The Bahay Na Bato, literally house of stone is the Colonian Filipino Noble House.

The architecure is a mixture

of native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences.

Typically raised or two-story, the main living area is on the upper level. To take advantage of cooling breezes,
large windows surround the upper floor. The window sashes commonly have capiz shell panes and can be
opened wide or closed for privacy or in stormy weather. Vents above the windows, protected by the roof eaves,
let air in even when it's rainy. Small shuttered windows below the large windows, called ventanillas, are
screened with balusters or grillwork and can be left opened when the large windows are closed such as at
night.

As the name implies, the lower walls of the classic bahay na bato were traditionally finished in stone or
masonry. More modest homes have wood walls for both levels and in more recent times, cinder blocks have
been used to enclose the lower level. This space, the zaguan, was used to store the family carriage and
processional cart in the old days and nowadays often function as office, shop or the family's sari-sari store.

Tanchanco Bahay na Bato

The Tanchanco Family Bahay na Bato has been written in history as one of the centers in the Philippines
Independence campaign in Malolos. The house is notable in hosting the illustrados, foreign leaders and
dignitaries pre and post revolutionary government. The democratic politician (41st Secretary of State,
Congressman and 3 time US Presidential Candidate) "William Jennings Bryan" wrote about his good times at
the opulent Tanchanco house in his self written book "The Old World and Its Ways that was published in 1907.

According to the Watson Papers of the National Library of the Philippines, the Tanchanco house had notable
parties that hosted with national hero of the Philippines Jose Rizal. It was featured in the docu-musical film
"Women of Malolos" directed by the Dalena Sisters. "Women of Malolos" is a film about the brave young
women from the Tanchanco, Tantoco, Reyes, Tiongson and Uitangcoy family who succesfuly for education and
empowerment suing their grace". According to Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the young women of Malolos belonged to
the select class of the town, respected for their good reputation and daughters of maginoo (in Del Pilars letter
of 17 February). The Women of Malolos was the first successful women empowerment movement. They were
the acclaimed Filipino women that Jose Rizal wrote his famous letter to. They successfully fought for their right
to education and women's rights.