Ancestral houses of the Philippines

Last updated

Current logo for the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property Current logo of the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property.png
Current logo for the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property
Beaux-Arts style mansion Lopez ancestral house in Jaro, Iloilo City Mansion de Lopez (Lopez Heritage House or Nelly's Garden).jpg
Beaux-Arts style mansion Lopez ancestral house in Jaro, Iloilo City

Ancestral houses of the Philippines or Heritage Houses are homes owned and preserved by the same family for several generations as part of the Filipino family culture. [1] It corresponds to long tradition by Filipino people of giving reverence for ancestors and elders. Houses could be a simple house to a mansion. The most common ones are the "Bahay na Bato". Some houses of prominent families had become points of interest or museums in their community because of its cultural, architectural or historical significance. [2] [3] These houses that are deemed of significant importance to the Filipino culture are declared Heritage House by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), previously known as the National Historical Institute (NHI) of the Philippines. [4] [ self-published source ] Preservation is of utmost importance as some ancestral houses have come into danger due to business people who buy old houses in the provinces, dismantle them then sell the parts as ancestral building materials for homeowners wishing to have the ancestral ambiance on their houses. [5] [ self-published source ] These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back of the country's colonial past through these old houses. [6]

Contents

The ancestral house of Emilio Aguinaldo, declared a National Shrine in 1964 Aguinaldo Shrine Kawit Cavite.JPG
The ancestral house of Emilio Aguinaldo, declared a National Shrine in 1964

National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009

Guagua mansion Jf4843San Nicolas House Guagua, Pampangafvf 02.JPG
Guagua mansion

In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines passed the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 or Republic Act. no. 10066 to further the protection the cultural treasures of the country which include houses under Built heritage. Ancestral houses that are declared Heritage House by the NHCP are still owned by their owners. The government is only declaring the heritage value of the structure, provide funding for its protection and preservation. [7] Ancestral homes that have figured in an event of historical significance like the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite, [8] or houses of national heroes of the Philippines like the Juan Luna Shrine [9] in Badoc, Ilocos Norte are included among the categories National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks. [10] [11] Historical markers are placed on the houses by the commission to indicate their significance. [12] The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property registers all cultural properties of the country. [11]

Bahay na bato ancestral houses being used for commercial purposes. The Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.jpg
Bahay na bato ancestral houses being used for commercial purposes.

List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines

Partial list of ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP, some with declaration dates, grouped according to the regions in the country. [13] many are of Bahay Na Bato architecture.

Region I

In the Ilocos Region the historic city of Vigan is the best preserved Spanish Colonial settlement in the country. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Region III

Oldest house in Batanes a Sinadumparan Oldest House in Ivatan.jpg
Oldest house in Batanes a Sinadumparan

In Central Luzon, There are two historical town centers declared by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as historic town centers in the region namely the Malolos Heritage Town in Bulacan [14] declared on August 15, 2001, and San Fernando Heritage District in Pampanga declared in 2004. [15]

Malolos Heritage Town NHL

San Fernando Heritage Zone

National Capital Region

The central part of Metro Manila was heavily bombed in World War II destroying historical structures and homes. Somes pockets of old homes can still be found in Binondo and Quiapo which were not affected by the war. [16]

Region IV-A

In the Calabarzon region, the center for ancestral houses can be found in the streets of Taal, Balayan, and Calaca, in Batangas and Sariaya in Quezon provinces. The town center of Pila, Laguna, with its Spanish and American-era houses, was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000.

Region IV-B

Declared Heritage House in Mimaropa region.

Region V

Pedicabs or pedal cabs crossing a street near Manalang Gloria Ancestral House Pedalcabs crossing near Manalang House in Tabaco City.jpg
Pedicabs or pedal cabs crossing a street near Manalang Gloria Ancestral House
Oldest existing and the biggest house in San Pascual, Masbate Ancestral House in Masbate 5.jpg
Oldest existing and the biggest house in San Pascual, Masbate

In Tabaco, Albay, the Manalang Gloria ancestral house, formerly the Smith, Bell and Company House, is a prominent heritage house.

