BALAY NI TANA DICANG

Owner: Enrica Alunan Lizares

Location: Talisay, Negros Occidental

It is sugar which distinguishes Negros Occidental from other provinces, therefore no visit to
Negros is complete without exposure to the lifestyle and culture that evolved because of the
sugar industry. This makes a visit to at least one ancestral house a "must do" and of the
houses that have opened their doors to the public, there is none as well preserved and
evocative of the early years of the sugar industry as the Balay ni Tana Dicang in Talisay.

Efigenio Treyes Lizares and Enrica Labayen Alunan were married in 1872. By 1875, the
couple was already engaged in the production of sugar and like other planters, they lived in
a farm house in the hacienda. The size and grandeur of the interiors of their second home,
now known as the Balay ni Tana Dicang, indicates that by 1883, when the house was built,
the family was already very well established.

Balay ni Tana Dicang stands on a 6,000 square meter lot along Rizal St. in Talisay and it is
built in the quintessential style of Spanish-Filipino domestic Architecture, the "bahay na
bato," literally, "house of stone."

Like the traditional bahay na bato, the Balay is a structure with wooden legs and a stone
skirt. Large wooden posts sunk into the ground carry the roof but are independent of both
stone wall below and wooden walls above. The stone wall is a meter thick and is embellished
on the exterior by brick and coquina (building material of crushed shells and corals) which is
also carved into moldings and beveled panels. Two large double doors that are practically
entrance gates through the massive stone skirts of the ground floor lead to the zaguan or
entrance hall. As in the traditional bahay na bato in other parts of the Philippines, the
zaguan in Tana Dicang's house was used to for parking the family carriage, the carosa for
holy week processions, and eventually, the family's automobiles. Because of Enrica's many
children, the bedrooms of the male children were in the ground floor (the main living
quarters of the traditional bahay na bato are in the second level). An interior stairway goes
up to the upper level from the zaguan.
 On the left side of the caida or formal
receiving room in the upper level is
the sala or living room. This is
flanked with bedrooms just like the
comedor or formal dining room on
the right side of the caida. Wide
double-doors join adjacent rooms
(including bedrooms) to each other,
so that the Balay is one big hall when
all the doors are open. Fretwork
above the
partitions allow
free circulation of
air within the
house.

Running along the

front and sides of the exterior of the house is the overhanging roof which
protects the rooms from the heat of the sun. Below this, broad, window
sills hold sliding wooden louvers and capiz shell shutters. Ventanilla, or
openings with sliding wooden shutters and wooden balustrades, run from
below the window sill to the floor and provide light and air even when the
upper windows are closed for the night or during bad weather.

The pierced wood-work balusters of the grand staircase and the four rose windows in the
caida show that much attention was given to detail. Surfaces of the exterior and interior are
embellished with classical motifs, moldings, cornices, medallions, and pilasters.The use of
Philippine hardwoods, materiales fuertes like as narra, balayong
(tindalo inTagalog), and molave for structural and design
components convey status.

Tana Dicang's furniture remain practically where they were

when she was still the mistress of the house. According to Adjie
Lizares, curator of the museum and one of the great
grandchildren, she buried her silver, porcelain, crystal, and
other precious belongings to keep them safe during the war.
Among the treasures that were unearthed were dining utensils
made from melted coins and bearing the initials of the house
residents. There is a ledger of Tana Dicang from 1903 to 1909 that we keep like a piece of
treasure, Adjie is quoted as saying. These are now on display together with other
documents, photographs, draperies, bed linens, bath-fixtures, lighting, and religious
paraphernalia. The house is also still surrounded by the original wrought iron fence and
window gratings.

The original original casein paint (an organic paint made of animal protein derived from milk
and color pigments) is now evident on the zaguan (ground floor). In the second floor, so far
only the walls of Tana Dicang's master bedroom has been stripped of later layers of paint,
revealing the original aqua color of the room.

