BALAGTAS: BAHAY NA TISA
Balagtas is rich in historical places, one of which is the Bahay naTisa. It was built in 1804 and is one of the oldest tiled-roof heritage houses of Bulacan, located in front of Balagtas Municipal Hall along the McArthur highway. The house is also near the church, the market, and the bridge along the river.
This historic house was initially owned by one of the richest man in Bulacan former mayor Valentin Constantino and was eventually transferred to Don Nazario, then to Don Antonio Constatino. It was also owned by Dr. Felipe B. Constantino and his sister Julia.
Bahay na Tisa has an area of 1200 square meters, while the house have its territorial length of 800 square meters. Family properties including float of some saints and old structure of Mary Magdalene, which Constantino’s display during Holy Week and Christmas were kept in the house.
The Constantino house or the Bahay na Tisa in Balagtas is another example of an old Spanish colonial house. Decorated with intricate colonial design and exquisite craftsmanship, the original terra cota tiles hence the name “Bahay Na Tisa”, traditionally keeps the stone house cool. The upturned gables suggest a Chinese influence. The woodwork is of thick, wide hard planks. The sliding wood sashes and the clerestory hold the original panes of "kapis" shells. The white of eggs served to wet the lime and sand that cemented together the large stones of the house's foundations, vaulting and archways. Fronting the street are two lamp-like attachments at window level. These served as airy closets, or dispensas, where special wines, sweets and other delicacies were kept for visitors on special occasions.
It is the same house that served as temporary home to Jose Rizal and his wife, Josephine Bracken during their visit to Malolos in 1892, when Don Nazario Constantino was master of the house. Rizal is a friend of Constantinos. The couple, after a tiring journey to the north, stayed at Constantino’s house to have a temporary vacation before going back to Manila. But Rizal's visit also cost him four months of imprisonment in Fort Santiago, as he was suspected as rebel.
From 1896-1898, this house was used as the municipal building where eight Spanish soldiers were imprisoned.
The ancestral house was resided by almost 20 families, and during the colonization of Japan, Japanese soldiers tend to stay here and installed a prison in the basement of the house. The house was supposedly be bombarded during the Japanese war, but was saved by Filipino soldiers by throwing the bombs away from the house, and only suffered minor damage. After the war, the Constantinos rented it out as a school.
There are rumors in the late 90’s that there are some Japanese treasures left in the house. But, according to housekeeper and current owner, Dra. Marilou Constantino, considered great granddaughter of Capt. Valentin Constantino, those are just rumors of the people nearby. Dra. Marilou Constantino is a doctor of medicine, a physician and surgeon. She lives in the ancestral house with her fifteen dogs.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, an agency from the government, offered to preserve this historical site, but the owner refused as she wanted to keep her ancestor’s properties private, thou the house is always open to those who would like to visit and learn the history that it had witnessed.
Balagtas is rich in historical places, one of which is the Bahay naTisa. It was built in 1804 and is one of the oldest tiled-roof heritage houses of Bulacan, located in front of Balagtas Municipal Hall along the McArthur highway. The house is also near the church, the market, and the bridge along the river.
This historic house was initially owned by one of the richest man in Bulacan former mayor Valentin Constantino and was eventually transferred to Don Nazario, then to Don Antonio Constatino. It was also owned by Dr. Felipe B. Constantino and his sister Julia.
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| Bahay na Tisa - Balagtas |
The Constantino house or the Bahay na Tisa in Balagtas is another example of an old Spanish colonial house. Decorated with intricate colonial design and exquisite craftsmanship, the original terra cota tiles hence the name “Bahay Na Tisa”, traditionally keeps the stone house cool. The upturned gables suggest a Chinese influence. The woodwork is of thick, wide hard planks. The sliding wood sashes and the clerestory hold the original panes of "kapis" shells. The white of eggs served to wet the lime and sand that cemented together the large stones of the house's foundations, vaulting and archways. Fronting the street are two lamp-like attachments at window level. These served as airy closets, or dispensas, where special wines, sweets and other delicacies were kept for visitors on special occasions.
It is the same house that served as temporary home to Jose Rizal and his wife, Josephine Bracken during their visit to Malolos in 1892, when Don Nazario Constantino was master of the house. Rizal is a friend of Constantinos. The couple, after a tiring journey to the north, stayed at Constantino’s house to have a temporary vacation before going back to Manila. But Rizal's visit also cost him four months of imprisonment in Fort Santiago, as he was suspected as rebel.
From 1896-1898, this house was used as the municipal building where eight Spanish soldiers were imprisoned.
The ancestral house was resided by almost 20 families, and during the colonization of Japan, Japanese soldiers tend to stay here and installed a prison in the basement of the house. The house was supposedly be bombarded during the Japanese war, but was saved by Filipino soldiers by throwing the bombs away from the house, and only suffered minor damage. After the war, the Constantinos rented it out as a school.
There are rumors in the late 90’s that there are some Japanese treasures left in the house. But, according to housekeeper and current owner, Dra. Marilou Constantino, considered great granddaughter of Capt. Valentin Constantino, those are just rumors of the people nearby. Dra. Marilou Constantino is a doctor of medicine, a physician and surgeon. She lives in the ancestral house with her fifteen dogs.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, an agency from the government, offered to preserve this historical site, but the owner refused as she wanted to keep her ancestor’s properties private, thou the house is always open to those who would like to visit and learn the history that it had witnessed.
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