Other than the gentle nature of the Ilonggos, I fell in love with Iloilo’s architectural landmarks from heritages churches to its grand mansions. It is just sad that these structures could have withstood time and calamities but society’s need for “progress” cut their life shorter.
Just like the Laguda Mansion..
Way back in college, this house has that irresistible glory that even if it was gated with G.I sheets with illegal dwellers on its grounds, “wow” was on my mind whenever I see it.
It is now gone, bulldozed ( luckily, we got to take some photos). They should have developed this ala The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros.
I can’t help but wonder, what’s gonna happen to this structure?
The city is finishing their new city hall threatening the old office of Nicholas Loney dubbed as the “Father of Philippine Sugar Industry” from a historical landmark to mere parking lot. I hope Iloilo will think about its past as the “Queen City of the South”.
And this Ledesma Mansion described by my friend Denis, an architect, as a “structural failure” . I just keep my fingers crossed that I get to watch this for the next 5 years every time we pass by along Jaro Plaza. They even had a “House and Lot for Sale. Please apply inside ( lol)”signage on its rusty gate.
Same with the Mirasol ancestral house along Hughes Street. My heart sank when Afrique’s, a famous chain of restaurants in the city left. It was the perfect ambiance for their European cuisine. Dining out for me was enjoying my crab and mango salad on its veranda.
I love dining there and even brought my barkada when they visited me years ago. Their sad reactions are vivid when I told them about “Afrique’s old house”.
Buildings and houses of supreme architectural styles and designs, I hope my own boys can still see them as long as they could. I know that they will be vagabonds when they reach the right age. I hope these edifices will give them a reason to miss Iloilo that our family has called home.
6 Comments
I strongly agree. That was one of the reasons why I love to travel. One can sense the history of a place through this old buildings and churches. These are not just reminders of a bygone era, these are the silent storytellers. I remember visiting an old house in Samal, Bataan. Looking at the bullet holes due to straffing by Japanese warplanes during the last war, I closed my eyes and I can imagine the horrors of war. Strange, but I usually do that when I visit an old building or church, by touching the stones or wood with my eyes closed. I wanted to visit these places of history before they become parking lots and shopping malls or whatever concrete and iron structures without any stories to tell, just a lot of things to sell.
Nice to hear that you also love history. Yes, the only way to save them is to visit them. There are more in Iloilo, even in Negros Occidental. They will tore the house down and sell the pieces in antique shops. One in Calatrava, Negros has a red brick mansion on a hill. You can see it from the national road. When the Koreans bought the sugar mill, they tore it down.
I want to visit Bataan soon.
I’m planning to write about these “ruins”. Hope you’ll read it too.
Thanks Alfred!
I received a little history lesson from a Carmelite nun on my way to Miag-ao a few weeks ago. She also told me about the old churches and buildings in Iloilo particularly San Joaquin. I am also planning to visit Anini-y, Antique soon.
Negros is quite interesting that will surely be included on my list. My uncle spent four years in Negros and he was always telling me about the interesting places there.
You have to visit Bataan. There is a place in Bagac, Bataan, its called Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. The owner did and still is doing a great job gathering the old houses and building all over the country and rebuilding them there. These are not just copies, these are the actual structures, reinforced and given a new lease of life. This place is really great. You can visit Mount Samat and the Surrender Site Marker, at the Balanga Elementary School(that’s where i attended Grades 4-6). The provincial government has been doing a great job in maintaining these interesting places.
I’m looking forward to reading that. I’m more of a reader than a writer.
Yes, San Joaquin is nice place. You passed that town for sure when you went to Antique. Their church and cemetery is great. Heard they have many diving areas too.
Anini-y has a nice church, a sulphur pool and Nogas Island.
I did, however, I have to be in Culasi asap at that time. I will definitely visit San Joaquin and Aini-y.
I have read the other article about Vigan city. The first time that i went there was 1986. I was in grade 6 and it was a school sponsored trip for the Boy Scout Jamboree. I still remember looking at those old structures. Sad to say, when I went back 20 years later it was kinda different. Only a small part of the place was able to retain its old world glory, well that’s just my humble opinion.