Revisiting Casa Gorordo

Many of us may have visited or have passed by the place. For most, it must have  even been during an educational tour in elementary or high school when  we had our chance to sneak-peek on this heritage keep–a must do for  that ‘social studies’ curriculum (huh).

It wasn’t long before the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI)  acquired the property in the late 1970s and turned it into a museum.

As like the ordinary student then (in us), who might have just checked  out the place to comply for that history or civics and culture  requirements, probably we still shrug on this artifact until now  looking at it as just ‘one’ old edifice standing. So different from  the zealous historians, curators and experts around who have  painstakingly and industriously studied this remain.

While we are at such behavior, for all we know however, this  centuries old building is more than just an ancient edifice. Experts taught us that what lies in here are finds that trace us back to understand the roots of our culture, traits, habits, inclinations and others  particularly as Cebuanos.

During the Gabii sa Kabilin (A Night of Heritage) last May, RAFI  initiated the effort to take tourists and locals alike to heritage sites in Cebu. One of those sites was the old Spanish house- Casa Gorordo.

The house endows different rooms and other areas used by the family  for themselves and in entertaining visitors at that time. The formal  dining area was the site of special celebrations such as birthdays,  baptisms, weddings, bienvenidas and despididas, while an informal  dining area was for the family’s everyday use. Kitchen area has an  ‘abuhan’ or cooking platform paved with soil for fire proofing.  Originally found in a separate hut because of the smoke and as a  precaution against fire, it was reconstructed across the dining area.

A moderately grand staircase speaks of the family’s social status at  that time while leaning on their frugal economic status too. It leads  to the hallway or caida in the upper floor where spatial units reflect  behavioral patterns of 19th century upper class, emphasizing on  ceremonious social interactions. This is evident in the ornately  carved ‘callados’ or hanging dividers that indicate levels of intimacy.

The living room or ‘sala’ is in between the master’s bedroom and the  ladies’ room. A visible space for lovers to talk or for suitors  entertained, sit on a corner, keeping up with the conservative values  of the time. Crafted furniture, musical instruments and a spacious  library displayed along the hallway hint a laid back life. The house  also included a considerable floor space for the capilla or chapel, a  feature of the house atypical of 19th century residences.

Windows, which are generally large are made out of ‘capiz’ shell sashes,  and ventanillas are used as additional windows during hot or humid  weather.

The first floor of the house called the ‘zaguan’ or silong served as a  storage area for agricultural, food-processing, weaving and laundry  implements. The area is made of local timber and coral stones mixed of  lime, sand and egg whites called palitada.

Visitors waited for the owner the house to receive them at the  ‘descanso’, which has a gallinera, a bench with a cage at the bottom for fowl, and a rack for hats and canes for the gentry.

The large door which gives into Lopez Jaena Street, served as the main  portal of the house.

Casa Gorordo was first owned by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales and was  built in the 1850s. It was then purchased in 1863 by Juan Isidro  Gorordo, a Spanish merchant who married Telesfora Garces, a  Chinese-mestiza. Four generations of Gorordos lived in the said house,  including Juan Bautista Perfecto Gorordo, the first Filipino Bishop of  the Diocese of Cebu.

Casa Gorordo was opened to the public on December 15, 1983, making it  a pioneer in Cebu’s heritage industry. For its social and historical  significance, Casa Gorodo Museum was named a “National landmark” by  the National Historical Institute (NHI) in 1991. (With Press Release)

Bench with cage for fowl, in silong area of the house (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Rack for canes and hats for the gentry (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Hallway at the upper floor of the house (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Master’s bedroom (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

A corner for lovers and suitors, shows the conservative values of that era. (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Capilla (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Guest room (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)

Kitchen (Photo by Daxine Abala, US-CAFA Intern)