A 45 minute plane ride from Manila will take you to the Sugar Capital of

the Philippines, Negros Occidental. Silay-Bacolod International Airport

will spread its welcoming arms to greet visitors and travelers from the
different parts of the country and of the world. The gateway to the
province and the first place tourists would land their steps before going
to the city of smiles - Bacolod, or to any part of the Negros province,
Silay offers a different atmosphere from the busy life of Metro Manila.
One would instantly feel its easy, calm and relax way of life the moment
they stepped out from the airport. Silay has pension houses that could
compete with the elegance of those from Bacolod but with cheaper and
reasonable price .Food enthusiasts will also discover its rich variety of
delicacies that will surely fill their hunger for something old and new.
Silay was the second town to become a city in Negros Occidental.
In 1951, the late senator Jose C. Locsin, a very famous son of the
city with the help of the congressmen from Negros Occidental,
Jose Puey of San Carlos and Carlos Hilado of Bacolod, worked for
the passage of House Bill 6096 known as the Charter of Silay City.
The City mayor was Romulo Golez.
Silay was granted as an “enconmienda”
to one of Miguel Lopez De Legaspi’s
Soldier, Cristobal Nunez Paroja in
January 25, 1571. The first settlement
was called “carobcob” meaning to
“scratch” for the people are dependent
in collecting tuway shells which are
abundant in the area. It is believed to
be somewhere between Balaring
proper and Sitio Bongol.

When pirates frequently attacked the

area the people transferred and
established another village where they
built an “Estacada” (like a wall
surrounding the new village). Now that
place is what we popularly call SITIO
ESTACA of Barangay Lantad.

To date, Balaring is one of Silay’s food

havens. Fresh produce from the sea are
turned into delicious works of art that
brings pleasure to many restaurant
goers. Local and foreign tourist enjoy
the taste of fresh seafood and the
beautiful scenery that only balaring can
provide.
“My solo wandering in the sugarland continued with a visit to Silay City, home of the
20+ well preserved ancestral houses of wealthy, politically influential (national level)
families and renowned artists and intellectuals. Oh man, if you have a heart for history
and culture, brace yourself as this post is quite too overwhelming!”

-batang lakwatsero (www.ivanlakwatsero.com)-

The city has the most number of declared heritage houses in
the Philippines. 28 of these beautiful pieces of the past stand
as ambassadors of Silay, giving the city a title it truly
deserves, the “Paris of Negros”.

The List:
*Alejandro Amechazura House
*Amelia Hilado Flores House
*Angel Araneta Ledesma House
*Augusto Hilado Severino House
*Benita Jara House
*Bernardino Lopez Jalandoni Ancestral
House
*Carlos Arceo Ledesma House
*Claudio Hilado Akol House
*Delfin Ledesma House
*Digna Locsin Consing House
*Dr. Jose Corteza Locsin House
*Felix Tad-y Lacson House
*Generoso Reyes Gamboa House
*German Lacson Gaston House
*German Locsin Unson House
*Jose Benedicto Gamboa House
*Jose Corteza Locsin House
*Jose Ledesma House
*Kapitan Marciano Montelibano
Lacson House
*Manuel de la Rama Locsin House
*Manuel Severino Hofileña House
*Maria Ledesma Golez House
*Modesto Ramirez Hojilla (Carlos
Javelosa Jalandoni) House
*Severino Building/Heritage House
*Soledad and Maria Montelibano
Lacson House
*Teodoro Morada House
*Vicente Conlu Montelibano House
*Victor Fernandez Gaston House or
Balay Negrense
Welco
me to
Silay
City
were
life’s
sweet
and
the To travel around the city and discover up close and personal the
wonders it behold one must have a map provided by the city

past is
tourism office indicating all the 28 declared national treasures and
all other sites for your pleasure. It is best to start at the gateway of
Silay from the city of smiles, Bacolod. A replica of a horno
economico will greet those who enter the city.

foreve
r…
The Antonia Delarama Locsin
Heritage House is believed to be
the oldest in the city. This 150
year old structure was the
ancestral house of Leandro
Locsin, Philippine’s National
Artist for Architecture.

The Romulo Golez Ancestral

House was the home of Romulo
Golez the city mayor of Silay
when it became a city in June
12, 1951.
Perhaps the most famous of all Silaynons is the
late Senator Jose C. Locsin, the father of the
“Filipino First Policy”

Sen. Jose C. Locsin had 2 wives, Salvacion and

Delia. With Salvacion, the senator had 18
children, one died of tuberculosis when he was 4
years old and his name was Julio Ceasar. The
senator asked Guillermo Tolentino to make a
bust image of his son. Guillermo Tolentino of
course was later named by the government of
the Philippines as "National Artist for Sculpture"
in 1973. He made the monument of Bonifacio
and the famous oblation of UP Diliman.

