Ancestral houses of the Philippines



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. 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. 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. 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. These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back of the country's colonial past through these old houses.

National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009


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. Ancestral homes that have figured in an event of historical significance like the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite, or houses of national heroes of the Philippines like the Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Norte are included among the categories National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks. Historical markers are placed on the houses by the commission to indicate their significance. The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property registers all cultural properties of the country.



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. 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.
 * 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 declared on August 15, 2001, and City of San Fernando Heritage District in Pampanga declared in 2004. Malolos Heritage Town NHL
 * Doña Alberta Uitancoy Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan
 * Don Hermogenes Reyes Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan
 * Gobierno Militar de la Plaza, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan now Meralco Malolos Office.
 * Don Antonio Bautista Mansion, Calle Paseo del Congreso, Malolos, Bulacan oldest house existing in Malolos.Traditional Ifugao House.png
 * Don Jose Bautista Mansion, Calle Sto Niño, Malolos, Bulacan
 * Don Ramon Gonzales de Leon House, Calle Cigarillera, Malolos, Bulacan
 * DR.Luis Uitangcoy Santos Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan
 * 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
 * Ylagan–de la Rosa Ancestral House facade.jpg 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

San Fernando Heritage Zone San Fernando, Pampanga
 * Augusto P. Hizon House in San Fernando, Pampanga
 * Dayrit-Cuyugan House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)
 * Henson-Hizon House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)
 * Hizon-Singian House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)Century-Old Houses Along the Streets of Taal, Batangas - panoramio.jpg
 * Lazatin House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)

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.


 * Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila
 * Casa Consulado in Quiapo, Manila
 * Lichauco Residence in Santa Ana, Manila
 * Mira-Nila House Cubao, Quezon City
 * Quezon Heritage House in New Manila, Quezon City

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.


 * Gala-Rodriguez House in Sariaya, Quezon
 * Natalio Enriquez House in Sariaya, Quezon
 * Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House in Sariaya
 * Acosta-Pastor Ancestral House in Batangas City
 * Luz-Katigbak House in Lipa, Batangas
 * Sarayba House in General Trias, Cavite
 * Goco House in Taal, Batangas
 * Ylagan-de la Rosa House in Taal, Batangas
 * Bahay na Bato Oleta Family in Pililla, Rizal

Region IV-B
Declared Heritage House in Mimaropa region.
 * Casa Narvas in Boac, Marinduque, Marinduque

Region V


In Tabaco City, 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.

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


 * Arroyo House in Iloilo City Proper
 * Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo
 * Casa Mariquit in Jaro
 * Casa Rizaliana in Molo
 * Celso Ledesma Mansion in Iloilo City Proper
 * Concepcion Chalet in Jaro
 * Domingo Lacson Sr. Ancestral House in Iloilo City Proper
 * Don Roque Locsin Sanson Mansion in Molo
 * Eusebio Villanueva Mansion, formerly known as Don Julio Ledesma House, in Iloilo City Proper
 * Joaquin Ledesma Mansion in Jaro
 * Juan Ledesma Mansion in Iloilo City Proper
 * Kilayko Mansion in Iloilo City Proper
 * Lizares Mansion in ancestral House in Iloilo City Proper
 * Locsin Ancestral House in Molo
 * Lopez Boat House in La Paz
 * Lopez-Vito Mansion in Jaro
 * Loring House in Iloilo City Proper
 * Magdalena Jalandoni House in Jaro
 * Mansion de Lopez (Nelly's Garden) in Jaro, considered as the "Queen of Heritage Houses in Iloilo"
 * Montinola-Jaen House in Jaro
 * Pison Ancestral House in Molo
 * Rosendo Mejica House in Molo
 * Sanson y Montinola Mansion in Jaro
 * Sinamay House in Arevalo
 * Lacson-Yusay/Yusay-Consing Mansion, popularly known as the Molo Mansion in Molo

Roxas City

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

Bacolod

 * 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
 * Mariano Ramos Ancestral House

Silay City
Silay City 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 City

 * Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House, popularly known as The 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 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.

Other Heritage Houses in Region VI

 * Infante House in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental
 * Roca Encantada House in Buenavista, Guimaras

Region VII
Heritage Houses in Central Visayas region:


 * Don Vicente H. Garces Ancestral House in Talisay City, Cebu
 * Balay na Tisa Heritage House in Carcar, Cebu
 * Clarin Ancestral House in Loay, Bohol
 * Mercado Mansion in Carcar, Cebu
 * President Carlos P. Garcia Heritage House in Tagbilaran, Bohol
 * Sa Dakong Balay / Don Florencio Noel House in Carcar, Cebu
 * Yap-Sandiego Heritage House in Cebu City
 * Silva House in Carcar, Cebu
 * German Ferraren y Geronimo Ancestral House in Ginatilan, Cebu
 * Ferolin Ancestral House in Ginatilan, Cebu

Region VIII
Heritage Houses in the Eastern Visayas region:
 * Oppus Ancestral House now the Southern Leyte Provincial Library in Maasin, Southern Leyte

Region X
Heritage Houses in the Northern Mindanao region:
 * Macapagal-Macaraeg House in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte

National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks
Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by the NHCP:
 * Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite
 * Apolinario Mabini Shine in Tanuan, Batangas
 * Apolinario Mabini Shrine in Pandacan, Manila
 * Aquino Ancestral House Historical Landmark in Concepcion, Tarlac
 * Baldomero Aguinaldo Shrine in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite
 * Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Norte
 * Marcela Agoncillo Historical Landmark in Taal, Batangas
 * Marcelo H. del Pilar Shrine in Bulakan, Bulacan
 * Rizal Shrine, Calamba, Laguna
 * Rizal Shrine in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte
 * Santa Barbara Church and Convent in Santa Barbara, Iloilo

Other ancestral houses

 * Consunji House in San Fernando, Pampanga
 * Mariano Ramos Ancestral House in San Fernando, Pampanga
 * Quema House in Vigan, Ilocos Sur
 * Tabacalera House in San Fernando, Pampanga
 * Atega Ancestral House in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte
 * Villavicencio's Ancestral and the Wedding Gift House in Taal, Batangas
 * Casa Bernedo in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte