For heritage preservation enthusiasts, it would definitely be of no surprise that the historic City of Vigan, situated in Ilocos Sur, would rank as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines that visitors would adore to set foot on its nostalgic splendor. A so-called heritage village, 405 kilometers from Manila, Vigan has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1999 for both its distinctive Spanish colonial history in Asia and its impressive collection of 16th-century Spanish-built structures.
Fortunately, the town of Gapan in Nueva Ecija, one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1595, has now been transformed as a must-see location for advocates of nostalgia. Lurking inside this town is a place called “Old Gapan” or “Lumang Gapan”, a tourism project in 2021, which was spearheaded by Gapan Mayor Emeng Pascual, in order to reawaken interest in the city’s historic roots.
With a total travel distance of only 90 kilometers from Manila, we now explore “Old Gapan”, dubbed as the “Little Vigan” by loads of netizens out there.
The Three Kings Parish, the canonical name of the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora, was established in 1589. It is the oldest and largest colonial church in Nueva Ecija, and one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the nation.
The Cuison Ancestral House is also known as Doña Martha Cuison ancestral house, her husband is Mr. Agustin Cuison who is part Chinese. She is well-known for her charitable work in the area.
Munting Bulwagan, a postwar house, is the home and office of the Zabat Band, the first local brass band in the Philippines, which gives free music lessons to kids. It was Eliodoro Chico y Bustamante, a Tagalog priest, who organized the first local band in Gapan, Nueva Ecija on November 22, 1820. He installed his relative, Lorenzo Zabat y Chico, to manage the band. Mariquita Garcia Gutierrez Zabat is the spouse of Lorenzo Zabat.
Casa Payawal is owned by Gervacio Payawal.
Casa Peralejo is connected to the clan of actress Rica Peralejo.
This is the Silvino Valdes - Bárbara Agno House. According to actress Eula Valdes, a great-great-granddaughter of the couple, her great-great-grandparents built the house in the 1800s.
Casa Payawal was originally owned by Exequiel Payawal. It was later sold to Carmelita Pita Cabatuando, and then to Joe Taruc, the famous broadcast journalist, and is now owned by Gapan Mayor Emeng Pascual.
The old municipal building of Gapan has the years 1732 and 1896 on its doorway with a gun and sword. This was restored by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines back in 2017. The building also served as the Post Office of Gapan City. This was also used to be a school owned by the Bauzon family. It also served other functions, such as the Court of First Instance, Telegraph Office and Municipal Prison.
The former Southern Nueva Ecija College building is now owned by the Bauzon family.
Casa Morales was originally owned by Doña Vicenta Morales. Later, it was sold to Doroteo Liwag.
The Casa De Teodoro Navarro y Matilde Garces Navarro was built in 1927 by Teodoro Navarro, whose initials can be seen in a doorway of the house. His wife is Matilde Garces Navarro.
Casa Morales is owned by Luís Morales.
Casa Morales is owned by Dr. Arsenio Morales.
Casa Mendoza is owned by Dr. Bienvenido Mendoza, a dentist.
This is the Nida Blanca Ancestral House. Dorothy Jones (a.k.a. Nida Blanca) was born in Gapan to an American soldier Jose Zobel Acueza Jones of mestizo descent and a Filipino mother with Tagalog roots, Inocencia Velez Guinto.
Cap your historical day by travelling less than 6 kilometers from Gapan as you arrive at the Sideco House, located at Vallarta Street, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. During General Emilio Aguinaldo's stay in San Isidro, the house owned by Captain Crispulo Sideco (Kapitan Crispulo "Pulong" Sideco) served as the de facto residence and office of Aguinaldo as president.
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