Iloilo Customs House in Iloilo - Philippines

There are many fine old buildings in the province of Iloilo, as a trip to the section known as Old Downtown will show. But one of the most popular and certainly one of the most striking of these old buildings is the Iloilo Customs House.

The Iloilo Customs House was built during the 1800s by the Americans and the passage of time has turned it into one of the most well known tourist attractions in the province. One of the reasons is the building itself; it is a splendid white in color with green roofing, and it stands out among all the boats and other buildings in the area, serving as a landmark in itself. It is also notable for the tower in its midst, which is similar to the design of the customs building in Manila.

Besides the Iloilo Customs House though, you also get to see the different kinds of marine vessels going to and fro. There are the catamarans, the ferries and RORO (roll on, roll off) boats, all making for an attractive scenery. That there are a lot of boats, people and other vehicles going back and forth is only a continuation of its past activities, for in the 1800s, the site, indeed the whole province was a prosperous place thanks to the sugar business.

The other enjoyable aspect of going to the Iloilo Customs House is that you can relax and savor the views of the skies. In the daytime, you can unwind and watch the hustle and bustle of the ports against a backdrop of lush greens and beautiful blue skies interspersed with brilliantly white clouds. In the late afternoon, you can take a leisurely stroll and watch the fading sun go down, or you can watch the sunset, in all its various colors and hues, cast their shadows and shades over the Iloilo Customs House.

Getting to the Iloilo Customs House is not difficult as most of the drivers know its location. It is at Muelle Loney St. and Aduana St adjacent to the Iloilo River. You simply have to tell the driver that you want to go to the port going through Iloilo and Bacolod. The building is right there.

The Iloilo Customs House is not just a building that serves as a remembrance of things past, but from the vantage point it offers, you can see the natural beauty of the seas and the skies over Iloilo as well.