'Ang Pagbabalik sa Biñan,' dokumentaryo ni Howie Severino (with English subtitles) | I-Witness

Summary

The documentary revisits Biñan, Laguna, where the historical Alberto Mansion, once on the brink of demolition, now stands as a cultural hub. The mansion, linked to Philippine hero Jose Rizal's mother, Teodora Alonso, faced a decade-long battle for preservation. Through community efforts and local government support, it was saved and transformed into a public space, symbolizing Biñan's growth without sacrificing its heritage.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The documentary revisits Biñan, Laguna, showcasing its transformation into a progressive city with an active community after more than a decade.
• 🏚️ The historical mansion in Biñan, once on the brink of demolition, has been restored and now serves as a public space for performances and rehearsals.
• 👋 The local government supports the mansion's restoration and use, a stark contrast to the previous 'Do not trespass' sign and the building's dilapidated state.
• 🏛️ The mansion, once the ancestral home of Teodora Alonso, has been turned into a gallery displaying artworks by local Biñan artists.
• 📚 The cultural mapping of Biñan identified historical treasures, including the ancestral homes and the connection to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
• 🔔 The Biñan Church's bell, mentioned in Rizal's 'Noli Me Tangere,' still exists and bears the mark of a lightning strike, adding to the town's historical significance.
• 🏡 The Alberto Mansion has a complex history tied to Rizal's family, with stories of family disputes and the imprisonment of Teodora Alonso.
• 🛠️ Despite opposition and challenges, the local government used eminent domain to save the mansion, demonstrating the power of people and policy in heritage conservation.
• 🏢 The restoration of the Alberto Mansion has sparked a broader interest in preserving Biñan's heritage, with other old houses being declared heritage sites and owners volunteering for restoration.
• 🏞️ The mansion's restoration is a testament to the coexistence of progress and heritage, as it stands proudly in the middle of the city, complementing the plaza and local businesses.
• 🕊️ The efforts to save the mansion were a victory for cultural preservation, showing that growth and modernity can occur without abandoning history and identity.

Q & A

What was the initial state of the historical mansion in Biñan when the documentary was first filmed in 2011?

The historical mansion in Biñan was in the process of demolition, with the roof gone, interior elements like the staircase and floor extracted, and even the foundation being dug up.

How did the local government support the transformation of the historical mansion?

The local government of Biñan supported the transformation by making the mansion open to the public for free, providing a performance space, and allowing it to be used for various activities such as rehearsals.

What is the significance of the ancestral house of Teodora Alonso to Philippine history?

The ancestral house of Teodora Alonso is significant because she is the mother of Dr. Jose Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, and the house is tied to the country's historical and cultural heritage.

What was the role of Vicky Pacris in the preservation of the historical mansion?

Vicky Pacris, a Biñan LGU employee, was part of the cultural mapping conducted for Biñan, which helped identify the historical treasures of the town, including the ancestral home of Teodora Alonso.

What event during Rizal's childhood had a significant impact on his family's history?

When Rizal was 10 years old, his uncle Jose Alonso's wife, Teodora Formoso, accused Rizal's mother, Teodora Alonso, of attempted poisoning, leading to her imprisonment for two years.

Why was the Alberto Mansion almost demolished?

The Alberto Mansion was almost demolished due to a lack of recognition of its historical value and the property owner's intention to redevelop the land.

What efforts were made by the community to save the Alberto Mansion?

The community, led by figures like Doc Bimbo Sta. Maria, mounted a cultural protest, held musical and dramatic performances, and coordinated with the local government to save the mansion, eventually leading to its declaration as a local heritage site.

What is the significance of the bell in the Biñan Church mentioned in the script?

The bell in the Biñan Church is significant because it is said to be the same bell that Dr. Jose Rizal wrote about in his novel 'Noli Me Tangere,' and it still bears the crack from a lightning strike mentioned in the novel.

How did the local government use the power of eminent domain to save the Alberto Mansion?

