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| Photo: Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House. |
The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House was initially owned by Chinese merchants Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido. It is one of the oldest residential houses in the Philippines. It was built between 1675 and 1700 and was made from coral stones; egg whites were used as glue, and "Tigas" or clay was used for the roof. The wooden parts of the house were made of "balayong" and "tugas" or molave, the hardest woods in the country.
Other Things You Must Know:
- Location/Address: 155 Mabini St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
- Entrance Fee: 100 Pesos
- Schedule: Closes at 7 PM
- Contact Number: (032) 266 2833
What's Inside: Display, Exhibit, Antiques, Paintings:
- Photos above show that almost everything in this house was all antiques, except the fridge and the air conditioner, from the kitchen wares, living room cabinets, etc.
- According to the guide, the 8th-generation family now owns this old house.
- Beside the house, I found a mini garden (photo above) with gorgeous bonsai and earthen wares, of course, with me.
- There is a 14-foot well filled with fresh water, but it is not potable. There is also an old banca or a boat that serves as a flower pot underneath the window frame.
Also, the guide added, this house is situated a few meters (at the back) from the river, which was the use of the banca before. I also noticed that some antiques are located on the second floor, maybe because they were afraid of the flood. This is just a few meters from the Cebu Heritage Monument. READ: Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Cebu