Gov. Gwen Garcia led the blessing and inauguration of the newly restored heritage house in Brgy. Ylaya, Dumanjug in southern Cebu.
The Capitol spent P1.7 million pesos for the restoration works of the old house which was built in the 1850s along Dumanjug’s Heritage District — or a section of the barangay where old houses still stand.
Victor Tan Jr. said he donated the house to the provincial government for posterity in 2011 during Gov. Garcia’s third term in office because he wanted their ancestral house to be preserved, and for future generations to come, see, and appreciate the antique things inside.
In her speech, Gov. Garcia thanked Mr. and Mrs. Tan for their family’s donation since it would certainly add cultural and tourism value to Dumanjug. She promised that the Capitol will see to it that the house will be properly maintained and cared for.
The restoration works done on the Tan ancestral house further solidifies Dumanjug’s rich cultural heritage as the Garcia family is likewise spending private funds for the restoration works on their old ancestral house located nearby.
The Garcias originally come from Dumanjug where Gov. Gwen and her siblings were raised. As such, Dumanjug has been rightly hailed as “Home of the Governors” after having produced three chief executive officers of the Capitol in Gov. Dionisio Jakosalem (from 1906 to 1912), Gov. Pablo Garcia (from 1995 to 2004), and Gov. Gwen Garcia (from 2004 to 2013; and from 2019 to present).
Seventh district Congressman Peter John Calderon, Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica, as well as the other district mayors; and Board Members Cesar Baricuatro and Doc Stanley Carminero were some of the officials present. | Klariza Mariz Capa, CNU Broadcast Journalism Intern