
Remedios Beriber Oquendo was the daughter of Tomas Viterbo. She was something eles; she taken Real Land Properties from her brother and sisters. She was always in Court getting sued or suing somebody for their Land. Alledgely she committed homicide agaisnt somebody for their Property and her husband Nemesio spent jail time for her action. Eventually she found out about all the Real Land Properies that Salvador Badoy Viterbo was given Officially Legally Authenic Real Land Titles. Her target was my Mother Marietta Viterbo or Marietta Villanueva. She would entertain socialize make her feel good from 8 years old to around 20 years old. My Mother trusted Remedios and her kids for all that time as a first cousin and friend.
Remedios knew all Land Marks and how huge the Land Masses were. Now she all she needed was the the Official Land Titles in her bloody hands. She would bother my Mom over and over the years to tell her she just wants to look at them nothing more. My Mom trusted her so much so one day she let her observe them and that was history. She Con my Mom and Robbed her of her Real Land Properties in Capiz, Iloilo, Philippines.
Salvador Badoy Viterbo was dead his veins in his head
exploded.These following names are from public record are criminals of law who are money laudering,embezzling,Land Robbers, falsyfing Official Doucumentation, lying under oath,never had huge land masses before the demise of Salvador Badoy Viterbo cheating,lying, and stealing the Estate of Salvador Badoy Viterbo and who are defrauding big and small banks,defrauding its own government,defrauding the people of capiz employing slave labor,defrauding the United States of America by white collar crimes.Margarita Maleza Oquendo and family in the Philippines and New York, Nelda Sanson Oquendoa and family, Ofelia Inocencio Oquendo and family in Philippines and U.S.A. Restituto Oquendo and family and the yougest girl Oquendo in the Philippines. Antonio Viterbo,sr who stoled 33 1/3% from his own brother Salvador Badoy Viterbo of Real Land Propeties and Assets his family have been stealing,lying,and cheating from one generation to the next generation with no remorse, no apologies, no compensation, not doing right thing thats in the hundred of millions of U.S. Dollars thats directly owed to Marietta Viterbo or Marietta Villaneuva. They have directly caused emotional, traumatization, physical damage to the heart, soul, and spirit to my Mother who has a memeory like a Elephant. She has memorized everything about her Uncle Antonio Viterbo and family and personally knew each and everyone of the children. She can remember everything in detail about World War II and hell on Earth. How the Japanese were running businesses before the War and these same people became Officers of the Army when they invaded the Phiippines. When the United States of America came to save the Phiippines she was so happy and joyful for the Americans were good,decent, helpful gave back in her life,liberty and the pursuit of happieness.
The following names are from Public Record.
These people in the Philippines and the United States of America in 2011 are stll cheating,lying,stealing from the Estate of Salvador Badoy Viterbo and from My Mother Marietta Viterbo or Marietta Villanueva. They defrauded the United States of America with falscifacation and deception. Everything they to do skirt the Laws of the Land is by way diversion, misconception,deny, tell storytales, or some other white collar schematics.
Joselito Viterbo and wife Nena Macadaeg and family. Antonio Viterbo,jr and wife Elsa Bagtas and family. Joesephine Viterbo and husband Antonio Medina and Family. Gabriel Viterbo and wife Edna Alvarez and Family. George Viterbo and wife *Marilyn Gregorio and family. Hernandez Viterbo and wife Dolres Tapia and family. Victoria Viterbo and husband Ysidro Perez and family.
MIKE BETITA
pogi » June 2nd, 2011 at 5:06 pm
money is the root of all evil.hand it over to Him instead…the Lord resist the proud but gives grace to the humble…
Nicole » August 10th, 2011 at 3:34 am
Hi Mike,
I’d like to know more about this kind of history of Viterbo.. i’m a viterbo too from Capiz..
hope you have a YMessenger or skype so we could talk all about it, thanks..
mikey betita » August 11th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Viterbos and Maleza(Ging Ging) Beriber Oquendos and Cronies and Cohorts who have been corrupt and crimmial enterprise for over 50 years in Roxas City,Philippines, New York,Delaware,California,Illinois, Pennsylvania and every State of Union who used The United State Treasury Department as thier Piggy Bank for Crimminal Purposes should be stripped of their U.S. Passport.
When you say Prayer; you vow your Christians,the B.T.K. Killer was Christian too.
Only Two Defining
Forces Have Ever Offered to Die For You.
Jesus Christ And The American Soldier!
One Died For Your Soul; The other For Your Freedom.
MB
leo » January 20th, 2012 at 1:09 am
Hello Mike,
Thats unbelievable, I am a Viterbo and from Capiz too.I symphatized
with you, hope to talk to you some more.