Ancestral Houses in the Philippines

The Philippine archipelago, famous worldwide  for  its many beautiful beaches  if it was not for  Vigan, would be virtually  unknown for its colonial architecture.  Many beautifully century years old houses are scattered today in many regions of the Phillipines, often restoration effort undertook with private funding.

This blog post will give you a taste of some 100 + years homes which can be found in Cebu (negros oriental) and in Silay few kilometers away from   Bacolod (Negros Oriental).

If you are in  Cebu two ancestral houses can be found within walking distance of each other in the Parian district and worth the visit.

 

 

 

Yap Sadiengo ancestral house, Cebu

 

Location: Mabini Street, Cebu city. GPS coordinates  (10.299410, 123,903958). Open  daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entrance fee:  50 PHP  per person.

 

Yap Sadiengo ancestral house,  allegedly built in the  17th century (around 1680), escaped the bombings of WWII and the earthquake in 2013.  It is said that it is possibly the oldest Chinese house outside China. The house  is in a very good condition with thick coral stone walls and its roof made of wood and terracota. It is under the care of the Sadiengo family and they make point to sleep there every week. The house is on two-stories and filled with ancient and modern artwork, statues and furnitures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesuit House, Cebu

Few footsteps from Yap Sandiego house, behind a busy metal workshop you can find The Jesuit house. A relief plaque  Ano 1730 above the main entrance of the house

 

 

 

 

The city of  Silay, few kilometers west of Bacolod, became a prosperous  town at the  turn of the 20th century thanks to its sugar cane plantations and mills. The Don and Donas (also called hacenderos) became quite wealthy and constructed beautiful houses  at the beginning  of the 20 th century.

About 30 of them are still standing in the heritage portion and three of them have been changed into museums.

 

 

Balay Negrense, Silay

 

Location: Cinco de Noviembre street, Silay.  10.7996695,122.9745508. Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entrance fees: 60 PHP  per person.

Balay Negrense,  built in 1897  by  the sugar baron  Victor Gaston. His father Yves Leopold Germain Gaston from France is credited to have built the first sugar mill in 1846 that started  sugar cane cultivation in a commercial scale in the region.

Interior of one of the six bedrooms  of Balay Negrense mansion

Kitchen of Balay Negrense mansion with one of the first  Electrolux refrigerator

Access to the second floor of Balay Negrense

Interior of one of the six bedrooms  of Balay Negrense mansion

Bernardino Jalandoni Museum, Silay

 

Rizal street, Silay. 10.8019506, 122.97734 From 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. 60 PHP per person.

Bernardino Jalandoni Museum also known as the pink house
Another well preserved two-stories ancestral mansion worth visiting in Silay which according to the resident guide is 90% in its original state. The  house shares similar  features  with Balay Negrense:  high ceilings and  many openings above the bedrooms on the second floor
Many decorations were imported from Germany including a 100 years old Steinway piano.

In the kitchen, no fridge but an  ice box where ice blocks  shipped from USA which can tell abou the opulent live in these mansions back then.