That small image of Julio Ceasar is still with the

living descendants of the late senator in their
ancestral house at JPL street, that big old house
near Cafe 1925
 Jose "Pitong" Ledesma Ancestral House

This was the house of a silaynon pianist

who brought orchestras and zarswelistas
from europe to perform here in silay. Jose
"Pitong" Ledesma composed the classic
"tanda de valse" and if you’re one of silay's
elite, u would have probably danced this
classic romantic composition in a rigodon
manner during social gatherings.

Pitong's father, Pepe, financed 80% of the

total construction cost of our pro-cathedral
in the late 20's.

It was said that Pitong Ledesma and the

former senator, Jose C. Locsin, were arch
political rivals. They lived right next to each
other yet never ever talked... it was later,
when Pitong was on his death bed that the
good senator flew in from manila to finally
reconcile with his neighbor.
in 1925, Don Jose "Pepeng" Ledesma - a
rich sugar baron of Silay and the father of
Pitong Ledesma, financed 80% of our
church construction cost and 20% were
collected from the masses for he thought
that people would call it their church if
they also contribute even a little.. he then
commissioned an Italian architect , Lucio
Bernasconi, to do the design. So there you
have the dome of our church, the only
domed church in Negros that resembles
the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

That same architect designed the Pantalan

in Barangay Mambulac, the longest wharf
in asia during its golden days.

The church was finished in 1927 and was

inaugurated that same year.

The dome they said during the Second

World War was painted black so the
Japanese would miss it from their aerial
attacks.
 What do these three old houses have in
common?

They have been occupied by a Lacson, then

and even now.

The one next to BPI and Cafe 1925 where

they make delicious pili squares, pano-pano
and lumpia fresh is called Soledad and Maria
Montelibano Lacson Ancestral House.

El ideal - the oldest bakery in the city is known

as Cesar Lacson Locsin ancestral house.

This 75 year old, perhaps over, bakery

specializes in cookies and biscuits. The most
recent hit is their guapple pie which many
refers to apple pies.

And that old house popularly

known as the Kapehan sg Silay
were men would gather to
exchange gossips and cockfight
results over coffee is listed as
Kapitan Mariano Montelibano
Lacson Ancestral House.
“In Silay, Negros Occidental, we
found a section of the city that
transported us back in time. In
spite of a light drizzle that turned
into a downpour, we enjoyed
walking the streets and picking-off
compositions no longer found in
our modern cities. The presence of
old structures like these are
normally a sign of decay, of being
left behind by progress. But not
here. The unique architecture had
been preserved for future
generations, even if they had to
turn what was once a rich man's
home into a roadside cafe. Enjoy.”

-www.postcardsfrommanila.com-
 The Lino Lopez Severino Ancestral House was the
first ever Department Store in Negros Occidental.
Today, one of Silay’s famous pension houses the
Baldevia Pension House dominates the occupancy
of this old structure.

Just across the street from the Lino Lopez Severino

house is the Maria Ledesma Golez ancestral house
where RCBC-Silay is located. This French looking
building overlooks the busy streets of Rizal and
Burgos.
“The town is so peaceful you could hear the angels whisper as you walk.”

-Malate -
 Vicente Conlu Montelibano
Ancestral House

Aside from having a large

collection of antiques in his
house, the owner Vicente C.
Montelibano would have an
orchestra playing for a week
to his delight. He also
donated the clock which he
bought from Europe the ones
we have on the belfry of our
cathedral resembling the
famous Big Ben in London. It
is said to be worth 7k during
his time.
Arsenio Lopez Jison
Ancestral house

This huge building is just

across the street from the
Conlu-Montelibano house,
just a few meters away
from the house of former
Mayor Edwin Velez and a
little more steps from
Bonifacio Street. This was
the home of the FIRST
EVER PRESIDENT of the
Philippine National Bank -
Arsenio Lopez Jison.

German Locsin Ancestral House

It is an outstanding example of
the neo-Spanish style that
became so popular after World
War II. This beautiful structure is
just across the Kapitan Marciano
Lacson Ancestral House right at
the back of Antonio Novelia Sian
Ancestral House.
 Jose B. Gamboa Ancestral
House

Chosen by the famous film

director Peque Gallaga, this
outstanding mansion was the
venue of a lavish party scene
from the hit movie “Oro,
Plata, Mata”.

