2. Introduction of Ancestral Houses
• Ancestral houses of the Philippines are homes owned
and preserved by the same family for several
generations as part of the Filipino family culture.
• Houses could be a simple house to a mansion. Some
houses of prominent families had become points of
interest or museums in their community because of its
cultural, architectural or historical significance.
• 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)
3. • 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
5. The Syquia Mansion which houses President Qurino’s extensive memorabilia is actually owned by his
wife, Dona Alicia Quirino. Her ancestor was a Chinese who made his fortune in the robust trading in
Vigan. Sy Kia’s pride in his Asian heritage can be seen by visitors to the Syquia mansion where they
can view a portrait of him with his braided long hair and traditional Chinese robes. His descendants
adopted the hispanized Syquia surname later on. The first lady’s grand ancestral home was where
some of the President’s functions were held during his administration so it is not only worth a visit for
the presidential memorabilia but also for the feel of the magnificent and historical gatherings that have
taken place amongst the elegant furnishings.
6. The perpetuation of the memory of a tragic event is an interesting impetus for
establishing a museum. However, it is from where the intent for converting the
imposing, century-old family mansion of the Crisologos into a museum started. Floro S.
Crisologo was the patriarch of the clan and a congressman known for being
responsible for landmark legislations that not only benefited his constituents but the
whole country as well. He authored the laws behind the creation of the North’s first
state university, the University of Northern Philippines, and the establishment of the
Social Security System, which serves the whole working populace to this day.
7. The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum integrates both memorabilia storage and the
current resting place of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. It is situated in the heart of Batac
City, Ilocos Norte. The museum shows memorabilia of the late president, from his stint in
the armed forces down to his presidency. The large and solemn mausoleum contains the
glass-encased coffin in which Marcos' embalmed body has been on public display since
shortly after his remains were brought home in 1993
8. This museum is the ancestral house and birthplace of priest patriot Fr. Jose Burgos.
Known as Padre Burgos House, it is one of the notable historic structures of Vigan, the
capital of the province of Ilocos Sur. It is a two-story structure located near the Provincial
Capitol and close to St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral. It was renovated by the Filipinas
Foundation, Inc. and inaugurated on May 3, 1975. In January 1989, a Contract of Lease
was executed by the Ilocos Sur Historical and Cultural Foundation, Inc. leasing the
memorabilia for 50 years, and turning over the administration to the National Museum.
9. The Vigan Heritage Village is a town in Vigan, Ilocos Sur that is considered
the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. In
November 1999, it was placed on the World heritage List commemorating its
cultural significance.
11. Sitting quietly at a parcel of land in Concepcion, Tarlac is
a stately old mansion built during the pre-war days of the
city. Painted in blinding white and striking reds, the white
structure stands proudly across a sprawling yard dotted
with trees and carpeted in grass.
13. Those who seek the wealth of our history and heritage would
definitely appreciate a visit to the Magsaysay Ancestral House in
Castillejos in the beautiful province of Zambales. The house was
owned by the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, the
seventh President of the Philippines but is now owned,
management and maintained by the local government.
14. City mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said that once the conversion
of the Pamintuan Mansion is completed, the future museum will
not only house exhibits about elite individuals but also of the life
of ordinary individuals living in the country 200 years back.
15. A. Consunji Street, Barangay San Jose San Fernando
Built by the couple Florentino Singian Dayrit and Juana
Gatchalian Galang, among their children was Amando G.
Dayrit, a popular pre-war columnist known for his Tribune
column “Good Morning Judge.”
16. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. ... A guided
walking tour around Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar showcasing
every single heritage ... The tour includes hearing the historical
and cultural significance of the heritage houses.
18. Casa Manila is a copy of an 1850s San Nicolas House that was
once located in Calle Jaboneros. The architect of Casa Manila
was J. Ramon L. Faustmann. It was constructed by Imelda
Marcos during the 1980s and modeled on Spanish colonial
architecture
19. The Nakpil-Bautista House (Tagalog, Bahay Nakpil-Bautista) is one of the old houses
found in the area of Quiapo, Manila. It was built in 1914 by Arcadio Arellano. The two-
house originally seats on two lots, having a total area of 500 square meters. The
National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared the house as a cultural
property on August 25, 2011.[2] Today, the house is a museum showcasing items of the
Katipunan, paintings, among others
20. Casa Real's perfect blend of Filipino, American, Spanish and Chinese . The three-
storey Casa Real along Acacia Avenue formally launches on Oct. 2 to serve as Acacia
Estates’ art centerpiece and showcase DMCI Homes' appreciation of history and
expertise in modern design and engineering. Patterned after the old Tuason Residence
on Sociego Street in Sampaloc, Manila, Casa Real fuses Filipino, American, Spanish
and Chinese architecture to give an authentic glimpse of the bygone eras and blend the
nostalgia of the 1930s with the modern residential communities in Acacia Estates.