The local government passed a city ordinance declaring the Alberto Mansion a local heritage site and used the power of eminent domain to expropriate the property, issuing a writ of possession to save it from demolition.

What is the current status of the Alberto Mansion after the restoration efforts?

After the restoration, the Alberto Mansion is now a heritage structure that is open to the public, with parts of it serving as a community space and a gallery for local artists, and it has become a symbol of Biñan's identity and history.

How did the restoration of the Alberto Mansion impact the surrounding community and other ancestral homes?

The restoration of the Alberto Mansion sparked interest in preserving other ancestral homes in the area, leading to some owners voluntarily restoring their properties and the declaration of additional heritage sites.

Outlines

00:00

🏚️ Resurrecting Biñan's Historical Mansion

The script revisits Biñan, Laguna, where a historical mansion once stood in ruins during a 2011 documentary. Over a decade later, the mansion has been transformed into a community space, thanks to local government support. The once-demolished house now hosts performances and rehearsals. The transformation is a testament to the city's progress and the active community's dedication to preserving its history. The mansion's past, including its connection to Teodora Alonso, an ancestral home, and its role in Philippine history, is highlighted. The story also touches on the initial resistance to trespassing and the eventual opening of the mansion to the public.

05:03

🎨 Art and Heritage in Biñan's Revitalized Space

This paragraph delves into the cultural mapping of Biñan, which identified historical treasures and natural heritage. It discusses the town's layout during the Spanish occupation, with the church and plaza at its center. The script mentions the bell of Sta. Barbara, which Dr. Jose Rizal wrote about in 'Noli Me Tangere,' and its significance to Biñan's history. The connection between Rizal's mother, Teodora Alonso, and the ancestral home is explored, along with the efforts of Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria to preserve the house's heritage and the controversy surrounding its historical importance.

10:05

👵‍🦳 The Untold Story of Teodora Alonso

The narrative uncovers the story of Teodora Alonso, Rizal's mother, and the scandal that marred her family's history. It details the accusations of infidelity and attempted poisoning that led to her imprisonment. The story also explores the family dynamics, including the role of Rizal's aunt in sheltering Teodora during her time of need. The paragraph reveals the impact of these events on Rizal's family and the broader implications for Biñan's historical narrative.

15:06

🛠️ The Struggle to Preserve Biñan's Heritage

This section recounts the efforts to save the Alberto Mansion from demolition, led by Dr. Sta. Maria and the United Artists for Cultural Conservation and Development of Biñan. It describes the cultural protest, including musical and dramatic performances, and the local government's support in declaring the mansion a local heritage site. The challenges faced by the preservationists, including public opposition and political risks, are highlighted, along with the ultimate success in saving the mansion.

20:11

🏛️ The Legacy of Doc Bimbo Sta. Maria

The script pays tribute to Doc Bimbo Sta. Maria, who played a pivotal role in the preservation of the Alberto Mansion. It recounts his passion for culture and antiques, his advocacy for heritage conservation, and his personal sacrifices to ensure the mansion's preservation. The paragraph also discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the restored mansion and the broader implications of heritage conservation for Biñan's identity and history.

25:15

🌟 Triumph of Heritage Over Time

The final paragraph reflects on the successful preservation of the Alberto Mansion and its significance to Biñan's community. It highlights the mansion's transformation into a hub for cultural activities and its role in fostering a sense of identity and pride among the locals. The script also acknowledges the loss of key preservation advocates, such as Doc Bimbo and Barbara Gonzales, and the enduring legacy of their efforts. The story concludes with a hopeful message about the power of community and the importance of preserving heritage for future generations.

Keywords

💡Biñan

Biñan is a city in the province of Laguna, Philippines, and serves as the main setting of the video. It is depicted as a place that has evolved from a town to a progressive city while still retaining its historical significance. The video discusses the transformation of Biñan and its efforts to preserve its heritage, such as the historical mansion.

💡Heritage Conservation

Heritage conservation refers to the preservation and protection of buildings, sites, and cultural practices of historical and cultural significance. In the video, it is the central theme as it discusses the efforts to save the Alberto Mansion, a historical site in Biñan, and the broader implications for preserving cultural heritage.

