Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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 venerating 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] 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] These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back of
the country's colonial past through these old houses.[6]
Contents
1 National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009
2 List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines
o 2.1 Region I
o 2.2 Region III
o 2.3 National Capital Region
o 2.4 Region IV-A
o 2.5 Region IV-B
o 2.6 Region XVIII/NIR
2.6.1 Bacolod City
2.6.2 Talisay City
2.6.3 Silay City
2.6.4 Other Heritage Houses in Region XVIII/NIR
o 2.7 Region VI
o 2.8 Region VII
o 2.9 Region VIII
o 2.10 Region X
3 National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks
4 Other ancestral houses
5 References
6 External links
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.
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.
Syquia Mansion in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, home of former president Elpidio Quirino
Region III
In Central Luzon, There are two historical town centers declared by National Historical
Commission of the Philippines as historic town centers in the region namely the Malolos
Heritage Town in Bulacan[14] declared in August 15, 2001 and City of San Fernando Heritage
District in Pampanga declared in 2004.[15]
Batangas
Guillermo E.Tolentino House, Calle Sabitan, Malolos, Bulacan with NHCP marker.
Don Arcadio Ejercito Mansion, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan
Don Erastro Cervantes House, also known as Secretaria de Guera,Calle Pariancillo,
Malolos, Bulacan
Don Jose Chichioco-Cojuangco Mansion, Calle Paseo del Congreso, Malolos, Bulacan
with NHCP marker.
Don Fausto Chiong Mansion, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan
Mariano Crisostomo, Calle Estrella, Malolos, Bulacan Don Mariano is uncle of Marcelo
H.Del Pilar.
Pineda House, Calle Jarino, Malolos, Bulacan
1930 Lomotan-Jacinto, Calle Sto Nino, Malolos, Bulacan
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.
Pililla, Rizal
Region IV-B
Region XVIII/NIR
Negros Occidental in the Negros Island Region, is the provincial capital and contains a number
of fine ancestral homes.
Bacolod City
Generoso Villanueva House, known as "Daku Balay" (Big House), is one of the finest
examples of Art Deco architecture in the Philippines from the 1930s.
Talisay City
Mariano Ledesma Lacson known as The Ruins (mansion) is the remains of the ancestral
home mansion. The mansion was built in early 1900s and inspired by Italian architecture.
Silay City
Silay City, Negros Occidental in the Negros Island Region has the most number of declared
Heritage Houses in the country.
Vega Ancestral House in Misamis is a fine example of Spanish era Bahay FIlipino that is
not Bahay na bato but is rather fully wooden materials. The house is a Nipa Mansion, a
"Proto-Bahay na Bato style".
Generoso Reyes Gamboa House
German Lacson Gaston House
German Locsin Unson House
Jose Benedicto Gamboa House
Jose Corteza Locsin House
Jose Ledesma 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
Region VI
Region VII
Region VIII
Oppus Ancestral House now the Southern Leyte Provincial Library in Maasin, Southern
Leyte
Region X
Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by
the NHCP:[10][13]