Heritage Sites

BALÉ HERENCIA
Sto. Rosario St. corner Lacan Dula St. Angeles City

This house was constructed in 1860 by a Spanish Agustinian Friar named Padre Guillermo Gomez Masnou, O.S.A., who was then the parish priest of Angeles. When he was transferred to Spain in 1877, the house became the property of his mistress-Doña Patricia Mercado of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga with whom he had six children.

When Doña Patricia died in 1900, the house was inherited by a daughter-Doña Maria Teodora Gomez who was married to Don Filomeno Santos. She was more popularly known as Doña Mariquita and before the Philippine Revolution of 1896, she opened up a catechism school at the ground floor.

In 1901, the same ground floor was rented briefly as the first public school of American “THOMASITE” teachers - Mr. John W. Osborn and Miss Marion Huff.

When Doña Mariquita died in 1954, the house was inherited by her eldest son – Mr. Francisco G. Santos who later used a room at the second floor as his office for his insurance and first automobile dealership in town. He also leased out the ground floor as office space for the Bureau of Land Transportation.

Upon his death in 1965, the house was inherited by his son – Mr. Francisco “PAQUITING” Santos, Jr.

In 1986, ‘PAQUITING” sold the structure to Mr. JOSE G. PARAS, JR. for a considerable amount. Mr. Paras immediately undertook the restoration of the old edifice and brought it back to its former glory. Presently, it is being used as a function hall for historical, cultural, artistic and other social activities.

THE “CAMALIG” – 1840
292 Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

“CAMALIG” is Capampangan for granary. It was constructed in 1840 by the town founder’s son and the first town mayor of Angeles (1829) – DON CIRIACO de MIRANDA y DE JESUS. The “CAMALIG” was an adjunct storehouse to Don Ciriaco’s “BAHAY NA BATO” (stone house) that was erected nearby also in 1840. It was used to store rice grain and muscuvado sugar in heavy “PILONES” large, wide-mouthed clay jars) from the vast HACIENDAS” of Don Ciriaco. It continued to be used as a granary up to 1960 – a span of 120 years!

In 1973, Mr. Arnando Nepomuceno y Henson, a direct descendant of the De Mirandas had the bright idea of converting the “CAMALIG” into a unique “PIZZERIA” that was destined to be the FIRST in Capampangan history to create purely Capampangan PIZZAS dubbed as DOY’S DELIGHT which features slices of distinctively ‘CAPAMPANGAN LONGGANIZA” (local sausages), “EBUN A BURU” (salted duck eggs) with onions and pickle relish on a thin and crispy crust! Since then, up to the present, ARMANDO’S PIZZA of the “CAMALIG” continue to enjoy popularity with its DOY’S DELIGHT and other mouth-watering versions of pizzas.

BALE CUAYAN – 1892
Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

This house was built in 1892, mostly of bamboo, sawali and nipa. It was constructed by Don Mariano Vicente y de Miranda, the grandson of the founder of Angeles, as a rest house of a sick son, Don Manuel.

In the late 1890’s, Don Julio Valenzuela – a Tagalog commercial photographer from Sta. Cruz, Manila, rented the ground floor as his first provincial photographic studio.

In August 1899, at the height of Philippine American War, the house was used as a barrack by the American invaders, who ripped-off all its sawali windows, attached wooden legs on them and used as sleeping cots.

In 1902, a son of Don Mariano – Don Jose P. Henson organized the first brass band of Angeles, which was put under the baton of Prof. Regino Hererra, who practiced in the house regularly. In 1909, the “BANDA DE ANGELES” won the First Prize in a competition at the Manila Carnival. The winning piece was “CREME DE LA CREME”
By Tobani.

The ownership of the house was transferred to Doña Carlota Concordia Henson y Leon Santos in 1909, a sister of Don Jose, when she married Don Jose Ma. Fermin Ganzon y Gonzales.

During the Japanese occupation, the house served as quarters for Japanese invasion forces in January 1942 and again as officers’ quarters of the Imperial Japanese Army from October 1944 to January 1945.

This house also served as the provincial art studio of Prof. Vicente Alvarez Dizon of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts and of Yale University, U.S.A., whose painting “AFTER THE DAY’S TOIL” won first place in 1939 at the Golden Gate International Exposition and World’s Fair in San Francisco, California. 79 countries participated in this IBM – sponsored painting competition, Salvador Dali of Spain won the second prize.

