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Ancestral houses of the Philippines are homes owned and preserved by the same family for several generations as part of the Filipino family culture. Houses could be a simple house to a mansion. Some houses of prominent families had become points of interest or museums in their community because of its cultural, architectural or historical significance. These houses that are deemed of significant importance to the Filipino culture are declared Heritage House by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), previously known as the National Historical Institute (NHI) of the Philippines. Preservation is of utmost importance as some ancestral houses have come into danger due to business people who buy old houses in the provinces, dismantle them then sell the parts as ancestral building materials for homeowners wishing to have the ancestral ambiance on their houses. These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back of the country's colonial past through these old houses.
Contents
- National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009
- List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines
- Region I
- Region III
- National Capital Region
- Region IV A
- Region IV B
- Region XVIIINIR
- Silay City
- Other Heritage Houses in Region XVIIINIR
- Region VI
- Region VII
- Region VIII
- Region X
- National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks
- Other ancestral houses
- References
National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009
In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines passed the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 or Republic Act. no. 10066 to further the protection the cultural treasures of the country which include houses under Built heritage. Ancestral houses that are declared Heritage House by the NHCP are still owned by their owners. The government is only declaring the heritage value of the structure, provide funding for its protection and preservation. Ancestral homes that have figured in an event of historical significance like the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite, or houses of national heroes of the Philippines like the Juan Luna Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Norte are included among the categories National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks. Historical markers are placed on the houses by the commission to indicate their significance. The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property registers all cultural properties of the country.
List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines
Partial list of ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP, some with declaration dates, grouped according to the regions in the country.
Region I
In the Ilocos Region the historic city of Vigan is the best preserved Spanish Colonial settlement in the country. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Region III
In Central Luzon, There are two historical town centers declared by National Historical Commission of the Philippines as historic town centers in the region namely the Malolos Heritage Town in Bulacan declared in August 15, 2001 and City of San Fernando Heritage District in Pampanga declared in 2004.
Malolos Heritage Town NHL
San Fernando Heritage Zone San Fernando, Pampanga
National Capital Region
The central part of Metro Manila was heavily bombed in World War II destroying historical structures and homes. Somes pockets of old homes can still be found in Binondo and Quiapo which were not affected by the war.
Region IV-A
In the CALABARZON region, the center for ancestral houses can be found in the streets of Taal, Balayan, and Calaca, in Batangas and Sariaya in Quezon provinces. The town center of Pila, Laguna, with its Spanish and American-era houses, was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000.
Region IV-B
Declared Heritage House in MIMAROPA region.
Region XVIII/NIR
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in the Negros Island Region, is the provincial capital and contains a number of fine ancestral homes.
Silay City
Silay City, Negros Occidental in the Negros Island Region has the most number of declared Heritage Houses in the country.
Other Heritage Houses in Region XVIII/NIR
Region VI
Heritage Houses in Western Visayas region:
Region VII
Heritage Houses in Central Visayas region:
Region VIII
Heritage Houses in the Eastern Visayas region:
Region X
Heritage Houses in the Northern Mindanao region:
National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks
Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by the NHCP: