Philippines Oldest Houses
Your visit to Cebu City will not be completed if you don’t visit this one of the oldest houses in the Philippines. They called this Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House built during the 17th century. If you like history then this house has a lot to tell you when it comes to history. The Yap Sandiego Ancestral House is located 155-Lopez Jaena corner Mabini St., 6000 Parian, Cebu City, Philippines.
Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House History
One of the oldest houses in the Philippines is located in the Queen City of the South, Cebu City. It is the Yap-Sandiego ancestral house, which is 344 years old already during our visit. The Chinese Merchants residing in Parian built this old house during the 17th century and it is the first Chinese house built outside of China. Maria Eleuterio and Consolacion Yap owned this old house. The eldest daughter of Doña Maria Yap gets married to Don Mariano Avendano Sandiego, which at that time he is the A Cabeza de Barangay of Parian in the late 1880s. Cebu’s Parian was founded in 1590 after the arrival of Chinese traders. At the moment, this ancestral house of Yap-Sandiego is in the custody of Mr. and Mrs. Val Sandiego who is the great, great-grandson of Doña Maria.
Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House Museum
The ancestral house has remained in its original state even though it already shows weather-beaten but unyielding structures made of molave and coral stones due to time. It is often referred to as “Balay nga Bato ug Kahoy” the locals construct the ancestral house constructed out of coral stones and wood.
Believing that the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is part of Cebu’s history and heritage preserved and carefully restored his ancestor’s home using coral stones glued with egg whites, molave, balayong, and terracotta. Val Mancao Sandiego, an art collector, renowned choreographer, and also heritage icon turned the ancestral house into a museum that opens daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with an entrance fee of P50. Just a few steps away from it, tourists can also visit the Parian Monument and Colon Street, which is the oldest street in the country.
The house is filled with contemporary and ancient artworks, antique pieces, and Cebuano-made native furniture. There are also life-sized statues, religious icons, and images of saints found around the 2-story house.
Enter the building and gaze up at the hanging chandeliers and the interior part of the red-tile ceiling that is held together by dark, wooden beams. Creaking floorboards and lingering echoes evoke a bygone era. Imagine the family members and friends who spent time there over the centuries. Browse the majestic statues and artistic collections put together.
How to Get There
By Plane:
Upon reaching the Mactan airport, hire a taxi or take an airport multi-cab to go to Marina Mall. From Marina Mall, ride a multicab or jeepney that carries a ‘highway’ signage and tell the driver to drop you off at Maguikay. From there, ride any Mandaue jeepney with a ‘cathedral’ or ‘colon’ signage that will take you to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral or Colon St.