Roaming around the Philippines, you can see a lot of Spanish-style ancestral houses as the country was colonized by Spain for 333 years. But did you know that there is an ancestral house in Cebu that was built in the 17th century by the Chinese and still stands today? That’s the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, which combines Chinese and Spanish architectural designs. Its roof almost resembles that of a Chinese temple.
Touted as one of the oldest residential structures in the Philippines, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is hard to miss in Cebu City’s Parian village. The house was built in 1680 by Chinese merchants.
Today, it is still family-owned, but open for tourists to see and witness the house’s antiques and curios, such as ceramics, four-poster beds, and sculptures.
Cebuanos also usually refer to this ancestral house as “Balay nga Bato ug Kahoy,” since it is made from strong molave wood and coral stones. It was also once restored using those same materials and was put together with the use of egg whites, believe it or not.
The Philippines’ tourism department said the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House has been able to maintain 90 percent of its original state despite earthquakes, typhoons, and other calamities.
Yap-San Diego Ancestral House Location
The Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is located at 155 Mabini Street, Barangay Parian, Cebu City.
How to Get to Yap-San Diego Ancestral House
From Mactan Airport or the port area, you can easily take a cab and let the driver know you are going to Parian, specifically the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House.
If you want to save, take the local public transportation. From the airport, just take MyBus (fare is 50PHP) and tell the driver to drop you off at Parkmall. From there, take a jeepney with route code 01K (fare is 15 PHP) and tell the driver to drop you off near Yap-San Diego Ancestral House at the corner of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Zulueta St. Walk your way to the site.
If you’re coming from the port, go outside the port and take a jeepney with route code 01K (fare is 15 PHP). Tell the driver to drop you off near Yap-San Diego Ancestral House at the corner of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Zulueta St. Walk your way to the site.
Best Time to Visit Yap-San Diego Ancestral House
Since the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is an indoor landmark, you can visit it at almost any time of the year. But be sure to coordinate with their staff as it may not be open at some parts of the year.
Also, if you wish to avoid the big crowds, visit the house during off-peak season. There are usually thicker crowds during the holidays.
Yap-San Diego Ancestral House Entrance Fees
Yes, there is an entrance fee to Yap-San Diego Ancestral House. The regular admission is 100 PHP (~2 USD). However, senior citizens and students are entitled to a discount. They only need to pay 50 PHP (~1 USD) to get inside the house.
Yap-San Diego Ancestral House Opening Hours
The Yap-San Diego Ancestral House is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
