Malacañang of the North
Malacañang of the North is now a Presidential Museum
In the late 1970s, the President of the Philippines has two Presidential Houses, the Malacañang Palace in the country's capital and one from the north which is called Malacañang of the North located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
Malacañang of the North is a two-story mansion that is inspired by Spanish-style houses during the Spanish colonial times of the country.
Locals called these Spanish-style houses "Bahay Kastila" because its style is very popular during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
Did You Know?
The Philippines was under international rule three times. The first was under Spanish Rule that lasted from 1521 to 1898. Second is by the United States of America from 1899 to 1946. The third is by Japan during World War II from 1941 to 1946 when the Japanese army occupied the Philippines.
During the span of 1941 to 1946, the Philippines was still under the rule of the United States of America then the Japanese occupied the Philippines basically putting the country under two international rules at the same time, by the Japanese and the United States of America.
Foreign Influences
The Spanish colonization of the Philippines has the biggest share of international influence in the Philippines. Almost more than 80% of Filipinos are Catholics. Most of the names of the Filipinos have their roots in Spanish names (i.e. Felipe, Ramos, Salvador, Alberto, Fernando, Jose, Ruiz). There are still plenty of Spanish-style homes particularly in the northern part of the Philippines.
Our ancestral house was also Spanish-style
The Americans brought to Filipinos the game of Basketball. English is the Philippines' second language (mostly taught in school and at home). Most Filipinos were able to speak, understand, and write in English. If you go here to the Philippines you would notice that most words that you can read everywhere are in English making the Philippines an English-friendly country.
Malacañang of the North
The Travel
Our visit to the Malacañang of the North was actually a part of our Ilocos travel that lasted for less than a week during the Holy Week which is the perfect time to travel because of the long vacation.
Before visiting the mansion we agreed that we should go there early in the morning to avoid the crowd so that we will be the first to enter enabling us to take photos so that there will be no photobombers during our photo-ops.
Yep, that's me at the bottom and near the center
Presidential Bedroom
I remember that we were very quick on our feet during our visit because crowds are beginning to arrive. We quickly scour the first floor then proceeded to the second floor. There, we found the bedroom of the former President of the Philippines and his former First Lady.
The room is quite elegant considering that it was built in the late 1970s making it nearly half a century old.
As you can see in the photo the bed was covered with a blue bedsheet with five yellow pillows on top of two blue large pillows.
On top of the bed are maroon and white clothes that were worn by the former President and the former First Lady during bedtime.
Bedroom of the 10th President of the Philippines and His First Lady
The second floor is mostly made of wood (from Narra trees), a type of wood that not even a termite was able to consume.
Presidential Son's Bedroom
Below is a photo of the bedroom of one of the two children of the former President. A portrait of the former Presidential Son is at the center. (This bedroom was actually located on the first floor)
Bedroom of the only Son of the 10th President
Paintings, Furniture, and Displays
The mansion is visibly has a lot of paintings on its walls on the second floor. One painting depicts the main source of living of locals, which is farming making the Philippines is an agricultural country.
A Farmer's Painting at the Main Hall
Paoay Church Painting
Paoay Church is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the Philippines because of its beauty. The real name of the church is Saint Augustine Church, locals started to call it Paoay Church because it was located in the town of Paoay in Ilocos Norte.
It was built during the Spanish Colonization period of the Philippines. It is now UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Paoay Church's Painting at the Main Hall
A Bamboo Frame
Bamboo is one of the most abundant types of crops in the Philippines commonly used in building bamboo houses (Bahay Kubo) in the Philippines.
The Bamboo Frame that you are seeing in this photo reminds every Filipino visitors of one of our most world-famous heritage, the Bahay Kubo.
A Bamboo Frame for Holding Photos and Displays
Memories of Yesterday
In this photo are numerous photos of the former President and his former First Lady during their heydays. A wedding photo is also in this photo.
Photos of the 10th President of the Philippines and His First Lady
Photo of the 10th President of the Philippines and His First Lady
The Main Hall
The main hall is where you can find a lot of space, obviously built to hold functions during its heyday. Old chandeliers, tables, and chairs can be seen. They are old, but still a sight to behold.
The Main Hall
First Lady's Painting in Filipiniana Dress
Below are paintings of the former First Lady in her Filipiniana dress. The Filipiniana dress is very popular during the Spanish colonial period and still used today whenever a formal government function is held.
A Painting of the Former First Lady
A Painting of the Former First Lady
A Painting of the Former First Lady
Paintings of the President
The photos below are paintings of the President during his time as the President of the Philippines.
A Painting of the 10th President
A Portrait of the 10th President
Personal Belongings
The photo below shows the personal belongings of the First Family that they used.
In this Photo are the Luggage Bags, Clothes, and Chest Used by the Former First Family
Office of the President
Here's a photo of the Office of the President where he mostly does his job whenever they are staying at the mansion.
Presidential Office of the 10th President
The Balcony
This section of the mansion is one of the places that I would like to stay for a long time since sitting or standing on it give you a view of the Paoay Lake couple with a soft and cool breeze also coming from the lake.
At the Balcony
Facing Paoay Lake
This section of the site is one of my favorite sections of the place wherein you can see the whole mansion in its glory.
Section of Malacañang of the North Facing the Paoay Lake
Provincial Seal
A photo of the seal of the province of Ilocos Norte. In the seal are the images of Paoay Church, Windmills, Rice, and Corn (rice and corn are the main products of the province).
Trivia: Ilocos has the biggest Wind Farm in Southeast Asia.
Seal of the Province of Ilocos Norte
Group Photo and Jump
Finally, after scouring the mansion we decided to have a group photo outside of the mansion that is facing Paoay Lake.
Of course, some of my family members did waste this opportunity to take a jump shot with Paoay Lake in the background.
Group Photo Near Paoay Lake
Jump Shot Near Paoay Lake
And that was it if you feel nostalgic visit the mansion. Oh, I forgot to mention that there's an entrance fee. Don't worry I took a photo (below) of the entrance fee for you guys. See yah!
Entrance Fee
I am an I.T. professional (Computer Engineer) working in a private company, a blogger, a father, and a husband.
