(pinoyhptography.org) Before houses and lots for sale in Bacolod crowded the city, there was the Lizares Mansion. This ancestral house is a historical and tourist destination in the highly developed city. This architectural gem was owed by the Lizares family, one of the most affluent families in Bacolod. The Lizares Clan (bit.ly/2jvu71Q) Negros is known to be the sugar island of the Philippines. The Lizares Family was among the landed gentry of Negros Occidental. Their clan spawned an enviable list of politicians, hacienderos and capitalists. The Lizares mansion was not their only prized possession. Some of the homes they built during the golden years of the sugar industry are now considered as historical landmarks. A history of the sugar industry even mentions the Lizareses as being among the first to establish mechanized sugar mills in the island. The first barangay school in the family’s hometown was built by the family. As time went by, 20 more schools were built thru their generous donations. It’s no wonder that the family became a hit. The record of their generosity and public service paved the way for winning election after election. Best Preserved Ancestral House in Bacolod (skyscrapercity.com) “Building it big”―these are three words that best describe their knack for home construction. The mansion, which exhibits a fusion between American and Spanish architecture, is considered to be the most elegant ancestral houses in the province of Iloilo. This two-story house and lot in Bacolod was constructed sometime in the 1880s and is also known to be the best ancestral home in the province. Unlike many ancestral homes, the Lizares Mansion has kept its glamor. There are no signs of decay and its interiors are well-kept. Historical Landmark and Tourist Destination (bit.ly/2k7tCKv)
When World War II broke out, the family left for a safe hiding place in Pototan, Iloilo. The mansion then served as the headquarters of the Japanese Army. After the war, the family went back to the mansion but claimed that there was something off about the place. In 1950, the owner of the house, Don Emiliano Lizares, died and his widow left for Manila, leasing the mansion to a businessman. It did not turn out great so custody of the house went to the hands of caretaker Tio Doroy Finolan. By 1963, the house was sold to the Dominicans and was converted into a house of young friars. In 1978, the mansion became the chapel of the Angelicum School of Iloilo. The house has also become a tourist attraction within the city. This alluring proof of Bacolod’s splendid past lights up every month of December. Thousands of Christmas lights are wrapped around the exterior of the manor. The ancestral abode is located along McArthur Drive in Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City. It can easily be reached by both taxis and these jeepney routes: Jaro Liko, Leganes La Paz, or Leganes Hi-way. Before entering the premises, make sure to ask permission from the guard first. Bacolod is a place where you can get a nice touch of history. The Lizares Mansion is just one among many others. If you’d like to be more immersed with its vibrant past and rich culture, you could buy that house and lot in Bacolod and start exploring.
1 Comment
Annie
12/2/2023 05:55:57 am
This is in Iloilo City not in Bacolod.
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