AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

Some heritage towns in the Philippines carry an architectural style distinct from what was prevalent in Manila and most parts of Luzon. Silay, a city near Bacolod in Negros Occidental, is famously called the “Paris of Negros” for its unique Art Deco heritage mansions and structures that have survived through the centuries. The same style is also evident in some of Iloilo’s heritage mansions such as the famous Molo Mansion, which features the same classic colonial architecture but with graceful arches, high ceilings, and intricate carvings. Nelly’s Garden, the so-called “Queen of Iloilo’s Heritage Houses”, evokes Beaux Art and boasts a sprawling garden that was tended by the late Doña Elena Hofileña Lopez.