10 Ancestral Homes & Historic Old Houses in the Philippines

There are dozens of ancestral houses have been declared as Heritage House by the NHCP (National Historical Commission of the Philippines) for their cultural, architectural, or historical significance.

Many of these houses are called Bahay na Bato because they were literally built with stones.

Others that figured in history are also considered as National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks.

Let’s check out 10 ancestral homes and historic old houses in the Philippines.

1. Lichauco Heritage House

Formally known as the O’Brien-Lichauco Heritage House, it’s one of the oldest surviving houses located in Santa Ana, Manila.

2. Emilio Aguinaldo’s Ancestral House

Declared a National Shrine in 1964, this historic house was the site of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain was declared on June 12, 1898.

It was said to have been designed by Emilio Aguinaldo himself.

3. Rizal’s Shrines

The national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, has two ancestral homes declared as a National Shrine: one in Calamba, Laguna and another in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte (in Mindanao).

4. The Ruins

Known as “The Ruins,” these are the remains of the ancestral home mansion built by Mariano Ledesma Lacson in honor of his Portuguese wife Maria Braga Lacson, who died during the birth of their eleventh child in the early 1900s.

It’s located in Talisay City, Negros Occidental (near Bacolod City).

5. Syquia Mansion

The classic example the bahay na bato architecture which was quite common during the later Spanish Colonial Era, this mansion was the home of former president Elpidio Quirino in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

6. Quezon Heritage House

Unlike most of the other ancestral homes, the current Quezon Heritage House is actually the reconstructed version of the original house that served as the home of former President Manuel Quezon and his family.

It’s currently also used as a historic house museum.

7. Uitangcoy-Santos House

This historic old house is now home to the Museum of the Women of Malolos. Another classic example of the bahay na bato architecture, it was the home of Paulino Santos (a Cabeza de Barangay or barangay captain) and Alberta Uitangcoy-Santos (leader of The Women of Malolos).

8. Lizares Mansion

It’s one of the many heritage mansions built in Iloilo City, known as the City of Mansions, in Panay Island. The mansion stands intact to this day and serves as the chapel of Angelicum School Iloilo.

9. Mercado Mansion

Owned by the Mercado clan, an old political family in Carcar (Cebu), this house remains standing to this day. However, the main floor has long been converted into a commercial area.

10. Bahay Nakpil-Bautista

Another Bahay na Bato ancestral home located in Quiapo, Manila, houses a museum that includes exhibits of items from the Katipunan.

The house used to be the home of Quiapo Church’s original Black Nazarene statue during the World War II bombings.