Old Houses in Taal: The silent storytellers of the past

Taal Batangas is a declared Heritage Town. The Spanish period structures in the town are very well preserved. Taal Batangas has quite a good number of heritage houses and I am just so amazed seeing them.

Almost all of the houses in Taal Batangas were built using the Bahay na Bato design. These are usually constructed as a two-storey house. The ground floor is made of adobe or any hard material. The ground level of the house is normally used as a garage, or storage compartment.

The upper level is made of wood and this is where the receiving area, bedroom, dining area is located. The large windows are normally made of capiz shells in order for the natural light to permeate.

When we were in Taal last October, we got the chance to get inside two of the popular houses in town: The Villavicencio House and the Villa Tortuga.

We had our hearty lunch at the Villavicencio House. The interiors are just so lovely. Although it is no longer original, the owners tried to repaint the walls using vibrant colors and elaborate design. Our guide said that the current design on the walls are almost similar to the original.

The receiving are is wide. as well as its bedrooms. I love the bed which is made of hardwood. And the cabinets are all intricately carved.

Later that afternoon we had our merienda of pancit palabok, and hot chocolate at the Villa tortuga.

At first I thought Tortuga was a family name. We all know how these Spaniards gave the Filipinos silly family names. Tortuga is Spanish for turtles. But when I got inside the house, I know I was wrong. It was not a family name at all. It got its name from the house’s most precious occupants: the turtles.

The family has a vast collection of tutle shells that has been collected over time. Another reason why it was called Villa Tortuga is that the house is located behind a river. And one of the family owners said that were are times when the turtles would leave the river and slowly walk its ay inside the house.

I am so amazed at the very large turtle shell hanging at the wall. Honestly, I have never ever seen a turtle shell as large that.

Just like the Villavicencio House, the Villa tortuga was also constructed as a Bahay na Bato. Its ground level has a few old photographs and old Baro’t Saya attires on display. Its receiving room, bedroom, kitchen and dining room is also on the second level.

Turtle’s feet. Se how big it is!

I just love these houses. If only they could talk, and tell us of stories in the past. Of how they mange to survive big storms, strong quakes, and the war.

I hope that these kind of houses, not just in Tall but in all over the country, should be preserved so that the future generations can still get a glimpse of what we are today.

Maybe sometime soon, I’d go back to Taal and explore more houses there.