ILOILO | Camiña Balay Nga Bato ~ Antiques, Biscuits, and Tsokolate

Friday, June 20, 2014

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

Along with my love for old churches is my relatively new-found passion for ancestral houses. I used to dismiss such houses, being more fascinated with European minimalism and American organic architecture. But once the travel bug hit me some years back, I started to really see why Filipinos should start to care more and appreciate these houses that once dotted the roads of pre-war Philippines.

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

And there’s probably no better place to rekindle that passion for bygone architecture than in Iloilo City. The city is a history buff’s dream with its numerous Spanish-era churches and grand old mansions. On my third visit to Iloilo, I finally got to enter an ancestral house within the city, the Camiña Balay Nga Bato.

►NEARBY: GUIMARAS TRAVEL BLOG

Weaving at Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

Brightly-colored looms in reds and yellows greeted us as we entered its darkened interiors. Camiña Balay Nga Bato was originally built in 1860 for Fernando Avanceña. It was strategically positioned right beside Iloilo River, perfect for transporting their hand-woven textile products to the nearby towns.

CHECK FOR AFFORDABLE HOTELS IN ILOILO

Antiques at Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

Lola Rufina’s Heritage Curio Shop is located a few paces from the loom area. Here, antiques and curious crafts rule. Old saints carved in stone, ceramic jars, painted plates, and their specialty—woven textiles, among other knick knacks.

One can easily buy a piece of history for their prices aren’t that prohibitive—well, except if you’re going to buy their piano which costs a cool million pesos.

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

After ogling around for something to buy, our entourage then proceeded to the museum part of the Camiña Balay Nga Bato. The living spaces on most ancestral houses in the Philippines are located on the second floor of the house and this particular bahay na bato is no exception.

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

We treaded on wide hardwood floors—our eyes roaming from the floor, the walls, and the ceilings of the Camiña Balay Nga Bato. We were suddenly transported centuries back to bygone eras.

This heritage house, which has now been converted into a full-blown ancestral museum, is now being managed by the sixth generation of the Avanceña clan.

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

I walked slowly, taking in all the details of the house when I found myself at the Oratorio. An altarful of olden saints and Sto. Niños flanked one of the walls, almost resembling a small chapel.

To be honest, it creeped me out a bit, especially the half-sized mannequin-looking statuette.

Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

I quietly exited the saints and proceeded to check the other rooms in the house.

Like most ancestral houses, the Camiña Balay Nga Bato has its fair amount of antique furniture and appurtenances, but what really ticked my interest in this house was their ceiling which is made of plaited metal. I saw a similar one at the Bernardino Jalandoni Museum in Silay, but this one definitely impressed me more.

►SEE: SILAY ANCESTRAL HOUSES

Kinihad at Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

Before ending our tour, our group was served with kinihad, a biscuit similar to biscocho.

I’m no fan of anything sweet, and that includes biscuits, so I wasn’t really that excited when they started to lay plates after plates of the said delicacy. I tried a bite and that’s it for me.

BOOK DISCOUNTED ILOILO CULINARY TOUR

Tsokolate at Camina Balay Nga Bato Ancestral House in Iloilo City

Well, or so I thought.

My opinion of kinihad soon changed as they started to pour hot thick tsokolate de batirol into ornately designed cups. We were then instructed to dip the biscuits into our drink which is by far, the thickest and tastiest tsokolate I’ve had in my life. It was a match made in chocolate heaven.

We shopped, we ogled, and we ate—which was a more than perfect way to finish our Camiña Balay Nga Bato tour.



Entrance Fees:
₱150.00 - tour with tsokolate
₱200.00 – tour with tsokolate and pancit molo
₱500.00 – tour with lunch, tsokolate and pancit molo


Camiña Balay Nga Bato
Lola Rufina Heritage Curio Shop
FACEBOOK
Address: 20 Osmena St., Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City
Contact Number: (033) 336-3858 | (0917) 305-5355
Opening Hours: 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Daily
GPS Coordinates Map: 10.689694, 122.514889



• BOOK TRANSPORTATION ONLINE FROM ILOILO TO ANYWHERE •

You Might Also Like

8 comments

  1. So it's like churros? But a thin biscuit lang? Sounds delicious! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm, medyo different sya sa churros, although dini-dip din sa tsokolate :)

      Delete
  2. Wow the place is nice. For sure I will go there soon because of this post. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ma'am Librarian, yes, it's a nice stop hile in Iloilo :)

      Delete
  3. hello..may i ask what jeepney to ride if your from Ledesma St.and you want to go to Bahay na Bato?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, unfortunately we used a private van to get there. Please share if you're able to go there by commuting

      Delete
  4. My 14th birthday is going to be in April and I've never been this interested in our history until I read a book in wattpad called "I Love You Since 1892" although the setting was different and it was focused on the arch of the centuries in UST. It got my attention in the pre-colonial and Spanish era. I'm going to say to my parents that we'll go there. Thank you for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's good to hear! It's not everyday that you see a young kid excited about our history. :)

      Delete