Jaro, Iloilo City
Jaro | |
|---|---|
From upper-left to right: Aerial view, Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral; Lopez Mansion (Nelly's Garden); Central Philippine University Church; Lizares Mansion; Jaro Belfry; Jaro Evangelical Church | |
| Nickname(s): City Within a City, The Mestizo Town of Iloilo, Seat of the Roman Catholicism in Western Visayas, One of the Cradle of Christian Faith in the Philippines, The Bible Belt of Western Visayas | |
Location within Iloilo City | |
| Coordinates: 10°44′41″N 122°34′0″E / 10.74472°N 122.56667°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
| Province | Iloilo (geographically only) |
| City | Iloilo City |
| Congressional District | Lone district of Iloilo City |
| Founded | 1575 (as a visita of Oton) |
| Cityhood | 1891 |
| Incorporated (as district) | January 7, 1941 |
| Barangays | 42 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jerry Treñas (Mayor of Iloilo City) |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.48 km2 (10.61 sq mi) |
| Elevation | −2 to 6 m (−6.5 to 20 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
• Total | 130,700 |
| • Density | 4,756.84/km2 (12,320.2/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Jareño |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time) |
| ZIP code | 5000 |
| Area code | 33 |
| Patron saint | Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Our Lady of the Candles) (Catholic Patron Saint of Western Visayas and Romblon) and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary |
| Feast day | February 2 |
| Native languages | Hiligaynon |
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Jaro (Tagalog: [ˈhaɾo], Spanish: [ˈxaɾo]) is a district in Iloilo City, Philippines. It is the largest district in terms of both geographical area and population, with 130,700 people according to the 2020 census. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, which encompasses the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, and Negros Occidental, as well as the center of the Candelaria devotion in the Philippines.
Jaro is renowned for the annual feast of Fiesta Candelaria in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Our Lady of the Candles) held every February 2. Her image perched atop the facade of the Jaro Cathedral was personally crowned by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1981, making it the first Marian image to receive such recognition in the Philippines and in Asia. The district is also known as the Mestizo Town of Iloilo due to its association with prominent Spanish Filipino and affluent Ilonggo families.
As a major religious center, Jaro hosts numerous institutions such as the Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer, Jaro Cathedral, CPU-Iloilo Mission Hospital, Jaro Evangelical Church, Jaro Adventist Center, and the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. It is home to Central Philippine University, a top-ranked university founded by Protestant Baptist Americans.
In recent years, Jaro has experienced significant economic growth, with investments in real estate and retail sectors leading to the development of various establishments and townships in the district.