21. The first one was the Becky's Kitchen
near the De La Salle- College of St.
Benilde School of Design and Arts
Building along Pablo Ocampo.
23. The present house/museum is just a replica of the original
ancestral house of Rizal's family; the old house was destroyed
during World War II. It was President Quirino who ordered the
reconstruction of the national hero's home through the
supervision of National Artist/architect Juan Nakpil and was
inaugurated in 1950
24. The Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite is a National
Historical Landmark. The house was built for Teodorico Reyes in
1889. In May 1897, Andres Bonifacio, together with his brother
Procopio, were tried by a court-martial headed by Brigadier
General Mariano Noriel. For more on Cavite
25. The family members of Roman Santos, who originally
lived in Navotas build their home in 1917. The heirs of
Don Roman Santos decided to have the house literally
transferred to Antipolo City.
26. It was in the residence of Juan Cuenca and Candida Chaves in Bacoor, Cavite
that President Emilio Aguinaldo transferred the seat of the revolutionary
government on July 15, 1898 from the town of Cavite, as they closed in on the
Spanish Army in Manila. The government remained in the house until it
transferred to Malolos on September 10, 1898.
27. The shrine is the ancestral home of General Emilio Aguinaldo,[5]
the first president of the First Republic of the Philippines. The
house was first built in 1845 made from wood and thatch, and
reconstructed in 1849. It was in this home where the general was
born on March 22, 1869
29. This is the old and original house of Jose Chichioco Cojuangco (July 3, 1896-
August, 1976) he was the former Representative of the 1st district of Tarlac,
Philippines from 1934 to 1946. He is one of the roots of the Cojuangco
clan. He is the father of the first woman President of the Philippines Corazon
Aquino and grandfather of President Benigno Aquino III.This historical landmark
is situated in Paseo del Congreso St., Malolos City Bulacan just few meters
from Barasoain Church.
30. Casa de Segunda is named after Segunda Solis Katigbak who is known as the
first love of Dr. Jose Rizal. To quote his biography, “His first infatuation was a
little Lipeña by the name of Segunda. She was not the most beautiful woman I
had ever seen but I have not met another more alluring and beguiling. I have
already heard about her and that she was going to get married to a relative of
hers. Indeed, I noticed a tall man neatly dressed who seemed to be her fiancé,
thus, ended his first love which mourned in his journal.”
31. The house is one of Taal’s oldest, built in the late 17th century by Marcela’s
grandfather Andres Mariño. It was in this house that the first Philippine flag
was sewn by hand by Marcella Agoncillo. With the heirs donating the property
to the national government, it is presently being maintained by the Department
of Tourism
32. Casa Villavicencio The couple helped finance the revolution. Their donations
helped publish Rizal’s novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, literary
works that played a vital role in sparking the quest for Philippine
independence. The house was used to stock these novels for distribution to
the people of Batangas in 1892. Early edition copies of these novels, along
with other delicate historical memorabilia, are still preserved at the house.
Priceless antiques and works of art are also preserved, including portrait
paintings of the couple by Filipino national artist Juan Luna.
33. When architect Robert Arambulo acquired the Noble ancestral home in Taal,
Batangas, he was determined to retain its Old World charm and elegance while
infusing modern accents. “The inspiration here is the Singapore Black and
White house [old colonial houses in Singapore, mostly made of wood, painted
in its namesake colors],” he says. “The interiors are a blend of the East and
West.”
35. ALMEDA HOUSE
Naga City
This ancestral house dates back to the early 1930s. During the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines (WWII), this house was used as a hospital by the Japanese Imperial Army.
