Calle Real, Iloilo

Calle Real (lit. 'Royal Street'), officially named as J.M. Basa Street, is a historic street located in the old downtown district of Iloilo City Proper in Iloilo City, Philippines. It is home to several fine examples of luxury American-era neoclassical, beaux-arts, and art deco buildings. The street has been famous since the Spanish era and once served as the city's main shopping center for more than a century.
The street's heritage designation by the local government has been expanded into a zone known as the Calle Real Heritage Zone, which covers the long stretch of J.M. Basa and the streets and thoroughfares of Aldeguer, Mapa, Ortiz, Muelle Loney (Loney Wharf), Solis, Rizal, and Iznart (from Plazoleta Gay to Iloilo Central Market). The area is also commonly referred to as the old downtown of Iloilo.
J.M. Basa was named in honor of José María Basa, a Filipino businessman, propagandist, and close associate of José Rizal.
Even during the Spanish colonial era, Calle Real was the main street of commerce for Iloilo. José Rizal was even impressed by the city during his arrival.
During the early period of American occupation of the Philippines, Calle Real was known as a hub of high-end shopping outlets selling products from Europe.
The street was officially renamed in honor of Jose Maria Basa, a Filipino businessman-propagandist who was a compatriot of José Rizal. The street remained popularly known as Calle Real. The name would also be later used to refer to the central business district of Iloilo City.
The Art-Deco buildings and other structures along the street deteriorated but remained to be a shopping hub of the city. Calle Real as a district consisting of Aldeguer, Guanco and Iznart, J. M. Basa, and Mapa streets was declared an Iloilo City heritage zone by the virtue of Ordinance No. 00-054, also known as the Local Cultural Heritage Conservation Ordinance which established the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC).
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared Calle Real as a district and a heritage zone on August 8, 2014, with the unveiling of a historical marker outside the Villanueva Building. Its current restoration has been a public-private partnership between the government and the Iloilo Cultural Heritage Foundation, Inc. (ICHFI).
With the recent gradual shift of business activity to other parts of the city, particularly in the district of Mandurriao, efforts have been made to revitalize and repurpose Calle Real. These initiatives include the pedestrianization of Calle Real, the underground installation of utility wires, and the removal of obstructive advertisements. Regarding pedestrianization, experiments have been conducted, such as closing the street on Sundays, but permanent pedestrianization remains a contested issue. Cultural performances are also staged to promote Ilonggo heritage and attract both domestic and foreign tourists. The pedestrianization experiment ended on March 9, 2014, though the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Iloilo expressed a desire to make it permanent, citing the potential to encourage walking and to take pride in the newly rehabilitated heritage buildings along the street.
In 2023, the underground cabling in the downtown area, including Calle Real, began. It was financed by MORE Power, the city’s sole power distributor. The underground cabling covers the entire length of Calle Real from the Plazoleta Gay to Plaza Libertad. The removal of tangled overhead wires and cables would make way for the historic buildings along the street to be more visible and aesthetically pleasing. By January 2025, the removal of overhead wires and cables on the entire stretch of the street was completed.
Calle Real is noted for its historic buildings and structures, many of which were built between the late 19th century and the early 20th century.