the old iloilo city hall the construction of the building was envisioned in 1908
when rosauro jocson of arevalo was iloilo's municipal president
however this was not materialized until december 27 1928 when vice mayor pablo nava presented a
plan in a regular session of the municipal council on february 28 the following year juliana melliza
a philanthropist and a well-to-do molo land owner donated 10.8 hectares as the building site
the city hall was acknowledged as the largest building in visayas and mindanao during the
commonwealth period according to one local newspaper the construction began in december 1933
and completed in 1935 with andres bolinas jr of albay as contractor juan arellano
who had designed buildings in manila and baguio served as a consultant architect
overall arellano conceptualized the building and he also drew the urban plan of iloilo in 1933.
alfred eugenio also collaborated with arellano as a local consulting architect municipal engineer
salvador delgado served as construction engineer and provided the finishing touches of the interior
in general neoclassic elements were apparent in the building arch windows stylized composite
columns high ceilings and a dome and white patios tropical and nativist features that
were reflective of the filipino behind the battle were also present wide sliding main door windows
ventanillas and race wooden floors there are also a strong influence of art deco
in the stylized sculptures at the entrance as well as decorative walls and chandeliers
complementing the artistic facade were the two human statues as physical representations
of the abstract concept of law and order made of concrete cast in bronze stood a past relief of
four figures the victim courtly life also adorned the arched opening these sculptures were executed
by francesco ricardo monti of cremona italy together with local artisans from molo juan
siendo of fundidor and pedro and cerillo sabiano of san juan in december 1936 it was inaugurated
with much fanfare due to the elevation of iloilo from a municipality to a city mayor ramon campos
was the first executive to occupy this building the following year during world war ii mayor
maximino jarlandoni vacated the building when the japanese troops occupied iloilo on april 18 1942
for three years the japanese made the building its garrison and the surrounding area as a
concentration camp they eventually abandoned it during the liberation of panay on march 18 1945.
after the war on december 18th 1945 mayor fernando lopez and the iloilo city council passed a
resolution favoring the opening of a university of the philippines branch in iloilo this was endorsed
by congressman oscar ledesma in congress with all the requirements set by the board of regents
having been met the university of the philippines iloilo college was formally opened on july 1st
1947. on august 24 1949 mayor vicente ybiernas and UP president bienvenido gonzalez
signed the deed of donation which made legal indefinite use of the building and site by the UP
iloilo college president gonzalez sent to iloilo dr tomas fonacier to start administrative work
recruit members of the teaching staff and organize classes the inauguration ceremony was attended by
first lady esperanza l. osmena and president sergio osmena dr fonacier served as the first
dean of the college with 16 faculty members 223 students registered under integrated curriculum
of the junior college program the only one of its kind in the philippines at the time as of today
the building serves as the main building and houses a variety of offices at the university
two upv cultural institutions are also found inside the building the center for the west
visayan studies and the chancellor's committee on culture and the arts from a government building
to an educational site this building and its magnificent design have gave iloilo city
something to be proud of cultural and sociological history so that's it for the history of the old
iloilo city hall which in turn became the building of the university of the philippines visayas
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