Jaro, Iloilo City
Jaro | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames: City Within a City, The Mestizo Town of Iloilo, Seat of Catholicism in Western Visayas, Center of Candelaria Devotion in the Philippines | |
Location within Iloilo City | |
Jaro Location in the Philippines Jaro Jaro (Philippines) | |
| 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 | |
| • District ABC President | Rodel Mamon |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.48 km2 (10.61 sq mi) |
| Elevation | −2 to 6 m (−6.6 to 19.7 ft) |
| Population (2024 census) | |
• Total | 136,274 |
| • Density | 4,959/km2 (12,840/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 Saint Elizabeth of Hungary |
| Feast day | February 2 |
| Native languages | Hiligaynon |
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 136,274 people according to the 2024 census. It is the seat of the 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 Fiesta Candelaria, held every February 2 in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Our Lady of the Candles), the patroness of Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Romblon. Her image, perched atop the façade of Jaro Cathedral, was personally crowned by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1981, making it the first Marian image in the Philippines—and in Asia—to receive such recognition. 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 (National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles), 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.