Historic Bahay-Na-Bato Restored to Spanish Colonial Era Glory

History buff or not, at one point or another, all of us have felt a desire to walk through history—whether if it’s for higher learning, to ogle at the fashion, or to experience how people lived years ago. This is the case for Bonito Singson, who lives in Casa Caridad, a 658sqm bahay-na-bato in a UNESCO World Heritage Site—Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Casa Caridad was built in 1872 by groom-to-be Placido Reyes, a distant relative, to follow the tradition of providing a home for his future family. The owner acquired the house in 1996 and began restoration in 1999 after ample research, in order not to damage the infrastructure. A year later, the house was finally restored using old-school methods like using wood and bricks for sectional repairs and combined powdered lime and egg whites as plaster to cover the eroded walls—and even completed, as they realized that parts of the house were originally left unfinished! A wall with two windows revealed that its jamb was actually a door jamb, showing that it was originally supposed to be a veranda, so they completed the abandoned project. Inside, narra walls were hidden under drab old paint—instead of repainting, the walls were stained, resulting in a classic Spanish look for the home. Antique pieces set amidst the colonial design complete the look of the home, truly making it a home of history.

Original article by Charmaine S. Baylon. Styling by Gwyn GS Guanzon. Photographed by Bahaghari MFI.

Read the original article ("Living in the Past") in the September 2005 issue of Real Living Magazine. Download your digital copy of Real Living on the Real Living App (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/real-living/id553158056?mt=8) now! Log on to summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living for more details.