The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House is a house made of Wood and Coral Stones (locally: Bahay na Bato ug Kahoy). It is located in the corner of Lopez Jaena and Mabini Sts in the Parian district of Cebu City meters away from the awe-inspiring Cebu Heritage Monument and Casa Gorodo Museum. The Yap-Sandiego Heritage House was built in the late 17th century by some Chinese Merchants and is considered as one of the oldest existing residential houses not only in Cebu but in the whole country.
Interior of the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
The earliest known occupants of this house are Don Juan Yap and Maria Florido Yap. The passed it to their siblings Maria, Eleuterio and Consolacion. The eldest daughter, Maria Florido Yap got married to Don Mariano Avendano Sandiego, a cabeza de Barangay of Parian in the 1880’s.
At present, the Yap-Sandiego ancestral house was handed down to a notable heritage advocate and dance maestro Val Mancao Sandiego and his wife Ofelia Zozobrado Sandiego.
The roof is made of tisa clay and the beams are made of balayong wood. Inside, one can see a wide variety of old artifacts coming from different parts of the island of Cebu. Ceramics, furniture among many other things only found from the past can be seen inside the house. One can have a glimpse of his past if he visits this wonderfully preserved ancestral house.
