VIGAN KALESA TOUR-VILLA ANGELA HERITAGE HOUSE

 

Manong kutsero brought me to the old house called Villa Angela Heritage House where the local movie “Maruja” was filmed.

Villa Angela Heritage House personifies the charm of old world Vigan. It is located along Quirino Boulevard.  Gobernadorcillo Agapito B. Florendo had it built in 1870 in a 2,000 square meter property.

Upon entering the garden of Villa Angela, you will see a wooden carriage, said to have been used by Irene Marcos, daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos. It was allegedly used to transport her to Sta. Monica Cathedral in Ilocos Norte on her wedding in 1983.

Villa Angela counts among its visitors Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. This heritage house is said to be where Tom Cruise stayed in 1989 while he was filming Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July. A picture of him with the owner hangs in one of the main rooms.

Villa Angela’s living room area has huge windows made of capiz or windowglass shells. There visitors can rest in big, old wooden chairs called butaka while imagining listening to the victrola (old phonograph) or giant harp that decorate the living room together with antique oil lamps and jars.

In the dining room or comedor, visitors will also see many antique dining and kitchen objects like copper pots, porcelain and china ware. There is even a huge old jar that was used to keep food fresh or chilled, much like a refrigerator.

Effort has been made in each room to keep the ambiance of the old Spanish period. That’s why Villa Angela has been used also for the filming of the movie “Jose Rizal.”
 

Villa Angela is opened to the public, as venue for weddings, birthdays, baptismal parties, workshops, meetings and other important gatherings. They specialize in catering traditional Ilocano food to guests and participants.

They are now also a bed and breakfast hotel. All the rooms are air-conditioned, with private baths and cable television. Breakfast is included in the rates. Guest  may choose to stay in the rooms with verandas and four-poster canopy beds.

Note: This is not a paid post. The author is a travel blogger and her passion is traveling on a shoe string. The Villa Angela tour is one of her stop during her kalesa tour.