It’s been 50 years since the Manuel Hofileña Ancestral House opened its door to the public as a museum and the first inhabited house in Silay to be declared a national Historical landmark. Thanks to Ramon Hofileña, also known as the Father of Heritage Conservation in Silay, for sharing to the public their family’s heirloom pieces and his precious art collections.
Manuel Severino Hofileña and his wife Gilda Ledesma Hojilla built the house in 1934. They used ironwood or balayong for its grand staircase which is so hard that even termites could not destroy it. The furniture and furnishings at the house are all family heirlooms and authentic period pieces. The hand carved kamagong sofa, the narra four-poster bed and chairs are Spanish era. The German- Rachals piano is late 19th century.
I’ve visited the house several times and once occasion was during the Annual Cultural Tour of Negros Occidental (ACTNO) which is the longest running cultural tour in the world which Mon started in 1973.
I’m not sure if the house is more interesting than the man who lives there but a visit to the Hofileña House wouldn’t be complete without Mon to guide the tour. His impassioned tour guiding spiels and interesting stories will make you want to join his tour every year. He also has a different route and something new to share every year.
Mon used to be a swimsuit model and an athlete thus he still looked young for his age. A lot of his pictures and newspaper clippings of his days as a model adorn a corner of the house together with his other equally talented family members. Younger generations would surely recognize Rey PJ Abellana and daughter Carla. PJ is Mon’s nephew.
There are also a lot of interesting things from Mon’s collection. He has the world’s “smallest dolls”, the first pocketbooks, and tektites among others. Mon is also considered the Father of Printmaking in the Philippines and he still has a working manually operated printmaking machine.
Mon’s collection of artworks would be the envy of many collectors. He has paintings of Juan Luna, Felix Hidalgo, Fernando Amorsolo, and even a drawing by Jose Rizal when the national hero was still a young student. But what he considers as the most precious of his collection are the works of Silaynon painter Conrado Judith. A poor but talented artist whose works Mon helped promote.
During the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Hofilena house as a museum last May 3, 2012, Ramon Hofilena’s efforts were rewarded by the people of Silay through a Plaque of Recognition awarded by no less than Silay City Mayor Oti Montelibano.
A visit to Silay City will not be complete without visiting the Hofileña Heritage House. I intentionally left out some interesting collection you will see at the house. These are better seen in person than in pictures. Visits to the Hofileña house is by appointment, call tel. no. (034) 495 4561.