“Antique House” some call it. Others know it as the Carriedo Mansion. This old structure stands within the PUP Institute of Technology. It silently witnesses the daily lives of students.
The Carriedo Mansion once served as the home of Don Francisco Carriedo y Peredo. He was a philanthropist from Spain. He also became Governor-General of Manila. Born in 1690, he passed away in 1743.
Don Francisco earned admiration for overseeing Manila’s first water system. This was back in the 18th century. His legacy is significant to the city.
The Carriedo Mansion eventually came under the care of PUP-Manila. The National Development Company gave its properties to the government in 1989. The mansion’s first floor housed the PUP College of Technology.
However a 2010 report by the Commission on Audit revealed the Antique House was in advanced dilapidation. This was due to its age. Sadly it seemed those in charge did not maintain it well. Now it is fenced off. This protects those within PUP ITech.
Many have forgotten or avoid the history of the Carriedo Mansion. Yet it holds untold stories beyond its broken windows and rusty roofs. If its history is rebuilt it will not be ignored again.
Imagine Don Francisco Carriedo walking these halls. He would oversee his philanthropic projects. He’d ensure Manila’s water system was running smoothly. He would receive guests in a grand sala mayor filled with laughter.
The lifestyle within the Carriedo Mansion would be predictable. In the morning the Don rises for thick chocolate. He then dictates letters in his despacho. Dons rarely wrote themselves. He joins his family for breakfast in the comedor.
At noon his carriage awaits for business downtown. He returns home for lunch and a siesta in the cuarto. At four the mayordoma prepares merienda in the caida. In the late afternoon he takes his family for a paseo outside the city walls.
At six the Angelus bells ring. The family stops for oracion then recites the rosary in the oratorio. From seven the family welcomes visitors. They enjoy brandy and tertulia in the sala mayor. Supper is served at eleven. Guests leave before midnight. The Don smokes his last cigar on the azotea. The watchman’s boots echo through the night.
The Carriedo Mansion embodies a bygone era. It speaks of a life of both grandeur and simple pleasures. It reminds us of a man who cared deeply for Manila. His legacy lives on.
Though now faded the Carriedo Mansion stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of Manila’s rich history. It also reminds us of the importance of preserving our heritage.