Palacio de Memoria offers virtual tour

Art and history enthusiasts can now go on a virtual tour of Palacio de Memoria formerly know as Villaroman Mansion , the resplendent Colonial Revival mansion, and marvel at its luxurious facilities and hundreds of Euro-Filipino paintings, sculptures, art displays, and historical pieces online.

Sulyap sa Quiapo at Casa Consulado

Last August, the 125th anniversary of all-steel church, San Sebastian Basilica was celebrated through its weeklong festival, the Q-festival. Casa Consulado Museum and Library participates by hosting, in partnership with Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp, Inc., a lecture series entitled, “Sulyap sa Quiapo” (A Glance of Quiapo). This was also an opportunity to invite long time and fellow community advocates that has helped shaped Filipino culture and Quiapo community for the better, and to share again their stories and messages about their passion.

“Simula ng Maharlika Life” (The Beginning of Maharlika Life) by Mr. Ian Lucero

Young and creative local artist Mr. Ian Lucero, lead of Maharlika Life, was invited to share his passion for Filipino culture and the pre-hispanic colonial language, “Baybayin”. In the current trend of renewed interest in English calligraphy, his approach of presenting Baybayin with his creativity and graphic skills is as interesting even for the “cool” seeking youth or plain adventurous minds. Behind his passion is a movement to ignite interests for Filipino culture and pride starting from his social circle and eventually branching out to other communities. Inspired by Lucero’s previous experiences with Japanese calligraphy, the newly established group, Maharlika Life can be expected in public through their exhibits and creative enterprise.

KKK - Kabataan para sa Kalayaan at Kasarinlan 2016

On the 118th celebration of Independence Day, Mr. Paul Ituralde, the owner of Casa Consulado, and KKB not just simply celebrated this day as the house opened for the children of Quiapo, last June 12, 2016. Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista at iba pa or simply called as KKB helped for this project, from cleaning the Casa, setting up the designs and audios, from canvassing up to buying the materials needed for the event, and preparing food for the guests. The organization spent almost a month to make this KKK or Kabataan para sa Kalayaan at Kalinangan successful.

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

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. **

‪#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.

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.

First Solar-Powered Heritage House In Manila

We can probably claim that Kasa Boix is the FIRST SOLAR-POWERED HERITAGE HOUSE
at least in Manila.

Here some of the preview inside the Kasa Boix.

Outside Kasa Boix