CEBU: Why Visit the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House

November 3, 2015



CEBU: Why Visit the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House



These are the reasons you shouldn't miss visiting the Yap-Sandiego House when you're in Cebu:

1. It is said to be one of the oldest existing residence in the Philippines.

"Current house owner Val Sandiego, famous choreographer and antique collector estimates it's construction to be between 1675 to 1700."

Facade of the ancestral house



The photo shows the narration of background facts about the 
house:


1. The house is a Bahay na Bato ug Kahoy (House of Wood and Coral Stones).

2. It is located at the corner of Mabini and Lopez Jaena Streets in the Parian district of Cebu City. (note: the Parian district is the area where Chinese traders were required to live during the Spanish period)
3. It was built during the late 17th century by Chinese merchants and is considered to be one of the oldest existing residential structures in the Philippines.
4. The earliest known occupants were Don Juan Yap and Maria Florido.
5. They passed on their house to their SIBLINGS: Maria, Eleuterio and Consolacion.
6. The eldest daughter, Maria Florido Yap, married Don Mariano Avendano Sandiego, a cabeza de barangay of the Parian during the 1880s 
 9. At present, this ancestral house was handed down to noted heritage advocate and dance maestro, Val Mancao Sandiego and his wife Ofelia Zozobrado Sandiego.


Address: 155 Mabini cor. Lopez Jaena Street
This photo shows the house is a corner lot as indicated by the address.




2. It's a well-preserved 17th century house built in a prime location.


It is well preserved therefore you can accurately see how wealthy Filipino-Chinese merchants lived during the 17th century, 100 years after the Spaniards occupied the Philippines. 

Since the house is only about 1 km from the Basilica and Magellan's Cross, this means that the family who lived in this house is wealthy, having been able to build it in a prime location.

You can see from the map below the proximity of the house from the major institutions like the Basilica Minore and the Cebu City Hall and major landmarks like Magellan's Cross and the oldest street in Cebu, which is the Colon Street.




3. The structure is 95% made of its original materials.

According to the guide, the structure is 95% made of its original materials. The walls are made of corals, while the roof is made of tiza.


The original 17th century ceiling.


4. The owners allow you to touch the objects and sit on the chairs.

Unlike other museums, the owners decided to allow visitors to touch the objects and sit on the chairs to give them a multi-sensory experience of a past era.



5. It's still being used by the owners during weekends.

You see a house that has been continuously used from the 17th century to the present.


The room in the 2nd floor being used by the owners during weekends.


We were wondering how the owners can stand the heat sleeping in this room.

We found an aircon at the back of the bed (shown in the photo above).



MORE PHOTOS


FIRST FLOOR:















SECOND FLOOR:

The antique stairs

The first thing you see when you reach the top of the stairs





One of the chairs you can sit on

My son sitting on the day bed.






Street view from the second floor











Cooking utensils inside the house.

You will see later that cooking is also done outside the house.




INSIDE THE BEDROOM WHERE THE OWNERS SLEEP








IT SEEMS THE GAME SUNGKA IS A POPULAR FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT.
I SAW SEVERAL OF IT INSIDE THE HOUSE.




THE GROUND FLOOR
AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE

They also have a "dirty kitchen" during the old times.


Contact Information:

ADDRESS:

155 corner Mabini St. and Lopez Jaena St.

OPEN HOURS

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily

FEE:

50 pesos per person

HOW TO GET THERE:

By public transportation from SM City Cebu Terminal to Yap Sandiego house: 

Ride the jeep at SM City Cebu going to Labangon Street, and get off at Sikatuna Street

This is the SM City Cebu jeep terminal


By public transportation from Yap Sandiego house to SM City Cebu Terminal:


Ride the 10M jeep: Pardo-Colon-SM ....
...at Zulueta Street, where the Jesuit House is located.

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