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Inside The Home of General Emilio Aguinaldo–An Independence Day 2012 Special Post

The Proclamation
In the presence of a huge crowd, independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898 between four and five in the afternoon in Cavite at the ancestral home of General Emilio Aguinaldo some 30 kilometers South of Manila.
Source: Wikipedia

As the Philippines celebrate its 114th Independence Day, let me give you a short tour INSIDE the house where the historical proclamation happened.  Here’s sharing some photos I took when I had the chance to visit the ancestral home of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

The Bowling Alley. The first bowling alley built in this town.

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The bedrooms of the Aguinaldo daughters. 
  • The first room nearest to the stair is for Cristina Aguinaldo Suntay
  • The middle bedroom is for Maria Aguinalso Poblete
  • The largest of the three bedroom is for Carmen Aguinaldo Melencio
They are located in the family wing.  As was the fashion in the early 20th Centrury, furnishings and accessories were a mixture of European, Chinese and Filipino styles.  The ornate Ah Tay bed in Carmen’s room was made in the 19th Century: The Philippine Art Nourveau and Art Deco furniture in Cristina’s and Maria’s rooms during the 1920’s and 30’s.

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Some parts of the daughters bedroom.

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General Aguinaldo’s Bedroom.

The widowed General and his second wife, Maria Agoncillo occupied this bedroom.  There are secret passages in this bedroom. The hat rack near the second floor entrance is a secret door leading to this bedroom. Behind his closet is a wide opening, it is another secret exit.  Inside the bathroom, a floor panel and a door lead to the swimming pool.

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Formal Dining Room (The Grand Table)

Aguinaldo’s special guests dined on the large wooden tables during important occasions and parties.   On the ceiling is the relief map of the Philippines.  Above the window are paintings on glass portraying his wives and children (no images here)

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The Family Dining Room. The Kitchen

To make a quick escape, one raised the heavy table top revealing a passageway to the underground shelter.
Conveniently beside the family dining room are the kitchen and the servant’s quarter on the mezzanine.  Iceboxes are built into the wall.

In the kitchen, eight different recipes were prepared at the same time.  The largest gatherings were held for the annual Independence Day celebration every June 12.  Veterans of the Revolution, from Luzon to Mindanao, flocked to the Aguinaldo mansion.

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The Sala

It is adorned with symbols of the revolution. The walls are decorated with photographs of Aguinaldo and American presidents and paintings relating to the General’s life during the revolution.

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A ceiling wood relief depicts a sun with eight rays and an inscription at the center that says “Agosto 30, 1896, Ley Marcial Contra las Provincias de.”

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Bomb Shelter

At first, this concrete shelter was a short well that had an underground tunnel leading to the church.  Soon, the well was cemented and turned into a mere shelter because strangers would go to the well and enter Aguinaldo’s house.

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Kris and knives given by the datu, father of Princess Tarhata to Gen. Aguinaldo during the revolution.

And here’s some more…
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I intentionally did not include in this post the outer part of the house because I remember that I commonly see them in other blog posts.  What I shared here are the ones that are less mentioned from other posts about the Aguinaldo House.

Also, I did not make any improvements on the photos.  I don't believe in camera tricks, photo shops and the likes when it comes to this kind of story.  They steal the reality of the scenes.  The "dim atmosphere"  in these photos are real.  They are exactly how they look when you enter the Aguinaldo Home.  Mysterious isn't it?

There is so much history in the Aguinaldo House and it's impossible to cover them in a single post.  I hope I could share more to you in the future.

The Aguinaldo House in Kawit Cavite is one of the most visited and well-preserved historical landmark in the Philippines.  It is under the management of the National Historical Institute.  It is open to public from Tuesdays to Sundays except holidays, between 8:00AM - 5:00PM.

Comments

  1. Amazing place and its really more fun in the Philippines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree with you! More fun in the Philippines!
      Thanks for the visit :)

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing this sis I've learned so much :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome sis. I'm glad you found it informative :)
      THANKS for the visit!

      Delete
  3. We are also planning to visit Aguinaldo Shrine one of this days

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    Replies
    1. Hi good to know that! It's a worthy visit. This house is really informative and amazing :)
      THANKS for the visit!