💡Alberto Mansion

The Alberto Mansion is a historical mansion in Biñan that was at risk of demolition. It is significant because of its connection to Teodora Alonso, the mother of national hero Jose Rizal. The video narrates the mansion's transformation from a dilapidated state to a cultural site, symbolizing the importance of heritage conservation.

💡Cultural Mapping

Cultural mapping is the process of identifying and documenting a community's cultural heritage, including historical sites, natural heritage, and tangible immovable properties. In the video, cultural mapping in Biñan helped identify the historical treasures of the city, including the Alberto Mansion, and played a crucial role in the preservation efforts.

💡Eminent Domain

Eminent domain is the power of a government to take private property for public use, with just compensation. In the context of the video, the local government of Biñan used the power of eminent domain to save the Alberto Mansion from demolition, showcasing a rare use of this power for heritage conservation.

💡Teodora Alonso

Teodora Alonso is the mother of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. The video discusses her significance to Philippine history and her connection to the Alberto Mansion, which was once her ancestral home and is now a symbol of Biñan's cultural heritage.

💡Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal is a national hero of the Philippines, known for his role in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule. The video connects Rizal's legacy to Biñan through his mother, Teodora Alonso, and the preservation of the Alberto Mansion, which is tied to his family history.

💡Community Involvement

Community involvement refers to the active participation of local residents in initiatives that affect their community. In the video, the community of Biñan played a vital role in the preservation of the Alberto Mansion, demonstrating the power of people in heritage conservation efforts.

💡Identity and History

Identity and history are concepts that relate to a community's sense of self and its collective past. The video emphasizes the importance of preserving Biñan's identity and history through the conservation of the Alberto Mansion and other heritage sites, showing how they are intertwined with the community's sense of self.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity in the context of heritage refers to the genuineness and originality of a historical site or object. The video discusses the challenges of maintaining authenticity in the restoration of the Alberto Mansion, where many parts had to be replaced or replicated, yet its historical significance and connection to the site remain intact.

💡Progress and Modernity

Progress and modernity are terms that refer to the advancement and development of a society. The video contrasts these concepts with the preservation of heritage, showing that Biñan has managed to grow and modernize while still respecting and conserving its historical and cultural heritage.

Highlights

The transformation of Biñan from a town to a progressive city with an active community.

The historical mansion in Biñan was being demolished but has since been restored.

The mansion is now open to the public and used for free with local government support.

The ancestral home of Teodora Alonso, mother of Jose Rizal, and its importance to Philippine history.

Cultural mapping conducted in Biñan identified historical treasures and natural heritage.

The bell of Sta. Barbara in Biñan Church, mentioned by Dr. Jose Rizal in 'Noli Me Tangere'.

The town of Biñan was the basis for the town of San Diego in Rizal's novel.

The mystery of Rizal's maternal lineage and its connection to Biñan.

The story of Teodora Alonso's alleged poisoning attempt and subsequent imprisonment.

The controversy over the ownership and heritage status of the Alberto House.

The efforts of Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria to preserve the Alberto House and its cultural significance.

The use of eminent domain by the local government to save the Alberto Mansion.

The inauguration of the restored Alberto Mansion and its role in the community.

The debate over the authenticity of the restored mansion and the definition of heritage.

The impact of the restored mansion on the identity and pride of the Biñan community.

The co-existence of progress and modernity with heritage in Biñan's plaza.

The legacy of those who fought for the preservation of the mansion and its significance today.

Transcripts

Back in 2011,

I went to the town of Biñan, Laguna

to do a documentary.

More than a decade later, a lot has changed.

It's become a progressive city...

with an active community.

But I still saw remnants of the past...

that I thought I would never see here again.

In my last visit here,

the house was in the process of demolition.

The roof was gone

and no one could say what its fate would be.

Greetings!

Welcome back to the historical mansion.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Welcome, Sir.