Oro, Plata, Mata is a 1982 multi-awarded Filipino

film directed by Peque Gallaga, and is considered
his most significant contribution to Philippine
cinema. Set in the Philippine province of Negros
during World War II, it tells the story of how two
haciendero families cope with the changes brought
about by the war. In translation, the movie is also
known either as "Gold, Silver, Bad Luck" or "Gold,
Silver, Death.” –wikipedia-
 “It was around 1PM when I
reached my destination. Clueless
of what to do first or where to
start my quest, I just walked
aimlessly on the streets, passing
by the church, the city hall and
the city library. Hindi ko talaga
alam kung saan ako unang
pupunta. I just walked until
strangely, my feet brought me in
front of an elegant-looking
brown ancestral house. I noticed
there were people taking picture
of this house so I thought it
wasn't ordinary. So I walked
inside, as its gates were widely
open, and greeted the old man
sitting at the pasilyo. Then I saw
a marker that reads "Victor
Fernandez Gaston Ancestral
House". Only then I realized that
I was already standing at the
doorstep of Balay Negrense.”
-batang lakwatsero-

Balay Negrense

The Balay Negrense was originally the ancestral house of Victor F. Gaston, a son of Yves Leopold
Germain Gaston and Prudencia Fernandez. The elder Gaston is credited as one of the pioneers of sugar
cultivation in this portion of the Philippine Archipelago. A native of Normandy France, he married a Filipina from
Batangas where he initially began experimenting with sugar production before relocating to Negros.
Built in 1897, the house was constructed when Victor Gaston’s wife died and during the time when he
was residing in his father’s hacienda, Hacienda Buen Retiro. The structure housed Victor Gaston and his twelve
children from 1901 until his death in 1927.
Built in 1908 and affectionately known as the ‘Pink House’,
Bernardino Jalandoni Ancestral House is virtually unchanged
from the days when it was home to the Jalandoni family. Now a
museum, the polished hardwood floors, furniture and objets
d’art on the 2nd level are the best preserved of the historical
items. In the back room are old photos of beauty pageant
winners from the 1940s and ‘50s, and a glass case filled with
dozens of Ken and Barbie dolls in traditional Filipino costume,
including the oddly appropriate General MacArthur Ken, re-
enacting the (staged) Leyte landing, and Imelda Marcos Barbie,
surrounded by dozens of shoes.
 Manuel Severino Hofilena Ancestral
House

Its furniture and furnishing are

practically all Hofileña heirlooms, all
authentic period pieces, some much
older than the house itself. The hand
carvedkamagong sofa, the narra four-
poster bed and chairs are Spanish era.
The German- Rachals piano is late 19th
century. Among the antiques is a more
than 3,000 year old oil juglet (Iron Age
11 900-589 B.C.), the oldest antique in
the whole Negros Island. There are also
the world’s first pocket books, the
world’s smallest dolls which need
magnifying glass to be seen, the tektites
or meteorite from outer space. The list
can go on.
 Teodoro Morada Ancestral House

Because the house is painted white, the locals call it

the white house. It was built in the early 1900’s and
was declared as one of the 28 heritage houses
pursuant to the board resolution of NHSCP (National
Historical Commission of the Philippines).

Angel Araneta Ancestral House

The Angel Araneta Ledesma house was built

in the 1930's- more commonly known as the
Balay Verde or the green house. This
heritage house is a combination of
American Clapboard style and colonial
Plantation popular during the revivalist
period of the American period. The stripped
down columns in both floors point to the
development of the pro-modernist
movement. Today, this heritage house is
home to the silay city cultural office and
Kabataang silay and rodalla emssemble.

Delfin Ledesma Ancestral

House

This heritage house still

follows the classic Visayan
“bahay na bato” proportions
with a double media-agua
roof, and the floors (first and
second) have grills and a
discreet main door.
 Manuel Dela Rama Locsin Ancestral House

Looking over the Silay Public Plaza, this Heritage house/commercial

building, houses Dunkin Donuts, Nana’s Cakes and Pastries and Midori. All three
are favorites among coffee addicts of the city. Aside from the steaming coffees
and pastries, diners could enjoy the feel of the sidewalk similar to the cafes
along the streets of Paris.
Here are some of the houses you
might want to try visiting in the
future. They are still inhabited by the
descendants of the real owners so it
is better to ask permission first or
contact the tourism office.

