Place: National Museum - Father Burgos’ House (City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur)
Date: 28 May 2008

Hello everyone!

Before I carry on with the story about the place, I just wanted to say that my mom and I got back from the vacation Saturday afternoon, but due to some simple “obligations,” it was just now that I was able to update this blog.

Anyway, places needed to be blogged are piling up, so let me continue with my summer vacation posts.

After checking out the Vigan Cathedral, I met up with brother so we could carry on with our supposedly “museum hop” in Vigan. We first went to the National Museum, which is also the birthplace of Father Jose Burgos. A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, he has held very high positions in the Cathedral of Manila. Throughout his Ecclesiastical career, he was a staunch advocate of the uplift of the secular clergy. He was executed in the Bagumbayan Field (now known as Luneta Park) in February 17, 1872 together with Rev. Mariano Gomez and Rev. Jacinto Zamora for supposed implication in the military revolt of Cavite in January 20, 1872. The three priests were also known as “GOMBURZA”.

The house is now turned into a museum and for a very cheap fee of 10 pesos, you can go around the house and take as much pictures as you want. Let me guide you inside the house:

By the entrance, there were some rooms at the right side that features different artifacts from the olden days. The first top left picture was an old coffin and next to it are different jars. Below it are pictures of a cloth weaving device.

Like how the old houses look like, there is a stair leading to a very wide living room.

The very spacious living room. I don’t know why living rooms before were way too big, but I guess being a son of an Army Lieutenant, they often entertain guests.

Pictures from the living room:

*** I loved how the chairs in this house looked like. And the paintings — really interesting! The piano I tried playing, some keys are surprisingly working. ***

*** Upon seeing this mirrored cane stand, I can’t help but take a picture of myself and all the more I can’t help taking another mirror shot when I saw the bigger one. I got a little scared of the big mirror that’s why I only took one picture. It wasn’t a good picture at all, but I am already contented. ***

*** A closer shot of the furniture in the living room. Based on the stories I have read and the movies I have watched set on that era, while the adults meet up and chit chat over coffee (or tea probably), the kids are scattered all over playing with each other. Hmmm…. maybe that’s why they have spacious living rooms! ***

*** A phonograph and a telephone. Wow! ***

On the side of the living room were the bedrooms:

*** The masters’ bedroom. Back then, couples aren’t allowed to share one bed. Makes me wonder how they grew their family. ***

*** Father Burgos’ bedroom. That’s his portrait on the wall. ***

*** Father Burgos’ altar (I loved that kneeling pad!) and some more chairs. I really love the details! The portrait on the wall was Father Burgos’ mother. ***

Other pictures in the house:

*** The family’s dining area. That something on the ceiling was used to fan off flies as the family ate. This area is off limits to visitors (there’s a rope blocking the door) to protect the precious China wares. ***

*** The kitchen and the servants’ dining area. ***

*** Random pictures in the kitchen ***

From the kitchen, there’s a door leading to the dirty kitchen where the servants wash the dishes. From there, there’s a stairway going to the back yard.

*** The space on the right was a huge terrace and the space to the left was the dirty kitchen ***

*** Very nice piece of furniture, eh? ***

Actually, this part of the house is where the visitors can relax and have chit-chats with the staff of the house. From here there’s a library, but it was closed at that time because they were currently arranging the books and doing some inventory.

I want to apologize if some of the captions weren’t detailed because there wasn’t a guide touring us around the house. The first time we were there, someone toured us, but I just didn’t know why there weren’t one this time. But, there were some friendly staff who talked to us, but they just couldn’t tour us around the house because they were needed by the entrance of the house.

After this one, we were supposed to check the Arzobispado (the Archbishop’s house), but it was already closed. Our supposed museum hop didn’t push through, but we were happy we were able to check this house again.

*** Jenn ***