Saturday Afternoon at The Balay Negrense

T’was a Saturday afternoon of the Masskara Festival ’09 in Bacolod City, but we found ourselves ruminating at Don Victor F. Gaston Ancestral House in Silay City. Had a great time musing over how the sugar barons had lived a fine living in the past. Though, have been in this place before but it’s nicer the second time around.

Just found out that colonial lifestyle highly observed separation between two sexes. Real conservative, huh! How’s that? In the house, you’ll see the majestic stair as the focal point. It has a grand staircase leading to the upper floor wherein there's a stop for a quick rest or paseo, and then it was split into two stairways going up to the second floor. Each stairways was used accordingly by both sexes.

All the while, I thought it was a mere passageway protocol, an entrance/exit or up/down scheme just like the escalator in the mall. But, it’s not. The two sexes should go up and down in their own respective stairways. Forgot to ask if the women used the right or the left stairways. So, therefore, I conclude that the separation of male and female at the entrance of all malls in the city were patterned from this. Hahaha, just a pun!

It’s indeed a big house, but they had only one or two common comfort and bathrooms for the entire household of at least 15 persons. But, oh well, they were able to managed it.

I’ll not expound any details here. It’s for you to discover. There's a lot to see in this place. It's all worthwhile visiting.

Oh, by the way, the house is for rent for any special occasions.

Venue: The Balay Negrense Museum, 5 de Noviembre, Silay City

Accessibility : High via public transport @ P10 from Bacolod City