Balay Ni Tana Dicang, The House of Enrica Alunan-Lizares

Part 4 of Our Negros Occidental Tour

If you're into heritage houses, the house of Tana (Kapitana) Dicang is a must see. Built in the 1883 as a second home to the family of Efigenio Treyes Lizares and Enrica Labayen Alunan, it remains as one of the finest examples of Bahay na Bato, the quintessential Filipino-Spanish domestic architectural style literally meaning "house of stone".

Located on Rizal St. in Talisay City, the Lizares family has opened the house to the public, not just as a museum but also as a loving tribute to a grand lady.

Balay Ni Tana Dicang, the house of Enrica Alunan - Lizares

The meter thick walls of the ground floor are finished in brick and coquina (crushed shells and coral).

Zaguan - the ground floor (literally "passageway" in Arabic) to accommodate horse carriages
and carrozas (processional carriages)

The photo says it all, the grand old lady of the house Tana Dicang seated between Philippine Presidents Manuel Quezonand Manuel Roxas.

Escalera - The stairway.

The grand staircase's balusters are of hardwood narra carved like thorny rose stems.

Caida - landing on the upper entrance hall; "foyer of the second floor"; also called Antesala.

Sala mayor - main living room, place for late-afternoon parties called tertulias and dances called bailes.

A bust of the lady of the house, Tana Dicang.

Calado - lace-style fretwork or latticework used to adorn room dividers and to allow air to circulate. The top photo shows the living room calado with phallic patterns and the bottom photo shows the bedroom calado with fleur de lys patterns.

Comedor - the dining room.

Oratorio - prayer room with an altar of santos.

Comments

Swatch + Art + Fashion

As a nation grows, so does art and culture. Philippine Daily Inquirer's Thelma San Juan and Swatch Philippines' Virgie Ramos through thick and thin have supported art and fashion, rallying behind artists and designers. Last night, these two hardworking women launched an exhibit celebrating art, fashion, and Swatch Philippines' 25 years at the new Swatch & Swatch building in Makati. Dresses inspired by Ben Cab 's Sabel, giant photographs and installations were brilliantly curated by production designer Gino Gonzales , transporting you to a beautiful realm of light, opulent fabrics, and beauty. Fashion and art connoisseurs, students and designers shouldn't miss this exhibit, open to the public from 16 December 2014 to 15 January 2015 at the Swatch & Swatch, 418, Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City. Pepito Albert 's sculptural abaca jacket. Before blush, there was " Inno Sotto pink" . Gravity defying Cary Santiago . ...

10 Rainy Day Food Cravings

What is it with the rain and food? The heavier the downpour, the bigger the craving, and if you don’t give in to your cravings, you’ll be twisting and turning the whole night counting pork buns in your head. Here are ten of my rainy day cravings; savory, protein packed goodness, best eaten warm with a giant glass of Coca Cola. Aaahh, happiness. Ryu's Tantanmen , nothing beats hot ramen on a rainy night. Tim Ho Wan's Pork Buns, something worth lining up for and going out for on a rainy afternoon. Rain or shine, you just can't get enough of Lugang's Xiao Long Bao . Parmigiano's Lobster Pasta at Resort's World, perfect pre-movie dinner. Craving of cravings, Crispy Pata ! Best I've tasted was from Kinabuch in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Peppermill's Bagnet , crunchy and tender at the same time with a yummy sweet and spicy bagoong dip. Rainy night comfort combo, Poppin's Beef Salpicao , pilaf rice a...

The Cojuangco Ancestral House

Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china ...

My Refrigerator Door

Search This Blog