Poblacion is the name most town centers in the Spanish era of the Philippines, the Poblacion is usually the oldest part of the Town or City. In conjuction with the town center being the oldest area of a town, the oldest buildings can be found. This is no different in Talisay City Cebu. the image at the top of the post is “Balay Mandeng Omen” or “House of Mandeng Omen”. The ancestral house was built in the American period around 1910 judging by the art-deco wood patterns inside the house. The house features the normal Capiz windows and some windows made of solid wood. The house is occupied currently by its 3rd and 4th generation owners and is in Terrible condition.The house is dirty and neglected, the structure itself is intact and fine and does not need repair but the inside is cramped with large makeshift walls subdividing the small house.
The house boasts wood carving patterns on the facade and in the inside these patterns give ventilation. Some parts of these wooden carvings were made during the renovations in the 1950s
The house was built at least by 1929 because there are is an image of one of the family members of the Delima family of Talisay being born here inside the house. There are 5 rooms in the house, 3 bedrooms, 1 living room and 1 kitchen, The kitchen being on the first floor. The house was raised and renovated in the 1950s to save the house from the rising road beside it, part of the renovations were adding a first floor as the house was built like the traditional bahay kubo which were raised on stilts. The staircase is made of wood and is not very beautiful but it serves its purpose. This is a plain description of the entire house.The house is located in Brgy Poblacion to the right of the Old Gabaldon Building of the Talisay Central School. The true oldest house in Talisay in Disputed but in my opinion this is the oldest house as some other houses like the Lastimosa house in Tabunok and the Tiago house were built around 1928 and 1935 respectively and it was likely this house was already built before 1928.
