MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – Casa Gorordo, a National Historical Landmark, that was acquired by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) in the 70's, is now undergoing a facelift with a more historically faithful look ready for its re-opening to the public in October 2022.
“This will seem new to us who have known Casa Gorordo for its dark brown exterior, and interior, too, but this will actually bring us back to the days when there were people actually living here,” Florencio MoreƱo II, Officer-in-Charge of the Culture and Heritage Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) revealed.
Casa Gorordo is a two-storey “balay nga tisa” on E. Aboitiz St., in the old Parian district in Cebu City. Constructed in the 1850’s, it encapsulates the lifestyle of the Parianon families and Cebuanos in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also known as the former residence of Juan Gorordo, the first Filipino bishop of Cebu.
Former inhabitants of the stone- and- wood building remember it encased in a light, subdued color which remained unchanged throughout the duration of the family’s stay there. As wood preservatives and brown paint were layered over the years, the house has been characterized by its modest dark brown color.
It was ‘de rigeur’ for homes to be painted during the late 19th into the 20th century. Social standards, public health conditions and the necessity of preserving the structure dictated so much.
With black and white photos hinting at the house’s color during its pre-museum phase, the museum conducted research and consultations with experts to determine the tints that would most authentically depict the historical period, culture and society that Casa Gorordo represents.
Casa Gorordo reconnects to its roots with the repainting project, bringing it closer to its mission to be a “guide to the world that shaped Cebuano cultural identity.” It promises an enhanced, more meaningful visitor experience. (Photos: RAFI/Jingjing Farrarons)
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