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Muelle Loney: Iloilo’s once gateway to wealth and treasures

Posted on June 5, 2008

When travelling from Iloilo to Bacolod (or vice versa), one cannot just simply set foot at the port without passing by Muelle Loney. The port of Iloilo was opened to international trade in the year 1855. During its heyday, goods from other towns as well as from neighboring Negros Occidental are sent to Iloilo first before it gets exported to other countries.

It was during this time that money, wealth, and treasures literally and figuratively flows into the port of Iloilo. Its residents would build palatial mansions for the family especially along the Area of Jaro.

And the man who brought the riches of sugar industry to the region is the British Vice Consul Nicholas Loney. Because of his great contribution to the rise of sugar industry, he was named as the Father of the Philippine Sugar Industry.

And because of all his great deeds, that long stretch of road along the port of Iloilo is named after him. The long and narrow road leading to the port of Iloilo will forever be remembers as Muelle Loney.

And even after the downfall of the sugar industry, the diversification of the businesses in Iloilo and the movement of several sugar barons and influential families to other lands, Muelle Loney still stands witness to Iloiloâ€™s once grand and illustrious past.

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