After the house was constructed in 1883, no major renovation was done except for the 1950
modification when Lola Mayang (Maria) and Lola Meding (Remedios) removed the balcony
outside the dining room (comedor) and in its place, had a larger room with modern glass
jalousies windows built. Adjie says it is fortunate that the Lolas " did not throw anything and
we still do have the carved balusters and hand rails of the original balcon, which we intend
to restore given time and resources.

Adjie plans to remove some of the modern indoor plumbing and bathrooms to restore the
original feel of the Balay.The photograph at left is of a part of the ground floor service area
that Adjie hopes to convert into a restaurant that opens into a garden. "We can have parties
and wedding receptions here, he says."

In her final will and testament, Enrica bequeathed the Balay to six of her eight daughters,
specifying that 10 percent of the income of her two haciendas be used for the upkeep of the
house. Several years ago, the Balay was formally opened to the public as a lifestyle museum
with an art gallery, giving the public access to this priceless legacy left to us by an
indomitable woman.

"CASA GRANDE"
Owner: Lopez Family
Location: Balayan, Batangas

The
most popular Balayan house is the casa grande of the Lopezes (honored with
an iron marker by historical commision). The house house was endowed with
expensive furniture, grandiose interiors and profuse ornamentation throughout. This
should be easy to explain as the owners were among the richest family in the
province.

The Lopez family are very prominent in Balayan. They owned large tracts of sugar
cane fields and a fleet of commercial vessels mostly for fishing and passenger.
Some of these (marine vessels) were even used by the 1st Republic under
President Emilio Aguinaldo.

The ancestral home of the Lopez has a unique feature that it has a so called Torre
which served as a lighthouse that guided all the sea vessels coming into Balayan
Bay. The house is now under the care of the Lopez of Balayan Foundation and will be
opened to the public.
Casa grandes renowned resident, Sixto Lopez, is one of the most brilliant minds of
his time. I saw a correspondence of his in English (addressed to a US senator) which
shows how adaptive and flexible his generation was when it comes to language and
learning. He learned English as he was appointed to seek US recognition of the
Philippine independence. The Batangas revolutionist (Galicano Apacible is also a
native of Balayan) were giants in thoughts and intellect. We have to take inspiration
from their achievements and how they lived their lives.

Sixto Lopezs had the idea of briging Aguinaldo and Mabini (a province mate) to the
US as there were people there that he believe could help them in their fight for
independence. Even when Aguinaldo was captured he petitioned for him to go
stateside (same with Mabini). Unfortunately, his plans never materialized. Lopezs
hope for American recognition is a clear sign that the American public were
concerned about the military expansionism and there are Americans that were
willing to listen. Some of these men (like the popular author Mark Twain)
vehemently opposed the idea of an American empire. There are moderate and
liberty loving Americans that even then were against occupying other states. Today,
we see these liberty loving Americans getting more vocal.

QUEMA HOUSE
Owner: Quema Family
Location: Vigan, Ilocos Sur

The Quema House is the ancestral home of

the Quema family in the Philippines. Built in
the 1820s, it is a historic landmark in
the townof Vigan, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines.
The town itself was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1999.

In pre-Hispanic times up to the early 16th

century, Vigan was a major commercial center
in the region, trading directly with China. This
commerce resulted to Chinese migration into
the area with subsequent intermarriage
between the native inhabitants and the
Chinese immigrants. During the Spanish colonial period (1521-1898), Vigan became an
important supplier of goods for the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, which led to the rise of a
new merchant class whose members are of mixed Chinese, native and Spanish ancestry -
theFilipino mestizos. With their increasing affluence, they built their residential houses
(bahay-na-bato) in the eastern district of the town, previously the Kasanglayan or old
Chinese quarters. It is here that Chinese trader Don Enrique Quema built his ancestral
house in the early 19th century.

The Quema House portrays the design of a typical bahay-na-bato (literally, "house of stone") popular
among the mestizo class. The roof has a steep pitch suggestive of traditional Chinese architecture. The
ground floor was used as storage and as a garage for horse-drawn carriages, while the living quarters
were housed in the upper floor. The exterior walls of the upper storey are enclosed by wood-framed,
sliding window panels of kapis shells (Placuna placenta, a thin-shelled oyster). All throughout the living
quarters are wide plankhardwood floors.

