Two of Manila's Last Remaining 'Bahay na Bato' at Risk of Demolition

(SPOT.ph) Heritage groups Manileños For Heritage and Renacimiento Manila are sounding the alarm as two of Manila's last remaining bahay na bato houses face risk of demolition.

This is not the first time culturally significant sites have been in danger of just disappearing from the cityscape. The public has seen it happen time and again, but in the case of these two sites, there's still time to act. Here's what we know so far and what's at stake.

The De Jesus-Del Rosario-Lucena Ancestral House in Quiapo and the Hilario Sunico Ancestral Residence in San Nicolas are at risk of demolition, according to posts by Manileños For Heritage (M4H), a non-profit devoted to advocating for heritage conservation in the capital. The group sounded the alarm after heritage volunteers from their network spotted workers boarding up the properties and dismantling parts of these houses over the past weeks without displayed permits, and at a "notably rapid pace," with pieces of the roof, windows, and back walls removed in a single day.

The two houses are Spanish-period structures dating back to the 1800s and are widely regarded as among the last remaining bahay na bato heritage structures in their respective areas. Both houses feature traditional designs associated with Spanish-era stone houses, including ground floors with a mix of stone and brickwork; all-wood upper floors; old-timey details such as capiz windows, cut-iron grills, ventanillas, and balustrades; among other decorative touches showcasing the work of colonal era artisans. These characteristics further strengthen the position that these buildings are, in the words of MH4, "irreplaceable pieces of Philippine architectural heritage."

Beyond their architectural significance, these houses were once homes to important Filipinos and their families. The De Jesus-Del Rosario-Lucena house is believed to have belonged to family members of Gregoria de Jesus, the Lakambini of the Katipunan. This information was passed down through generations, particularly through the family matriarch Felisa de Jesus del Rosario vda. de Lucena, who referred to Gregoria as "Tia Oriang." This further solidifies the house's connection with the late revolutionary.

Meanwhile, the Hilario Sunico House was once the residence of Hilario Sunico Chanuangco, one of the most well-known Manila-based bell casters whose work from the 1870s to the 1930s have found homes in churches here and abroad. Most notably, he was the artist who created the bells of Binondo Church.

Aside from being tangible connections to eras long gone, these structures have also found their way into contemporary popular culture, serving as shoot locations for Filipino teleseryes. In the case of the De Jesus-Del Rosario-Lucena house, it was most recently used as the setting for ABS-CBN's Ang Probinsyano and the horror flick Gatekeeper (2024). The Hilario Sunico House, meanwhile, was featured in the film, Mano Po 1: My Family (2002).

Clearly, both properties have seen better days. In recent years, they’ve slipped into varying states of disrepair, often dismissed as eyesores due to their visibly neglected condition. But this isn't a reason to just get rid of them; it's a clear sign that stronger, more tangible heritage policies are needed.

Now you might be thinking: Aren't these properties protected by current laws? Well, technically, they should be. Both the De Jesus-Del Rosario-Lucena Ancestral House and the Hilario Sunico House are around 100 years old and technically qualify as Important Cultural Properties under Republic Act No. 10066. Additionally, both properties are listed in the City Government of Manila's local cultural inventory. So, naturally, heritage groups were surprised to see the demolition activities.

According to M4H, they have been in talks with key officials from the Manila City Local Government Unit, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to help stop the demolition and proceed to work with the private owners to preserve the properties. As of writing, M4H notes that these talks have been mostly positive, with government agencies acting as swiftly as possible to address the NGO's concerns.

Aside from coordinating with the LGU, M4H has also partnered with other heritage advocates, such as Renacimiento Manila, which has helped amplify calls for heritage protection.

"This is an uphill battle as far as heritage is concerned," says Renacimiento Manila founder, Diego Torres, in an interview with SPOT.ph, "because the city has yet to appreciate a development trajectory for Manila that taps into its rich cultural heritage and treasures to create a thriving urban ecosystem through tourism-related development."

In a statement, M4H asserts its commitment to conservation, saying, "The threats faced by the Hilario Sunico Ancestral Residence, as well as other heritage houses in San Nicolas, are preventable. These are not inevitable losses. They can be addressed through enforcement, coordination, and public support. Defeatist thinking has no place in heritage work. It dismisses the value of these structures and undermines the efforts of those doing the work on the ground, from writing petitions to coordinating with agencies."

As of this writing, the fight to preserve these structures is ongoing. And if it feels like calls for stronger heritage protection fall on deaf ears, it’s worth remembering that public pressure has worked before. Landmarks like the El Hogar Building, the Olsen Building, and the Burke Apartments were all spared through sustained advocacy and collective action.

For more information, visit Manileños for Heritage's Facebook page.

Also read:
The Forgotten Houses of Quiapo
Heritage at Risk: Tiki-Tiki Inventor's Century-Old Heritage House Is Being Demolished