This May is National Heritage Month

Rizal painting inside the National Museum of the Philippines

Its that time of the year again! This May is National Heritage Month! A special occasion for us Filipinos to give love and appreciation to our colourful heritage And in that spirit, The National Museum of the Philippines,

Yugyugan para sa Kultura ng Bayan collaboration with NCCA and Ballet Manila

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by its chairman, Prof. Felipe M. De Leon Jr., and OIC-executive director Adelina M. Suemith, will lead the entire nation in a “dance rally” in numerous parts of the country to celebrate International Dance Day and National Dance Week as well as to drum up awareness on cultural heritage.

The Yugyugan para sa Kultura ng Bayan is organized by the NCCA’s National Committee on Dance (NCD) headed by Josefina Guillen, and it will happen on April 29, 2015, simultaneously in various sites that include Angeles City in Pampanga,  Cebu City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City,  and Manila among others.

PISTAHAN: 120 to 120

Let's have a chill gathering and jamming inside the house as we look forward to its upcoming 120th anniversary and launch some exciting projects and activities. We will also start counting down 120 days on April 26 before Boix's big birthday celebration. Bring some friends, pika-pikas for sharing, and probably bring your own musical instruments or prepare some songs as we sing our hearts out and celebrate for the love of heritage!

Arch. Ting Elected New President of KKB Board

Manila: Former KKB Corporate Secretary Arch. Michelle Ting has been elected by the Board of Trustees as the new president of the Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp. Lugar, Inc. (KKB) during its First Regular Meeting on 19 April 2015 in Makati.
The previous presidency was held by socio-anthropologist and social worker Dr. Teresita Obusan, who held the post since 2012.

Michelle Ting is an architect specializing in heritage conservation and restoration, and a fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines. She earned her B.A.in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas, and is presently engaged in the restoration of paintings.

The other elected officers of the board are the following: Allan Martinez, Vice President; Ceciel Rosqueta, Corporate Secretary; Dionne Esteban Caytiles, Treasurer; and Dr. Teresita Obusan and Mark Honrado Trustees.

Aklatan sa Kapitbahayan

The 1,200 to 120 project is a book drive launched by the Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista as the main feature of the 120th anniversary of the 1895 Spanish-period Boix House in Quiapo, Manila. The project will run for 4 months, or for a total of 120 days from 26 April to the anniversary date on 24 August. The ultimate deliverable of the project is a library which will be known as the "AKLATAN NG KAPITBATAHAN."
As what the name of the project suggests, 1,200 book titles are targeted.

The New Look of Villaroman Mansion

The Villaroman Mansion is one of the most interesting heritage mansions along Roxas Boulevard and it is now being restored.

Rumour has it that this house was formerly owned by the Lopezes, according to the article "Lopez Ruby Wedding Anniversary".

Here is a look at the new Villaroman Mansion, courtesy of JC Contapay.

  This is the back view of the Villaroman Mansion

According to the Manila Nostalgia (Facebook Group) this Villaroman Mansion is owned by Dr. Francisco Villaroman, and according to great grandson of  Dr. Francisco Villaroman, Mr.Gilbert Villaroman, "This was not Eugenio Lopez, Sr.'s home. This was our ancestral home which was built by my late (great?) grandfather Dr. Francisco Villaroman, Sr. The left side faces Roxas Blvd. Our property wall used to be where the Manila Bay was until the reclamation project which created the road which is now Roxas Blvd... There was [an elevator] on the property and it was placed to assist my grandfather who in his later years had difficulty walking due to a stroke."

The aerial shoot of Villaroman Mansion.

Unknow date of shoot
(c) Page Osorio

Here one night shot from Darwin Cayetano of the Villaroman Mansion

The majestic beauty of the mansion during night

Another look inside the Villaroman Mansion photo courtesy of Camila Lhullier 

Currently this mansion is owned by the Lhullier family according to Carlos Celdran post in facebook account.

