Lomography

Jaro, Iloilo
written by ethermoon on January 13th, 2009 , 2 comments (0 votes)

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After visiting the Jaro belfry, I think it’s best to serve you with yet another toast of this beautiful town. Jaro is a suburban place with more than 10,000 population. It is taken from the word Saro or Salog (floor) which Spanish inquisitors cannot pronounce thus the naming of Jaro en-official. Once it has been the trading center of Siam and Chinese merchants since this place is located in-between Dungon Creek and Jaro River, making an easy-access to the mouth of the ocean.

Jaro has many places to visit. Include in your list the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, Jaro belfry, the shrine of Graciano Lopez-Jaena a local hero who defended the rights of the Filipinos in Spain during the 19th century and old Hispanic houses to name a few. There also lies just beside the plaza the Archdiocese of Jaro and the site of a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary, which was canonically crowned by the late Pope John Paul II during his visit in 1982. The image is the only religious icon in the country to have been personally crowned by a Pope.

The celebration of the Jaro festival is this coming February 2. Because of this, several schools including certain universities around are held suspended because of traffic; thus making every February 2 a holiday to some of the students and employees around the vicinity. In Jaro also stands the Iloilo Grand Coliseum, where cockfights all over the towns and cities are held. Famous boxer champ Manny Pacquiao had a few attempts on also winning his roosters amongst cockfights being held in this place.

Majority of the people make a little chat and a few drinks around the place. Include Coffee break which is where the meeting place of most of the guys here (We met here during our lomowalk), Andoks Chicken Restaurant, SM Jaro and some little establishments. Please include the apartment where I stay.

Exciting and fun, Jaro is a happy place every day, and that includes its festival, this coming February 2.