In 2009, the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh (FAAP) chose the Quema House as
the model for the design of a Philippine Nationality Room (PNR) at the Cathedral of Learning
in the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA). The house was adjudged as most
representative of 18th century architecture unique to the Philippines, a requirement for a
Nationality Room. As of 2011, there are 27 Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning,
all representing 18th century architecture of different countries. The Philippine Nationality
Room will function as a regular classroom for Humanities classes. Target date of construction
is set for the summer of 2012.

LIPA HOUSE
Owner: Segunda Solis Katigbak
Location: Lipa, Batangas
 A land replete with history,
the only town in Batangas
that was conferred the title
of Villa, for being the
richest urban in the
Philippines in 1886-1889.
Coffee became scarce when
the dreadful fungal virus
killed the coffee plantations
in Java and South America
and the only producer of
coffee then was Lipa.

It was bruited that Lipa had

an annual income of P
4,000,000.00 from that
industry alone. Such
opulence brought wealth to
the town and the landlords
who have jived with the
business have left them
with a fortune that lasted
for several lifetimes. During
those heydays, the wealthy
clans have built stone
mansions and filled them,
just like in Taal, with
different high end furnishings abroad.

It is very interesting to note the stories told about the fairy tale living of the
SOLIS CLAN of LIPA. They were the richest family in the Villa and led the
wealthy aristocratic clans of Lipa (Katigbak, Luz, Mayo, Aguilera, Roxas,
Altamirano, Kalaw). There were those grand parties being held at the house
of Doa Catalina Solis vda. de Aguilera who owned the largest house in Lipa.
Her hospitality was not only known in the town but in Spain as well. She had
gold and silver service for her very exclusive guests and an eighty seater
table in her mansion. Unfortunately, the house was leveled to the ground
during the Japanese occupation.

Faint traces of the glory of Lipa can still be found in these houses: the Luz-
Katigbak Ancestral House (Now named Casa de Segunda is the former
home of Doa Segunda Solis Katigbak, the first love interest of our National
Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal) and the Luz-Bautista Ancestral House.

RESIDENCIA ACOSTA- PASTOR

Owner: Don Alejo Acosta
Location: Batangas City

Residencia Acosta- Pastor built in 1883

A remarkable bahay na bato in Batangas City is the Residencia Pastor-

Acosta. It was built in 1883 by the former gobernadorcillo of the town, Don
Alejo Acosta. It is now under the care of the descendant, Atty. Antonio
Acosta Pastor who is active in civic, cultural, religious, and charitable
projects. The house features a winding driveway, which leads to the puerta
mayor (main door) a fine piece of thick narra and the stairs inside lead to
the wide caida (living area). The landing of the grand staircase of the Pastor
Mansion has black-and-white marble pieces which are comparable to the
classical Viennese style of interiors with matching marble-topped molave
wood coffee table, Bentwood chairs, and capiz shell ventanillas (windows).
Upon entering the grand staircase of the Pastor House, one would be awed to
see the heritage wall of the Acosta Pastor Clan a wall full of vintage
family photos and memorabilia. A notable photo is that of Don Pedro
Gutierrez Pastor, the financier and treasurer of the Katipuneros during the
revolution against Spain.

Whats interesting about the house is the bullet slug stuck inside the wooden
frame of the door of the mansions living room. According to stories told by
their ancestors, the bullet was aimed at the late Governor-General of the US
in the Philippines William Howard Taft.
 Another fascinating fact is that 98% of the antiques
in the house are still functional.

Other ancestral houses in the province could be

found in the towns of Calaca, San Juan, and San
Jose.

Palawan State University

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Department of Architecture
AR 45 Professional Practice 1

RESEARCH:

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE:

CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER XII

Submitted by:
EMILYN KRISTIA J. PARANGUE
 Submitted to:
ARCH. JEFFREY CABIGUEN