If you have any information regarding the Villaroman Mansion along Coastal Road, please care to share with us.

Written by : Axl Guinto

Edited by : Charmaine Yves Chong

Artist's Rendition of the Proposed Rizal Cultural Shrine Manila, 1963

Photo shows the completed artist rendition of the proposed Rizal Cultural Shrine that was supposed to be constructed in 1963 during the centennial of the birth of Jose Rizal. Seen here is the Rizal Monument with its aluminum pylon and brilliantly-lit area; the National Library (left), the National Theater (middle) and the National Museum. Of the three building, only the National Library was constructed with much delay.

Artist's Rendition of the Proposed Rizal Cultural Shrine Manila, 1963

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building, ca. early 20th century

The YMCA came to the Philippines in 1898. When the American Army in Manila moved to Fort William McKinley in February, 1905, an independent association for Manila was organized under the direction of the Army and Navy departments made a formal request to the YMCA International Committee in New York City for assistance. In 1907, John R. Mott, general secretary of the foreign department, visited Manila and met with the directors and interested friends where it decided to conduct a campaign for funds for an adequate and permanent association. Mott guaranteed P170,000 for the construction of a building on condition that friends in the Philippines secure the site and adequately furnish the building. The campaign for funds was begun here on February 15, 1907, and, by the 15th of March following, P83,000 was subscribed, nearly one thousand different persons contributing. Thereupon the Young Men’s Christian Association of Manila was incorporated under the law of the Philippine Islands and received its character in June, 1907. A site for the new building was selected on Calle Concepcion, Ermita, and the building contract was let on the 8th of January following. The cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on July 10, 1908, and the building was formally dedicated on October 20, 1909.

Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Building, ca. early 20th century. Concepcion St. (now Natividad Lopez-Almeda St.), Ermita, Manila

A Very Short History Of The Colegio De San Jose

In 1601, the Rector of the Colegio de Manila i, Fr. Pedro Chirino, organized the Colegio de San Jose to
serve as the former’s extension school.ii The Colegioiii, aside from being an extension college, also served
as a grammar school where latin and Catholic morals were taught.iv In 1768, the Society of Jesus was expelled and their properties in the colonies, including San Jose, were taken from them.v After the Jesuit expulsion, the administration was given to the secular clergy.vi It was during this secular administration that Paciano, the brother of Jose Rizal, studied Segunda Enseñanza and graduated with a Bachiller en Artes from San Jose.vii

Image 01: The main entrance to the building of the Facultades de Medicina y Farmacia, Colegio de San 

Jose, Universidad de Santo Tomas, 1887.xvi

Heritage Alert : St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church an on-going obstruction

St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church popularly know as  San Luis Gonzaga Church is one of the oldest churches you will find in the culinary capital of the Philippines, Pampanga.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church

 St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church was no information exists as to when the church was built, but it must have been completed in the late 18th century. In 1883, the church was restored by Fr. Isidro Bernardo, which then had the following dimensions: 56 meters long, 13 meters wide and 11 meters high. The church convent was expanded by Fr. Francisco Diaz in 1877. Today, San Luis Church is one of the few churches in the province that retains its old-world authenticity, even after assiduous restorations, one as recent as 1984 done on the retablo mayor, undertaken by Fr. Jacobo David.

First in HIP : San Ignacio Church Reconstruction

San Ignacio Church is one of the oldest churches you will find inside the beautiful Walled City of Intramuros.

The San Ignacio Church facade
(c) credit to the owner

Right now the Intramuros Administration had preliminary plans of rebuilding the church into an ecclesiastical museum.,which is currently under construction.

Pamana : An architectural heritage conservation exhibit

PAMANA is an architectural heritage conservation exhibit that will feature photographs and infographs of few chosen built heritage in Metro Manila that will run from March 27-29, 2015 at Green Sun Hotel, Makati City.

