Daan a Abong

 Daan a Abong

Quietly standing along the old national highway of Bayambang is this "daan a abong" (old house), an example of vernacular house architecture whose weathered form recalls a gentler pace of life in the early 1960s. Constructed in 1962, the house once stood as one of the largest in its area, built by Mr. Romulo Arzadon—a retired policeman—for his growing family. Though privately owned, it opened its doors to kin and neighbors alike, reflecting the generosity and communal spirit that shaped everyday life during that time.

Raised modestly on concrete posts, the structure blends wood, sawali, bamboo, and concrete in a design both practical and expressive of local craftsmanship. Inside, bamboo flooring and sawali walls bore the marks of daily living, with soot-stained ceilings quietly narrating years of home-cooked meals and shared gatherings. A distinctive split front door welcomed visitors into a space that served equally as receiving area, dining room, and family sanctuary. Religious images of St. Vincent Ferrer and the Santo Niño once adorned the home, anchoring faith at the heart of domestic life.

More than a dwelling, the house was a place of refuge and connection. At one point, another family resided temporarily within its walls while their own home was being built nearby—a testament to the house’s role as a shelter not only of wood and bamboo, but of compassion and kinship. Such moments reflect a time when homes extended beyond bloodlines, embracing the wider community.

Today, the house stands in a fragile state, its roof torn by storms and its rooms now silent. Yet even in deterioration, the old house remains a significant marker of Bayambang’s built heritage. It speaks of architectural traditions now rarely seen and of values rooted in hospitality, faith, and shared living. As it endures on its original site, the house continues to hold memory within its aging walls — a quiet reminder of lives once lived fully beneath its roof.