“Sampaguita” whispers through the capiz windows. It echoes the song composed within these walls. This is the Paterno Ancestral House. It stands as a testament to Manila’s rich past. Located in Quiapo the Paterno Ancestral House dates back to the 1870s. Its architecture reflects the Bahay na Bato style.
The Paterno Ancestral House once stood next to the Enriquez House. Both were on Hidalgo corner Cancer Streets. Today the Paterno House offers a glimpse into a bygone era. Imagine the families who lived here. They shaped Manila’s cultural landscape.
Look closely at the ground floor walls. They are constructed of volcanic tuff. This material was later banned due to earthquake damage. The 1880 Luzon earthquake revealed its weakness. The Paterno House is older than other houses on Hidalgo Street. Its use of adobe material suggests this. Most Quiapo houses used brick after 1880.
Notice the facade. It avoids the floral designs common after 1890. Instead it features subtle contrasts of shapes and textures. Simple capiz window panels create a checkerboard pattern. Above the windows non-operable capiz shells are framed in wood mesh. The wood and capiz contrast with Tuscan stone columns. These columns form a colonnade along the sidewalk.
The Paterno Ancestral House covers 1000 square meters. It has two courtyards. One is enclosed and located at the center. The other is U-shaped and at the rear.
This house was home to Captain Mariano Zamora and Capitana Martina Molo Agustin Paterno y Yamson. Their children Asuncion and Manuel inherited it. Later it became the residence of Maximino Paterno y Devera Ignacio and Asuncion Zamora y Paterno.
Pedro Paterno the statesman and writer lived here. His sister Dolores Paterno composed “La Flor de Manila”. You might know it as “Sampaguita”. Its melody lingers in the air.
Sadly the Paterno Ancestral House faces challenges. Informal settlers now reside here. The granite paving on the ground floor has been ripped up. The house’s condition is worsening.
Despite its deterioration the Paterno Ancestral House remains. It whispers stories of Manila’s aristocratic past. It reminds us of the families who shaped this city. It stands as a symbol of heritage. It is a treasure worth preserving.