By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – The National Museum (NM) of the Philippines has installed an Important Cultural Property (ICP) marker for the 19th century Avanceña House (Camiña Balay nga Bato) in this city’s Arevalo district.
The 19th century Avanceña House (Camiña Balay nga Bato) in Iloilo City is considered as an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines. (Tara Yap/ MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avanceña, Raquel Flores of NM’s Cultural Properties Division and Mayor Jose Espinosa III led the February 22 installation rites of the ICP marker for the 154-year-old house.
The Avanceña House was recognized an ICP for its representation of bahay na bato (stone house).
Gerard Camiña, a fourth generation Avanceña and present occupant of the house, told The Manila Bulletin the house was built from the wealth generated by the once flourishing weaving industry of Iloilo.
The house originally owned by textile magnate Fernando Avanceña was also occupied by
Ramon Avanceña, who served as Supreme Court chief justice from 1925 to 1941.
When Camiña inherited the house, he and his wife Luth opened it to visitors including locals. It is not only a mini-museum, but also a restaurant serving Filipino dishes and tsokolate de batirol (hot native chocolate) drink.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Councilor Candice Tupas led the marker reinstallation for the Avanceña Park at Arevalo Plaza.