Forbes Bridge

Last updated
Forbes Bridge
Coordinates 10°42′21″N122°34′3″E / 10.70583°N 122.56750°E / 10.70583; 122.56750
CarriesMotor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses Iloilo River
Locale Iloilo City, Philippines
Official nameForbes Bridge
Named for William Cameron Forbes
Maintained by Iloilo City Government
Department of Public Works and Highways - Iloilo City District Engineering Office
Preceded byMuelle Loney (Rizal) Bridge
Followed byJalandoni Bridge
Characteristics
Design Neoclassical arch bridge
Material Steel-reinforced concrete
Total length127 m (417 ft) [1]
Width20.05 m (65.8 ft) [1]
Traversable?yes
No. of spans3
Piers in water6
Clearance below 9.07 m (30 ft) at mean tide
No. of lanes 4 (2 per direction)
History
Construction end1909
Inaugurated1910
Rebuilt1975
ReplacesJaro Bridge
Location
Forbes Bridge

The Forbes Bridge is a historic bridge located in Iloilo City, Philippines. It was constructed in 1909 to replace the wooden Jaro Bridge, which had been built in 1875. The bridge served as a vital link between the districts of La Paz and Iloilo City Proper. [2] It is claimed to be the oldest concrete bridge in the country. [3]

History

During the Spanish colonial period, the estuary that meandered through Iloilo City was known as the Jaro River, as it marked the natural boundary for one of the original territories of the pueblo of Jaro. In 1587, a one-foot image of the Nuestra Señora de la Purificacion y Candelaria (Our Lady of Purification and Candles) was discovered in this body of water. Over time, the Jaro River came to be known as the Iloilo River. [4] [5] [6]

The construction of the Forbes Bridge was considered a significant development during its time. An American newspaper described it as "one of the most important causeways yet constructed in the islands." The bridge was built by W. H. Lambert & Co. at a cost of P100,000 and was completed in 1910. It spanned a length of 127 meters. [7] [6]

In recognition of his contributions and leadership, the bridge was named after Governor General William Cameron Forbes. Governor General Forbes served as the Governor-General of the Philippines from 1909 to 1913. His name was bestowed upon the bridge to honor his role in the development and modernization of the region. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1975. [8]

Forbes Bridge stands as a testament to the engineering prowess of its time and continues to serve as an important transportation route in Iloilo City. It holds historical significance as a symbol of the city's growth and development during the early 20th century. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iloilo</span> Province in Western Visayas, Philippines

Iloilo, officially the Province of Iloilo, is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the City of Iloilo, the regional center of Western Visayas. Iloilo occupies a major southeast portion of the Visayan island of Panay and is bordered by the province of Antique to the west, Capiz to the north, the Jintotolo Channel to the northeast, the Guimaras Strait to the east, and the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Agustin Church (Manila)</span> Church in Manila, Philippines

The Church of Saint Augustine, also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture or the Immaculate Conception Parish, is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of the Order of Saint Augustine located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila, Philippines. Completed in 1607, it is the oldest stone church in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iloilo City</span> Capital of Iloilo, Philippines

Iloilo City, officially the City of Iloilo, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located on the southeastern coast of the island of Panay. It is the capital city of the province of Iloilo, where it is geographically situated and grouped under the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent in terms of government and administration. In addition, it is the center of the Iloilo–Guimaras Metropolitan Area, as well as the regional center and primate city of the Western Visayas region. According to the 2020 census, Iloilo City has a population of 457,626 people. For the metropolitan area, the total population is 1,007,945 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Philippines

The Archdiocese of Jaro is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church headquartered in Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. Its episcopal see is at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, as its seat. The metropolitan archdiocese covers the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras, an island off Iloilo. Its titular patron saint is Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast is celebrated on November 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candelaria, Tenerife</span> Municipality in Canary Islands, Spain

Candelaria, also Villa Mariana de Candelaria, is a municipality and city in the eastern part of the island of Tenerife in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, Spain. The city is located on the coast, 17 km southwest of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The population is 25,140 (2010), and the area is 49.18 km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in the Philippines</span> Overview of the role of the Catholic Church in the Philippines

The Catholic Church in the Philippines or the Filipino Catholic Church is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual direction of the Pope and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The Philippines is one of the two nations in Asia having a substantial portion of the population professing the Catholic faith, along with East Timor, and has the third largest Catholic population in the world after Brazil and Mexico. The episcopal conference responsible in governing the faith is the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaro, Iloilo City</span> District of Iloilo City, Philippines