When Doña Carlota died in 1964, the house was inherited by her adopted daughter – Mrs. Ines Lutgarda Henson y Saide Vda. de Dizon. When she died in
_____ the “BALE CUAYAN” was inherited jointly by two of her children – Mr. Daniel Antonio Dizon y Henson and Mrs. Josefina Olegaria Dizon y Henson de Henson.

THE FOUNDER’S HOUSE – 1824
# 770 Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

This house was constructed in 1824 by Angeles founder – Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda, and his wife, Doña Rosalia de Jesus. Much of the wood came from their original house in Barrio Cutcut which they built in 1811.

In 1840, after their deaths, the house was inherited by their daughter - Doña Juana de Miranda who was married to Dr. Mariano Henson, LL.D. they bequeathed it to their son – Don Mariano Vicente Henson.

When Don Mariano died in 1917, the house was inherited by his son – Don Jose Pedro Henson. After his death in 1949, the house was inherited by his son – Don Vicente N. Henson who later bequeathed it to his daughter – Ms. Rosalie Henson who was married to Mr. Sergio T. Naguiat, Jr. and are the present occupants of the “BALE MATUA” ( Old House ) – a typical 19th century “ BAHAY NA BATO “ The Founder’s House is the oldest edifice in Angeles City.

THE HOLY ROSARY PARISH CHURCH – 1896
Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

Construction of this edifice began in 1877 on a parcel of land donated by a grandson of the town founder-Don Mariano Vicente Henson y Miranda and his wife, Doña Asuncion Leon Santos. The workers were residents of the town and were made to work under the Spanish Government’s “POLO y SERVICIOS” – a form of forced labor that required all native males, from ages 16 to 60, to perform manual work for free for 40 days each year and providing their own daily food. Also, for a period of almost 20 years during the construction period, all villages of Angeles were required to provide 200 chicken eggs a month per village, as a cohesive ingredient in the mortar mixture for “cementing” the stone blocks of the edifice. The stone blocks were individually hand-hewn and were quarried from Bo. Mancatian, Porac, Pampanga. The thick galvanized iron roofing was imported from England.

The church construction was initiated by the Spanish Agustinian parish priest M.R.P.F RAMÓN SARRIONANDIA, O.S.A., who hired a Spanish builder from Manila, an architect named Don Antonio de la Cámara. Don Antonio’s church design was Central European Romanesque and the height of the bell towers is 35 meters. The construction was completed on 12 February 1896 and at that time it was the tallest church building in the province of Pampanga. In 1897, Spanish soldiers used the church grounds at the back as execution area for condemned Filipino rebels.

During the Philippine Revolution, the belfries were used as watch towers by Filipino revolutionists, especially by Gen Venancio Concepcion in 1898 and by Gen. Antonio Luna and Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in 1899. When the U.S. Amy Gen. Arthur MacArthur captured Angeles in August 1899, he converted the church into a military hospital. Again, the belfries served as watchtowers and GATLING machine guns were installed for added protection. The Americans finally vacated the church in 1904 and moved to Fort Stotsenburg in Bo. Sapangbato.

During World War II, in the early 1942, Japanese invasion forces briefly used the church as motor pool and garage. It also served as a stable for Japanese Army war horses.

At 9:30 a.m. on 07 January 1945, during a massive American Air raid on Japanese installations in Angeles, and Clark Field, An American “MITCHELL” B-25 bomber flew low over Angeles after being hit by Japanese anti aircraft cannons at Clark Field. Out of control, the smoking bomber plowed through the roof of the church then crashed into a big fireball in front of the Holy Angel Academy nearby, killing it’s entire crew of six. The ill-fated bomber, named “SAG HARBOR EXPRESS” was piloted by a 2nd Lt. Arthur P Browngardt, Jr., a native of Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY
Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

The original structure was constructed around 1880 and was intended as the “CONVENTO” of the parish priest. It is connected to the base of the north belfry of the church, and the priest could enter the church through the doors in the first and second floors.

On august 15, 1918, the native parish priest, Rev., Fr. Juan Almario moved out of the “CONVENTO” because native Agustinian nuns converted it into the “COLEGIO DE SAGRADA FAMILIA”, coming from a smaller school building beside the church built for them in 1910. This move was due to a bigger enrolment. The parish priest was provided with a new residential house as his “CONVENTO” on what is now Funeraria Angelina. The Agustinian nuns were still using the Spanish language as their medium of instruction and using Spanish books.

