Arevalo, Iloilo City

Villa de Arevalo ([ˈbiʝa ðe aɾeˈβalo]; locally [ˈbilya de areˈbalo]), commonly known as simply Villa or Arevalo, is one of the seven districts of Iloilo City in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay in Western Visayas, in the Philippines.[1] It was founded as La Villa Rica de Arévalo by a group of Spanish citizens and Mexican soldiers[2] and their commanding officer who built his mansion along the coastal settlement in 1581. Though formally founded in the said year, Villa de Arevalo dates back its establishment in 1566 when Spanish conquerors established a settlement in the areas between it and the neighboring town of Oton.

This section is about the Philippine district of Iloilo City. For other uses, see Arévalo (disambiguation).

Arevalo
La Villa Rica de Arévalo
Iloilo City District
From upper-left to right: Camiña Balay Nga Bato; Villa Beach; Convento de Arevalo (Convent of Arevalo); Santo Niño de Arevalo
Nickname(s): 
"The Flower Capital of Iloilo"
Map of Iloilo City with Arevalo highlighted in red
Coordinates: 10°41′09″N 122°30′42″E
CountryPhilippines
RegionWestern Visayas (Region VI)
ProvinceIloilo (geographically only)
CityIloilo City
Congressional DistrictLone district of Iloilo City
Founded1566 (Establishment of settlement between Arevalo and Oton areas by the Spanish colonists)
1581 (Formal establishment of La Villa Rica de Arevalo)
IncorporatedJuly 16, 1937 (As a district of Iloilo City)
Barangays13 (see Barangays)
Government
 • MayorGeronimo "Jerry" P. Trenas (Mayor of Iloilo City)
Area
 • Total7.58 km2 (2.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 census)
 • Total55,476
 • Density7,316.80/km2 (18,950.4/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Villahanon
Arevalnon
Arevaleño
Time zoneUTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
ZIP code
5000
Area code(s)33
Festival(s)Paraw Regatta Festival – Third Weekend of February
Patron saintSanto Niño de Arevalo (Infant Jesus)
Feast dayThird Sunday of January
Native languagesHiligaynon
The 3rd Oldest Santo Niño in the Philippines in the parish church of Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City
Convent, otherwise known as a rectory, of the Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish, Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City

Established on 1581 by Gobernador Ronquillo de Peñalosa as "La Villa Rica de Arevalo", named after his hometown Arévalo, Spain, it is one of the first places in the Philippine archipelago to be named in Spanish. The founding population consisted of 80 colonists who were pure Spaniards from Europe[3] and reinforced by 169 Mexican soldiers from Latin America.[4] and It became the capital of the settlement in the province on 1582. It was invaded by the British in 1588 and followed by more raids by Moros in 1600 and by the Dutch in 1609, 1614 and 1616. The continuous raids forced the capital to be relocated near the mouth of Iloilo River, which is the current location of Iloilo City Proper. It was incorporated as a district of Iloilo City on July 16, 1937.

It was absorbed by Iloilo City during the 20th century along with the towns of Mandurriao, La Paz, Molo and the city of Jaro. Arevalo is the westernmost district of Iloilo City and it borders Oton to the west.

Its church possesses the third oldest Santo Niño (Infant Jesus) image in the Philippines.[5] Arevalo is sometimes given the title "Flower Capital of Iloilo", where potted plants, flowers, bouquets, wreaths can be bought.[6] Arevalo is also famous for its firecrackers and fireworks. Its prominent attraction is the Villa Beach (Playa de Villa de Arevalo) along the coast which boasts several resorts and an outdoor nightlife such as open air restaurants and bars.

Camiña Balay nga Bato (formally known as the Avanceña Ancestral House) is a heritage house and a restaurant in Arevalo that was constructed in 1865. It is one of the best heritage attractions in Iloilo serving the traditional Filipino way-made tsokolate.

Villa de Arevalo is the first Spanish named town established by the Spanish colonists in the Philippines and Asia.

According to the 2020 census, Arevalo has a population of 55,476 residents.

Barangays

The district of Arevalo has 13 barangays.

