Molo, Iloilo City
Molo (locally [ˈmolo]) is a district of Iloilo City in Iloilo Province, on Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated district of all the seven districts of Iloilo City.[1] Molo was a separate municipality before it was incorporated into the then-municipality of Iloilo by virtue of Act No. 719 of 1903.[2] Molo was originally the Parián (Chinese district or Chinatown) of Iloilo, which is the area that the Chinese residents of Iloilo lived in. It is also known as the "Athens of the Philippines," being the birthplace of famous Philippine Ilustrados and some of the country's greatest philosophers and political leaders, including numerous chief justices, senators, governors, generals, congressmen, and cabinet officials.
Molo | |
---|---|
Iloilo City District | |
From upper-left to right: Saint Anne Parish (Molo Church); Yusay-Consing Mansion (Molo Mansion); Molo Plaza Bandstand; Convento de Molo (Convent of Molo) | |
Nickname(s): "Athens of the Philippines" | |
![]() Map of Iloilo City with Molo highlighted in yellow | |
Coordinates: 10°42′24″N 122°33′0″E | |
Country | Philippines |
Region | Western Visayas (Region VI) |
Province | Iloilo (geographically only) |
City | Iloilo City |
Congressional District | Lone district of Iloilo City |
Incorporated | July 16, 1937 (As a district of Iloilo City) |
Barangays | 25 (see Barangays) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Geronimo "Jerry" P. Trenas (Mayor of Iloilo City) |
Area | |
• Total | 5.54 km2 (2.14 sq mi) |
Population (2020 census) | |
• Total | 76,393 |
• Density | 13,797.44/km2 (35,735.2/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Moleño |
Time zone | UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time) |
ZIP code | 5000 |
Area code(s) | 33 |
Patron saint | Saint Anne |
Feast day | July 26 |
Native languages | Hiligaynon |

Several known families that came from Molo include - the Locsin, Lacson, Sayson, Pison, Layson, Yusay, among others, who are descended from Chinese immigrants who hispanized, adopted Roman Catholicism and settled in Molo.
The popular St. Anne Parish Church, more commonly known as Molo Church, is a centuries-old church which lies in front of the Molo Plaza. The national high school of the city, Iloilo City National High School, is also located in Molo. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are among the government agencies with regional offices in Molo.
The Philippines' national hero, José Rizal, visited Molo Church on his way to Manila from exile in Dapitan. He exclaimed "La iglesia bonita!" as he saw the church, acknowledging its beauty.[3]
Pancit Molo, a popular Ilonggo dish named after the district, is a pork dumpling soup is a type of soup using wonton wrappers consists of a mixture of ground pork wrapped in molo or wonton wrapper, shredded chicken meat, and also shrimps.
According to the 2020 census, Molo has a population of 76,393 people, making it the second-most populous district of Iloilo City, after Jaro.
Places and landmarks

- St. Anne Parish Church, also known as Molo Church
- Molo Plaza
- The Medical City - Iloilo
- Iloilo Doctor's Hospital
- Iloilo Doctor's College
- Iloilo City Community College
- John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
- Holy Rosary Academy
- St. Therese - MTC Colleges
- Asilo De Molo
- Dominican Sisters Mother House
- Mill Hill Missionaries
- Molo Mansion[4]
Barangays
Molo District is composed of 25 barangays. The barangay of Calumpang in Molo is Iloilo City's most populous barangay, with a population of 15,994 people (2020 census). Molo is also the most densely populated district in Iloilo City, with a population density of 13,797 people per square kilometer.
