Casino Español de Iloilo

(Brgy. Sto. Rosario-Duran)

At the corner of Sto. Rosario and Duran Streets at the City Proper District in Iloilo City now stands in ruins what used to be the Casino Español de Iloilo. It was a private club whose patrons were often the aristocratic and wealthy members of the Spanish community in the city and province of Iloilo. The rich and the famous went there to socialize and hangout. They went there for the latest talk and to transact business. The language was, of course, Español. During its heydays, the casino must have been always full of damas, caballeros, y aleporezes. The picture on the upper right potion of this page is taken from the Google Images.

Ten years ago, the rooftop of the casino could still be seen as one passes the place on board a jeepney. All that remained of that grand place was a rounded concrete canopy which must have been its main entrance. Entrance to the main door was elevated four steps higher than the driveway. At its sides were concrete walls and posts now covered with vines and grasses. Atop one of the posts was a lunok tree whose roots wrapped half of it.

The area was later made as a parking lot for trailer trucks by a cargo-delivery company. The ruins are now completely out of view as there was constructed a high fence around it. What can now be seen at the place is a tanod/police outpost and an uninhabited barangay hall of Brgy. Sto. Rosario-Duran.

Sto. Rosario and Duran Streets are within the Fort San Pedro area in the city of Iloilo. Before the outbreak of the Second World War, the area was the night life capital of Iloilo City. In the mornings, presently, the Fort area is the best place to do stretching exercises with a bonus—a very refreshing view of the beautiful island of Guimaras. In the late afternoons, it is the best place to view the sunset—one could see the sun as it kisses the sea. Peace and order is not much of a problem—the headquarters of the Philippine Army is just a stone’s throw away. The Casino Español sat very near the Gen. Hughes Street—then considered the “high street” where the rich Ilongos had constructed their seaside villas and rest houses.

The city of Iloilo is among the very few places where the Spanish had established strong communities. The other cities are Manila and Cebu. In each of these cities, the Spanish settlers established a place where they could gather, socialize, and talk about business transactions. In Manila there is the Casino Espanol de Manila. In Cebu, there is the Casino Espanol de Cebu. These two casinos are still in existence today.

The Casino Español de Iloilo was not a gambling casino though. It was a private club established by members of the Spanish community to gather, socialize, and talk about business transactions. It was a club where members, their spouses, and their children enjoyed social, recreational, sports and cultural facilities and activities. The club was organized to foment unity among its members. The existence of the club solely indicated the vibrancy of the Spanish Community in the City of Iloilo.

The Casino Español (or what remains of it) stands within the territorial jurisdiction of Brgy. Sto. Rosario and Duran Street in the City Proper District of Iloilo City. The barangay was, once upon a time, a playground and entertainment place of the rich and famous Ilongos. Here’s the bird’s eye view of the barangay -Brgy. STO. ROSARIO-DURAN (City Proper District, Iloilo City): Population (2007): 1,851; Land Area: 8.12 Hectares; Income (IRA 2009): 847,355.04; Development Fund: 169,471.01; Calamity Fund: 42,367.75; Per Capita Income: P 458.00;No. of Households: 370.