On our last visit,

there was a gate here with a sign that said,

"Do not trespass. Private property."

We knocked but no one answered.

At the entrance,

we were surprised to see pieces of the house strewn about.

The staircase and floor were extracted.

The walls and ceiling

that had witnessed history were also gone.

Even the foundation was being dug up.

The historical mansion in Biñan was slowly being demolished.

So this was where we entered then...

and it was in total disarray.

The building looked like there was no hope for restoration.

But today,

it has a performance space where even rehearsals are held.

Back then, entry was strictly prohibited.

Today, it's open to the public and can be used for free

with the support of the local government.

Didn't realize it's so wide.

Yes. We're on the second floor...

Biñan LGU employee Vicky Pacris gave me a tour.

She recalls the time when she used to walk by the house

in its dilapidated state.

I did not know that this was the ancestral house

of Teodora Alonso.

I only learned about its importance to Biñan

and to our Philippine history from your documentary.

So is this the main living room?

You transformed it into a kind of gallery.

Yes. The artworks here were made by Biñan's local artists.

The plaza is beautiful.

As a Biñanense,

I've become so proud to introduce myself

as a native of this town and to tell others

that this place is part of our soul as Biñanenses.

There are antiques in the house but they're donations

and not part of the original ancestral home.

So these were given?

- Yes. - This is also old wood.

Yes.

This was a lamp.

It's beautiful.

These are all handcarved.

Even this mirror.

Are these all donations?

- Yes. - The interiors were removed.

Yes.

From here, Sir, we can see the whole Biñan plaza.

This is quite a view they had then.

Has that church always been there?

Yes.

- The same structure? - It used to be small.

You made it bigger?

Due to natural calamities like earthquakes

and two incidents of fire, they rebuilt it.

During the Spanish occupation, towns like Biñan were planned

with a church and plaza at its center.

The offices, government buildings and houses owned

by illustrious families also surrounded the plaza.

Vicky was part of the cultural mapping conducted for Biñan.

Can you tell me about the cultural mapping done here?

The cultural mapping was done in a six-month period.

It identified the historical treasures of Biñan,

the natural heritage, the tangible immovable,

the ancestral homes and buildings.

They learned about the bell that Dr. Jose Rizal

wrote about in his novel Noli Me Tangere.

It is said that the town of Biñan was the basis...

of the town of San Diego in the novel.

So way back during Rizal's time here,

a heavy downpour descended on the town one day

and lightning struck the bell tower of Biñan.

It struck the bell of Sta. Barbara.

The church allowed us to climb the bell tower.

This is still the original bell.

It says 1841.

Locals knew what really happened in the Biñan Church

and this is the proof.

The strike cracked the bell and it's still there, see.

Like the church, there's a deeper history hidden

in the mansion of the Albertos.

Based on the family tree of Rizal done in 1896,

his last year alive,

nearly all his family members were accounted for,

including his father, Francisco Mercado.

But there was no branch extending

from his mother, Teodora.

This mystery led me to meet Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria.

He dug up the stories about the Rizal family

because he did not want people to forget

that Rizal had a connection to Biñan.

Doc was among those against the demolition

of the heritage house.

Rizal's mother played a big a role in his becoming a hero.

But then you hear people say that the Alberto house

did not really belong to Rizal, only to his mother.

How can you just say "only?"

She's only the mother.

That hurts, you know, for a woman who sacrificed a lot

for her son, for her family and for the whole country.

If there was no Rizal,

there would have been nobody to wake up the minds

of Filipinos to the right for equal treatment.

Jose Rizal was 10 years old when an event took place

that would create a gash in his family's history.

He had an uncle who was his namesake, Jose Alonso,

the brother of his mother who frequented Spain.

Jose Alonso's wife was also named Teodora, Teodora Formoso.

According to a history book written by Gregorio Zaide,

Jose Alonso traveled to Spain a lot.

He left his wife Teodora and their children at home.

Sometime in 1872,

Jose Maria Alonso came home from his trip to Europe

and found the house deserted, empty.

