iSurprise Heritage houses of Poblacion

Oldest settlement

It’s hard to imagine now, but in the 17th century, Poblacion was a sprawling hacienda. Built Captain Pedro de Brito, a Spanish ex-army officer turned trader who made his fortune in the galleon trade. He bought the plot of marshland outside the city centre at a public auction for one thousand four hundred pesos.

One of the first things Captain Pedro did was to ask the Jesuits to build a church (Sts Peter & Paul) on top of the Buenavista hill overlooking the Pasig River. Soon after prominent local families started to build their mansions at the foot of the hill. By the 20th century, Poblacion had become a village of the well-to-do with charming timber houses dotting the streets.

Not many of these old houses survived World War II and after that, only half a dozen persisted the force of the engulfing urban jungle. Only now that Poblacion is a designated Heritage Zone, we see some examples of dilapidated homes restored to their former gracious glory.

Some of our favourites

• Tolentino House, Dr. J.P. Rizal Avenue X Ilaya
• Cu-unjieng House, A. Bonifacio Street X Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge
• Brillantes House, Ilaya X Agno
• Coronado House, A. Bonifacio Street, next to Casa Hacienda Park