111. 6 ANCESTRAL HOUSES OF MAGALANG: A LIST BY LOUIE ALDRIN L. BARTOLO

KAPLISTORIAN EXCLUSIVE! Magalang is one of Pampanga’s most historic towns, and its old houses—if they could only speak—could tell endless tales of,  not only strifes and struggles, but also of progress and plenty. These 5 ancestral houses, selected by historian and teacher LOUIE ALDRIN LACSON BARTOLO, reflect the spirit of those times, when Magaleños, like all Kapampangans, built their residences as big and as grand as their dreams.

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LUCIANO HOUSE (Marbea Subdivision, San Nicolas I)

This Spanish style mansion is located behind the Magalang Municipal Hall. It was

constructed in 1925 by Dr. Andres J. Luciano. This house is marked with woodcarved designs  derived from the Spanish style and motifs. During the American period, the house, with its spacious surroundings, was a favorite venue of lavish parties sponsored by social clubs like Mountain Side Club and El Circulo Magaleño. During the Commonwealth period, President Manuel L. Quezon, a friend of Don Andres, also visited this house during his trips to Magalang. In World War II, this house was occupied and looted by the guerillas. When Don Andres died in 1959, the house was passed on to his daughter, Maria Elvira L. Luciano. In later years, it continued to be a shooting site for such films as Lino Brocka’s masterpiece, Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979), starring Rio Locsin, Lolita Rodriguez and Charito Solis. In 2004, the horror movie, Pa-siyam, directed by Erik Matti, was also filmed in the Luciano house.

FELICIANO HOUSE (San Pedro I)

A few steps from Magalang Public Market is the beautiful Feliciano house, constructed in 1935 by the couple Don Andres Feliciano and Doña Maria Paras. The house features a  mix of Spanish and American architectural styles. During the liberation of Magalang in 1945, the house was made into a rest house of US Army Officers. When Don Andres passed away in 1947, the house was inherited by  his son, Jose P. Feliciano. This house was later used as a meeting place of elite and youth groups, like  the U-N-I Club,  composed of young Magalang professionals. When Jose passed away in 1962, the house was inherited by his American-educated son, Engr. Rodolfo L. Feliciano. The huse was restored and brought back to its former glory.

ORDOÑEZ-CALMA HOUSE (Luciano St., Sta. Cruz)

This multi-story house was built in 1929 by carpenters and artisans from Betis, commissioned by Hilariona Ordonez Calma. The house was commandeered by the Japanese military  during the war. A post-war bakery was put below and its cooking facilities are still operational to this day.  The house retains its original decorative grills and capiz windows. The historic house in a busy commercial of Magalang is now under the care of Juliet Calma Dizon.

RIVERA HOUSE (Ayuyao St. San Nicolas I)

This house with distinctive Spanish influences was built around 1893, by the couple Don Cayetano Rivera and Doña Julia Rita Dizon. The house has rich woodcarvings that feature a signature star motif, that is revealing of  Don Cayetano’s affiliation with masonry and later, with the  Katipunan. Don Cayetano’s played a key role in the early formation of the First Republic of the Philippines, being one of the signatories of Pact of Biak –na-Bato. After the Revolution, he returned to farming, and acquired vast tracts of land in Concepcion, Tarlac. He also founded one of the first sugar mills in Tarlac—the Azucarera de Rivera. In the Commonwealth years, Don Cayetano’s friend, President Manuel L. Quezon was a regular visitor to this Magalang home. During World War II, the house was made into Japanese Military Headquarters, along with the neighboring Magalang Elementary School, which was converted into a Japanese military garrison and later,  execution grounds. When the Japanese occupied the house, they looted and destroyed much of the valuables. After Don’s death, he passed on the house to his nephew, Eliseo Rivera. At present, the house is under the care of  Eliseo’s daughter-in-law, Nimfa Rivera.

LACSON HOUSE (Lacson St., San Nicolas I)

Behind the majestic San Bartolome Church, stands an ancestral house with an architectural style reminiscent of old Spanish homes. This is the Lacson House, constructed in 1923 by the couple, Don Daniel O. Lacson and Doña Lucia David. The craftsmanship of the house reflects the high level of artistry of Kapampangan artisans who worked on this fine structure. During World War II, this house served as one of the Japanese military garrisons. When Don Daniel passed away in 1948, the house was inherited by his  two daughters, Lucila and Rosario Lacson, both spinsters. When Rosario passed away in 1991, she bequeathed the house to her sister-in-law, Evangelina Hilario Lacson, the  well-known Kapampangan academician and writer. In 1995, National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines), placed a historical marker in front of the house for its cultural and historical significance. After Evangelina’s death in  2008, his son, Ariel H. Lacson became the new owner, but in 2014, he, too, passed away, leaving the house to nephew, Eduard V. Lacson. The house was acquired by Mayor Maria Lourdes P. Lacson, now the present owner.

AYUYAO HOUSE (San Nicolas I)

This house that is just a next-door neighbor of the  Magalang Municipal Hall, was built in 1915 by the couple, Isidoro Ayuyao, Sr., Municipal Secretary during the American regime  and his wife, Ana David, one of the pioneers of Magalang’s sweets industry. Its  flooring or “lande” was originally made of bamboo slats, and the house topped with a roof of nipa.  In later years, it was reconstructed and made entirely of wood with ornamental carvings, galvanized roofing and concrete foundations. When Ana passed away, her son, Dr. Claro Ayuyao inherited the house, which he later expanded to include his dental clinic. During 1950s, this house was visited by prominent personalities who were invited as guest speakers during the closing exercises of Magalang Institute, founded by Atty. Isidoro Ayuyao. Among these  are future Philippine president Diosdado P. Macapagal, and brother-in-law, movie actor Rogelio de la Rosa. In 1965, the house underwent minor repairs. At present, this house is owned and maintained by the children of Dr. Claro Ayuyao.

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ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTOR: LOUIE ALDRIN LACSON BARTOLO. Teacher, Writer, Historian and a Magaleño, Bartolo is the author of “The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town 1605-2015”, published in 2015 by Center for Tarlaqueño Studies of Tarlac State University, made possible through an NCCA grant. He also keeps a blog,”Amlat Magaleño”, that aims to promote the local history of Magalang. Bartolo finished his Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Social Studies at Holy Angel University (HAU)

SOURCES:

INTERVIEWS:

Luciano House; interview with Mrs. Teresita Suba, one of the former caretakers of Luciano house, June 25, 2019.

Rivera House: interview with Mr. Sean Rivera, a descendant of Don Cayetano Rivera, June 26, 2019.

Ayuyao House: interview with Dr. Nunilon G. Ayuyao and Mr. Amante M. Ayuyao; both grandchildren of Isidoro Ayuyao, Sr. and Ana David, June 26, 2019.

Lacson House: interview with the late Mr. Ariel H. Lacson (way back August 4, 2012); grandson of spouses, Don Daniel O. Lacson and Doña Lucia David.

BOOK SOURCES:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L. (2016), The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

PHOTOS: All photos from wikimedia commons, unless otherwise noted. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Old_houses_in_Magalang,_Pampanga