Infante Ancestral House in Negros Occidental
If villains of today were to star in an early 20th-century Filipino film, we would probably see them wearing their most elegant baro’t saya and barong inside grand haciendas such as the Infante Ancestral House in Hacienda Guadalupe, La Carlota, Negros Occidental.
Built in 1929, the house, which was designated as a heritage site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly National Historical Institute) in 2001, still stands today. Currently, the house is open for public viewing but visitors are not allowed to enter the house.
The house is known for its intricate woodwork
Image credit: The Local Smudger
Located in the middle of a farm and surrounded by a chapel, sugar mill, tenant houses, and sheds, as described by The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage, the two-storey mansion was the home of Don Teodulfo Infante and Doña Rosita Sanchez. Photographer The Local Smudger has recently captured stunning photos of the house, which show its finest details in their old-world glory.
For instance, the house’s exterior boasts elegance with intricate woodwork, carvings, and columns.
Image credit: The Local Smudger
Inside, many of the Infante family’s furniture can still be seen. A long, rectangular wooden table lined with chairs was probably used by the family as their dining table.
Image credit: The Local Smudger
Their old television gives us an idea of the earliest TVs in the country looked like, while vintage decorative accessories, as well as photos of the family members, show us glimpses of the members of the Infante family and their way of life.
Image credit: The Local Smudger
One corner of the house has been decorated with life-sized and small religious figures.
Image credit: The Local Smudger
The bedroom, meanwhile, is adorned with a wooden bed befitting a royal castle.
Image credit: The Local Smudger
Other interesting details you’ll see in the house when you pay a visit include a mirror bordered with elegant patterns and a wooden clock with a swinging pendulum. Talk about old-world glamour living indeed.
Negros Occidental’s Infante Ancestral House
Heritage locations such as Negros Occidental’s Infante Ancestral House not only serve as visual examples, they also are tangible historical markers that tell us stories of a bygone era.
We hope authorities and other concerned organizations will ensure their preservation, so many more Filipinos can appreciate our history.
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Cover image adapted from: The Local Smudger, The Local Smudger
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