Caretakers: protectors of old houses

By: James Sebastian Bendijo

They say that the ancestral houses are windows to the past. It has witness history and stood over time. But as the modern day approaches, the question is if there are enough people who are willing to preserve old houses?

This writer along with other co-writers went to San Miguel, Bulacan where ancestral houses are located. Most of the old houses there are still intact but time has made them fragile.

Erlinda Evron, caretaker of Catalino Sevilla Mansion, puts her heart in taking care of the three-story house in San Miguel. She has been taking care of the slowly-declining house for 40 years.

She would ask for young men to clean the house per week because she is quite ripe in age. Although it’s difficult for her because the house could fall anytime, she said that the house is somewhat attached to her.

“Syempre, kasi dyan na ako lumaki, dyan na ako tumanda, napamahal na din ako sa bahay, para nang akin,” said Evron.

As a caretaker, she is receiving P2,000 per month for her services from the owner of the house who now lives in Quezon Boulevard.

Marilyn Roxas-Alparo, caretaker of the house of the late Claring Libunao in San Miguel, finds comfort in living on the old house. Although it’s quite hard for Alparo and her mother-in-law to preserve the house, they still love the house.

“Komportable, lalo na pag summer, yung mga windows niya sa taas, i-open mo lang yan,” said Alparo.

She assured that as long as she is living on the house, she will make an effort to preserve the old house.

Estrella Barrios, caretaker of the house of Manuel Lipana for 32 years knows the importance of ancestral houses.

Taking care of the 160 year old house that was then owned by Crispina De Leon, member of the prominent De Leon family in San Miguel is hard for Barrios but she knows that the house holds historic resemblance.

All of the three caretakers that we interviewed assured that they will protect their respective heritage houses assigned to them.