Bahay na Bato in Batangas

The Luz - Librea- Bautista Ancestral Home in Lipa, Batangas

Philippine Ancestral House, traditionally called Bahay Na Bato, is the fusion of native Filipino, Spanish and Chinese influences.

The Spanish colonial era gave birth to the constructions of the bahay na bato and eventually became a status symbol for noble Filipinos (the principalia and the ilustrados).  The Bahay na Bato, originates from the Bahay Kubo, since it typically followed its arrangements such as open ventilation and elevated apartments. The most obvious difference between the two houses would be the materials that were used to build them. The Bahay na Bato was constructed out of brick and stone rather than the traditional bamboo materials.

Batangas boasts of these one-of-a-kind structures that stood the test of time and subsequently have been turned into lifestyle museums and tourist attractions.

Balayan

Casa Martinez, ancestral home of comedian Leo Martinez

Its beauty lies to its close affinity to history.It is one of the oldest town in  Batangas officialy founded by the Spaniards in 1578. Prior to Spanish Colonization, it was already inhabited by the descendants of the two Bornean datus who settled in this place. Historians believed that Balayan is the center of the ancient powerful kingdom of MA-I. In 1581, the Province of Balayan was created and Balayan was made the capitol of the province with jurisdiction extending over a vast territory including what is now Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque and all the lands southeastern part of Laguna as far as Camarines.

Bahay na batos became prolific in the town because of the sugar industry boom.  Landlords,who  engaged in the sugar business, became very rich and thus built their stately houses in the town. Famous among which is the house of Don Sixto Castelo Lopez, a revolutionary propagandist and a friend of the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

"Casa Grande" of the Lopezes of Balayan

The Lopez family are very prominent in Balayan. They owned  large tracts of sugar cane fields and a fleet of commercial vessels mostly for fishing and passenger. Some of these (marine vessels) were even  used by the 1st Republic under President Emilio Aguinaldo.

The ancestral home of the Lopez  has a unique feature that it has a so called “Torre” which served as a lighthouse that  guided all the sea vessels coming into Balayan Bay. The house is now under the care of the Lopez of Balayan Foundation and will be opened to the public this year.

Taal

Galleria Taal

A nostalgic sensation is felt once you set foot to this town. Taal, considered to be the Heritage Town of Batangas, boasts of an array of well preserved ancestral houses and other colonial edifices. It was the second capitol of the province and a bustling center for trading goods. People who were involved in the business got rich and built palatial homes and have them furnished with different accoutrement from abroad. The houses of Don Gregorio Agoncillo, Doña Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio, and Barrion -Ilagan (Galleria Taal) are some of the notable bahay na batos in Taal.

It is also famous for its town plaza and the magnanimously beautiful Basilica Minore of St. Martin de Tours, reputed to the biggest Church in South-East Asia.

Lipa

A land replete with history, the only town in Batangas that was conferred the title of Villa,  for being the richest urban in the Philippines in 1886-1889. Coffee became scarce when the dreadful fungal virus killed the coffee plantations in Java and South America and the only producer of coffee then was Lipa.

The house of Segunda Solis Katigbak

It was bruited that Lipa had an annual income of P 4,000,000.00 from that industry alone. Such opulence brought wealth to the town and the landlords who have jived with the business have left them with a fortune that lasted for several lifetimes. During those heydays, the wealthy clans have built stone mansions and filled them, just like in Taal, with different high end furnishings abroad.

It is very interesting to note the stories told about the fairy tale living of the SOLIS CLAN of LIPA. They were the richest family in the Villa and led the wealthy aristocratic clans of Lipa (Katigbak, Luz, Mayo, Aguilera, Roxas, Altamirano, Kalaw). There were those grand parties being held at the house of Doña Catalina Solis vda. de Aguilera who owned the largest house in Lipa. Her hospitality was not only known in the town  but in Spain as well. She had gold and silver service for her very exclusive guests and an eighty seater table in her mansion. Unfortunately, the house was leveled to the ground during the Japanese occupation.

Faint traces of the glory of Lipa can still be found in these houses: the Luz-Katigbak Ancestral House (Now named Casa de Segunda –  is the former home of Doña Segunda Solis Katigbak, the first love interest of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal) and the Luz-Bautista Ancestral House.

Batangas City

Residencia Acosta- Pastor built in 1883

A remarkable bahay na bato in Batangas City is the Residencia Pastor- Acosta. It was built in 1883 by the former gobernadorcillo of the town, Don Alejo Acosta.  It is now under the care of the descendant, Atty. Antonio Acosta Pastor who is active in civic, cultural, religious, and charitable projects.  The house features a winding driveway, which leads to the puerta mayor (main door)— a fine piece of thick narra and the stairs inside lead to the wide caida (living area).  The landing of the grand staircase of the Pastor Mansion has black-and-white marble pieces which are comparable to the classical Viennese style of interiors with matching marble-topped molave wood coffee table, Bentwood chairs, and capiz shell ventanillas (windows).

Upon entering the grand staircase of the Pastor House, one would be awed to see the heritage wall of the Acosta – Pastor Clan – a wall full of  vintage family photos and memorabilia. A notable photo is that of Don Pedro Gutierrez Pastor, the financier and treasurer of the Katipuneros during the revolution against Spain.

What’s interesting about the house is the bullet slug stuck inside the wooden frame of the door of the mansion’s living room. According to stories told by their ancestors, the bullet was aimed at the late Governor-General of the US in the Philippines William Howard Taft.

Another fascinating fact is that 98% of the antiques in the house are still functional.

Other ancestral houses in the pr0vince could be found in the towns of Calaca, San Juan, and San Jose.

Lessons from the bahay na bato

Today, people lack a sense of history, these bahay na batos must be kept intact and preserved for the generations to come so that it would remind them of  their rich culture and traditions.

The bahay na bato, as an object of art, gives us a feel of nostalgia and enchantment. It unfolds stories of  love, respect, nationalism, valor and the fight for the country’s freedom.

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