Lesser Known Carcar Ancestral Houses

I have written about carcar many many times in this blog, be it the Watchtowers of Tuyom and Ocana or the Church. Carcar is and always will be my favorite heritage town in Cebu, though i have another favorite outside of Cebu. Carcar is the largest and most complete heritage town in Cebu with old houses, an old church and much history which connects the entirety of southern Cebu.

As Carcar is the most famous heritage town in Cebu it has many visitors which is not always a good thing but the people of Carcar benefit otherwise, most heritage structures are concentrated in the Poblacion of Carcar, the church, and 20 heritage houses. This article will highlight some of the more obscure Ancestral houses. These houses have as much history as the ones in the Poblacion and some are even older than some in the Poblacion as we will see.

The Macario Gantuangko house named after its owner Macario Gantuangko is one of the oldest Houses in Carcar dating back to 1888 making it younger than the Don Florencio Noel House but older than the Jaen House where Leon Kilat was Killed. The house shows that it is definitely a Spanish period “Bahay Na Bato” house as the first floor of the house is made of Argamasa and Coral Stone that has now been concreted over but some parts are still visible.To the side of the house there is a grand staircase made of American period concrete and leads to a wooden porch with a door to the second floor of the house. The second floor of the house is similar to the Cirilo house in Boljoon it has beenpainted green with its windows made of Tugas Hardwood, the curtains are from 1935 and are pink and white. The house was once used as the convent for the Parish of San Roque, Valladolid.

The Paterno Avila house is an American period house in Valladolid,Carcar. This house was built in 1932 towards the end of the American Period. The house was owned by Paterno Avila,a relative of his is Filomena Mercado Avila a prominent person in the Poblacion. The house has typical American Period architecture featuring a front balcony and wooden construction. The windows are no longer capiz but are now colored glass with flower patterns. The house also has Ventanillia which is not typical of late American Period houses. The ground floor was converted into concrete but was once made of wood like the second floor.

The Julio Algebras house is a typical American Period Balay na Kahoy (Wood House). The house was built around 1915 in the middle of the American Period. The house is reminiscent of older Spanish styles but make no mistake this is an American House. The house is entirely made of wood aside from a small concrete structure to the right of the facade. The house has ventanillia and original capiz windows, though there is a plann to have them removed. The house was originally smaller originally consisting of two parts to the left then it was expanded, you can tell the Older and newer parts by the pattern of the woodwork. The house is one of the few houses in Carcar that is almost completely Wood.

The Leon M. Velez house is one of the most beautiful Post War houses in Carcar, this house is one of the few in Carcar that follows a Mediterranean style of Architecture. The house has 2 Balconies one Covered by a roof with ornate designs and patterns, the other a more open Balcony. The house was built in 1951, so it is not one of the oldest houses in Carcar but it is a very good addition to the list of ancestral houses. The house is located in Ocana, Carcar.

The Corazon-Guttierez house is one of the largest houses in Carcar, the house was built in 1936 towards the very end of the American Period. The ground floor is made of Concrete and partly Wood. The second floor is made of Wood. The front of the house features a balustraded large staircase. The staircase leads to the Balcony, the balcony is a beauty with patterns and a nice view, every window of the house is ornate and arched, the windows also have ventanillia below the windows. The Facade of the house is massive. The paint job of the house highlights its age it is Yellow and Red, NOTE THE HOUSE IS NOW WHITEWASHED. The house is in Barangay Ocana