Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House:

Experience the Glorious Past of

Parian District

The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is one of the oldest houses in the Philippines. Built in the
late 17th century, the ancestral house has remained in its original state even though it already
shows weather-beaten but unyielding structures made of molave and coral stones due to time.
This was the house of Don Juan Yap and Doña Maria Florido with their 3 children: Maria,
Eleuterio and Consolacion.
During the 1880’s, Maria Florida Yap, the eldest daughter of Don Juan and Doña Maria,
married Don Mariano Sandiego who was that time the Cabeza de Barangay of Parian. The
house has surpassed a couple of generations. In 2008, the ancestral house was turned over
under the care of Val Sandiego and his wife, Ofelia. Val Sandiego, one of Cebu’s famous
choreographers, heritage icon and art collector, is the great great grandson of Doña Maria
Yap-Sandiego.

Believing that the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is part of Cebu’s history and heritage, Val
preserved and carefully restored his ancestor’s home using coral stones glued with egg whites,
molave, balayong and terracotta. He also firmly stands never to sell the house no matter what
the offer is.

The house is filled with contemporary and ancient artworks, antique pieces and Cebuano-
made native furniture. There are also life-sized statues, religious icons and images of saints
found around the 2-storey house.
Aside from its aesthetic features, the house is a standing proof of a God-centric home, a house
built with faith and devotion of a Cebuano’s family.

Museums and Ancestral Houses do promote unity in the society by using their resources to
ensure understanding and appreciation for the various groups and cultures that exist in that
society it collects and preserved our objects and materials of religious, cultural and historical
value. Museums and Ancestral Houses teach critical thinking, empathy, and other generally
important skills and dispositions. Trips to museums help get kids excited about school subjects
also teaches subject-specific content and skills and expand the general world knowledge
of students.
Sources:
http://www.choosephilippines.com/do/history-and-culture/3424/yap-sandiego-ancestral-
house/
https://sugbo.ph/2018/ancestral-houses-museums-cebu.

Group Members:

 Jasmin Faith Pansoy

 Patricia Cheyenne Paner
 Christy Marie Alipoyo
 Angelou Monsanto