Ancestral houses of the Philippines, or Heritage Houses, are homes owned and preserved by the same family for several generations as part of Filipino family culture."Filipino Culture" . Filipino Planet. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. This follows a longstanding Filipino tradition of being reverential to ancestors and elders. Houses can range in size from simple houses to mansions.

The most common houses are in the bahay na bato ("stone house") style. Some houses of prominent families have become points of interest or museums in their community because of their cultural, architectural, or historical significance."Best Filipino Ancestral Houses". Traveler on Foot. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.Tacio, Henrylito D. (October 12, 2010). "Ancestral Home in the City" . Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. These houses are deemed of significant importance to Filipino culture and are declared Heritage Houses by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), previously known as the National Historical Institute (NHI) of the Philippines."Republic Act No. 10066 – National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 27, 2010. Preservation is of utmost importance, as some ancestral houses have become endangered, due to business people who buy old houses in the provinces, dismantle them, then sell the parts as ancestral building materials for homeowners wishing to have the ancestral ambiance in their houses.Henares, Ivan (July 19, 2006). "Stop the sale of ancestral homes!". Ivan about Town. Retrieved on October 29, 2011. These ancestral houses provide the current generation a look back to the country's colonial past.

National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009

In 2009, the Congress of the Philippines passed the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, or Republic Act No. 10066, to strengthen the protection of the country's cultural treasures, including houses under "Built Heritage". Ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP are still privately owned. The government only declares the heritage value of the structure and provides funding for its protection and preservation.(2010-09-03). "No ownership change in 'RA 10066 declaration'". Inquirer.net. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. Ancestral homes that have figured in historical events such as the Bonifacio Trial House in Maragondon, Cavite,"Bonifacio Trial House". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011. or houses of national heroes of the Philippines such as the Juan Luna Shrine"Juan Luna Shrine". National Historical Commission. Retrieved on October 27, 2011. in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, are categorized as National Shrines or National Historical Landmarks."Shrines and Landmarks". National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. Historical markers are affixed to the houses by the commission to indicate their significance."Touring the Ancestral Houses of Silay, Negros Occidental". Travelog Philippines. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. The Philippine Registry of Cultural Property maintains a record of all cultural properties of the country.Bonvito (April 23, 2010). "Text of the Philippine National Cultural Heritage Law" . Time Traveling. Retrieved on October 26, 2010.

List of Heritage Houses of the Philippines

Here is partial list of ancestral houses declared as Heritage Houses by the NHCP, some with declaration dates, grouped regionally.(2010-04-01). "Philippine Registry of Cultural Property – Built Heritage". Ivan About Town. Retrieved on October 26, 2011. Many are of bahay na bato architecture.

Region I In the Ilocos Region, the historic city of Vigan is the best preserved Spanish colonial settlement in the country. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Syquia Mansion in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, home of former president Elpidio Quirino

Region III

In Central Luzon, there are two historical town centers declared by the NHCP as historic town centers: the Malolos Heritage Town in Bulacan, declared as such on August 15, 2001, and the San Fernando Heritage District in Pampanga, declared in 2004.

Malolos Heritage Town National Historical Landmark (NHL):

Doña Alberta Uitancoy Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan Don Hermogenes Reyes Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan Gobierno Militar de la Plaza, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan now Meralco Malolos Office. Don Antonio Bautista Mansion, Calle Paseo del Congreso, Malolos, Bulacan oldest house existing in Malolos. Don Jose Bautista Mansion, Calle Sto Niño, Malolos, Bulacan Don Ramon Gonzales de Leon House, Calle Cigarillera, Malolos, Bulacan DR.Luis Uitangcoy Santos Mansion, Calle FT Reyes, Malolos, Bulacan Guillermo E.Tolentino House, Calle Sabitan, Malolos, Bulacan with NHCP marker Don Arcadio Ejercito Mansion, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan Don Erastro Cervantes House, also known as Secretaria de Guera, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan Don Jose Chichioco-Cojuangco Mansion, Calle Paseo del Congreso, Malolos, Bulacan with NHCP marker Don Fausto Chiong Mansion, Calle Pariancillo, Malolos, Bulacan Mariano Crisostomo, Calle Estrella, Malolos, Bulacan Don Mariano is uncle of Marcelo H.Del Pilar Pineda House, Calle Jarino, Malolos, Bulacan 1930 Lomotan-Jacinto, Calle Sto Nino, Malolos, Bulacan

San Fernando Heritage Zone

Augusto P. Hizon House in San Fernando, Pampanga Dayrit-Cuyugan House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)(2005-04-15). "San Fernando: a city rich in architectural heritage". Indung Kapampangan: Preserving our Kapampangan Heritage. Retrieved on October 29, 2011. Henson-Hizon House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27) Hizon-Singian House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27) Lazatin House in San Fernando, Pampanga (2003-01-27)

National Capital Region The central part of Metro Manila was heavily bombed in World War II, which destroyed many historical structures and homes. Some pockets of old homes can still be found in Binondo and Quiapo, which were not affected by the war.Gardner, Robert (2006–04). "Philippine architecture from bahay kubo to bahay na bato". derkeiler.com. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.

Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila Casa Consulado in Quiapo, Manila Lichauco Residence in Santa Ana, Manila Mira-Nila House in Cubao, Quezon City Quezon Heritage House in Quezon City

Region IV-A

In the Calabarzon region, the center for ancestral houses can be found in the streets of Taal, Balayan, and Calaca, in Batangas province, and Sariaya in Quezon province. The town center of Pila, Laguna, with its Spanish- and American-era houses, was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2000.