In San Pascual, Masbate, the ancestral house of Lazaro family is the oldest existing and the biggest house.

Region VI

The Western Visayas region contains the largest number of ancestral homes in the Philippines.

The Lizares Mansion in Jaro, Iloilo City, is one of the largest ancestral houses in the Philippines Villa Lizares (Lizares Mansion).jpg
The Lizares Mansion in Jaro, Iloilo City, is one of the largest ancestral houses in the Philippines

Iloilo City

Molo Mansion in Molo, Iloilo City Molo Mansion night view (Locsin, Molo, Iloilo City; 01-24-2023).jpg
Molo Mansion in Molo, Iloilo City

Iloilo City is known as the "City of Mansions", having the most number of Heritage Mansions in the country.

Roxas City

  • Laserna House
  • Pres. Manuel A. Roxas Ancestral House

Bacolod

Silay

Benita Jara House Benita Jara House (Gamboa, Silay, Negros Occidental; 10-27-2022).jpg
Benita Jara House
Pitong Ledesma House Pitong Ledesma House.jpg
Pitong Ledesma House
Jose Benedicto Gamboa Ancestral House Jose Benedicto Gamboa Ancestral House (2024-10-26).jpg
Jose Benedicto Gamboa Ancestral House

Silay in Negros Occidental has the most number of declared Heritage Houses in the country.

  • Alejandro Amechazura House
  • Amelia Hilado Flores House
  • Angel Araneta Ledesma House
  • Augusto Hilado Severino House
  • Benita Jara House
  • Bernardino Lopez Jalandoni Ancestral House
  • Carlos Arceo Ledesma House
  • Cesar Lacson Locsin House
  • Claudio Hilado Akol House
  • Delfin Ledesma House
  • Digna Locsin Consing House
  • Dr. Jose Corteza Locsin Ancestral house
  • Felix Tad-y Lacson House
  • Generoso Reyes Gamboa House
  • German Lacson Gaston House
  • German Locsin Unson House
  • Jose Benedicto Gamboa House
  • Jose Corteza Locsin House
  • Jose Ledesma House
  • Josefina T. Lacson House
  • Kapitan Marciano Montelibano Lacson House
  • Manuel de la Rama Locsin House
  • Manuel Severino Hofileña House
  • Maria Ledesma Golez House
  • Modesto Ramirez Hojilla (Carlos Javelosa Jalandoni) House
  • Severino Building/Heritage House
  • Soledad and Maria Montelibano Lacson House
  • Teodoro Morada House
  • Vicente Conlu Montelibano House
  • Victor Fernandez Gaston House or Balay Negrense

Talisay

The Lacson Ruins in Talisay, Negros Occidental. One of the most iconic ancestral houses found in Region VI of Western Visayas. The Ruin.jpg
The Lacson Ruins in Talisay, Negros Occidental. One of the most iconic ancestral houses found in Region VI of Western Visayas.
  • Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House, popularly known as "The Lacson Ruins". Inspired by Italian architecture, the mansion was built in early 1900s for his Portuguese wife. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr. and Gen. Aniceto Lacson.
General Aniceto Lacson House, popularly known as Casa Grande Aniceto Lacson House.jpg
General Aniceto Lacson House, popularly known as Casa Grande
  • General Aniceto Lacson Ancestral House, is a fine example of a bahay-na-bato built in the 1880s. It's balcony has a panoramic view of the surrounding hacienda, as well as having its own chapel at ground level. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr. and Don Mariano Lacson.
  • Tana Dicang House

Other Heritage Houses in Region VI

Region VII

Heritage Houses in Central Visayas region:

Region VIII

Heritage Houses in the Eastern Visayas region:

Region X

Heritage Houses in the Northern Mindanao region:

National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks

Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by the NHCP: [10] [13]

Other ancestral houses

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulacan</span> Province in Central Luzon, Philippines

Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan, is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on August 15, 1578, and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super Region. This province is a part of the Greater Manila Area.

