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in love and courted Carmen, the oldest daughter of the owner. To win Carmen's heart, General Ashima would provide the family with supply of foods and clothing materials. He would also serenade Carmen by playing the guitar and by dedicating love songs for the beautiful lady. Nonetheless, the family was doubtful about the real intention of the
Japanese officer so they would hide Carmen in the Cellar.
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Doña Carmen, are exhibited. Old pictures of the different areas of the house are also displayed inside because these were Doña Carmen's way of reminding the maids how they should fix the curtains, furniture and other fixtures back in place when they are removed for cleaning. The owner of the house wants everything to be in exact place and arranged in the original manner.
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plates. An old image of Virgin Mary in a wooden frame is bolted on the wall and below it is a wooden kneeler of Carmen that she uses when praying the rosary. Below the passage leading to the dining area is a small door that opens at the back gate of the house which they call "the secret passage to freedom".
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On the second floor is the second receiving area which is as elegant as the first one, meticulously furnished with pieces of furniture and textiles in green hues. The set up is completed with wide opening windows, stained glass clerestory windows, large chandeliers, French provincial style furniture
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Today, the cellar has been turned into a museum. Some of the family's antique belongings are on displayed including Carmen's shoes, the family travel luggage and bags, a collection of old bottles and tin cans from different makes and brands, unused vintage art deco light fixtures and some vintage car
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Most of the fixtures and furniture inside the house are of
American and European origins. The crafted wooden pieces of furniture was designed and manufactured by Manila's leading furniture atelier, Don Gonzalo Puyat. Exquisite table wares are also on display and large wall mirror greets every visitor
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houses that flourished in
Sariaya, Quezon during the pre-war era in the Philippines. The house most prominent features are the fan-shaped front entrance glass canopy and the art deco relieves that decorates the mirador of the house. The house features two receiving rooms, several bedrooms, two dining
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A week after the bombing, the house became the venue for a welcome party dedicated to the US Air force. In the midst of the celebration, Exal, the younger sister of Carmen told one
American soldier about the bomb that was kept in the garage. Immediately, the party stopped and everyone was alarmed. A
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When the guerillas learned that there were
Japanese Officers occupying the house, they intentionally informed the Americans who were about to liberate Manila at that time. The guerillas sent a map to the American forces to bomb the whole house. Before the planned destruction took place, residents of
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Life moved on and Doña Carmen took charge of the house. In 1950's, she married Judge
Vicente Arguelles and they had one child, Gladiola, also known as Ineng. It was this time when the family decided that the crater created by the bomb explosion at the back of the house be turned into the biggest and
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In 1942, during World War II, Japanese
Imperial Officers used the house as their headquarter. Three Japanese Officials occupied the second floor while the family was allowed to stay at the ground floor. According to the current owner of the house, one of the Japanese Officers, General Ashima, fell
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On the first floor is the first of two receiving rooms of the house, a dining area, and a study room which also served as Dr. Isidro's office. Inside the office is a wooden cabinet where clothes, pictures and other personal belongings and memorabilia of the eldest child in the family, the beautiful
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According to Eric Dedace, a tour guide and PRO of
Sariaya Tourism Council, the real charm of the house are the stories tied to this historical house most especially during the wartime era concerning Carmen, the beautiful daughter of Dr. Isidro. Her stories are one of the highlights of a guided tour
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Three bombs were dropped in the vicinity of the house. The first one hit the front part of the property and exploded at the gate. The second one was dropped behind the house and created a 20- foot- deep crater. The third one directly hit the house and landed in the stairs but it did not explode.
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The Cellar used to be the hiding place of Carmen during the
Japanese era. According to the current owner of the house, the family of Carmen would often hide her in the cellar because a high-ranking Japanese official, General Ashima, was after her beauty but the family was doubtful of the General's
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On the left side of the staircase is the dining area where a classic and elegant table arrangement is on display. The set up is complemented by antique silver and china ware with golden and satin table cloths. Hidden under the dining room carpet is a secret passage that leads to the cellar of the
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The Gala–Rodriguez mansion was built in the 1930s as Dr. Isidro
Rodriguez' gift to his ailing wife, Doña Gregoria, who had long wished to have her dream house for their seven children. During the house construction, Sariaya and the Province of Quezon were suffering from a crisis brought by a pest
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In 1960's, Sariaya was struck again by another disaster and it was known as the great fire. Doña Carmen had already given instruction to throw the furniture at the pool to save them but another stroke of luck happened. The flames that were about to destroy the house were fanned away by the wind.
