Persistently standing along McArthur Highway in front of the Balagtas Municipal Hall is an old house familiar to the locals as “Bahay na Tisa.”
Boasting of an 800sqm interior and an exterior made up of exquisite colonial designs, the ancestral house was built during the 1800s. The first owner of the house was Captain Valentin Constantino, one of the richest men in the town of the then-known Bigaa.
“The house is near the municipal hall, near the church, the lake, the market, the street…” Dra. Marilou Constantino, descendant of Capt. Valentin, articulated. “Aba, mayaman ang lolo ko.”
Boasting of an 800sqm interior and an exterior made up of exquisite colonial designs, the ancestral house was built during the 1800s. The first owner of the house was Captain Valentin Constantino, one of the richest men in the town of the then-known Bigaa.
“The house is near the municipal hall, near the church, the lake, the market, the street…” Dra. Marilou Constantino, descendant of Capt. Valentin, articulated. “Aba, mayaman ang lolo ko.”
Dra. Constantino was a physician and surgeon when she was younger, and the grand-daughter of the great Capt. Valentin. She is the sole caretaker of the old house, along with 15 dogs for her and the house's security.
It is the same house that served a temporary home to Jose Rizal during his visit to Malolos, according to the young Constantino.
“Dito tumira sila Jose Rizal at Josephine Bracken noon, nung bumisita siya sa Malolos,” said Constantino. “Masyado kasing malayo ‘yung bahay niya kaya siguro ganun.”
It is the same house that served a temporary home to Jose Rizal during his visit to Malolos, according to the young Constantino.
“Dito tumira sila Jose Rizal at Josephine Bracken noon, nung bumisita siya sa Malolos,” said Constantino. “Masyado kasing malayo ‘yung bahay niya kaya siguro ganun.”
BETWEEN HEARSAYS AND THE REAL TRUTH
Dra. Constantino laughed off the rumors that there is a Yamashita treasure beneath the house.
“Natatawa ako ‘pag naririnig ko ‘yun,” the old physician and surgeon smilingly said. “Wala naman talaga, pero oo, natirhan din ‘yan ng mga hapon noon pero jusko, wala.”
The old woman also elaborated how disappointed she is when people just throw things at her old house.
"Aba akala yata nila wala nang nakatira dito," said she. "May mga loko-loko pang mga umiihi diyan, kahit mga pulis, sinasaway ko 'yan."
"Historical ang bahay na ito," Constantino continued. "Hindi naman alam ng mga kapitbahay ko 'yan, wala naman silang pakialam."
And amid all the speculations of the locals about her colonial ancestral house, the old doctor said that what she has been telling to those who visit the place personally is 'the truth and nothing but the truth.'
"Ito lang ang totoo," she said. "What I tell is the truth, and nothing but the truth."
NO PLANS TO TURN THE HOUSE OVER
Various ancestral houses all over Bulacan are being brought down for modernisation purposes, with some of them left being taken care of the National Historical Commission. However, Dra. Constantino has no plans of giving her old house to the hands of the government.
Dra. Constantino laughed off the rumors that there is a Yamashita treasure beneath the house.
“Natatawa ako ‘pag naririnig ko ‘yun,” the old physician and surgeon smilingly said. “Wala naman talaga, pero oo, natirhan din ‘yan ng mga hapon noon pero jusko, wala.”
The old woman also elaborated how disappointed she is when people just throw things at her old house.
"Aba akala yata nila wala nang nakatira dito," said she. "May mga loko-loko pang mga umiihi diyan, kahit mga pulis, sinasaway ko 'yan."
"Historical ang bahay na ito," Constantino continued. "Hindi naman alam ng mga kapitbahay ko 'yan, wala naman silang pakialam."
And amid all the speculations of the locals about her colonial ancestral house, the old doctor said that what she has been telling to those who visit the place personally is 'the truth and nothing but the truth.'
"Ito lang ang totoo," she said. "What I tell is the truth, and nothing but the truth."
NO PLANS TO TURN THE HOUSE OVER
Various ancestral houses all over Bulacan are being brought down for modernisation purposes, with some of them left being taken care of the National Historical Commission. However, Dra. Constantino has no plans of giving her old house to the hands of the government.
"Ay naku, hindi," said Constantino. "Wala akong balak ibigay sa kanila ito. Pag-aari ito ng pamilya ko."
When asked why, the old woman said,
"Gusto kong mapanatili itong pribado, baka kasi kung ano lang nilang gawin sa bahay na ito."
Constantino admitted that she has been attached to the old house already, and one proof is staying behind in the Philippines to take care of the vintage place.
"Ang pamilya ko, nasa Amerika, nandun na sila lahat," said Constantino. "Ako lang ang naiwan dito, nag-aalaga ng bahay at mga aso ko."
"Ako lang ang nagme-maintain nyan," she continued. "Ako lahat 'yan, 'pag may konting repairs, ipapagawa, pero 'yung paglilinis, ako lahat 'yan."
Constantino said that her house is always open to those who would like to visit it and the history that it had witnessed.
"I am always open to those who would like to come here, especially students," she ended.
When asked why, the old woman said,
"Gusto kong mapanatili itong pribado, baka kasi kung ano lang nilang gawin sa bahay na ito."
Constantino admitted that she has been attached to the old house already, and one proof is staying behind in the Philippines to take care of the vintage place.
"Ang pamilya ko, nasa Amerika, nandun na sila lahat," said Constantino. "Ako lang ang naiwan dito, nag-aalaga ng bahay at mga aso ko."
"Ako lang ang nagme-maintain nyan," she continued. "Ako lahat 'yan, 'pag may konting repairs, ipapagawa, pero 'yung paglilinis, ako lahat 'yan."
Constantino said that her house is always open to those who would like to visit it and the history that it had witnessed.
"I am always open to those who would like to come here, especially students," she ended.