Barangays Population

(2020)

 Area Density
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Bonifacio 1,994 0.37 0.14 5,400 14,000
Calaparan 9,158 0.33 0.13 28,000 73,000
Dulonan 4,616 0.69 0.27 6,700 17,000
Mohon 1,279 0.15 0.058 8,500 22,000
Quezon 1,820 0.16 0.062 11,000 28,000
San José 2,185 0.62 0.24 3,500 9,100
Santa Cruz 3,813 0.56 0.22 6,800 18,000
Santa Filomina 2,622 0.35 0.14 7,500 19,000
Santo Domingo 2,335 0.41 0.16 5,700 15,000
Santo Niño Norte 3,922 0.20 0.077 20,000 52,000
Santo Niño Sur 9,266 0.98 0.38 9,500 25,000
Sooc 8,568 2.26 0.87 3,800 9,800
Yulo Drive 3,898 0.51 0.20 7,600 20,000
District of Arevalo 55,476 7.58 2.93 7,300 19,000
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority - Philippine Standard Geographic Code - Iloilo City - Barangays

Schools

Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish
Villa Arevalo Church

The district's parish, the Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish, is home to the third oldest Santo Niño figure in the Philippines. The church was built in such a way that when seen from above it is shaped like a cross. Adjacent to the church is the Arevalo Convent, a heritage building in a Spanish colonial design. Residing parish priest is Rev. Fr. Jose Gerardo Classico Nufable.

Events

Arevalo Town Fiesta

In January, Arevalo celebrates its town fiesta in honor of the Santo Niño. The festivities take place during the month of January, the Fiesta day is held every 3rd Sunday of January. During Fiesta day households open their doors and prepare food for fiesta goers, friends, visitors and distant relatives. A fireworks display contest is one of the highlights of the celebration held on the night of the town fiesta

Villa Beach, where the Paraw Regatta Festival is held primarily at

Paraw Regatta Festival

Arevalo hosts the annual Paraw Regatta, which is the oldest traditional craft event in Asia, and the largest sailing event in the Philippines. A paraw is a Filipino double-outrigger sailboat much like a pump boat which was used for transportation and fishing and still is in limited areas.

The main event is the paraw boat race along Iloilo Strait and also showcases Pinta Layag, sail painting contest; Porma Balas, sand sculpting; Pintawo, body painting contest; Miss Paraw Regatta, a local beauty pageant; Samba De Regatta, music & Mardi Gras contest; Luces by the Sea, a pyrotechnic exhibition; beach volleyball; and photo competition.

Transportation

Transportation is mainly by jeepney which serves the district to the Iloilo City Proper. Metered taxi cabs also serve the traveling public. Tricycles and trisikads operate within the district.

See also

References
  1. "About Iloilo City". Iloilo City Government. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  2. Barrows, David P. (1905). A History of the Philippines. New York: American Book Company. p. 147 – via University of Michigan Library. The few years of Ronquillo’s reign were in other ways important. A colony of Spaniards was established at Oton, on the island of Panay, which was given the name of Arévalo (Iloilo).
  3. Barrows, David P. (1905). A History of the Philippines. New York: American Book Company. p. 172 – via University of Michigan Library. In the Bisayas were the Cities of the Holy Name of God (Cebu), and on the island of Panay, Arévalo (or Iloilo). The first maintained something of the importance attaching to the first Spanish settlement. It had its stone fort and was also the seat of a bishopric. It was visited by trading-vessels from the Moluccas, and by permit of the king enjoyed for a time the unusual privilege of sending annually a ship loaded with merchandise to New Spain. Arévalo had about eighty Spanish inhabitants, and a monastery of the Augustinians.
  4. Mawson, Stephanie J. (2016). "Convicts or Conquistadores ? Spanish Soldiers in the Seventeenth-Century Pacific". Past & Present (232): 87–125. doi:10.1093/pastj/gtw008., AGI, México, leg. 25, núm. 62; AGI, Filipinas, leg. 8, ramo 3, núm. 50; leg. 10, ramo 1, núm. 6; leg. 22, ramo 1, núm. 1, fos. 408 r –428 v ; núm. 21; leg. 32, núm. 30; leg. 285, núm. 1, fos. 30 r –41 v .
  5. "Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish (Villa, Arevalo Iloilo)". Visita Iglesia: A Visit to the Sanctuarium of Catholic Faith. July 28, 2009. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  6. "La Villa de Arevalo, Flower Capital of Iloilo". Explore Iloilo. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
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