Historia | Laguna

Soon to Rise: Alberto House of Biñan?

I saw a link (Facebook) earlier of plans to acquire land in Biñan to reconstruct the historic Alberto mansion. This most likely would be a total reconstruction since most parts of the house has been transplanted in Bataan. If you haven’t been to Las Casas I suggest you see the Alberto house there. They recreated it […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

They were there, watching…

Still on the Alberto mansion… The last time I saw casa alberto was with my friend a few days after the super typhoon ondoy. We heard that it was in pretty bad shape so we decided to pay a visit. When we got there the house was still soaking wet. The whole house smelled like […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

The Alberto of Biñan and the Vigan Wife

The collapsing centuries old bahay na bato in Biñan reminded me of the curious case of Lorenzo Alberto of Biñan who married into a prominent family up north but settled back in his home province – with another woman. Lorenzo was an educated mestizo that reached the pinnacle of political power of his time – […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

Calls to Save Casa Alberto of Biñan…Too Late the Hero

It’s a little too late. Casa Alberto has already been gutted from the inside. I’m not surprised that it collapsed. The house that caved in was just the exterior shell. The owner who sold the house, piece by piece, must be welcoming this development. The heir of the house has expressed willingness to have the […]

Continue Reading...

Historia | Laguna

Calamba by Bike. Rizal @ 150!

What I discovered recently is how its so much better traveling around old towns in a bicycle. It won’t always be possible as tehre are limitations in the number of places you can reach but nothing  beats the health benefits (which I desperately needs!) and the mobility it affords. Since I was expecting some rain […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

Not all is lost in Biñan…

I hopped on my bike and went around Biñan looking for old houses. They’re still there, some of them. Sadly, most are just shells of what they once were. I remember the first time I saw the ancestral houses of Biñan a decade ago. Even then, there were already obvious signs of deterioration and neglect. That […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

A Rough Road in Biñan and the Landayan Trisikad

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uvF1Mg6z5s] I usually take the less traveled roads to get around traffic. I reached Biñan at around 6 am. The heat and traffic was tolerable along the national road but the jeeps really pose serious danger. They swerve and block without regard to cyclist. One must be very defensive in riding. On my way back […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

The Alberto’s and Binan

I was reading my friends newest post about Casa Alberto of Binan and I found myself laughing like crazy. I should stop teasing him about his traveling. He has written better articles and gets more readership – and I could not be happier because it serves our advocacy. I know that there’s not a lot […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

The Fight for the Alberto House of Binan

Let me weigh in on some of the facts and lies about the shocking event that awoke Biñan one morning. The demolition of the Alberto Mansion: the ancestral house of Rizal’s mother and the many illustrious Biñense town leaders that came from this brilliant family. The past is so different from our time, changing fortunes […]

Continue Reading...

Bataan

Heritage Promotion and Casas Moved to Bataan

I’ve seen similar projects promoting historical sites outside the country. Raising the awareness of the people that these places exist plays a major part in the whole conservation effort. Educating the mass on the value of historical sites would not only increase tourism, by doing so we are also encouraging our fellow Filipinos to take […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

Visiting Biñan’s “Santa Filomena”

Last week, I finally had a chance to visit the site where Sta. Filomena (Binan) was laid to rest. Thanks to Binan’s very own, Levi “bigboy” Soledad, who drove us (with his pretty red car) to the cemetery chapel of Binan’s ‘miraculous’ saint. Thanks man. Big thanks to Nanay Deneng and Lola Generosa “Rosa” Reolada […]

Continue Reading...

Laguna

Update on the Alberto House of Binan

I just got the shock of my life today. Mr. Gerardo “Gerry” Alberto, descendant of Jose Alberto and current owner of the Alberto house (Alberto mansion) said he is bringing it down. Citing maintenance cost and  its continued deterioration. If its any consolation, he’s currently negotiating a deal with Acuzar of San Jose Builders to […]

Continue Reading...