This is my grandfather Ramon Pamintuan’s house in Angeles, Pampanga. I remember when it was restored back in the 1980’s by the Central Bank of the Philippines. I’m glad to see it’s still around and looking good.
The Pamintuan Mansion in Angeles City, sits quietly amidst the bustling streets of the once silent town. I had an opportunity to go there last week with some reputed writers in the country. Before the visit, I had no idea of its value until I saw the interior. The arches and the thin pillars would be very familiar if you are well-versed with Moorish architecture in Spain. The recurring arches and thin pillars are like those of Alhambra and Mezquita de Cordoba. True enough, the architect of the house modeled it after the Moorish architecture in Toledo, Spain. It has a very colorful history.
The house was constructed in 1890, by the father and mother to their son, then mayor of Angeles, Florentino Pamintuan. Guessing that the present mayor remains a Pamintuan, dynastic families and feudal ties still run deep in the Filipino psyche especially in the provinces. In 1898, at the height of the Philippine Revolution, Gen. Antonio Luna and Gen. Venancio Concepcion brainstormed for the defense of Pampanga against the invading Americans right inside the house. On June 12, 1899, the first anniversary of the declaration of independence by Aguinaldo was celebrated in this house, with Aguinaldo looking on through a window, towards the cheering crowd outside. The house was also used by Gen. Arthur MacArthur as headquarters in 1901, and by Japanese Kamikaze pilots in 1944. As if that was not enough for the house to contain, it also survived the lahar onslaught brought about by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. What a historical treasure!
Yesterday I was jizzing on the Art Deco themed Apacible Bahay na Bato, now it’s Moorish. I have to see a Gothic Inspired Bahay na Bato in the Future…