      Delete
  4. Thank you so much for this. Nakalimutan ko na lahat about our history and good to be reminded. And at least nakapunta na ako dyan through your blog. mag celebrate din kami mga pinay ng independence day dito. sa JUne 16. So I hope I can share a nice post about the celebration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome Joy!
      I'm glad this post could be of help. Ha ha please do visit when you have the chance.
      I'm excited to know how your celebration would go :) THANKS for passing by.

      Delete
  5. Wow! Jam-packed sa history-telling Balut, ikaw na! Sarap magbasa kasabay sa pagtutour sa loob ng mansyon. Naaliw ako dun sa mga secret doors and passages.. dami ko pa natutunan sayo Madam hehe. Happy Independence Day!

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    Replies
    1. THANKS Gracie. Naku hindi ko na nga sinama about the outer details of the house kasi karamihan ng older blog posts about this house is yung mga outer ang pinapakita. So para maiba naman yung "inside" naman :)
      Happy Independence Day to you too! SALAMAT sa dalaw :)

      Delete
  6. Ang saya naman, more info! ang galing lang ng mga secret passages! katakot lang yun bahay para saken, parang haunted! hehe..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I intentionally didn't include the outer part of the house because that is the usual details you can find from earlier blog posts. As I've said para maiba naman I made it an "inside tour".

      One more thing. the "dim" effect of the photos is natural. I didn't photo shop to make make the photos brighter because I wanted to share how the house exactly looks like when I share it. So that is the real dimness when we're there.

      THANKS for the visit :)

      Delete
  7. hindi pa ako nakakapunta diyan...pero parang nakapunta na rin katulad ng sinabi ni Joy dahil sa blog post mong ito..tinayaan ko talaga sa suwertres lotto ang 114 kaso ang lumabas ay 441....manalo sana ako ng rambol...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hehehe, sana kasi sinubukan mo lahat ng combination... balato sana

      Delete
    2. Hello Arvin salamat naman at nagustuhan mo etong post ko. Pero I suggest pumunta ka pa rin for you to see it personally.

      Ha ha katawa naman yang 114/441 na yan. Salamat sa dalaw :)

      Delete
    3. at talaga namang may lotto suggestion ka pa Lawrence ha ha!

      Delete
  8. we're very much near there but honestly i never been inside aguinaldo's house
    haha
    happy independence day by the way

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. pasyalan mo naman MEcoy ha ha. Happy Independence Day sin sayo. Salamat sa pagdaan :)

      Delete
  9. as usual, siksik sa nilalaman ang post na ito. hmmmm, gusto ko na tumira sa bahay na yan...... errr. pwede kaya? wahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SALAMAT Lawrence. Pwede naman siguro. Ang saya siguro dyan lalo sa gabi he he .
      SALAMAT sa pagdaan :)

      Delete
  10. As always...Nice one again Balut. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. THANKS! and thanks also for passing by :)

      Delete
  11. Wow!thanks for taking me back to history Sis. Sana makapasyal din dyan one of these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome sis :) Hayan pwede na kayong isang grupo na mag tour ha ha
      SALAMAT sa pagdaan sis :)

      Delete
  12. Thanks for sharing us the history Sis...Hope makapunta ako dyan one day...too bad di ko talaga na explore ang Pilipinas...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're welcome Mhie :) spare some time when you come home so you can compare Pinas vs. the place you visited. THANKS for passing by :)

      Delete
  13. I'm green with envy. I'm a history buff and would give up nearly anything to become a heritage travel blogger. I'm pretty sure my family took me to the Aguinaldo residence when I was little but I was too young to remember :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi I've just read your comment now because it went to the "spam comment folder". anyway, I suggest that you go visit the Aguinaldo home now and I assure you, you will enjoy the experience :) it might be a good start for you to be a heritage travel blogger.

      I just came from your site and I sincerely enjoyed reading your posts so I followed you in GFC then I'll put you in my blog roll.

      THANKS again for the visit and see yah around!

      Delete
  14. wow very timely post, nakapunta ko dito nung high school pa ko, and looking at your photos, maganda pa rin ang preservation nila sa bahay ni Pres Aguinaldo :)

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    1. oo nga McRich. isa nga daw eto sa mga well preserved historical landmarks. siguro naramdaman mo rin yung feeling na parang nasa Aguinaldo time ka rin when you are inside the house.

