I had the chance to visit the
humble Town of Balingasag in Misamis Oriental during my usual work+travel itineraries on September
2013. The town is notable for its ancestral houses built in the 18th
and 19th century.
The oldest and I should say the most famous of all the ancestral houses in Balingasag is the Vega ancestral house. According to the locals, it was build around 200 years ago and made primarily of one of the Philippines' strongest molave tree. The design of the house is common of the 18th and 19th century houses but one thing that makes this unique and notable are the sculpted wooden men on the four outside corners of the house which looks like carrying the second floor.
Another interesting fact, the house is owned by the late Maria Clara Vega Jimenez. She is the mother of Letty Jimenez Magsanoc – Philippine Daily Inquirer Editor and the late Lourdes Jimenez Carvajal better known as Inday Badiday, a famous talk show host in 1980’s.
How To Get There
Read the detailed Travel Guide here going to Cagayan de Oro City here.
From Cagayan de Oro City. Ride in a bus bound to Butuan or Gingoog City. Tell the driver/conductor to drop you in eskina going to Balingasag's Poblacion. From eskina (crossing) ride in a tricycle/padyak or walk going to the Poblacion proper. Ask the locals on where is Vega Ancestral house. Take note that there are a lot of ancestral houses in the town.
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I am a frequent traveler from Surigao City to Cagayan de Oro and had passed by Balingasag for the nth time already. Your post has given me more reason to say to my driver to pass by the Vega Ancestral house in my next travel to the City of Golden Friendship.
ReplyDeleteHi Sir Edelito!
DeleteThanks for dropping here :)
Nung first time ko mapadaan dyan natigilan talaga ako sa ganda nung design ng bahay kahit luma na. Sayang ala ako dalang cam. Dami ko na nakita na lumang bahay pero first time ko makakita ng designs na ganyan - very unique yung 4 wooden sculptures sa bawat kanto ng bahay :) Then a day after may photo exhibit sa Centrio Mall sa CdeO, nakita ko naman photo ng bahay na yan with tag "Inday Badiday's Ancestral House" - a week after sakto dumaan ulet kami dyan - nakunan ko na ng photos :)
You should drop sir- very interesting!
Ayyyy! You know what bro, I am a fan of old structures (exp. those with cultural and historical significance). This post if making me smile!
ReplyDeleteLike Kuya Ed, I've passed by Balingasag n times, but never thought of blogging about it haha Nice photos! I like old structures too!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me MISS Balingasag. I consider this town my second home during college days. This house is very popular in Balingasag and I think considered as one of the attraction there.
ReplyDeleteThis gave me the reason to visit Balingasag. Thanks!
ReplyDelete