Reyes House

(Category: Tangible Immovable Heritage; Heritage Houses/Vernacular Architecture)

The Reyes house is a post-World War II house located at #12 Roxas St., Brgy. Magsaysay, Bayambang, Pangasinan. Built in 1949, it is made of narra wood and cement, and it occupies an area of 200 square meters.

It is currently owned by Capt. Bernard Limos. The original owner of this house was a teacher from Bayambang National High School. After the demise of first owner, Engr. Vicente Reyes Jr., a civil engineer, bought the house. In 2009, Capt. Bernard Limos bought the house and he started to renovate the entire house because some parts were friable.

With its pleasant Art Deco elements combined with bahay na bato elements, the view of the house outside is very attractive. It has a combination of color blue and white. The gate, grills, and rooftop are painted in color blue, while the outer wall is white, though the paint is gradually fading. The house is not exactly huge, but it has a basement. There is a flight of stairs outside, which is cemented, with decorative ceramic tiles. Most of the house are made of native narra panels and certain parts have glasses. There are six windows, also made of wood, and some are covered with rusting grills in geometric design. The entrance door is located on the left side. You will notice the square design at the upper part of the house. On the rooftop are finials in the style of the era. The ground is cemented but a particular part is made up of soil mixed with rocks and pebbles. The house is surrounded by a small drainage. If you enter inside, you will see two rooms and one comfort room. You can find some furniture and paintings, and the floor inside the house is also made of wood protected with varnish.

There are certain stories about the structure, according to the owner. After World War II, he said, it became a dwelling place of some ordinary people and Spanish or American soldiers that probably took part in the war. The owner added that, in the middle of renovation work, the diggings in the backyard meant for a new apartment revealed some artifacts such as spoons, forks, cups, other kitchen utensils, and some horseshoes. It was then believed that some Spanish or American soldiers used the area as horse stable. On the other hand, according to the neighbors, the sound of horses walking and a group of people talking to one another in a strange language could often be heard around midnight.

As of now, the Reyes house is in good condition in its original site, though it has been altered. Some parts of the house remain durable and therefore do not risk replacement anytime soon. Although certain parts have been replaced, the architectural integrity of the hose has been preserved, thus making it a heritage house, one of the very few left in Bayambang.

So far, only the threat of termites and fire constitutes the potential hazards.

NAME OF PROFILER/MAPPER: Joshua B. Matabang, Bayambang National High School, Senior High School
DATE PROFILED: September 23, 2018
ADVISER: Mr. Christopher Q. Gozum
KEY INFORMANT: Capt. Bernard Benito Limos, 49 years old, #12 Roxas St. Magsaysay, Bayambang, Pangasinan
REFERENCE: https://en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki>Bayambang.com