Teodora!

Teodora!

Sir! Sir!

The wife was not there.

The children weren't there.

Nobody was there.

Good evening, sir.

What's going on? What's the problem?

Because...

Madame is not here.

The wife went with another man, from Gregorio Zaide's book.

He was the one who said it.

What?

It's sad that Jose Maria Alonso was cuckolded by his wife.

It was said that Teodora Alonso, Rizal's mother,

favored her youngest brother the most.

So in that situation,

the older sister came to his rescue

even if it went against the wishes of her husband,

Francisco.

Actually, I think I read in Mrs. Bantog's book

that Grandfather Kikoy tried to stop Grandmother Lolay.

They called each other "Lolay" and "Kikoy."

He told her not to meddle in the conflict between spouses.

The wife wanted to split up, to go with another man.

But Teodora refused to be deterred.

Doc believed that in his wrath over what his wife Teodora did,

Jose Alonso imprisoned her in one part of the house.

Jose let me out!

Jose I don't want to be here.

Jose!

He asked his sister Teodora Alonso to take care of his wife.

And she stayed with her while Jose Maria was gone.

This story was also passed down to Barbara Gonzalez,

a great-granddaughter of Rizal's sister, Maria.

Jose Alberto had a wife who was a peninsular.

He kept travelling to far places, I think to Madrid.

One time, Teodora brought a snack to her sister-in-law.

with her eldest daughter Saturnina.

So one day, Teodora Alonso and Saturnina went to their house.

They made her a snack.

I brought a snack in case you're hungry.

The snack was given to her.

She took it and put it down on the floor.

She called her dog.

Ronquillo!

Ronquillo!

Ronquillo, my dog.

Come here, come here.

The dog ate the snack and died.

Because of what happened to the dog, Teodora Formoso

accused Teodora Alonso of plotting to poison her.

There's poison in the food!

In her anger, she called the head of the Civil Guard.

It was said that he was her lover.

He arrested Doña Teodora on the accusation

of attempted poisoning.

The accusation of poisoning Teodora Formoso

became the reason why Teodora Alonso was imprisoned

for two years.

And even after Teodora confessed,

she was not released as promised by their mayor.

My question is, why did she feed the food to the dog

if she didn't know it would kill the dog?

Right?

Maybe she poisoned the dog earlier

before she fed her the snack they brought.

It was a frame-up?

Maybe.

More than a century has passed.

The house once owned by the Alonsos

became the property of the Albertos.

GMA News caught up with Mr. Gerry Alberto,

during the height of the demolition issue.

He was the owner of the house, a great-grandson of Jose Alonso,

the youngest brother of Teodora Alonso.

This is not the house of Teodora Alonso.

Teodora Alonso was not born here.

Although she is my grandmother.

But not every house in the Philippines is a heritage house.

Teodora Alonso was never born here.

She was born in Santa Cruz and the worst part

is that her birth certificate in Santa Cruz was turned down

because of some family reason.

In 2010, when word got out

that the house in Biñan was being demolished,

Dr. Sta. Maria's group protested.

The group was the United Artists for Cultural Conservation

and Development of Biñan.

We mounted a cultural protest to let the public know our stand

and get them to join our advocacy

to save the Alberto House.

They held musical and dramatic performances

in front of the Alberto House.

More than a decade has passed since we first interviewed BJ.

He is now the head of the

Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office.

The fight Doc Bimbo began to save the mansion

is still fresh in BJ's mind.

For one, Doc Bimbo's efforts became the instrument

to drumbeat our group's advocacy.

Our group researched and tried to open the eyes

of the Biñan locals to the importance of it.

Our group also coordinated with the local government

during that time to really save the house.

Aside from Doc Bimbo and BJ, Biñan's mayor gave his support

in the fight to save the Alberto House.

They passed a city ordinance declaring the Alberto Mansion

a local heritage site.

We expropriated.

We were issued a writ of possession.

Today, regardless if you're from Biñan or not,

you can enter the Alberto Mansion

which in the past,

only peninsulares were permitted into.

