ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
MWF/10:00-11:00 AM
BAHAY NA TISA, PASIG CITY

Pascua, John Vincent L AR. Valencia

Submitted By Submitted To
 Located in the city of Pasig, it is the oldest bahay na bato in
existence in the city called Bahay na Tisa literally translating
Brick House. It was built by Don Cecilio Tech y Cabrera in the
early 1850s. It has been home to seven generations of the Tech
family and has been witness to significant historical events in Pasig
and in the country. The direct descendants of Don Cecilio are still
in residence. During Martial Law, it was called Freedom House
because both factions of the political spectrum can use the house
as a venue for their meetings. It was also at one time the unofficial
San Jose Barangay Headquarters at one time. Art exhibits were also
held here. On the other hand, the Bahay na Tisa is also home to the
Santo Nino de Pasion. More so, every Sunday after Easter, the sick
people of the town gathered inside the house to receive the Holy
Communion and the benediction of the Parish Priest (Viatico
Publico).

The Bahay na Tisa has huge blocks of adobe for the ground
floor walls which served to carry the load of the hardwood
floorings of the second floor. The roof was originally tisa but was
destroyed during World War II and was replaced with corrugated
asbestos roof. The windows were made of capiz shells. Due to its
antiquity and unique character as a bahay na bato in the urban
setting, the Bahay na Tisa has been a favorite venue for many
movies and TV serial one of the most notable being the Centennial
Offering on the National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
 Below is the recent image of the Bahay na Tisa. It still has the
huge blocks of adobe for the ground floor walls that carries the
hardwood of the second floor which was still also there. The
window made out of capiz shells were still there yet some of the
shells were already gone from their frames. The wooden fencing on
the side is now made up of concrete. The area is now surrounded by
houses yet its antique character will linger through the area as long
as it stands.