Back in the 50's when life was so much simpler than it currently is, my mother lived in a very big house located in the centre of San Juan Batangas. No, they didn't own this 'mansion' where most 'alta de sociedad' and politicians used to gather.
Though I never had set foot even after the big gates of the 'mansion', my brother and I had always hear stories about it during our childhood that still brings vivid scene of my mom's past.
She worked as a helper of the owner of the house, also a close relative. My Nanay would clean the narra floor and stairs with her bare hands and a piece of cacha cloth and how the 'mayordoma' will inspect each curve of the wood. She would describe how plenty the ancient jars that are filled with usual necessities like sugar, flour, salt, etc and how they are neatly placed in the storage room. As a little girl, she will be allowed to sell some sweets during 'meeting de avances' to add to her allowance.
Our afternoon naps were coupled with Nanay's horror stories about the mansion like the sound of 'tabo' (water dipper) touching the 'tapayan' (water jar made of clay) in a bedroom where nobody sleeps in. Later in the 80's the same house was used in some Philippine horror movies.
I once wished to enter the house to see where the scenes being told by once a little girl in the 'mansion' really took place. But since the owner migrated to another country, I could only see the house from afar whenever we visit our relatives in San Juan. Now, the house is gone after the property was sold by the heirs of the owner.
The only thing left for us are the stories shared by Nanay along with some stolen pictures from the roadside.
Some pictures were taken from this website:
https://goo.gl/images/CL9WAM
Some pictures were not in the house itself but were taken inside an old house in San Juan which was turned into 'Old San Juan Restaurant'
I don't want to hear this horror stories. Many nights I'll be thinking of it hehe. Great article @plumandrain Resteeming it
Yehey, salamat po @hiroyamagishi
Philippine wooden houses were really built to last
Yes, until the owners decide to retire them
I can't sleep solo at this kind of scary massion
@crisgojar you can bring the beautiful wife with you hehehe
Well written article po. Thank you for taking us back into your childhood.
Maaayos pa un house..
Hi po, last time I saw it two years ago, it was being rented. Recently somebody told the property was sold and the house is now gone :(
Sayang hinde inayos..if maganda location baka nga me balak sa land. Malay naten mas maganda pa eh noh?
Sana po... I'd try to peep in the area when I go home to Pinas.
wow.... wish to go there...:)
The house isn't there anymore. The property was sold and the old house was removed.