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

Jaro is a district in Iloilo City, Philippines, located in Iloilo province, on Panay Island in the Western Visayas region. It is the largest district in terms of both geographical area and population, with 130,700 people according to the 2020 census. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, which encompasses the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, and Negros Occidental, as well as the center of the Candelaria devotion in the Philippines.

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

Molo is a district in Iloilo City, Philippines, located in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. It is the most densely populated district in the city. According to the 2020 census, Molo has a population of 76,393 people, making it the second-most populous district, after Jaro.

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

Villa de Arevalo, commonly known as simply Villa or Arevalo, is a district in Iloilo City, Philippines. It is the westernmost district of Iloilo City and shares its border with Oton to the west, in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,476 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of the Philippines</span>

The architecture of the Philippines reflects the historical and cultural traditions in the country. Most prominent historic structures in the archipelago are influenced by Austronesian and American architectures.

Lacson is a Filipino surname with deep historical roots originating in the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental, and with branches extending to Cavite and Pampanga. They are a prominent family involved in business, politics, real estate, and agriculture. The surname "Lacson" is a transliteration of Spanish orthography from the Chinese-Spanish name "la̍k-sun." Derived from the Hokkien language, it combines 六 and 孫 which can also be spelled as Laxon and Laczon by the Spaniards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House</span>

Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House, also known as Villa Sariaya, is one of the three houses declared by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines as Heritage house in Sariaya, Quezon. It was owned by Don Catalino Rodriguez, Sariaya’s town Presidente from 1908 to 1909. The house occupies an entire block near the church park. Its main entrance faces south along Calle Daliz and is bounded by Calle Rizal on the west and Quezon Avenue on the east. This house has already been transformed into a Museum and visitors can choose to wear period costumes for reasonable fees and pose for souvenir photos. Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House is listed as one of the Ancestral Houses in the Philippines, under Region IV-A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernardino Jalandoni Museum</span> Lifestyle museum in Negros Occidental, Philippines

The Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, also known as the Bernardino Jalandoni House, located along Rizal Street, Silay City, in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines, is the original residence of the late Don Bernardino and Doña Ysabel Jalandoni. The museum is also known as the "Pink House" because of its conspicuous pink paint that easily grabs attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House</span>

The Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House is a heritage house known to be the home of El Ideal Bakery, the oldest bakery along Rizal and Eusebio Streets, National Highway, Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The bakery is known for its guapple pie and several other local delicacies and sweets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calle Real, Iloilo</span> Historic street and heritage zone in Iloilo City, Philippines

Calle Real, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercado Mansion</span> Mansion in Cebu, Philippines

The Mercado Mansion is a heritage house located in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. It is a two-storey bahay-na-bato painted Mediterranean blue owned by the Mercado clan along Cebu South Road. It was declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ruins (mansion)</span> Private in-stu open-air Local museum in Negros Occidental, Philippines

The Lacson Ruins are the remains of the ancestral mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson. It is situated in Talisay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The mansion was built in early 1900s and inspired by Italian architecture.

