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By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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PHOTO BY CHALCEDON SAñOR
The façade of the now iconic Eusebio Villanueva Building, recently restored to its former glory along Iloilo’s historic Calle Real.
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PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN EVREN GIMOTEA LOZAÑES
Ilonggo artists march from the Casa Real Gallery at the Old Provincial Capitol to the new gallery i in Calle Real carrying paintings during a symbolic “art procession” in May.
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IN ILOILO’S golden age as La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad (the Most Loyal and Noble City) and Queen City of the South – that spanned from the Spanish era to the time of early Commonwealth – Calle Real, formerly also known as Escolta, was bustling with life and color as the city’s central business district.
Even Dr. Jose Rizal himself was believed to have marveled about the site – passing through Iloilo on his way from Dapitan to Manila – writing: “The entrance to Iloilo is beautiful. From afar can be seen the white city set in water, a nymph of galvanized iron, a modern creation, poetic in spirit of its iron uniform. The liveliness of the Escolta (Calle Real) pleased me.”
Recent efforts by the local government and its private sector partners have set out to transform Iloilo City Proper back to its former glory, undertaking restoration and retrofitting projects for several heritage buildings around the area.
The most iconic of which is the Eusebio Villanueva Building – formerly the International Hotel – smack dab at the center of the busy metro, a symbol of Iloilo’s history of grandeur and now promising future – and with the local art community about to take residence, the occasion could be ushering a new golden age of Ilonggo culture.
The Casa Real Gallery at the Old Provincial Capitol – home of Ilonggo artists for the last 18 months – is set to move to the hallowed halls of the Eusebio Villanueva Building and will be formally opened this June, carving out a space for creatives in Iloilo’s historic business district.
The art space is set to be renamed “gallery i” (i standing for Iloilo) under the leadership of VIVA ExCon Iloilo Org chairman and veteran artist Allain Hablo; and Hubon Ilonggo president Arel Zambarrano.
The local art community announced the move in May, mounting a symbolic “art procession” from the former Casa Real Gallery to gallery i, led by decorated Ilonggo artist Rock Drilon.
“Ilonggo artists and cultural workers held an art procession along Calle Real to signal transfer to their new home from Casa Real at the Capitol Grounds to the heritage building-landmark known as the International House along Iloilo’s heritage street,” shared Drilon.
“Led by a drummer, they carried their artworks for all to view and walked a kilometer distance in a single file – it was rather a solemn act to symbolize their solidarity and determination to sustain and improve what has been gained in the last few years. This could be the start of an invasion of cultural establishments of Calle Real. We were told FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo will follow shortly and take a space next to gallery i,” he added./PN
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