THE NUANCED MAJESTICNESS OF MOLO PLAZA Located at the very heart of the Molo district, the Molo Plaza is probably one of the most prominent, overt places in Iloilo. It is one of Iloilo City’s seven district plazas. Molo Plaza is an exquisite, well maintained place boasting its enormous Kalachuchi and Balete trees that provide shade for those beneath its jungle-like thick vines and large and leathery leaves. The plaza is filled with such trees, with gnarled trunks and robust branches, and an intriguing domed-shaped gazebo (also called a rotonda), which serves as a bandstand, a classic lineament in Western Visayas’ plazas. In efforts to break the monotony of the artworks, during the rehabilitation, a fountain was also built in August 2022. Formerly a separate municipality but incorporated as a district of Iloilo City in 1903, Molo is both old and historic— during the Spanish era, it was an educational center of the country and has been dubbed. The Athens of the Philippines. The district plaza hosts some of the most prominent and life-size statues of Greek goddesses, such as Aphrodite (of love and beauty), Athena (of war and wisdom), Artemis (of wilderness, hunt, and fertility), Demeter (of agriculture), Hera (of marriage), Hestia (of domesticity), and even the infamous women warriors and monument of Maria Clara. Beside the plaza is the majestic Molo Church, built in 1863. The newly-restored Molo Plaza and its holy crest, the history-abundant Molo Church, are two of the seven. heritage sites included in R.A. 10555 as a main objective by the present Mayor, Jerry P. Treñas. It was in his capacity as congressman that he proposed the bill, which was signed into law in May 2013 by President Benigno Aquino III as An Act Declaring the Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, the Iloilo City Central Business District, Fort San Pedro, Jaro Plaza Complex, Molo Plaza Complex, and Plaza Libertad Complex, all located in the City of Iloilo, as Cultural Heritage Tourism Zones. On June 17, 2022, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which funded the restoration project for the Molo Plaza, officially turned over the plaza to the local government unit (LGU) of Iloilo City. Consistently, it is a favorite go-to place for tourists and locals alike. There is no dearth of fun things that can be done in Molo Plaza. You can wallow in the view of scenic trees above you while sitting on the plaza’s array of concrete benches, take striking pictures of yourself in front of the domed-shaped gazebo and life-size statues, enjoy the lively city lights while eating mouth-watering street foods after buying from multifarious food carts at night, get lost in the hypnotizing sound of the central fountain’s gushing waters, delve into the neo-gothic aesthetic of the Molo Church, or just simply take a romantic stroll around the area to your heart’s content. Molo Plaza is a place where nature, aesthetic, arts, history and the contemporary collide. Be it for educational, romantic, or self-preservation purposes, it is an absolute favorite hangout place for everybody!
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