Gabriela Silang home converted as Candon City museum

By Freddie Lazaro

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – The an­cestral house of the family of first Filipino woman revolutionist Doña Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang, or more known as Gabriela Silang, in Barangay San Antonio was restored and converted as the Candon City Museum. The ancestral house, also dubbed as Cariño family house, was one of the 20 old houses in Candon City that survived during World War II.

These houses were earlier documented as city’s heritage houses and treasures through the initiative of Ilocos Sur 2nd District Congressman Eric D. Singson. 

On Thursday, Tourism Secretary Berna­dette Romulo-Puyat, Congressman Singson and Executive Director Ludovico Badoy of the National Historical Commission (NHC) formally opened the Cariño house as the newest Candon City Museum.

 The museum’s inauguration was held before the launching of the first-ever Candon Music Festival held in Barangay Bagani Campo, Candon City. “Given this historical background, this edifice stands as a reminder of Ilocano pa­triotism and reflects as Spanish influence on every facet of Filipino lifefrom our national identity, culture, traditions, religion, and, of course, cuisine,” said Secretary RomuloPuyat in a press interview.

 Considering its historical significance, Congressman Singson partnered with the NHC for the immediate restoration of the Cariño house. The descendants of the Cariño family donated the house to the city govern­ment of Candon to make it as city museum. For the full restoration of the Cariño ancestral house, the NHC spent at least P20 million