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.