Bullfighting in Iloilo
During the mid-19th century under Spanish occupation in the Philippines, bullfighting, or corrida de toros, gained popularity as a form of entertainment among the Spanish elite and local elites who sought to emulate Spanish customs. The Spanish authorities promoted bullfighting as a symbol of Spanish culture and power, and it became a significant aspect of social life in colonial society.
Plaza de Toros en Iloilo
There had to be enough corrida (bullfight) aficionados in Iloilo after the 1880s to warrant the construction of the city’s bullring made with bamboo.
Believed to be the only photograph of a bullring in the Philippines, Felix Laureano’s Plaza de Toros en Iloilo has been appropriated by Manila-centric writers, claiming it as their own.
Source: Ilustracion Artistico; G.C. Fernando.
Turn of the Century. 1978
Reference: National Museum Western Visayas
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