syquia mansion

This is in central Vigan and the entrance fee is next to nothing. We had time to walk around at our own pace and then a really informative guide found us and took us around again explaining each room and then history of the place. We really enjoyed our visit and then called at Irene's Empanadas which is on the street opposite the mansion, nice historic visit to an old colonial mansion followed by a Beef Empanada - What could be better? Not much I think.

We paid the 30 peso entrance fee to a man who turned out to be the fourth generation servant of the house. In the ground floor it was explained they used to house all the workers for the house along with animals such as poultry pigs etc. moving to the second floor you will see all the original furniture including a Murano mirror from Venice Italy . Then arrived one very nice man to give information and guide us through the house. It is still lived in today by one of the descendants of the first president after the war Quirino. He explained a few features of the house including a peep hole system from the first floor to the ground floor and another from the masters bedroom to the main sala. The four post bed had an excellent meaning of all the intricate carvings. A number of nice paintings and a beautiful terrace. Make sure you spend enough time here rather than the awful crisologo museum.

Five Korean guests and my family were patiently knocking on a Thursday Morning at around 10 in the morning dumbfounded on why it says its open from 9AM till 5PM, but the doors are closed.After around 10-15 minutes an old guy came out and told us that they were closed because of a private event yesterday and unfortunately they didn't bothered to put a proper sign to warn us from waiting.

It was our first time in Vigan we were toured around by Tricycle drivers who contracted us to pay them Php130 per hour. Our group is composed of 13 people so we didn't mind the fee as we see it as a win-win solution.Anyways, the caretaker welcomed us with much enthusiasm and vigor he told us what are the do's and don'ts while we're touring. He also gave us a brief introduction of the mansion. i did not expect him to be profound that's why i forgive that their lunch is at the gate (he's chopping onions and there's meat outside being sun dried.)We were able to understand a few Filipino sayings. We now understand how the Aliping saguiguilid came to be, because they are literally allowed to walk in the sides of the house and they cannot be seen by the owners or the guests.The saying "Aanhin pa ang bahay na bato kung ang nakatira naman ay kwago" the mansion is full of discrimination. They discriminate the guests by not allowing them to enter the house. And if they do allowed you to enter, they will still criticize you and look at you through a peep hole to check if you can enter the sala mayor. I think this trait we got from the Spanish.There's a lot to learn about the history of this house and that it has been reiterated several times that the woman in the first generation was rich not the husband. So therefore it should not be called Quirino mansion because back then he was just a poor lawyer but promised himself that he'll lived in a bahay na bato which is a status symbol. Talk about abusing his power because he was a tutor of the lady syquia and then she became his wife.

Definitely worth a visit, it gives you an impression how a very well-to-do family in Vigan lived a good hundred years ago. A guide is available upon request, I walked leisurely through the rooms and halls on my own though. A little more info would have been appreciated but can presumably be found on the Internet.

A potentially great house which is steeped in history and shows how the rich lived. The caretaker was quite disinterested and there is a lack of information on what you are seeing, so it would be worth having a local or a guide with you.

Syquia Mansion's name doesn't help with its branding. It's location is also crappy (quite a walk from Calle Crisologo and Plaza Salcedo. It's also hard to find. However, you'll be amazed by the amount of history this place holds. Make sure to get a guide when you walk in. They are a fountain of information and interesting history trivia about how Quirino and his wife (Syquia) lived in that very house. Highly recommended for those interested in Philippine and Vigan history.

I was amazed of this huge house with 6 bedrooms in it and gigantic mirrors in each. It is so spacious.

It will give you a glimpse of what it is like to be a wealthy Filipino back in the olden days. Make sure that you have a guide who can tell you the significance of each room otherwise you will just wander around looking at some dusty old things.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a glimpse of what life was like for the wealthy during the Spanish era? The fantasy comes true with a visit to Syquia Mansion.With three senior citizens, I love the fact that the tour guide is knowledgeable, engaging and patient with my oldies’ rambling commentaries and questions. This is their kind of place after all. Also because the tour is given per individual group, my oldies didn’t feel pressured to hasten their pace and could take their time as they please.It is just kind of sad that the prayer room is locked because of some previous incidents of theft. It would have been an added experience to kneel in the mansion’s prayer room and ask for intercession for a personal intention.

The caretaker is the 4th generation of caretakers for this house. He knows every nook and cranny of the house and its occupants, so you can just imagine how interesting it is to have him for your tour guide.

This was a beautiful, historical house and the tour guide takes you through it by yourselves, not in a group.

Our visit to the Syquia Mansion was very interesting. A staff from the mansion gave us a tour. The history and the stories he told us was informative. We loved the Luna replicas that were hanging on the walls of the mansion. Trivia, one of the former President Elpidio Quirino grandson still lives there.

The Syquias were one of the prominent families in Vigan, and the museum is the best preserved house in Vigan. It is actually a mansion with a stone floored second floor with a fountain! It was also the original Malacanang of the North as this is where President Elpidio Quirino, whose wife is a Syquia, resided when he went to Vigan. If there is one house to visit to give a glimpse into the past, this would be it.

Great job in preserving the house just as it was. So much history and culture under one roof. Maybe more story boards around the house just in case visitors would like to tour without a guide.