Aguinaldo Shrine : The House of Independence

 
     Cavite is a large province in the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila bau in Calabarzon region ( Region IV-A)  in the luzon island.   It is one of closest provinces from Manila and also the most populous provinces in the Philippines.
     Cavite doesnt have alot to offer to travelers and tourists.  Tourist spots and historical landmarks are relatively few.   Even so Cavite is often visited by tourists because this is where the most popular and significant  historical landmark can be found - the Aguinaldo Shrine.

     The Aguinaldo Shrine is not only well known in cavite but it is known all throughout the country located in the Kawit Cavite.   It is considered  as the most significant historical place because this is were the declaration of the Philippines from spain in June 12, 1898.  This is the white mansion of the 1st President of the Philippines, General Emilio Aguinaldo. 

General Emilio Aguinaldo 

     General Aguinaldo was  a leader of the Katipuneros ( revolutionaries ) in cavite. He strongly resisted the spanish who colonized  the Philippines. He also lead the Katipuneros to fight the americans during the Filipino-American war.  General Aguinaldo was officialy recognized as the first and the youngest president of the Philippines and the first president of  a constitutional republic in Asia.   He was also the architect of his own house which is now known as the Aguinaldo shrine.

History and Background:

Translation:

The house of Aguinaldo
1849

This house was built in 1849. This is where General Emilio Aguinaldo was born in March 22, 1869.  Facing the road looking out the window,  Aguinaldo declared the Independence in June 12, 1898.  The house was donated to the Philippine government to remember those who fought for the independence.  This site where the shrine stood is also the place where Aguinaldo was buried in February 16, 1964.

The Aguinaldo house in 1850s

     The  Aguinaldo shrine  is one of the Philippine's most distinguished and prominent  historical land marks. The mansion was constructed in 1845 . It was just a huge hut made of wood and thatch .  Aguinaldo was born here on March 22, 1869.  The house of Aguinaldo has gone through  alot of reconstruction.  The last modification was around the 1920s which transformed  the house into a humongous white mansion with victorian inspired  style.   Few years before his death, Aguinaldo donated his mansion to the Philippine government and this site was made into a national shrine after his death in 1964.   His tomb can be found behind the mansion.

      I always wanted to see this great mansion  once more. The first time I visited the historical site was during highschool in one of our borring field trips way back 1988.   I could hardly remember the details and the only thing I remember was the bowling alley in the mansion. When I had a chance  I simply went back to the mansion to see it again after all these years.
     The national shrine is also known as the home of Philippine independence.  It was said that General Aguinaldo remodelled his house into a much bigger white mansion from 1919 to 1920.  The story of revolution is written in it's architectural details and interior design.  Before his death,  he donated the estate to the Philippine government to perpetuate the spirit of 1896 revolution against the spanish.


The Aguinaldo Park:

     Just adjacent to the Tirona highway,  the Aguinaldo park was constructed in front of the white shrine.  The Aguinaldo park is the first thing that you will see when you get to the place.  Here, you can actually see the black statue of Aguinaldo on top of a black marble pedestal riding a horse.   Surrounding the statue are black walls of marble and written on the walls is the act of proclamation of independence of the Filipinos in spanish and english together with signatures of well known cabinet members during that time.


The Balcony:

The balcony is the most significant part of the mansion this is where Aguinaldo waved
the Filipino flag while proclaiming  the independence from Spain in June 12, 1898 as ilustrated below. 

Illustration of the proclamation of independence. Actually there was no balcony when the flag of the Philippines was waved there was only a window   In 1920 , Aguinaldo remodelled the whole house and place a balcony to give emphasis of the exact location of the part of the shrine where the proclamation of  Independence took place. 

In June 12, 2018, the Philippine independence day was celebrated.
Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte stood on this balcony to commemorate the celebration of Independence day.  A statue of  a water bufalo was built as a support to the balcony. 

