Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Once upon a time, dalagitas in delicately designed ternos sat around the sala mayor, surrounded by opulence-—gleaming heavy chandeliers, furniture of intricately carved woodwork, and hand-painted ceilings. Nearby, the piano and the harp stood aside silent, overcome by the hushed giggles of the young maidens talking about last night’s caller. He came to see the eldest, and the visit was strictly supervised. The young couple sat on a loveseat that had a completely open backrest to make sure that eager hands didn’t wander. Both were intoxicated by the smell of the champaca wafting in through the wide wood-panel ventanillas.

This is a picture of romance and sweet propriety. Sadly this is an image that lives only in the pages of our history books. These characters are now ghosts and only their memories linger. But in a house made of stone, found in the middle of the 20-hectare lush campus of the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) in Cavite, these playful spirits live, calling out to you. Come take a step back to the days of old. You are cordially invited to a tertulia, and you need not bring anything but your imagination.

In the Museo De La Salle, you are invited to step into the era of the 19th Century to live the life of the ilustrado. The Museo is nestled in the quiet campus of DLSU-D. This academic community may also be mistaken as a contained universe where old ghosts roam. Quarried stone-paved roads lead to buildings of Spanish colonial architecture. The streets are lined by abundant trees that form cool canopies for the rushing traffic of students. Here, in the verdant grounds of DLSU-D, the two-storey lifestyle museum stands proud as a reminder of the past and the pride of the Spanish colonial elite.

Envisioned by the late Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, former DLSU president, the lifestyle museum serves as an educational gallery reflecting the vanished ilustrado way of life. It is open not only to students but to anyone who wishes a peek to the past. Established in 1996, the Museo was built to "to encourage its use in cross-disciplinary learning and growth in an academic environment and to provide a living space illustrating Philippine culture."

The Museo is patterned after some of the best examples of the 19th century bahay na bato in the country, including the ancestral homes of the Constantinos in Bulacan, the Arnedo-Gonzalez family in Apalit, and the Santos Joven-Panlilio clan in Pampanga. The house is made of stone, brick, and mortar at the ground level. The second floor is usually made of wood. To keep the ground floor cool, the tile roofed structure is walled with adobe. The fachada, typical of the period, is characterized by wide tall doors, iron grilles on the windows, and ventanillas lined with balustres de torno, bandejas, and molduras (mouldings).