Gala-Rodriguez House in Sariaya, Quezon Natalio Enriquez House in Sariaya, Quezon Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House in Sariaya Acosta-Pastor Ancestral House in Batangas City Luz-Katigbak House in Lipa, Batangas Sarayba House in General Trias, Cavite Goco House in Taal, Batangas Ylagan-de la Rosa House in Taal, Batangas Bahay na Bato Oleta Family in Pililla, Rizal

Region IV-B Declared Heritage House in Mimaropa region:

Casa Narvas in Boac, Marinduque

Region V

In Tabaco, Albay, the Manalang Gloria ancestral house—formerly the Smith, Bell, and Company House—is a prominent Heritage House.

In San Pascual, Masbate, the ancestral house of Lazaro family, is the oldest existing and the biggest house.

Region VI

Iloilo City

Iloilo City is known as the "City of Mansions", having the most number of Heritage Mansions in the country.

Arroyo House in Iloilo City Proper Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo Casa Mariquit in Jaro Casa Rizaliana in Molo Celso Ledesma Mansion in Iloilo City Proper Concepcion Chalet in Jaro Domingo Lacson Sr. Ancestral House in Iloilo City Proper Don Roque Locsin Sanson Mansion in Molo Eusebio Villanueva Mansion, formerly known as Don Julio Ledesma House, in Iloilo City Proper Ledesma Mansion in Jaro Juan Ledesma Mansion in Iloilo City Proper Kilayko Mansion in Iloilo City Proper Lizares Mansion in Jaro Locsin Ancestral House in Molo Lopez Boat House in La Paz Lopez-Vito Mansion in Jaro Loring House in Iloilo City Proper Magdalena Jalandoni House in Jaro Mansion de Lopez (Nelly's Garden) in Jaro, considered as the "Queen of Heritage Houses in Iloilo" Montinola-Jaen House in Jaro Pison Ancestral House in Molo Rosendo Mejica House in Molo Sanson y Montinola Mansion in Jaro Sinamay House in Arevalo Lacson-Yusay/Yusay-Consing Mansion, popularly known as the Molo Mansion in Molo

Pototan

Alberto Cordero House Amado Magbanua House (demolished) Andres Guanco House Apollo Cordero House (demolished) Candelaria Dayot House Federico Tirador House Fernando Parcon House Florentino Perez House Mariano Peñaflorida House Nemesio Vargas House Ricardo Ladrido House (demolished)

Roxas City Laserna House Pres. Manuel A. Roxas Ancestral House

Negros Island Region

Bacolod Generoso Villanueva House, known as "Daku Balay" (Big House), is one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the Philippines from the 1930s Mariano Ramos Ancestral House

Bago General Juan Araneta Ancestral House

La Carlota Infante House

Silay

Silay in Negros Occidental has the most number of declared Heritage Houses in the country.

Alejandro Amechazura House Amelia Hilado Flores House Angel Araneta Ledesma House Augusto Hilado Severino House Benita Jara House Bernardino Lopez Jalandoni Ancestral House Carlos Arceo Ledesma House Cesar Lacson Locsin House Claudio Hilado Akol House Delfin Ledesma House Digna Locsin Consing House Dr. Jose Corteza Locsin Ancestral house Felix Tad-y Lacson House Generoso Reyes Gamboa House German Lacson Gaston House German Locsin Unson House Jose Benedicto Gamboa House Jose Corteza Locsin House Jose Ledesma House Josefina T. Lacson House Kapitan Marciano Montelibano Lacson House Manuel de la Rama Locsin House Manuel Severino Hofileña House Maria Ledesma Golez House Modesto Ramirez Hojilla (Carlos Javelosa Jalandoni) House Severino Building/Heritage House Soledad and Maria Montelibano Lacson House Teodoro Morada House Vicente Conlu Montelibano House Victor Fernandez Gaston House or Balay Negrense

Talisay

Don Mariano Lacson Ancestral House, popularly known as "The Lacson Ruins". Inspired by Italian architecture, the mansion was built in early 1900s for his Portuguese wife. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr. and General Aniceto Lacson. General Aniceto Lacson Ancestral House is a fine example of a bahay-na-bato built in the 1880s. Its balcony has a panoramic view of the surrounding hacienda, and the house has its own chapel at ground level. He is the brother of Domingo Lacson Sr. and Don Mariano Lacson. Tana Dicang House.

Region VII Heritage Houses in Central Visayas region:

Don Vicente H. Garces Ancestral House in Talisay City, Cebu Balay na Tisa Heritage House in Carcar, Cebu Clarin Ancestral House in Loay, Bohol Mercado Mansion in Carcar, Cebu President Carlos P. Garcia Heritage House in Tagbilaran, Bohol Sa Dakong Balay / Don Florencio Noel House in Carcar, Cebu Yap-San Diego House in Cebu City (Constructed 1675) Silva House in Carcar, Cebu German Ferraren y Geronimo Ancestral House in Ginatilan, Cebu Ferolin Ancestral House in Ginatilan, Cebu

Region VIII Heritage Houses in the Eastern Visayas region:

Oppus Ancestral House now the Southern Leyte Provincial Library in Maasin, Southern Leyte

Region X Heritage Houses in the Northern Mindanao region:

Macapagal-Macaraeg House in Iligan, Lanao del Norte

National Shrines and National Historical Landmarks Partial list of ancestral houses declared as National Shrine or National Historical Landmark by the NHCP:

Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite Apolinario Mabini Shine in Tanuan, Batangas Apolinario Mabini Shrine in Pandacan, Manila