JARO ILOILO: A RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

Jaro is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, and the most popular of them. With its role in the religious and economic history of the city, Jaro, with the well known Jaro Cathedral and its Belfry, has remained a strong symbol of religious and cultural heritage for the Ilonggos up to the present times.

Jaro Cathedral

The baroque-styled Jaro Cathedral or Parish of Our Lady of Candles (Candelaria) was built in 1864. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1948 and restored in 1956. The cathedral has been approved by the CBCP as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, with the feast being celebrated every February 2. Until today the cathedral still symbolizes and seats the main Catholic Church hierarchical center of authority of the province. The recent restoration of the cathedral had also bring out the past grandeur of the church.

Jaro Belfry

The Jaro Belfry, which was also ruined by the 1948 earthquake and later restored, is one of the few belfries in the country that is located apart from its church. Today, this is not used for any activity, and recently it has been declared a National Historical Landmark.

MORE ON JARO, ILOILO CITY

Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC as fondly called)

Aside from the Catholic church, the Jaro Evangelical Church (a Baptist church) is located near Jaro Plaza.It is the first Baptist church in the Philippines established by the Northern Baptists (now American Baptist Churches).

Colegio de San Jose

Jaro, Iloilo is also home to the first Catholic school for girls in Western Visayas, the Colegio de San Jose.

For more information about Iloilo City, click here.