Molo, Iloilo City "The Athens of the Philippines"

Molo is one of the seven districts of Iloilo City. It was built by Spaniards and was formerly called the Parian (Chinatown) due to its large number of Chinese residents and their business establishments in the area at the time. Its name was later changed to Moro during the frequent arrival of Muslim pirates from Mindanao until it later evolved into Molo. Molo was a town before it was absorbed by Iloilo City during its charter in 1937.

Molo is the home to the historic Molo Church (St. Anne Parish) which lies in front of the town square. The Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal visited this famous church on his way to Manila from exile in Dapitan. He exclaimed as He saw the church "La iglesia bonita!", acknowledging its beauty.

NEWLY-REHABILITATED AND IMPROVED MOLO PLAZA OPENS

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Congressman Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III and Don Jose "Pepe" Layson cut the inaugural ribbon opening the newly-rehabilitated and improved Molo Plaza to the public last month, July 15. The inauguration was also attended by other city government officials, dignitaries and guests from various government and private agencies.

Mayor Jed said "The rehabilitation and improvement is a city government project costing some P7-million and is the first of such rehabilitations to be implemented in the city's district plazas."

Next in line for rehabilitation is the Mandurriao district plaza, followed by Plaza Libertad, Arevalo Plaza and La Paz plaza.

Source: Iloilo City Government (YouTube)