Amelia Hilado Flores Ancestral House

Carlos Javelosa Jalandoni Ancestral House

German Lacson Gaston Ancestral House

 Just south of the public plaza, in one of the less

El Ideal prepossessing ancestral houses, is the home and

birthplace of many of the delicacies for which Silay
has become famous. The bakery was set up in
1935, during Silay’s heyday, to provide snacks for
the gamblers who couldn’t drag themselves away
from the table. Its dark, wooden interior retains
this atmosphere. Some of the bakery’s famous
creations include lumpia ubod (spring rolls filled
with pork, shrimp and the juicy tip of the coconut
palm) and piaya (flat bread sprinkled with brown
sugar and sesame seeds). Of the great selection of
pies, cakes and sandwiches, our favourite was the
old-school egg pie (custard tart).

When Cesar Lacson Locsin opened one door of -lonely planet-

his house to start out his bakery, little did he
know that El Ideal will someday be one of the
landmarks in Silay City and of Negros
Occidental. Still standing on the same location
as the ancestral home of the Locsin y lacson
Family, El Ideal continues to serve snacks that
the locals love. Curious tourists always make it
a point to drop by for refreshments and snacks
after a tour of Silay's ancestral homes.
 Looking back at our food

Café trip in Negros Occidental,

I'd say that it was our visit
to Café 1925 in Silay City

1925 that really pushed us over

the edge.

-the D.B. Memoirs-

The humble depiction of a European

restaurant is what sets this place
apart from all the dining places in
Silay. Its menu varies from Filipino
favorites to tested European classics.
Bruchettas and Pestos are two of the
top runners.
 Balaring

It is a plain unassuming barangay, except for the fact that during lunch time, hordes of people swarm to
Balaring for lunch at their restaurants by the sea!
-the Bacolod Food Hunters-

Balaring is coastal barangay and believed to be the place where the first Silaynons thrive in the 1500’s. Today,
Balaring is well known for its array of seafood that has drawn crowds from all over the province. At night, it’s an
escape from the city crowd as one could enjoy the gentle blowing breeze while sitting along the sea wall with
friends.
 Richmond Inn
Richmond Inn is a commercial
establishment under the
category of places to stay
otherwise known as a Silay
Hotel or inn, also as pension
house or lodging in Silay City.
The building is an overwhelming
structure in the area with its
‘California mission’ inspired
architecture – something new –
but a perfect blend to Silay City
already known to its well
preserved ancestral house, rich
cultural heritage, hometown
delicacies, untamed forest and
resolute people. It is located
along Jose Pitong Ledesma
Street.

Perhaps one of the most popular

Baldevia pension houses in the city is the

Baldevia Pension House. Owned and
managed by the Baldevia Family it

Pension occupies more than 50% of the Lino

Lopez Severino Heritage House.
Situated in a very strategic area

House where almost everything is of

walking distance-the church, city
hall, the public plaza and the market.
Just across the street from the
Maria Golez Ancesral house or the
RCBC building.

Located at the corner of

Gomez Extension and Mckinley
Bukid streets, Pegasus Pension
House was the former
residential building of its
owners until they transferred
Pegasus
and decided to turn their lovely
house into a hotel where
tourists and guests could
enjoy.
 A newly built pension house
with a safe, comfortable
and peaceful atmosphere.

Located at the heart of Silay

City, where everything is of
walking distance - local
restaurants, market shops,
banks, travel agencies,
hospital and churches.
Approximately 5 minutes
travel from and to the New
Bacolod-Silay Airport.

Winbelle

Fortuna Pension House

It’s a quiet little cottage in the middle of a hacienda.
Fortuna Pension House offers you an experience of
being the “amos” and “amas” during your stay in this
very country looking lodge for about a 7 minute ride
from the public plaza. Its wide garden is best for
outdoor parties and ceremonies. A very good place to
relax and unwind without leaving the city.
 Food
Trippin
’
 Silay is indeed a
treasure of the past. A
place preserved in time
but embraces the wind
of change as it faces the
challenge of the 21st
century. An oasis to the
unstoppable chaos of
commercialization, the
city brought a
remarkable distinction
to its proud people.
Holding into its history,
Silaynons will always be
different from their
brothers and sisters in
the province of Negros
Occidental. Their blood
are the blood of heroes,
they are a race of their
own - proud, colorful,
rich, elegant, artistic
and resolute.
Silay is indeed a treasure of the past. A place preserved in time but embraces the wind of change as it
faces the challenge of the 21 st century. An oasis to the unstoppable chaos of commercialization, the city
brought a remarkable distinction to its proud people. Holding into its history, Silaynons will always be
different from their brothers and sisters in the province of Negros Occidental. Their blood are the blood
of heroes, they are a race of their own - proud, colorful, rich, elegant, artistic and resolute.