Rediscovering the heritage of Silang
The town was razed to the ground by the Spaniards in 1897, with few structures able to survive.
In one of the passageways of the upscale mall Acienda in Silang, Cavite, archival images of the town are being used as attractions, an educational tool in the rather austere, concrete canvasses.
The images — the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Church, roads, a bridge, women in baro’t saya, among others — foment feelings of nostalgia among the town’s residents and stimulate interest among visitors. This simple but meaningful project is a joint undertaking of the mall, as part of its corporate social responsibility program, and Recuerdos de Silang, an online community promoting “the rich history of the 400-year old town of Silang, Cavite, by encouraging the sharing of photos, documents, relics, information.”
Among those featured images, only the church complex remains from its Spanish colonial past as the town was razed to the ground by the Spaniards in
1897. Few heritage houses survive to this day, mostly dating from the post-war years.
STANDOUTS
Not much was left of the built heritage of the town located in the Cavite highlands except for few standouts.
In front of the town’s plaza and the church are two heritage houses dating from the early second decade of the 20th century, two of at least three remaining American period houses in town. These are the Vedar (now Garcia) and Belardo (now Cantoria) houses, standing right beside each other, the lower levels of both continue to function as commercial establishments. The lower portion of the Belardo House used to be the Silang Restaurant during the American period.
Another interesting house is the originally chalet-style abode located in the barangay of Poblacion 5. Although heavily altered throughout these years, the house still exudes an old vibe with unobstructed spaces surrounding it.
Two Gabaldon-style school buildings inside the Silang Central School also date back to the American occupation together with at least two Art Deco graves inside the Catholic Cemetery. It is in this cemetery that the revolutionary and proud son of Silang, Vito Belarmino, and his third wife Florentina were originally buried.
Belarmino’s ayudante, Engracio Salazar, also a revolutionary, was interred in the nearby municipal cemetery, perhaps due to his being a member of the Aglipayan Church.
Belarmino has a park named after him in town which features his monument and a marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Municipal hall
Other heritage structures in town include the municipio located in front of the church, near Plaza Libertad, which according to heritage advocate and local historian Phillip Medina, used to be similar to that of Indang’s but only the central portion of the facade of the original structure is discernable.
A portion of this building is planned to be converted into the town’s museum as a new municipal hall has already been built outside of the town center. The museum will feature the history and heritage of Silang including its agricultural background as it is historically produces coffee, sugarcane and later on pineapples.
Curiously, Silang has a Spanish-era dam located in the barangay of Sabutan. Built in the 19th century by the Augustinian Recollects, this dam also called Sabutan was built to irrigate portions of their Imus Hacienda which Silang was not part of.
Gardens in the highlands
Silang’s agricultural heritage is carried over today through its horticulture industry and countless gardens although a number of fruits are still being cultivated today, including pineapple and various types of banana.
The town’s ornamental plant industry dates back to the 1940s to 1950s and the business still blooms today and it was brisk during the heydays of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, many business establishments in town have garden vibes with pockets and even sprawling landscaped gardens. These include the upscale Shambala Silang events place, Farm Hills Garden Restaurant, Perlas ng Silang Garden, Chavez Estate, Marius Bed and Breakfast, and Cafe Agapita, all offering good food for the mind and body.
A pioneer in this garden-inspired atmosphere is the Balinsasayaw Restaurant which was established in the town about two decades ago and became an inspiration for other dining areas such as the equally popular Salakot.
Some subdivisions also retain their garden feel such as those located in the barangay of Inchican.
This garden culture, said Medina, is rooted in the inclination of the residents towards environmental awareness and protection.
Pampanga connection
In terms of food, Silang has no distinct cuisine but has an interesting tradition, particularly during the post-war years.
The local fiesta or special occasion fare includes menudo, budin or hardinera in other Tagalog places, and ube halaya.
For affluent families, they would hire Pampangan cooks, especially during fiestas, as the people of Pampanga were known for their culinary skills.
It was a status symbol in Silang to be able to get Pampangan cooks, said Medina who is part of a local group studying and promoting the town’s history, culture and heritage.