Calle Real

This morning, I somehow convinced my mother to drive me around the old city to take some pictures. Of course the drive could never happen without constant nagging about the camera being suddenly stolen, but overall it was a fun experience. Calle Real used to be "Main Street" or "Downtown" before the big malls suddenly sprouted everywhere in the Island. Now, it has an atmosphere very similar to Quiapo. Old yellow buildings, heavy traffic, the ever present threat of thieves. Yet somehow, this place reminds me a lot about my childhood and the city I grew up in. Enjoy Old Iloilo in full sepia colors. ^_^

Calle JM Basa

This building used to be Iloilo International Hotel, way, way, back during peacetime (before the second word war?) according to my grandfather. The building still stands, but its purpose was lost with the times. Now it serves as a front for different kinds of stores and offices. This shot was taken while we were riding along JM Basa Street.

Plazoletagay

I think that directly translates to little plaza. This was taken early in the morning, before traffic starts to clog this busy intersection. If that big TV patrol bill board was not there, this pic would look like the old EDSA - you know... the one without the cars. Again, I hate those wires.

Celso Ledesma

Celso Ledesma? Did I read that right? Just to give you a sense of how old these buildings are, I took a close-up of one with a date written on its facade. This one was built in 1923. Hmm... 2007 minus 1923... that's 84 years. Almost as old as my Lolo. Hmmm. I'll ask him more about this building's history.

Kilometer Zero

When you travel the roads of Panay Island, (Iloilo is merely the capital of Panay, FYI) there are road markers everywhere. This markers tell you haw far you are from the next town and how far you have traveled from the main city. This fountain is kilometer zero. That's the old provincial capitol at the background, restored after the fire.

Old and New

Museo Iloilo is home to many war relics, paintings, old artworks, and much more. You should come visit whenever you're stopping by Iloilo for Boracay or anywhere else. That's the new Provincial Capitol at the background. It was build after the old one got burned. It comes complete with automatic flushing toilets, automatic sliding doors, and fingerprint scanners.