Revealing the History and Heritage of the Philippines: One Post at a Time
There are houses, and then there are monuments—architectural anchors that refuse to be swept away by the river of history. In the heart of Jaro, Iloilo City, stands Casa Mariquit, officially the Javellana–Lopez Heritage House, a seemingly unassuming structure that is, in truth, an 1880s-1890s home of grand, yet understated…
The Rocha Ancestral House, nestled in the historic Sitio Ubos of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, isn’t just a house—it’s a time capsule forged from coral stone, molave, and the immense wealth of 19th-century maritime trade. Often referred to simply as Casa Rocha, this architectural behemoth is one of the Visayas’ most…
The pipe organ of Boljoon is more than just an instrument; it’s a National Cultural Treasure whose survival is a gripping tale of architectural defense, colonial politics, and relentless modern conservation. Nestled within the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de María Santísima, this masterpiece is inextricably linked to the church’s identity…
Okay, let’s be real. When you think of Panglao, you think beaches—Alona, Dumaluan, all that white sand goodness. You think diving, sun, and perhaps the chocolate hills if you venture off-island. But just a stone’s throw from the new international airport, tucked next to the centuries-old church, there’s a structure…
I’ve been tracking down the real stories of the Visayas, the ones that anchor history in architecture, and my latest stop in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, delivered gold. Forget the Chocolate Hills for a moment; the real star is the Balili Ancestral House, now operating brilliantly as the Oasis Balili Heritage…
The air in Dauin, Negros Oriental, today is thick with the promise of world-class diving, but stand by the old stone church of St. Nicholas de Tolentino, and you feel the weight of a far grimmer past. The current coastal parish, Poblacion District 2, is the nucleus of this history,…
Forget the Chocolate Hills for a second. When you hit Bohol, you’re stepping into an island with a history as sharp as a coral stone cut. And if you’re looking for a monument that perfectly captures the gritty reality of Spanish colonial life—a blend of military grit, ingenious engineering, and…
Alcoy, in Southern Cebu, is globally renowned for its crystalline waters and white sands, particularly at Tingko Beach. However, the town’s true historical depth is anchored by the Alcoy Convent, or Kumbento. Constructed and completed in 1890, this structure holds singular architectural significance as the only remaining Spanish-era edifice in…
Long before Bantayan Island became a traveler’s refuge of white beaches and slow tides, it was a frontier where coral walls, coconut groves, and watchtowers stood guard against the uncertainties of the sea. Into this older Bantayan arrived a young migrant from Panay around the 1830s: Manuel Rubio y del…
There’s a quiet sense of permanence that greets you at the foot of the Inang-angan Stairway in Loon, Bohol. Rising in neat coralstone precision from the coastal barangay of Napo to the upland village of Moto, the stairway has been part of Loon’s landscape for more than 170 years. It…
