The Historic Alberto MansionThe Historic Alberto Mansion is a Local Cultural Property - Local Heritage Site, City of Biñan; Registered Property, City of Biñan, Laguna located at Biñan City, Laguna, Region IV-A.
Interior Parts were transferred to Bagac, Bataan in 2010. Expropriated in 2017. Reconstruction started in 2018 and completed in 2019.
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Believed to be the city’s oldest surviving architecture of its type, until recently, the Alberto House in the 19th century was considerably the most prominent in the town. The house features a central portal with plasters that carry on entablature inscribed with the Spanish Insignia and the year 1575. Its heavy tilted roof constructed with pronounced arching sloped suggested of the strong Chinese influence in the architecture. One memorable event that involved this house was the visit of the Governor of Hong Kong to Biñan and the Alberto House, in 1856 of which Sir John Bowring gave a vivid description of its grand house in his book entitled, “A Visit to the Philippine Islands”. Aside from its reputation and pedigree. This architectural landmark architectural landmark had stood witness to the monumental events in the town’s historic and had been immortalized in various photographic records. The owner of this house was no ordinary person. During the 19th century, Don Lorenzo Alberto was a municipal captain of Biñan in 1824. He supervised the construction of the Fuerto De Isabel (now Evangelista Bridge), and was decorated gentleman bestowed upon with the little of “Knight of the American Order of Isabel the Catholic”, for his services to Spain during the joint French and Spanish Cochin China expedition (conquest of SouthernVietnam). He did not live to accept the honor but the little was inherited by his son, Don Jose Alberto. Don Jose, was an uncle of our national hero after whom he was named. He was educated in British India where he stayed for 11 years. He was made a Knight of the Order of Carlos III by the Spanish Regent General Juan Prim and later as Knight Commander under King Amadeo. The Saga of Alberto House received full media attention and was elevated to a national platform following the attempt to dismantle and transfer the house to the Los Casas de Filipinos de Acazar in Bagac, Bataan. While concerned citizens, heritage advocates and the City Government labbled for its in side conservation, the house was gradually dismanted from the inside resulting to its collapse in the later part of 2013. A replica of the house bearing a fraction of its original interior components now stands at Bagac, Bataan.