Thursday, June 03, 2010

Laguna: Save the historic Alberto House in Biñan, Laguna!


Now they are targeting the historic Alberto House in Biñan, Laguna, the house of Teodora Alonzo, mother of Jose Rizal! That foolishness in Bagac, Bataan has got to stop! Shame on you, you greedy developer! Stop poaching our history!

The historic Alberto House is significant among Biñan houses because of its association with Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This grand bahay na bato with its tile roof still intact, is a cultural treasure to the people of Biñan. And anyone who dares take it away for his personal use can only be called greedy!

The ancestors of Rizal, both Alonzo and Mercado, are from Biñan, Laguna. Rizal's grandfather was Don Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo (1790-1854), municipal captain of Biñan in 1844. The Alberto House was thus the ancestral house of Rizal's mother, Teodora Alonzo. Dona Teodora and Jose Rizal himself, at various periods, lived in the house.


Rizal connection aside, the architectural features and date of construction of the Alberto House (approximately constructed in 1765) make it very significant not just to Biñan, but the entire province of Laguna.

According to sources, about 20 percent of the interior was already dismantled as of this week. It's a good thing the City Government of Biñan, Laguna stepped in and has offered to purchase the house. Imagine the gall of this developer! They were demolishing the Alberto House without a demolition permit! And before we forget, R.A. 10066 - The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 is already in effect. Therefore, demolition of structures at least fifty years old cannot proceed without the permission of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Another good thing is that people in Biñan are up in arms! I laud communities who know the value of their heritage and the need to preserve it. The United Artists for Cultural Conservation and Development, City of Binan, Inc. is calling on everyone's support to help them save the Alberto House in Biñan, Laguna. They are staging WELGA: Isang Gabi ng Dula, Awitan, Sayawan, Atbp., a cultural protest condemning the demolition and transfer of the Alberto House on June 9, 2010, Wednesday, 7 p.m. at the town plaza of the Biñan.

Thank you to BJ Borja of the United Artists for Cultural Conservation and Development, City of Biñan Inc. for photos of the house by Neil Cholo Legaspi and information on the house. For more details, read Laguna town prevents demolition of Rizal mom’s home.

Update: The City Government of Binan, Laguna pledged its full support for the restoration of the Alberto House. It has allotted funds for its purchase or expropriation if need be. The United Artists for Cultural Conservation and Development, City of Biñan Inc. has begun fund-raising efforts for the eventual restoration of the house. All it takes is for the Albertos to say yes to the offer.

19 posted a comment:

Bj Borja said...

Thank you Sir Ivan for your concern. Mabuhay po kayo!!! ;-)

Anonymous said...

thank you for sharing with us your valuable inputs and mostly for having someone like you on our side. looking forward for a lasting relationship between you, CHS and the UACCD! God bless.

Dr. Bimbo Sta.Maria, Pres./Exe.Dir., UACCD,Inc.

Cecile M said...

Thank you for taking up this cause. I hope that people will learn to love and respect our precious heritage and not see every piece of property as a means to make money. Our heritage is priceless!

whatdabrye said...

is the Teodora Alonzo's house gone forever? Oh no. sana po maging successful ang layuning mapreserve ang mga natitirang bahay.

Pisanu for BISEAN said...

http://bisean.blogspot.com/2010/11/binan-laguna-money-over-heritage.html

stevevhan said...

Hello kabayan!, i also posted something like this in my blog, I hope you visit : http://stevevhan.blogspot.com/2010/12/alonzo.html

nookie said...

I'm not a Native of Laguna but this thing is bothering me, I've watch this in Howie Severino's story in I-witness and I'm saddened of what happened to the house..Can anyone stop this successor of the Alberto's to stop selling the house? the local government should do something about this..The house is considered a national heritage. and being a Filipino we must respect what has been there before.. thanks

Anonymous said...

yes - 'poaching'old spanish houses and rebuilding it in another place should be stopped.Its ruining the historical and cultural value of these beautiful landmarks.

Grace said...

Just curious how did the developer get a hold of the house? I'm surprised that the government did not own the home already since Rizal is our National Hero?? I mean how did it get to this point?

Islandvacations said...

Desecrating the Alberto house is greed in its highest form which should have been nipped in the bud.

Anonymous said...

Seeing Alberto at this horrible state, frankly I don't mind who and where it is done, as long as it gets restored. Letting it rot and decay like this is more unforgivable.

ivanhenares said...

The City Government of Binan, Laguna already allotted funds to purchase the property. The plan really is to restore it. It's the Albertos who don't want to budge. So who is at fault?

Anonymous said...

The house has been there for over 200 years. If the local government (heck national govt for that matter) was indeed serious about restoring the place, they should have done it years ago. Sadly, the people of Biñan have lost a treasure.. for 500 thousand. Laging nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

ivanhenares said...

How could they lose the house, it's still there. No demolition permit for the house. Ask permission first from the NCCA as per RA10066.

Christian Provido said...

I also went there to take some pictures and post it to my blog

http://christianprovido.blogspot.com/2011/07/save-alberto-house-in-binan-laguna.html

Anonymous said...

hello how can i exactly go to bahay alberto? thanks!

Anonymous said...

Isa po ako sa milyong- milyong tao na nagpapahalaga sa kaisa- isang kayamanan na nanatiling buhay sa loob ng mahigit dalawang daang taon, umaasa ako na huwag natin itong hayaang mawala, SAVE ALBERTOS HOUSE

chester mato said...

salamat sa lahat...lalong lalo na sa mga alagad ng sining na nagbigay sa kanilang pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga sa ating kasaysayan...ang bahay alberto ay bahagi sa paghulma sa atin bilang mga makabagong pilipino sa ating panahon,dito sumilong ang ina ng ating bayani na syang humubog at nagsasalamin sa kultura at tapang ng mga pilipino na likas na mapagpalaya...kung walang bahay alberto,walang bahay ni rizal sa calamba at dapitan...

Rose said...

alberto house is still standing thank god! shame on the developer of las casas filipinas in bataan for uprooting vintage houses. there are several old houses in Binan as well and just this year 2 houses were renovated and restored.

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