Bridging the Gap
Consumer goods sold in Iloilo City, 1930s
Recognizing Iloilo as 'Queen City of the South' during the first half of the 1900s, the Commonwealth administration raised it to the status of a chartered city in 1937. It can be recalled that as early as the 1880s and 1890s during the Spanish period, it already served as the most important commercial center of the Philippines outside Manila. In fact, the Queen Regent of Spain raised Iloilo to the status of a city on October 5, 1889. On February 7, 1890, the city government of Iloilo was established and its formal inauguration as a city took place in 1893. The years up to the end of the Spanish period and the start of the American rule up to the 1930s witnessed Iloilo's reign as the 'Queen City of Southern Philippines'.
As 'Queen City' and chartered city, what did people expect to find in Iloilo in the 1930s in terms of consumer and industrial goods.
Iloilo in the 1930s was definitely an urban center providing all the supporting facilities and institutions needed by a burgeoning population, both resident and transient. It had retail and wholesale houses, banks, warehouses, machine shops, commercial firms, printing presses, newspapers, educational institutions, foreign consulates, social clubs, theaters, etc.
Thus, if one wanted to buy groceries, there were Hoskyn's in J.M. Basa St., and the Asia Grocery Store in Aldeguer. Hoskyn's was actually a complex of stores, reputed to be the 'first department store in the Philippines'. Its advertisement at that time speaks of 'what you want, we have in our twelve stores in one'.
For clothes and other textile materials, there were L.R. Aguinaldo and the Real Bazar, the latter owned by a certain K. Furutani and sold Japanese, American and European made dress materials. Those that sold local and foreign-made shoes were La Favorita Shoe Store, El Lucero, and Sy Yam Bio and Co. All of these stores were located at J.M. Basa St.
For watches and jewelries, one had to go to Juan de Salvadore Joyeria y Agencia de Empenos, Pablo Dulalia Joyeria y Casa de Empenos, and Hechanova and Co., Inc., all situated along J.M. Basa St. Assorted brand perfumes can be bought at Hoskyn's and Lizarraga Hermanos at Muelley Loney.
Hardware and home fixtures, meanwhile, can be secured at Hoskyn's, Coosing Chia Hardware Co. Plumbing supplies were available at the United Plumbing Co., Inc. at J.M. Basa St. and El Naval Kian Kee Co. at Plazoleta Gay. Lumber on the other hand, can be ordered at Uy Bico and Co. at Iznart St. Paint and floor wax, especially the Yco brand, were available at Elizalde y cia at J.M. Basa St. near plaza Libertad. Cement, with the brand name 'Rizal' was being sold at Hoskyn's.
For those looking for furniture, household articles and novelties, Hechanova and Co., Inc. was the place to see. Beds were sold at the Sport Bed Factory in Ledesma St. The 'Hedriana' alcohol stove, reputed to be a useful cooking innovation, was being marketed at Hoskyn's. For sugar planters interested in buying a tractor, especially the 'Yuba', Ynchausti y cia was the display center.
With regards to athletic goods, a favorite destination for sports afficionados was Heacock's Alkans in J.M. Basa St. The word famous 'Royal' typewriter was being sold at the Photo Supply and Stationery Co.
Alcoholic drinks, on the other hand, could be secured at the Elizalde y cia, while cigarettes, particularly the 'Rositas' which was the brand of the common tao, were being sold at Tabacalera Iloilo. Famous for its bakery products was the La Mallorquina in Corner Rizal-Iznart Sts. Sugar was being marketed at Ynchausti y cia.
For the pharmaceutical needs of the people both in the city and interior places, there were Botica Llorente, Botica Boie, and Farmacia Lacson. The last mentioned drug store was in Plaza Libertad, near the San Jose Church. Stores that were considered to be mini one-stop shops at that time, because they were involved in the sale of assorted merchandise, were the Real Bazar, Asia Bazar and, of course, Hoskyn's.