The exhibit is free to the general public. It also includes a heritage conservation forum on the second day, March 28, at 2PM with speakers from Escolta Revival Movement, Heritage Conservation Society - Youth and The Filipinas.

The Legendary Chong Hock Tong Temple Demolished

In the 1850s the Chong Hock Tong Temple was built in the cemetery. As most other Chinese temples built in earlier years were located in and around the suburb of Bindondo, and were destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945, the Chong Hock Tong Temple is now the oldest remaining Chinese temple in Manila. [1]

Chong Hock Tong Temple (before)
Shoot ‎October ‎26, ‎2012

Though not as elaborate, the architecture is still reminiscent of those in Fujian province as well as those in Singapore and Malaysia with their colorful friezes and uniquely upturned eaves.

Should St. Paul Cathedral in San Pablo, Laguna have paletada?

The Cathedral Parish of Saint Paul the First Hermit, also known as the San Pablo Cathedral, it  was first established by the Augustinian friars in 1586, second church in 1629 and the present stucture was built in 1714. Its foundation was laid by Fr. Juan Labao in 1680.

It has neo-classic facade with doric coupled columns and windows with triangular segmented pediments. It also has four-storey octagonal bell tower with lank and open windows.

But there something going on right now in Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral according to the Old Philippines fanpage, "The newly restored facade of San Pablo church in Laguna, feeled off its Palitada baring its century old all brick appearance, But the restorers want to cover it up again in platada, to preseve the exposed bricks, eventualy it will look like a modern church again, It is much better if they let the red bricks exposed so that it will look old, revealing to the tourist and towns people of its history, And let a counter measure to preserve the bricks . SAY NO TO PLATADA! there are ways to preserve and replace old bricks. "


The quick history of the San Pablo Cathedral 

The first church was built of stone in 1629 and the present one in 1714. The church facade's simple design is subtly neoclassic, emploting coupled Doric columns.
 A unique feature is the pediment of interlocking truangles and segmented shapes and a pointed arch that's softened by the roundness of a more blunted upper arch. Two balustrades flank the pediment, mounted on rectangular piers and embellished by a decorative round window.

To my fellow Kapitbayahan, what can you say regarding this issue? Care to share with us.

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Sources :

Galede, Pedro G. Philippine Church Facades. Quezon City: Filipiniana.net, 2007.
Photo Old Philippines fanpage,

Discover Iloilo, Discover Philippines

From top, left to right: Calle Real – Iloilo City's historic city center,
The Aduana/Customs House of Iloilo and Muelle Loney,
Saint Anne Church of Molo District,
Smallville Commercial Complex in Mandurriao District,
Nelly Garden,
and the Arroyo Fountain and Casa Real/Old Iloilo Provincial Capitol

Recently the Philippine Department of Tourism launch the new campaign regarding the Iloilo. The said campaign is also part of It's More Fun in the Philippines!

Iloilo is  is a highly urbanized city on Panay Island in the Philippines, and the capital city of the province of Iloilo. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas as well as the center of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area.

Iloilo as a Metropolitan Area

Iloilo City being part of Metropolitan Iloilo - Guimaras is considered to be the only officially declared and recognized metropolitan area in Western Visayas as per Presidential Executive Order No. 559 duly signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on August 28, 2006.

Iloilo Landmarks and Tourist sites

Iloilo City's urban planning and architecture reflect the plans of the Spanish and the American colonial administrations. Since Iloilo City is a conglomeration of towns, the districts have their own plazas which are surrounded by establishments of political and ecclesiastical influence, such as churches and old administrative halls. In 1930, Juan M. Arellano of the Bureau of Public Works designed the schematic plan for Iloilo City, which was influenced by Ebenezer Howard's "Garden City.

Here the lastest campaign of Department of Tourism in Iloilo



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Note
Source  HabagatCentral.com  and Department of Tourism

Vicente Ilustre Mansion in Quiapo

Who is Vicente Ilustre?