Jaro is a district in Iloilo City, Philippines, located on Panay Island in the Western Visayas region. It is the largest district in terms of both area and population, with 130,700 people according to the 2020 census. Jaro merged with Iloilo City in the 1940s during the American administration in the Philippines. It is also the largest among the seven districts of Iloilo City. La Paz district and the present municipalities of Leganes and Pavia were historically part of Jaro before becoming independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego de los Ríos</span> Spanish general and colonial governor (1850-1911)

Diego de los Ríos y Nicolau was a Spanish Lieutenant General who was known as the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. He also served in the Glorious Revolution, the Third Carlist War and the Ten Years' War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin of Candelaria</span> Marian apparition

The Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candle, popularly called La Morenita, celebrates the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands (Spain). The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna. The "Royal Basilica Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria" is considered the main church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands and she is the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Her feast is celebrated on February 2 and August 15, the patronal feast of the Canary Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaro Cathedral</span> Church in Iloilo City, Philippines

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles and colloquially as Jaro Cathedral, is a cathedral located in the district of Jaro in Iloilo City, on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, it was placed under the patronage of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. It was established in 1575 as a visita (chapel-of-ease) of Oton by the Augustinians and as a separate parish in 1587. The present-day structure of Jaro Cathedral was built in 1874.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Paz, Iloilo City</span> District of Iloilo City, Philippines

La Paz is a district in Iloilo City, in the Philippine province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the region of Western Visayas. It is the third-largest district by land area, after Jaro and Mandurriao. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 54,720 people. In the past, it was known as Ilawod, which means "sea/wet land," along with Jaro, which was referred to as Ilaya, meaning "mountain/dry land."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miagao Church</span> Roman Catholic parish church in Miagao, Iloilo

The Santo Tomás de Villanueva Parish, also known as Miagao Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. The church was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993, together with San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Parish Church (Mabitac)</span> Church in Laguna, Philippines

The Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Parish Church informally known as Mabitac Church is a Roman Catholic church located above Calvary or Kalbaryo Hill in Mabitac, Laguna, Philippines. Its church is known for having a staircase of 126 steps, a panoramic view of the town of Sta. Maria and Laguna lake, and the festivity of the Three Kings every January 6, a re-enactment of the Magi's journey.

Nuestra Señora is Spanish for Mary, mother of Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrés Ferrero</span>

Bishop Andrés Ferrero y Malo de San José, O.A.R., was an Augustinian Recollect, who became the third Bishop of Jaro, from 24 March 1898 to 27 October 1903. He was born in Arnedo, La Rioja, Spain, on 30 November 1846.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro</span>

Nuestra Señora de la Purificación y la Candelaria is a venerated image of the Blessed Virgin Mary enshrined in Jaro Cathedral and the patroness of Western Visayas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N5 highway (Philippines)</span>

National Route 5 (N5) forms part of the Philippine highway network. It runs through the province of Capiz to the province of Iloilo, both in the island of Panay. It is the only national primary route in Panay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Iloilo</span> Local chief executive

The Governor of Iloilo is the local chief executive of the Philippine province of Iloilo. The governor holds office at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol located at Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the governor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term. In case of death, resignation or incapacity, the vice governor becomes the governor. Along with the governors of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Negros Occidental, he sits in the Regional Development Council of the Western Visayas Region.

References

  1. 1 2 "Detailed Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways .
  2. Funtecha, Henry F. (2006-10-05). "Roads and bridges in Iloilo during the American rule". Bridging the Gap. The News Today Online Edition. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. Salas, Vic (2022-12-07). "[Ilonggo Notes] 11 bridges over the Iloilo Esplanade". Rappler. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  4. Rosal-Sumagaysay, Joy (2008-02-01). "Viva la Candelaria de Jaro". The News Today Online Edition. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  5. Cf. Tamayo, Jojo (2016-05-16). "The Queen of Jaro: Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria". Arte Sacra Ph. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  6. 1 2 3 Egan, Eleanor Franklin (1910). The Manila Times: Investors and settlers edition (1st ed.). Manila: Times Publishing Company. The Forbes Bridge was then described by an American newspaper as "one of the most important causeways yet constructed in the islands."
  7. "Detailed Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  8. "DOT launches 7 Bridges of Blessings in Iloilo City". SunStar. 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2023-07-13.