In the early 1920’s, the Bureau of Education mandated that English become the medium of instruction in all school levels nationwide. Since the Agustinian nuns knew no English, newly arrived Benedictine German nuns who spoke English fluently took over the school and renamed it HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY on 15 June 1922.

Around 1934, the Benedictine nuns hired a local architect-builder and had the school renovated and had a new façade design. The Angeleño architect was Mr. Teofisto Ganzon y Aquino – a nephew of Gen. Servillano Aquino.

In early January 1942, during the opening days of the Japanese land invasion, Imperial Japanese Army Troops briefly used the school as barracks. Again, in late January 1945, an Imperial Japanese Army Tank Battalion known as the “YANAGIMOTO BUTAI” made the school as Command Post, before attacking the American liberation forces invading Clark Field.

In 1989, the HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY inaugurated its high school annex at Brgy,. Cutcut, due to a bulging school population.

THE DEPOSITO
Sto. Rosario St., Angeles City

The “DEPOSITO” (warehouse) was constructed in 1899 by Don Jose Pedro Henson y Leon Santos – a great grandson of the town’s founder. The building was used as a depository of costly silver-gilt religious floats and statues of Jesus and other saints +owned by the Henson clan, in between the town’s several religious festival processions.

In August 1899, at the height of the Philippine-American War, when the Americans captured Angeles, the “DEPOSITO” was commandeered by the U.S. Army and converted it as a military jail for errant U.S. soldiers.

It was in this building that the then notorious U.S. Army ex-soldier, Pvt. George A. Raymond, was jailed after his capture and while he was on trial by a U.S. Military Commission. He was later found guilty of murder, robbery and rape, and was sentenced to death by hanging. Minutes before he was executed in public at the Angeles Town Square at Bo. Talimunduc ( now Brgy. Lourdes Sur ), Pvt. Raymond requested to be baptized in the Roman Catholic faith. The then town parish priest, Padre Vicente Lapus climbed up the gallows and baptized the condemned man which he named “DIMAS” ( St. Dimas ) in honor of the biblical Good Thief who stole heaven at the last moment of his earthly life. Pvt. Raymond was destined to be the first and last American in the Philippines to be executed in public. He was hanged at afternoon on 27 Sept. 19901.

In 1904 the Americans vacated the “ DEPOSITO” having moved to Camp Stotsenburg in Bo. Sapangbato, Angeles , Pampanga.

From 1945 to 1946, during the American Liberation of the Philippines, the U.S. Army 11th Film Exchange rented the building.

From 1947 to 1953 the U.S. Army 1129th Military Police Co. used the building as its town jail.

From 1954 to 1965 the 13th U.S. Air Force used it as its town jail, or the 13th Air Force Police Sub-Station.

From 1967 to 1978 the building was rented by the Bureau of Post as the Angeles Post Office.

From 1989 to present, the owner – Mrs. Evansuida Nepomuceno y Henson Vda. de Lim gave permission to his son, Dr. Roy Lim, M.D. to convert the “DEPOSITO” into the Angeles City Rehabilitation Center - the first physical therapy clinic in the City.

Suggested itinerary for Heritage tour of Angeles City

10:00am - 11:am
PAMINTUAN MANSION
(The seat of the short lived Philippine Independence where the First Anniversary of our Independence was celebrated)

11:00am - 12noon
CENTER FOR KAPAMPANGAN STUDIES
(A center that promotes Kapampangan heritage and culture)

12:00 - 2:00pm
LUNCH AT BALE HERENCIA
(built in 1860 by carpenters from Ilocos Sur. Due to its colonial ambiance, it has become the favorite venue for many occasions)

*FULL KAPAMPANGAN BUFFET
*LUNCH TO BE PREPARED BY CHEF/ARTIST CLAUDE TAYAG

2:00pm – 2:30pm
FOUNDER'S HOUSE
(The oldest structure and the best preserved ancestral house in the city)

2:30pm – 3:00pm
MUSEO NING ANGELES
(Built in 1922, it was formerly the old City hall, it was converted to a Museum that showcases the history, lifestyle and culture of the Angelenos. It would soon house the first culinary museum in the Philippines.

3:00pm – 4:30pm Halo Halo buffet at Claude Tayag’s House (optional)

4:30pm - 5:00pm
HOLY ROSAY PARISH
(Constructed in 1877 to 1896, was used by the US army as a military hospital in 1899 to 1900)

5:00pm – 5:30pm
CAMALIG (old grain house built in 1840)

5:30pm – 6:00pm Pasalubong Shopping