Story from Serafin Nito Teves III, Negros Oriental Visual Artist and Historian
While we celebrate, commemorate, and contemplate the 85th Anniversary of Dakong Balay ~ Dumaguete (1936-2021), it is also important to remember its place in our city's history.
It was designed and built in 1936 by Architect Julio Victor Rocha ~ an architect whose life has been closely associated with the architectural progress of the Philippines.
Rocha was voted the Industrial Architect of 1949.
Around 1935 or so, Julio Victor Rocha was commissioned by my paternal grandparents, Serafin Lajato Teves and Milagros de Teves (née Montenegro) to build their dreamhouse along Paseo de Rizal ( present Rizal Ave )— or the Boulevard as it known nowadays by most Dumagueteños.
Regretfully, my paternal grandparents and their children were able to reside in their ivy-clad pink stuccoed "mansion by the sea" for only five or so years in view of the fact that, in May 26, 1942 ~ their residence was confiscated by the Kimpetai to serve as the Officer's Quarters of the Japanese Imperial Army.
In 1945, as the Japanese Imperial Forces were in retreat, our beloved ancestral house was set aflame.
It was later rebuilt in 1946 by Engineer Francisco Banogon of Silliman University.
When Serafin L. Teves became Governor of Negros Oriental (1956-1959), Dakong Balay hosted visiting presidents and presidentiables, ambassadors and movie stars, as well as literati and glitterati.
Although the rooms of this heritage house have now been repurposed into restaurants, cafés, art galleries, and more, I'm glad the physicality of this historical building is still intact.
Kudos to this 85-year-old home (1936-2021) which is now a commercial and cultural hub of the 73-year-old City of Dumaguete (1948-2021).
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