Arevalo Convent is located at the back portion of the Santo Niño de Arevalo Parish, Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City. It has a Spanish colonial style and serves as the priests’ residence, activity hall for church organizations, and administrative office.
Convents have a long history in the Philippines, dating back to the arrival of the Spaniards. Catholic convents were established throughout the archipelago as part of the Spanish effort to convert the local population to Christianity.
In Arevalo, excerpts from Fray Ric Anthony Alcibar-Reyes, OSA, in his Augustinian Churches and History, reveal that Arevalo was originally founded as an extension of the original Oton settlement by the third Governor General, Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa of the newly established Spanish colony on the Philippine Islands. Arevalo had its own independent parish in 1582.
The founder himself named it after the original Arevalo town in Spain. This was done to honor his hometown and place of birth in Castilla la Vieja. Arevalo then perhaps is the first town in the Philippines to be named after a foreign place.
Today, convents in the Philippines continue to play an important role in the religious and social life of the country.
How to Get There
Arevalo Convent is located inside Arevalo Plaza. You’ll have to pass the plaza and church if you want to see the place up close. There is also a shortcut (footwalk) beside Sta. Filomena Library for those who are in the area to eliminate the time walking to the plaza.
Here are the jeepneys that are passing by the Arevala (Villa) Plaza that you can ride going here:
ROUTE # 2 CALAPARAN CALUMPANG – ILOILO CITY PROPER
ROUTE # 9 MOHON – INFANTE LOOP
ROUTE # 17 VILLA BAYBAY TO ILOILO CITY PROPER VIA BONIFACIO
ROUTE # 20 VILLA -JARO VIA SOOC/OÑATE/FESTIVE WALK TRANSPORT HUB
ROUTE # 23 MOHON – MANDURRIAO BUSINESS DISTRICT
FIRST TOWN ILOILO: OTON ANHAWAN JEEPNEY ROUTE
FIRST TOWN ILOILO: OTON DERECHO JEEPNEY ROUTE
Read also: List of Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Sites
