Iloilo City is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines on the island of Panay. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo, where it is geographically situated and grouped under the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent in terms of government and administration.
The city faces Iloilo Strait and Guimaras Island across it, making it a natural harbor and a safe anchorage for ships. It is bordered by the towns of Oton in the west, Pavia in the north and Leganes in the northeast. Just across the Iloilo Strait in its eastern and southern coastlines, are the towns of Buenavista and Jordan in the island-province of Guimaras .
It is a conglomeration of former towns, which are now the geographical or administrative districts consisting of: Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City Proper, Jaro (an independent city before), La Paz, Mandurriao, and Molo. The district of Lapuz, a former part of La Paz, was declared a separate district in 2008.
As one of the gastronomic capitals of the Philippines, the city is famous for Pancit Molo; La Paz Batchoy; Kadyos, Baboy kag Langka (KBL); Laswa; and Kansi.
Several regional and national government offices, financial institutions, and government-owned and controlled corporations held offices in the city. The Dinagyang Festival, held every January; the Paraw Regatta, Asia’s oldest sailing event; and the Fiesta de la Candelaria (Jaro Fiesta), one of the largest Philippine marian festivities; are three of the known cultural and religious festivals the city is flocked and renowned for in the country.
The city is the regional hub of education, culinary, religion, healthcare, tourism, culture, industry, and economy in the Western Visayas region.