But many objected to the project.

Some people said it's unnecessary

and a waste of money.

Very few LGUs can or want to expropriate property.

First and foremost, it can result in fewer votes

and true enough, I almost lost a second term.

Every time the city lacks something,

people point to the house and say

that we shouldn't have done it.

Now they can see that it complements the whole plaza

and established the identity of Biñan.

It's proof that a city can grow without abandoning its heritage.

And you can see that business around the plaza is thriving.

Even I didn't believe that there was hope

to save the mansion in Biñan.

We can grow without turning our backs on our past.

That's why I was surprised to receive an invitation

from Doc Bimbo for the mansion's inauguration in 2019.

This is quite a victory because for one,

it's the power of the eminent domain which the LGU used

to save the house and there are not a lot of cases

where the power of eminent domain

for heritage conservation has been used.

Now it's a testament of people power for heritage.

This was made possible by the people who linked arms to fight

for the pride, identity and history of Biñan.

How important was Doc Bimbo Sta. Maria's role in the effort

to preserve the building?

He was the one I consulted.

He accompanied me to NHI, NCCA and the National Museum.

I didn't expect that the inauguration

would be the last time I'd see Doc Bimbo.

He died of liver cancer in April 2020,

four months after the inauguration.

He loved antiques.

They made him happy.

He loved culture. Anything about the past.

He was a doctor but in Santa Cruz he devoted himself

to culture because he really loved it.

That time, his condition was really bad already

but he pushed himself to come.

His feet were so swollen.

But he forced himself

because he wanted to see the place again.

So he came even when he was already in the worst shape.

Even though the land occupied by the Alberto House

already has a writ of possession...

a big part of the mansion had been moved.

Where is it now?

Around the plaza, some business people blended their buildings

with the ancestral house.

After the Alberto Mansion was restored,

many of the old houses here were also declared as heritage sites.

Some of the owners even volunteered on their own

to fix their houses themselves.

The fact is many parts of the mansion are just replicas.

Which ones are original and which are not?

The staircase is original.

This column that has an arc is original.

I have a picture of it.

The big wood pieces are original.

A big part of the original house

was moved to a community of ancestral houses in Bataan.

The Alberto Mansion was renamed there as Casa Biñan.

When you talk about heritage, you talk about conservation.

You talk about preserving it on site.

What has been preserved in the Alberto Mansion is the site,

the memory of the local people.

So even though much of the original structure

is not there anymore, I would still consider this

a heritage structure because heritage encompasses memory.

When can you say that a building is authentic?

We noticed that many parts were replaced.

Since a lot of the original structure is gone,

is this building still authentic?

I would say the location takes the biggest percentage.

When you step here,

you know that Jose Rizal also set foot here.

The newly-built mansion is not just an ornament in their town.

Biñan residents can also use it.

It's in the middle of the city.

With the revival of the Alberto Mansion,

the people of Biñan became interested

in embracing their identity and heritage.

On the one hand, the house could have been demolished

and a new mall or cafe be built on the land...

but for this progressive community,

the house was not just a simple structure or home.

It shows that they value their identity and history.

In the Biñan plaza, in front of the mansion,

I saw that it is possible for progress and modernity

to co-exist with heritage.

Among the people we interviewed in 2011, two have passed away.

Doc Bimbo...

and Barbara Gonzales,

the great-granddaughter of Rizal's sister.

Many die without seeing their dreams come true.

In Biñan, we can say that those who fought were not let down.

Who would have thought that after 10 years...

Because the battle took for 10 years.

Who would have thought that after 10 years,

the house is still here.

Back then, after the interior was demolished,

the structure was no longer sturdy.

The roof caved.

After the roof caved, it was waiting to be saved.

All along, we thought there was no hope for it.

Some who fought are gone

but what they fought for is still standing.

We will all be gone some day.

But there will always be some who will fight and dream

for our country...

and succeed.

From Biñan, Laguna,

I am Howie Severino

and this is I-Witness.