<i>Bahay na bato</i> Style of Filipino house architecture

Báhay na bató, also known in Visayan languages as baláy na bató or balay nga bato, and in Spanish language as Casa de Filipina is a type of building originating during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. It is an updated version of the traditional bahay kubo of the Christianized lowlanders, known for its use of masonry in its construction. It uses stone and brick materials, and later synthetic concrete, rather than just organic materials of the former style. Its design has evolved, but still maintains the bahay kubo's architectural principle, which is adapted to the tropical climate, stormy season, and earthquake-prone environment of the whole archipelago of the Philippines. It fuses bahay kubo's archetecture with the influence of Spanish colonizers. It is one of the many architecture styles throughout the Spanish Empire known as Arquitectura mestiza. The style is a hybrid of Austronesian and Spanish architecture; and later, with early 20th-century American architecture, supporting the fact that the Philippines is a result of these cultures mixing. Its most common appearance features an elevated, overhanging, wooden upper story standing on wooden posts suported by a rectangular foundation. The posts are placed behind Spanish-style solid stone blocks or bricks, giving the impression of a first floor. The ground level contains storage rooms, cellars, shops, or other business-related functions. The second floor contains the living areas as it is with the bahay kubo. The roof materials are either Spanish-style curving clay tiles or thatched with leaves. Later 19th-century designs feature galvanization. Roof designs are traditionally high pitched and include gable, hip, or a traditional combination of both. Horses for carriages are housed in stables called caballerizas.

Philippines National Historic Landmarks is a registry of historic sites in the Philippines that have been officially declared by the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camiña Balay Nga Bato</span> Historic house in Iloilo, Philippines

Camiña Balay Nga Bato, formerly known as Avanceña House, is a 159-year-old bahay na bato in the Arevalo district, Iloilo City, Philippines. It was built in 1865 and was designed by the first parish priest of Molo, Anselmo Avanceña, for Don Fernando Avanceña and his wife, Eulalia Abaja. It was then passed on from one family to another until it came under the Camiñas family.[1] It is now owned by the fourth generation of the original owners, Gerard Camiña, former director of the Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas, and his wife, Luth Camiña. The ancestral house was declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molo Mansion</span> Historic house in the Philippines

The Yusay–Consing Ancestral House, originally known as the Lacson–Yusay Ancestral House, and now popularly known as the Molo Mansion, is a neoclassical-art deco heritage house located in the district of Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines. It is located in front of the Molo Plaza and Molo Church. Built in 1926, it has neoclassical and subtle art deco features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Iloilo City</span> Conglomeration of former cities and towns

Iloilo City is a conglomeration of former cities and towns in the Philippines, which are now the geographical or administrative districts (boroughs) composed of seven: Arevalo, City Proper, Jaro, La Paz, Lapuz, Mandurriao, and Molo. All administrative districts are divisions of the lone congressional district of Iloilo City, and each is composed of barangays (barrios), with a total of 180 city barangays.

References

  1. "Filipino Culture" Archived November 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Filipino Planet. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  2. "Best Filipino Ancestral Houses". Traveler on Foot. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  3. Tacio, Henrylito D. (October 12, 2010). "Ancestral Home in the City" Archived October 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  4. "Republic Act No. 10066 – National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 27, 2010.
  5. Henares, Ivan (July 19, 2006). "Stop the sale of ancestral homes!". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Villavicencio's Ancestral House: Taal's Gift House". Lantaw. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  7. (2010-09-03). "No ownership change in ‘RA 10066 declaration’". Inquirer.net. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  8. "Bonifacio Trial House". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.
  9. "Juan Luna Shrine". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Shrines and Landmarks". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Bonvito (April 23, 2010). "Text of the Philippine National Cultural Heritage Law" Archived December 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Time Traveling. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
  12. "Touring the Ancestral Houses of Silay, Negros Occidental". Travelog Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  13. 1 2 (2010-04-01). "Philippine Registry of Cultural Property – Built Heritage". Ivan About Town. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  14. "National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines: Historic Town Center of Malolos".
  15. 1 2 (2005-04-15). "San Fernando: a city rich in architectural heritage". Indung Kapampangan: Preserving our Kapampangan Heritage. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  16. Gardner, Robert (2006–04). "Philippine architecture from bahay kubo to bahay na bato". derkeiler.com. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  17. Philippine News Agency (September 11, 2011). "Historical marker on Aquino ancestral house in Tarlac unveiled" Archived November 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . News 5 InterAksyon. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.