Iloilo city is a highly urbanized city, the capital of the eponymous province in the island of Panay and the regional center of Western Visayas. In 2007, the city population was 418 thousand people. From the East and South it is washed by the Strait of Iloilo.

The history of Iloilo begins during the Spanish colonization, when a few small fishing settlements were United into one city, which after 1855 became the second most important port of the colony due to preporuke sugar with vessels sailing to the nearby island of Negros. Later Queen Regent of Spain bestowed Iloilo the title of "most loyal and noble city". In the early 20th century only in the capital Manila and Iloilo were shops selling luxury items from around the world. In 1888, in the district of La Paz was opened agricultural experiment station, 1891 – school of arts and crafts, and in 1894 – padded telephone.

The layout of Iloilo and its architecture have features of both Spanish colonial heritage and the American period in the country's history. Since the city was originally an Association of independent villages, each district can be seen its own Central square, surrounded by administrative buildings and churches. In 1930 the architect Juan Arellano has developed a plan of Iloilo, which was inspired by the ideas of Ebenezer Howard about the "city-garden".

One of the main attractions Iloilo is old Jaro Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. During the annual celebration in honor of this Saint in the Church gathers, several thousand believers. It also kept the icon of the blessed virgin Mary Candle is the only icon in the Philippines, personally consecrated by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Iloilo in 1981. Interestingly, the Jaro belfry is one of the few in the country that stands separately from the Church. It was built by the Spaniards and served as a watchtower to prevent attacks by Muslims on the island of Mindanao. During the 1948 earthquake, the bell tower collapsed, but in the mid-1990s was restored.

Other famous churches of Iloilo are Molo Church, built in the 19th century in neo-Gothic style, and the Jaro Evangelical Church, the first Baptist Church in the Philippines. Molo Church, also known as the "Church of Women", as its columns decorated with statues of saints.

Distrito Jaro is one of the oldest parts of Iloilo. Here you can see the mansions of the sugar barons" and many noble families of the city, built in Spanish colonial style. Another "collection" architectural treasures is the Calle real in the downtown area. The houses, built in the period of the Commonwealth, were declared national heritage Iloilo.

Interesting tourist attraction is the Muelle Loney – river port, named after the British Consul Nicholas Loney, who is considered the "father of the sugar industry on the Islands of Panay and Negros. Protected from typhoons Guimaras island, Muelle Loney recognized as one of the safest harbors in the country. For the international market the port was opened in 1855.

6 km South of Iloilo is located in La Villa Rica de Arevalo – the town of flowers and fireworks. Here is the third oldest image of Saint Nino in the Philippines and a copy of the crown of the Spanish Queen Isabel.