Vicente Encarnacion Ilustre – Don Vicente obtained a law doctorate at the Universidad Central de Madrid. It was also in Madrid that he associated with other Filipino patriots like Rizal, Plaridel, Naning Ponce, Galicano Apacible and others – whose chief pre-occupation was resolving the seething Philippine situation. He left Madrid via Paris and on January 8, 1900, proceeded to Hong Kong where he accepted the offer by the Mabini cabinet to represent the country in the United States. He was consequently elected Director of Diplomacy in the Central Revolucionaria de Hongkong. In 1913, Vicente became a member of the Philippine Commission under Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison where he served as president of the Committee for Mindanao and Sulu. Thereafter, he became a Senator in the First Senate of the Philippines. He was also instrumental in the installation of two very important public utilities in Taal, that of light and water. He was born in Taal, Batangas on Sept. 6, 1869 and died in Manila on Sept. 27, 1928 at the age of 59. He was married to Doña Rita Marella Villavicencio, one of the children of Eulalio and Gliceria. **

10 things you need to know about Kapampangans

So you want to live in Pampanga, or room with a Kapampangan, or even marry a Kapampangan?  Prepare for a bumpy ride!  Here are tips to help you survive the company of this much-admired, much-reviled, and much-misunderstood people:

The Mount Arayat

‪#QuiapoHeritage‬ Kasa Boix Clean Up

Give love this Valentine's season! Calling for volunteers who could help us clean the Kasa Boix in anticipation of the 120th Anniversary of the house.

Kasa Boix will be opened from 8AM until 5PM.

An exclusive look at the Apostolic Nunciature

SIMPLE AND ELEGANT. This is how the Apostolic Nunciature looks like.

Written by Stephen John Pamorada

An exclusive look at the Apostolic Nunciature (designed by National Artist for Architecture Jose Ma. Zaragoza) in Taft Avenue, Manila, the ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church that serves as the Embassy of the Holy See in the Philippines. Official residence of Pope Francis during his four-day official visit to the country.

Burke Apartments In Danger

Airy courtyard inside the Burke House in Quiapo, Manila, as seen in this photo I took last Friday, Feast of the Black Nazarene. Residents celebrated the feast with a salu-salo and good company of friends and family.

Kasa Boix Open House

Everyone is invited to visit the KASA BOIX this coming Friday, Feast of the Black Nazarene! There will be a small exhibit on the Black Nazarene and Quiapo at the Kasa Boix.

Former PNB headquarters on fire

On January 7, 2015. Sometime at 2am, the Old PNB building at the historic street of Escolta, which is also served as the Old City College of Manila caught on fire. A guard working in the building, says that sometime in the morning, a sudden loss of electricity went and signs of smoke and fire arose.

The fire department was called in immediately to put out the flame. The fire quickly moved to the upper 10th floor and announced “Task Force Bravo” which means requesting for more help from other fire departments nearby. Firefighters managed to place the fire under control at about 9:19 am and announced fire out at 5pm. One firefighter was injured on the scene due to falling debris.

Save the Burke Apartments

One of the project of the Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp, “The Save the Burke Apartments” project is a mission to safeguard and protect the Burke Accessoria from impending demolition and to recognize it as heritage for the development and awareness of Quiapo. This is aligned with the group’s advocacy for heritage awareness through community efforts.

The rumors that a demolition of a heritage house in early 2014 prompted the KKB team to assess the situation; interviewing the local residents and tenants on its background history, a follow up structural assessment began with the help of local architects and city engineers.

It was discovered that the structure was indeed heritage as it belonged to the renowned Burke Family. The building was also labeled “condemned” by its owner but further evaluation showed that it was clearly stable and not worth condemnation.  Yet no signs of restraint from the owners, the team sent its document to the city hall to proclaim its identity as heritage and unadvisable for demolition.  The resolution was to be followed up.