CASA MANILA

Welcome to a whole house of a museum. Casa Manila was constructed based on archival building plans. Discover here how a wealthy family --  member of the ilustrado or privileged class -- used to live.

The museum recreates the lifestyle during the colonial period through antique furniture, paintings, lighting fixtures and other objects of decorative art.

From the moment you enter the wide piedra china-paved zaguan (corridor) where guests used to get off from their carriages, to the courtyard, all the way to the interior; bits and pieces of our many foreign influences are evident.

The vases are Ming, the wooden furniture is Victorian. Walls are Baroque. The high ceilings and wide narra planks for flooring are Castillan. And the capiz windows and louvers were adapted by the Spaniards to provide better ventilation in our tropical climate.

Even before World War II, most of the houses and some churches in Intramuros were already damaged by major earthquakes in 1863 and 1880.

Casa Manila, a "colonial lifestyle" museum, is only a section of  Plaza San Luis Complex, a commercial-cultural complex. As with all new structures built within the walls of Intramuros, facades here are based on colonial period designs.

The facade of Casa Manila was copied from a house (c.1850) at Calle Jaboneros in San Nicolas, a district across the Pasig River. In that area, the first floor of houses were rented out to shopkeepers. In Casa Manila, you will find shops in the ground floor where you may buy antiques, art objects and souvenir items.

The walls of the ground floor are made of adobe stones. In the Spanish colonial period (late 16th century to late 19th century), "adobe" or volcanic tuff was quarried from Makati and Meycuayan, Bulacan for building material. The stones in Casa Manila  were quarried from Bulacan.  The uppermost floor, the living quarters, was made of wood. Since wood was lighter than stone, it was less hazardous during earthquakes. Notice that the uppermost floor extends outwards, helping to shade pedestrians during the day. Its real use though was for the stability of the living quarters during earthquakes. One will find the structure adjoining Casa Manila is stone on both floors. When the Spaniards first arrived, they built in this manner. This had to be revised though because it could not withstand earthquakes. Neither could inhabitants of such structures.

Zaguan and Patio

Zaguan is an Arabic word meaning "corridor". It is through the zaguan that the carriages or carruajes entered and deposited the passengers by the stairs.

The zaguan and the patio are paved with piedra china (granite). The stones were originally used by the Chinese as ballast for their junks. These were later sold in Manila for paving pedestrian lanes, patios and streets. The fountain is a feature that appeared after running water came to Manila in 1882.

Entresuelo

Despacho or Oficina

This is where the owner of the house conducted business together with his clerks or accountants. Much of the furniture here are locally made. One finds indigenous motifs such as the lubi-lubi (life plant) carved on the legs of the partner's desk.

Cuartos

Rooms in the entresuelo can serve various purposes. They may be used by the owners when they take their siesta (nap) between two o'clock and five o'clock in the afternoon. It is cooler here in the afternoons.

The Filipino family is quite extended. More often than not, an unmarried aunt or uncle lived with the nuclear family, not to mention the grandmother and the grandfather. They may occupy the bedrooms in the entresuelo

Caida or Antesala

The antesala (anteroom) is also called caida. Probably from the Spanish caer (to fall). During the day, the family uses the area for playing parlor games, entertaining close friends, or having merienda (mid-morning or afternoon snack)

Sala

Very important people are entertained in the sala (living room). This is therefore decorated to show off one's status in society.

Tertulias (soirees) and bailes (dances) are held here. Held in the late afternoon, tertulias had the young ladies of the house singing or playing the piano. There is also dancing and poetry reading. Older people discuss the latest in politics, business, fashion, etc.

Oratorio 

The family gathers in the oratorio every night to pray the Angelus and the rosary. Some recite all the fifteen Mysteries followed by novenas to saints, prayers for the dead, etc.

Large santos (religious icons) kept in glass cabinets are often found in the homes of prominent families. These are usually brought out and robed, sometimes made up (with cosmetics), for annual town processions dedicated to the patron saint.

Blue Room

The wall paintings are taken from Pompeiian motifs of the neo-Classical style. This style began in Europe during the late 18th century. Its influence was felt in the Philippines from the early 19th century onwards.

It is usual for old homes to have connecting doors between bedrooms. Privacy is not of primary importance to family life.

Cuarto Principal

The aparador de tres lunas (armoire with three sections), the tremor (dresser with swinging full-length mirror), and the lavabo (washstand) of marble were status symbols then. 

Filipino hospitality dictated that the master offer his room to important guests staying overnight.

Comedor

The walls of the dining room are often lined with plateras (sideboards) to display the family's porcelain, silver and glassware. Ceramic plates often decorate the walls.

Cocina

The kitchen has a stovetop made of ash and water. Dishes are washed and dried in the banggera. Glasses are dried upside down on the spikes.

The paminggalan (cupboard) was used to store preserves, leftovers, etc. A can of kerosene is sometimes placed under every leg to prevent ants from going up.

Baņo

The bathroom contains two sizes of baņeras (bathtubs). These usually large bathtubs are made of stoneware from China. Houses of the affluent class have many servants (at least twenty). The master just sits in the tub while the servants pour water. After bathing, the servants unplug the cork from the tubs, draining the water to the floor.

Azotea

Activities requiring plenty of water such as the laundry is done near the water source, the aljibe (water cistern). Butchering pigs or chickens for family meals is also done here.

Rainwater collected from the roof gutters is collected through the stone column which led to a filter of layered charcoal, gravel and sand, and then to the cistern.

Plants in the azotea are used for cooking. For instance, leaves from tanglad (lemon grass) and pandan (fragrant screw pine) are used in flavoring; pandan for boiled rice, tanglad for roast pig or boiled chicken.

Casa Manila, Rizal Shrine, San Agustin Museum, Bahay Tsinoy