      THANKS for the visit. I hope you're having a great time being back in Pinas na :)

      Delete
  15. I never been there. Ganda ng tulugan! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hurry up Marco explore it na! it's worth the time and attention :) THANKS for the visit!

      Delete
  16. Ganda ng bowling alley... I wonder pano bumabalik yong bola, may pulot boy kaya? Parang tennis eh no hehe...

    Napuntahan ko na Intramuros...Sana makapunta rin ako dyan...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sa bowling alley rin ako amazed. baka shifting yung mga watch men ni Heneral (joke). Yung bahay kasi na eto eh my watch tower na patulis di ba? may naka-bantay daw dun na watch man tamang tama lang sa pagkka-upo (or something like that) so baka meron din dito sa bowling alley.

      punta ka na lapit lang naman sa Manila ang Kawit. Pa-picture ka naman ng stolen na "Pahiga effect" dun sa bedrooms ng mga daughters. lolz

      Delete
  17. This is an awesome post and a great website. Really nice job!

    I really would like to visit the Aguinaldo house, it is beautiful with all the (nara?) woodwork and has an amazing history. The secret passages and the bowling alley are amazing. I often wonder how the old structures that are wooden have been protected from termites over all those years (maybe that type of wood is naturally resistant?).

    My wife is a Pinay (we live in the U.S.) and we love to travel in the Philippines with our little daughter, who is now almost 9. Your website will be very informative to us, because as a young family we love all of the adventure, waterparks, beach resorts, nature and "roughing it" etc., and I also am really fond of history... following you on GFC and looking forward to reading more. Please stop by my blog any time; I have a lot of posts about our travels in the Philippines.

    Ingat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for your awesome feedback, appreciate it much :)

      The Aguinaldo house is just a few hours drive from Manila so if you happen to visit again in the Philippine and landed in any Manila airport (not Cebu airport), I think it's manageable to have a quick visit.

      The bowling alley is really my favorite part of the house (explains why its photo is on top ;). You're right about narra :) The secret passages are really amazing considering that it is built in the 1800. And yes that type of wood is naturally resistant, plus the people in charge really took extra care in preserving this house.

      I had a quick tour at your site just now and I've read three posts. So far my favorite is about your daughter's trip to a Philippine public school - I have a lot about to say about that post so I'll come back later and leave my comment there!

      I find your site very interesting and I really appreciate your articles about the Philippines not because of the good things you say about our country but because of your perspective to our humble country.

      I put you in my blog roll so I can regularly follow your updates, I'll follow you in GFC later. Again, thank you for appreciating my humble site and I'm really glad that you found it informative.

      Regards to your wife and daughter., see you around and ingat!

      Delete
    2. Wow, thanks so much for your follow and for your wonderful reply. I really do appreciate your blog and I am certain I will learn much from it and enjoy it. I'm a real history "freak" whether it's U.S. or Philippines, and I want to learn as much as I can about sites in the Philippines for ideas where we'll visit in the future, so I really appreciate your articles as well. Glad to hear you've enjoyed my articles about the Philippines too!

      Best regards to you and your family; looking forward to reading more!

      Delete
    3. Thanks again Buzz :) and likewise I look forward to reading more at your blog!

      Delete
  18. Ganda naman! Galing ng pagka preserve nila. Naalagaan talaga mabuti.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oo nga sis super. Puntahan nyo ng "gang" mo yan at dun mag pose ang mga cute tsikitings ha ha. Salamat sa pagdaab :)

      Delete
  19. Thanks!
    Ok. I'll see what I can do. But you may want to invite them directly by following their links from here.
    THANKS for the visit!

    ReplyDelete
  20. a bowling alley!!! ;)

    thanks for the tour, I'm from Cavite and unfortunately di ko pa nabisita yan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strike yes!!!

      You're a bad Caviteáą…a sis ha ha. Anyway that would be an easy add to your itinerary when you have your next homecoming :) THANKS for passing by dear :)

      Delete
  21. Your style is really unique in comparison to other people
    I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this page.
    Also see my site - nur hier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi THANKS!
      I've visited your blog but it's not in the English language. I suggest you put a "translate" button to it so anybody will understand the content of your site :)

      Thanks again, you are welcome to vist back anytime :)

      Delete

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