Legarda to Restore Only Remaining Bahay na Bato in Antique

Through the initiative of Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda, the only remaining “bahay na bato” in Antique will now be restored.

As the former Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda allocated a Php 5 million budget under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for the year 2018 for the restoration of the Gella Azurin House located along Gobierno Street, in the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista.

Legarda said that NHCP officials have looked into the history and structure of the Gella Azurin House and an ocular inspection of the structure and premises was also conducted.

Estimated to be around 194 to 211 years old, the house was built of old matured hardwood lumber, coral stones, and heavy tiles. Its roofing was originally made of tiles, but had been changed to galvanized iron. Its main wooden structure was made of first-class hardwood such as molave and narra, while its walls and flooring on the first floor were made of mostly coral stones.

“The Gella Azurin House is a product of Filipino architecture, a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Having witnessed the history of our province by serving as quarters for the Japanese when they took over Antique and the rest of Panay, and by serving as a hospital for the wounded during the Second World War, it continues to play a significant role in our historical and cultural landscape. Even the families that stayed in this house had many stories to tell about the unfolding of events during their lifetime. It is only fitting therefore to restore it back to its former glory,” Legarda added.

The Gella Azurin House is now co-owned by the seven children of Dr. Reymundo Azurin and Consuelo Gella, who purchased the house from a Spanish family named Vital in 1936. Consuelo Gella is the eldest daughter of former Antique Governor Vicente Gella.***