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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 Filipino family culture.[1][2] This follows a longstanding Filipino tradition of being reverential to ancestors and elders. Houses can range in size from simple houses to mansions.

Current logo for the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property
Beaux-Arts style mansion Lopez ancestral house in Jaro, Iloilo City

The most common houses are in the Bahay na Bato ("Stone House") style. Some houses of prominent families have become points of interest or museums in their community because of their cultural, architectural, or historical significance.[3][4] These houses are deemed of significant importance to Filipino culture and are declared Heritage Houses by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), previously known as the National Historical Institute (NHI) of the Philippines.[5][self-published source] Preservation is of utmost importance, as some ancestral houses have become endangered, 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 in their houses.[6][self-published source] These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back to the country's colonial past.[7]

The ancestral house of Emilio Aguinaldo, declared a National Shrine in 1964

National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009

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Guagua mansion

In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines passed the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, or Republic Act No. 10066, to strengthen the protection of the country's cultural treasures, including houses under "Built Heritage". Ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP are still privately owned. The government only declares the heritage value of the structure and provides funding for its protection and preservation.[8] Ancestral homes that have figured in historical events such as the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite,[9] or houses of national heroes of the Philippines such as the Juan Luna Shrine[10] in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, are categorized as National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks.[11][12] Historical markers are affixed to the houses by the commission to indicate their significance.[13] The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property maintains a record of all cultural properties of the country.[12]

Bahay na bato ancestral houses being used for commercial purposes

List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines

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Here is partial list of ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP, some with declaration dates, grouped regionally.[14] Many are of Bahay Na Bato architecture.

Region I

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In the Ilocos Region, the historic city of Vigan is the best preserved Spanish Colonial settlement in the country. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Region III

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Oldest house in Batanes a Sinadumparan
Batangas
The traditional houses in Ifugao and serves as their Ancestral house
Ancestral houses in Taal, Batangas

In Central Luzon, there are two historical town centers declared by the NHCP as historic town centers: the Malolos Heritage Town in Bulacan,[15] declared as such on August 15, 2001, and the San Fernando Heritage District in Pampanga, declared in 2004.[16]

Malolos Heritage Town National Historical Landmark (NHL):

San Fernando Heritage Zone

National Capital Region

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The central part of Metro Manila was heavily bombed in World War II, which destroyed many historical structures and homes. Some pockets of old homes can still be found in Binondo and Quiapo, which were not affected by the war.[17]

Region IV-A

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In the Calabarzon region, the center for ancestral houses can be found in the streets of Taal, Balayan, and Calaca, in Batangas province, and Sariaya in Quezon province. The town center of Pila, Laguna, with its Spanish and American-era houses, was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000.

Region IV-B

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Declared Heritage House in Mimaropa region:

Region V

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Pedicabs or pedal cabs crossing a street near Manalang Gloria Ancestral House
Oldest existing and the biggest house in San Pascual, Masbate

In Tabaco, Albay, 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

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The Lizares Mansion in Jaro, Iloilo City
The Lizares Mansion in Jaro, Iloilo City, is one of the largest ancestral houses in the Philippines

Iloilo City

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Molo Mansion in Molo, Iloilo City

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

Roxas City

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

Negros Island Region

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Bacolod

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Bago

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  • General Juan Araneta Ancestral House

La Carlota

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  • Infante House

Silay

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Benita Jara House
Pitong Ledesma House
Jose Benedicto Gamboa Ancestral House

Silay 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

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The Ruins in Talisay, Negros Occidental.jpg
The Lacson Ruins in Talisay, Negros Occidental. One of the most iconic ancestral houses found in Region VI of Western Visayas
General Aniceto Lacson House, popularly known as Casa Grande
  • Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House, popularly known as "The Lacson 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 General Aniceto Lacson.
  • General Aniceto Lacson Ancestral House is a fine example of a bahay-na-bato built in the 1880s. Its balcony has a panoramic view of the surrounding hacienda, and the house has its own chapel at ground level. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr. and Don Mariano Lacson.
  • Tana Dicang House.

Region VII

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Heritage Houses in Central Visayas region:

Region VIII

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Heritage Houses in the Eastern Visayas region:

Region X

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Heritage Houses in the Northern Mindanao region:

National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks

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Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by the NHCP:[11][14]

Other ancestral houses

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References

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  1. ↑ Dela Cruz, Kimberly. "Heritage houses in Taal now have touchscreens, interactive features". NHCP. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Filipino Culture" Archived November 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Filipino Planet. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Best Filipino Ancestral Houses". Traveler on Foot. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
  4. ↑ Tacio, Henrylito D. (October 12, 2010). "Ancestral Home in the City" Archived October 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Republic Act No. 10066 – National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 27, 2010.
  6. ↑ Henares, Ivan (July 19, 2006). "Stop the sale of ancestral homes!". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Villavicencio's Ancestral House: Taal's Gift House". Lantaw. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  8. ↑ (2010-09-03). "No ownership change in 'RA 10066 declaration'". Inquirer.net. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Bonifacio Trial House". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Juan Luna Shrine". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Shrines and Landmarks". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  12. 1 2 Bonvito (April 23, 2010). "Text of the Philippine National Cultural Heritage Law" Archived December 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Time Traveling. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Touring the Ancestral Houses of Silay, Negros Occidental". Travelog Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  14. 1 2 (2010-04-01). "Philippine Registry of Cultural Property – Built Heritage". Ivan About Town. Retrieved on October 26, 2011.
  15. ↑ "National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines: Historic Town Center of Malolos".
  16. 1 2 (2005-04-15). "San Fernando: a city rich in architectural heritage". Indung Kapampangan: Preserving our Kapampangan Heritage. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  17. ↑ Gardner, Robert (2006–04). "Philippine architecture from bahay kubo to bahay na bato". derkeiler.com. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.
  18. ↑ Philippine News Agency (September 11, 2011). "Historical marker on Aquino ancestral house in Tarlac unveiled" Archived November 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. News 5 InterAksyon. Retrieved on October 27, 2011.
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