Barangays | Population
(2020) |
Area | Density | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | ||
Calumpang | 15,994 | 0.88 | 0.34 | 18,000 | 47,000 |
Cochero | 689 | 0.06 | 0.023 | 11,000 | 28,000 |
Compania | 3,257 | 0.22 | 0.085 | 15,000 | 39,000 |
East Baluarte | 1,800 | 0.09 | 0.035 | 20,000 | 52,000 |
East Timawa | 728 | 0.06 | 0.023 | 12,000 | 31,000 |
Habog-Habog Salvacion | 2,172 | 0.13 | 0.050 | 17,000 | 44,000 |
Infante | 1,631 | 0.09 | 0.035 | 18,000 | 47,000 |
Kasingkasing | 2,434 | 0.08 | 0.031 | 30,000 | 78,000 |
Katilingban | 900 | 0.05 | 0.019 | 18,000 | 47,000 |
Molo Boulevard | 8,162 | 0.24 | 0.093 | 34,000 | 88,000 |
North Avanceña | 605 | 0.10 | 0.039 | 6,100 | 16,000 |
North Baluarte | 4,878 | 0.13 | 0.050 | 38,000 | 98,000 |
North Fundidor | 2,736 | 0.70 | 0.27 | 3,900 | 10,000 |
North San Jose | 1,121 | 0.14 | 0.054 | 8,000 | 21,000 |
Poblacion | 760 | 0.07 | 0.027 | 11,000 | 28,000 |
San Antonio | 2,356 | 0.22 | 0.085 | 11,000 | 28,000 |
San Juan | 11,449 | 0.32 | 0.12 | 36,000 | 93,000 |
San Pedro | 3,029 | 0.25 | 0.097 | 12,000 | 31,000 |
South Baluarte | 1,477 | 0.10 | 0.039 | 15,000 | 39,000 |
South Fundidor | 3,299 | 0.79 | 0.31 | 4,200 | 11,000 |
South San Jose | 1,758 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 6,500 | 17,000 |
Taal | 1,339 | 0.33 | 0.13 | 4,100 | 11,000 |
Tap-oc | 356 | 0.06 | 0.023 | 5,900 | 15,000 |
West Habog-Habog | 1,401 | 0.07 | 0.027 | 20,000 | 52,000 |
West Timawa | 2,062 | 0.11 | 0.042 | 19,000 | 49,000 |
District of Molo | 76,393 | 5.54 | 2.14 | 14,000 | 36,000 |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority - Philippine Standard Geographic Code - Iloilo City - Barangays |
Notable residents
- Jhett Tolentino, award-winning Broadway producer.
- Rodolfo T. Ganzon, Filipino politician and a former Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, Congressman of the Second District of Iloilo, Mayor of Iloilo City.[5]
- Jed Patrick Mabilog, former Mayor of Iloilo City.
- Franklin Drilon, Senate Minority Leader and former President of the Senate of the Philippines.
- Ramon Avanceña, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and served as a legal adviser to the Federal State of the Visayas, the revolutionary government of provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Antique.
- Gregorio Araneta, former Chief Justice and Secretary of the Malolos Congress and First Secretary of Justice.
- Raymundo Melliza, former Chief Justice, General of the Philippine Revolution, and Governor of Iloilo.
- Felicisimo Feria, former Chief Justice.
- Francisco Villanueva, former Senator and Representative of the First District of Iloilo, and as the first Senator of the Seventh Senatorial District comprising Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon. He also served as Senate Majority Floor Leader during the Fourth Legislature in 1916-1919.
- Esteban de la Rama, former Senator.
- Esperidion Guanco, former Senator.
- Jose Ma. Arroyo, former Senator and Representative of the First District of Iloilo from 1916 to 1919. He is the grandfather of former First Gentleman, Jose Miguel Arroyo who is the husband of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
- Francisco Zulueta, former Senator.
- Jose C. Zulueta, former Provincial Governor of Iloilo and Senator.
- Potenciano Treñas, former Senator.
- Amado Avanceña, former Governor of Iloilo.
- Gregorio Yulo, former Governor of Iloilo.
- Mariano Yulo, former Governor of Negros Occidental.
- Jose Yulo-Regalado, former Governor of Iloilo.
- Timoteo Consing, Sr., former Governor of Iloilo.
- Esteban de la Rama, former General of the Philippine Revolution and First Commandant of the Philippine Marines.
- Pablo Araneta, former General of the Philippine Revolution.
- Angel Corteza, former General of the Philippine Revolution.
- Aniceto Lacson, former General of the Philippine Revolution and leader of the Negros Revolution.
- Juan Araneta, former General of the Philippine Revolution and leader of the Negros Revolution.
See also
References
- "About Iloilo City". Official Website of the Iloilo City Government. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
- Act No. 719 - Act reducing the fifty-one municipalities of the Province of Iloilo to seventeen, Supreme Court E-Library, retrieved 2019-12-31
- "Molo Church". www.thenewstoday.info.
- "The Youay - Consing (Molo) Mansion in Iloilo City, Philippines". Unofficial Guide to the Philippines. October 19, 2017.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
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