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When the whole town was looted after the bombing, the Gala–Rodriguez House was spared because no one dared to enter the house for the fear that the bomb might explode anytime, not a single piece of furniture was lost. Later, the bomb was moved to the garage with the help of some residents.
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Sariaya already fled to the barrios for their safety. They did not inform the owners of the house because they fear that General Ashima might follow Carmen. Luckily a good friend of the family went back to tip them of the planned bombing and on the same day, the whole family evacuated.
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As quoted from the official brochure of the ancestral house, “The Ancestral home, having survived theses series of both tragic and momentous events cannot simply be attributed to some good luck. It certainly was blessed and preserved for a definite and meaningful purpose.”.
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and long curtains that extend from floor to ceiling. The second dining area is also located at the second floor of the house. From the receiving area, a wide door opens to the front porch where the family stays for coffee to relax and have a view of the town.
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bomb disposal unit was called by the American forces to check the bomb and found out that it was live The bomb squad unit successfully removed the bomb and finally the house was out of danger.
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The girls' bedroom and master's bedroom are also located on this floor. The house also features a small prayer room which is typical in most ancestral houses in the Philippines.
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halls, a prayer room, and an intricately designed veranda. At the back is a terrace overlooking a 15-foot-deep swimming pool and a private garden with a gazebo.
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in the receiving area. A 19th century grand piano is also in the receiving area complemented by a vintage wooden radio in one corner of the room.
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The grand daughter of the original owner, Galdiola Arguelles-Cabuñag is now the owner and the one who maintains the historical house.
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deepest swimming pool but it was later downsized into 15- foot deep pool which is equivalent to a two-storey building.
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Historical Marker Gala–Rodriguez House given by the National Historical Institute, May 14, 2008
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The Gala–Rodriguez House cellar, the hiding place of Dona Carmen during the Japanese era
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The bathrooms still has its original and working plumbing fixtures from the 1930s.
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real intentions. The young Carmen would often stay there for days with her Yaya.
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in the early 1930s, it was owned by one of the most distinguished couples in
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517:"Philippine history breathes in the Gala–Rodriguez Heritage house"
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The Gala–Rodriguez House, second receiving area at the 2nd floor
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The Gala–Rodriguez Heritage House Brochure: In Love and War
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of the Philippines as one of the three heritage houses in
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One of two receiving areas of the Gala–Rodriguez house.
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that gives a picture of what life is in old Sariaya.
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264:The Gala–Rodriguez heritage house is one of the
172:of old Sariaya. It is listed as one of the
67:Heritage House (National Historical Institute)
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485:. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from
407:The secret door leading to the house cellar
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594:Art Deco architecture in the Philippines
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483:"History lives in Sariaya mansions"
174:Ancestral Houses in the Philippines
604:Heritage Houses in the Philippines
599:Buildings and structures in Quezon
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148:On May 14, 2008, the two-storey
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154:National Historical Institute
22:Gala–Rodriguez Heritage House
16:House in Quezon, Philippines
455:House 2nd floor living area
33:Gala–Rodriguez House facade
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566:"Sariaya Ancestral Houses"
519:. loQal.ph. Archived from
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110:13.961951°N 121.524808°E
134:Design and construction
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609:Juan Nakpil buildings
481:Mallari Jr., Delfin.
419:Dining area 2nd floor
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176:, under Region IV-A.
152:was declared by the
115:13.961951; 121.524808
489:on December 29, 2013
383:Gala close up facade
150:Gala–Rodriguez house
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56:Architectural style
43:General information
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260:Close up of facade
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523:on May 13, 2014
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568:. waypoints.ph
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570:. Retrieved
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331:Second floor
323:Second floor
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139:Architect(s)
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203:leaf miners
170:illustrados
129:May 4, 1935
113: /
101:121°31′29″E
88:Coordinates
81:Philippines
75:Poblacion,
588:Categories
461:References
98:13°57′43″N
126:Completed
359:Entrance
266:Art Deco
252:Entrance
72:Location
572:May 14,
550:. 2008.
527:May 13,
493:May 13,
346:Gallery
298:house.
201:called
180:History
158:Sariaya
431:Stairs
302:Cellar
166:Quezon
443:House
51:House
574:2014
529:2014
495:2014
48:Type
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