Museum ( Ground level ):

The bowling alley

      The first thing that any one would notice is the bowling alley once you entered the white mansion.   The ground floor as a museum tells and depicts the chronological events of Aguinaldos activities from early years of revolutionary government up to his capture by the americans  during the Filipino-American war.  These event are arrange into four respective galleries.   The ground level features a variety of collections and objects that were used by General Aguinaldo himself.

Canes that were used by Aguinaldo 

Diorama of the battle of Alabar

The foot wears of Aguinaldo 

Other stuffs used by Aguinaldo. 

The bomb shelter:

This is a concrete shelter was a short well that had an underground tunnel leading to the church. Later,  the well was sealed with cement and turned into a mere shelter because strangers would use the well to enter the Aguinaldo's home..

Resting stone

General Aguinaldo used this rock as a some sort of object to sit on.  He was found sitting on this rock when he was captured by the Americans in Isabela during the Filipino-American war. 

Museum ( second level) :

The stairway to the second level museum

     The second level is the living space of the Aguinaldo's mansion.  Here similar  to the victorian inspired house of the 19th century; the grand hall, bedrooms,  dining room and kitchen can be found.   As you observe the second level,  you'll  be amazed how every section are made intricately and very detailed.  One could really tell how lavish and wealthy the Aguinaldos were.

Bedrooms of the Aguinaldo daughters

The bedrooms of Cristina Aguinaldo-Suntay (above),  Maria Aguinaldo-Pablete (middle), and Carmen Aguinaldo-Melencio (below)  forn part of the family wing and was the fashion in the early 20th century furniture were mixture of European, Chinese and Filipino styles.

The Amate ah tay bed in Carmen's room was made in the 19th century.

The General Aguinaldo's bedroom

The widowed  General  and his second wife, Maria Agoncilo occupied  this bedroom.  Found in it are secret passages.   The hat rack near the second floor entrance is secret door leading to his bedroom.   Behind his closet is a wide opening which is another secret exit.   Inside the bathroom, a floor panel and door leads to the swimming pool. 

The medicine cabinet

A built in medicine cabinet with old bottles of medicine that Aguinaldo used. 

The grand hall

This spacious hall has three sections ceiling featured are dove,  the sun motif and mother Philippine-icon referring to the Filipino desire for the independent nation. 

Reception hall

Journalists, politicians and important guests requiring privacy with the General were lead into this room. 

The balcony of sinners

The General playfully named the place as such because this is where the revolutionaries plotted military strategies.

Dining room

The family dining room has elegant  dining tables where the General entertained his special guests.   On the ceiling is a relief map of the Philippines and the cavite province was painted red because it was the center of the revolution.  Above the glass windows are portraits of the Aguinaldo family. 

Family dining room

This is not just a dining room, this is also a secret way out in case of danger.  To make a quick escape,  one must raise the dining room's heavy table top revealing a passageway to the underground shelter.

Kitchen

       Visiting the the national shrine of Aguinaldo was like going  into a library of history but there are no books.  Every collection and the interior design will unravel the amazing stories and events that took place back then.  One has to be wise in order to see and find out what they are conveying.  It is trully amazing that up to now, the shrine still standing as a living legacy to all Filipinos.  Something  that we can be proud to share to the world.

The General's  tomb

Sources:

nchp.gov.ph> museum > emilio aguinaldo
www.tripadvisor.com
gmaonlinews> aguinaldo shrine


Direction:

     From Cubao or Pasay, you can take a bus to Bacoor and get off at SM Bacoor.   From SM Bacoor, take a mini bus going to Cavite city and drop off at the Aguinaldo shrine.

Museum of Aguinaldo

Address: Brgy.  Kaingen, Kawit Cavite 4104
Tel no.:  (046) 4847643 / +63 9176564132
Email: museoniemilioaguinaldo@gmail.com
Telefax: (046) 4847643
Meseum hours:  Tuesday - Sunday 8:00 am to 4:00pm