INTODUCTION
COMPANY PROFILE
A. HISTORY
As the seat of power of the Provincial Government of Iloilo, the Provincial Capitol of Iloilo has been described as an anachronism in Iloilo City because it is located in a highly urbanized city that has become totally independent from the province under the 1937 Iloilo City Charter (Commonwealth Act No. 158) and the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160).
However, this historic building that has assumed many names -- Casa Gobierno de Iloilo, Palacio del Gobernador, Casa Real, Provincial Building of Iloilo, President Garcia Hall, and now, Provincial Capitol of Iloilo -- serves as a testament that the city can never dissociate itself from its mother province.
Built with the traditional Filipino bahay na bato (stone house) design, its construction was initiated by then Governor Jose Maria Carles who served from 1862 to 1867. After a suspension of few years, work resumed in 1870 during the time of Governor Eduardo Caballero.
The Casa Gobierno de Iloilo, reported the Spanish newspaper La Ilustracion Española y Americana (Madrid, 15 October 1875. Page 228), was completed in 1873 during the time of Governor Enrique Fajardo. It was described as “the most comfortable and the most spacious in the Philippines“ during that time.
“The design of the building is similar to what is commonly used in that country for important structures: the ground floor, where the offices and agencies of the provincial government are found, is made of excellent ashlar; the second floor, where the governor resides, is built of wood and trusses and its roof is made of galvanized iron, “La Ilustracion noted.
“With a floor area of 1,225 square meters, the building has compartments with fine lighting and ventilation and is surrounded by excellent porches and galleries. Its features make the Government House of Iloilo one of the best in its class... “, it added.
John Foreman, in his book The Philippine Islands (New