36. Inside the Rufino Pabico Ancestral House
Daet, Camarines Norte
The Rufino Pabico Ancestral Home built in 1917 is a two-storey white and
maroon brick house, obviously well-kept with its lawns constantly shaved and
the grasses obviously greener on this side. An octagonal fountain lies in the
middle of the lawn.
37. Villa Bayot
Masbate City, Masbate
First built in 1880, it once hosted Pres. Manuel L. Quezon--who was said to
have danced the tango in its halls and slept in its finest bedroom--and Pres.
Manuel A. Roxas in 1946. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used as a
garrison. It also houses a Sto. Entierro, visited by devotees every Friday.
39. The Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Center in Tacloban,
Leyte is one of the manifestations of her love for beauty
and grandeur. This palatial guesthouse was built in 1979
to 1981 as one of the 29 Presidential rest houses of the
former First Family, the Marcoses.
40. Oppus Ancestral House now the Southern Leyte Provincial Library in Maasin,
Southern Leyte
43. I consider this as the queen of all old houses in Iloilo. Named after the daughter
of its original owners ( Don Vicente Lopez y Villanueva and Donya Elena
Hofilena y Javelona) in 1928. The structure is patterned after Tara, the estate
house of the novel, ” Gone With the Wind”.
45. Manuel Roxas House in Capiz- It was in Capiz that the fifth president of the Philippines was
born. Located in the city proper, the two-storey hardwood and stone house of President Manuel
Acuña Roxas is now a historical shrine.
The house of the late president, Manuel Roxas, is declared a national historical sitess. It is the
oldest house in Roxas City and is still in the good condition despite the passage of time. It has
survived the destruction of World War II. The house has undergone several renovations to its
structure. The management of the house is still in the hands of Roxas’ relatives. Furniture and
some of the memorabilia of the president can be found in the house.
47. Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House During the 1880’s, the oldest daughter, Maria
Florido Yap, married a native from Obando, Bulacan, Don Mariano San Diego,
who was Parian’s “Cabeza de Barangay ” (District Head) at that time.
Just a few years ago (2008), the old ancestral home was turned over to Doña
Maria’s great great grandson, Val Sandiego. Val himself is known in Cebu at
present times as an art collector, renowned choreographer and heritage icon.
49. The first stone structure found in Carcar, Cebu, this ancestral
house was built in the 1850s. After all the wearing and tearing that
the house has experienced, it was restored and renovated in
1989. Why Bahay na Tisa (Chalk House), you ask? It is because
the house’s original brick-tile roofing was made from tisa .
50. Built in an almost 120-year-old house, Circa 1900 offers guests that kind of historical
experience in Cebu. It blends old and new Cebu to make the most of the city’s historic
past. Nestled in SANJERCASVIL – Santos, Jereza, Castillo & Villa , the restaurant is
situated in the old home of the Castillo’s and serves food with ingredients fresh from
their mini-farm. The garden to fork kind of experience makes guests enjoy an intimate
meal of healthy salads and dishes inside the restaurant’s inviting dining room or inside
any of their cozy function halls.
52. Misamis Oriental | Lagbas Ancestral House
Established in 1920's, Lagbas Ancestral Home in Poblacion, Sugbongcogon was built
by Don Benedicto Lagbas. This heritage home or I should say “one of the most
beautiful ancestral houses" (I've ever seen) still stood today and serves as the
residence of the other members of the Lagbas clan.
54. Heritage and history. While in Dapitan, tourists are welcomed by the
city’s rich historical structures that are well preserved by its local
government such as the old residential house utilized as the Dapitan
City Tourism Office
56. Casa Alburo in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte-This house, built
by Valentin Alburo in 1935 for his wife Crispina Dagani, was
converted into a pension house in 1987. So if you don't have a
place to stay in Cabadbaran, this house will be a best choice, as
it offers cozy and affordable accommodation.
58. The Torogan is the traditional residence of the reigning Sultan of the Maranaw
people and his family. It is where the community traditionally gathers for
wedding thanksgiving rites, enthronements and vigils for the dead. For more
than two and a half centuries, the Dayawan torogan served as a school for
living traditions and an important cultural center for the different peoples in
Lanao del Sur.
59. Like other places in the country where Spanish influence is still
very visible, Cabadbaran has several well-preserved, century-old
houses - like this ancestral house built in 1904 by Don Andres
Atega, Agusan's revolutionary hero. This house showcases
antique furniture, personal belongings and photographs of the
Atega family.