THE OLD HOUSES OF SORSOGON CITY Part II

As promised…here’s now the continuation of my articles regarding the Old Houses of Sorsogon City. You’ve enjoyed reading the story of the old house of the Gillego Family, how it survived the test of time. The three remaining old houses of Sorsogon City are……



THE OLD HOUSE OF THE MONJE FAMILY
Located at Barangay Bitan-o…this house was built in 1937 by Alejandro Monje and Marta Jesalva Monje. According to Tia Sasay Monje, the daughter of the mentioned couple, she was only two years old when the their house was built. She and her other siblings grew together in the said house.

Tia Sasay told me that during those days, Sorsogon is very different than how it looks today. In Bitan-o there are just but a few houses in the neighborhood. The road near their house up to to the site of Colegio de la Milagrosa is not yet cemented but just a pathway of soil. But inspite of this very simple living, the people of Sorsogon are definitely happy and contented during those days.

The worst nightmare of every Filipino came to reality when World War II exploded. Japanese troops invaded Sorsogon Province and controlled it. Sorsogueños leave their houses and evacuated in fear of the Japanese soldiers. The Monje’s felt the same way so their parents decided to flee at Castilla, Sorsogon and leave their house behind.

Four years of Japanese occupation, and the Monje Family has nothing to do but to hide in the mountainous part of Castilla. According to Tia Sasay, her father receives a news that their house has been occupied by the Japanese soldiers as their quarter. Life during the Japanese war was so mesirabale…Tia Sasay said.

Finally, war is over. It was year 1945 when the Philippines was liberated by the Americans from the claws of the Japanese occupation. Filipinos hiding for four years…came out and went back to their own place and houses. Indeed the aftermath of Japanses war are unforgettable. Some houses we’re burned and destroyed, bridges and roads are devastated….but the Monje family has something to cheer up…because their house stood still amidst the terror of war.

The Family decided to go back to their house at Bitan-o. Four years of absesnce plus the occupation of the Japanese soldiers makes the house so messy. Tia Sasay told me that their Family don’t give up on that matter but rather started to rehabilitate the said ancestral house.

Three years passes and the life of the Sorsoganons slowly came back to the normal situation. Another catasthrope came to test the strength of the Monje’s old house but by this time it’s a natural calamity. Sorsogon was hit by the strongest storm they can ever imagine that will gonna happened. Thypoon Trex devastated the Province in 1948. According to Tia Sasay that was the strongest thypoon she ever experienced during those times. What happen to the Monje’s house? When the storm was over the following day…to their amazed it still standing

Five decades had passed away and here we are to the new melinium…but the old house of the Monje’s is still standing. As a proof, if you are here in Sorsogon City, try to pass by at Bitan-o and you can see this old house that I am telling you. Inspite of the changes of our society today
The Old House of the Monje Family is the evidence of strength of Filipino craftsmanship that will be rermembered through out the times.


THE OLD HOUSE OF THE DE VERA FAMILY

My article concerning De Vera’s old house is very limited due to lack of resource person to tell me a story behind this house. Built in 1905 (because the year is engraved at the iron grills of the terrace) and this house is located just beside the Sorsogon Pilot Elementary School. According to some stories that I’ve heard this old house of the De Vera’s is one of the biggest house in Sorsogon during the early years. This house also was used by the Japanese as their Garisson during the Worls War II.

For pictures of the De Vera’s old house, just visit our SorsogonWeb Gallery and look for it under the Old Houses Category.



THE OLD HOUSE OF THE MELLA FAMILY

Likewise…the old house of the Mella’s has it’s own story to tell but because of lack of resource person, the author wishes to ask an apology for such situation like this. The Mella’s Old house was built in 1936 and it is located at Almendras, Sorsogon City.

For picture of the Mella’s house please visit our SorsogonWeb Gallery and look for it under the Old House Category.