BALER, a remote coastal town in Tayabas (now Aurora) province, was home to both Manuel and Aurora Quezon.

However, the higher the political career of Manuel rose, the farther it took them from the tranquil seaside town, a separation that grew farther and farther, culminating with President Quezon?s death in distant Saranac Lake in New York during World War II.

Despite infrequent hometown visits, in their hearts and minds they never left Baler since both were deeply rooted there.

The original owner of Doña Aurora?s house was Zeneida Molina, who married Pedro Aragon. No records exist for the birth date of Maria, their oldest daughter, but documents exist showing that their second daughter, Emilia, was born in the house in April 1877, verifying the existence of the house at least to that date.

Aurora, their youngest daughter, was born in the same house on Feb. 19, 1888.

When the Spaniards burned the town in the twilight of the Philippine Revolution, Aurora was forced to take refuge in the church during the Siege of Baler. She was about 9 years old then.

After the 1900 siege, the burned Aragon house across the church was reconstructed along with many other houses.

Standing on an average-sized corner lot, it is a modest wooden house covered with twin peaked nipa roofs. Although no grand bahay-na-bato in any way, the house is built in traditional Filipino style. Its single story raised from the ground on stilts provided a shaded, ground-level open area connecting to the garden.

Even more traditional are the house?s awning windows, hinged to the top window frames that open outward, held in place by wooden poles.

The Aragon family lived with their four daughters in unassuming second-floor quarters that centered around a living room and small kitchen, with sleeping areas off to the side.

The young Aurora sectioned off part of the house for use as a library and reading center to provide reading material to augment what was available at the local schools.

So popular was her reading center with Baler folk that they requested her to keep it open for long hours, mainly, as local folklore went, so that the men of Baler could ogle the pretty Aurora.

A series of remodelings during the long intervening years diminished the character of the modest house, until the recent rebuilding of Doña Aurora?s unpretentious Baler home under the auspices of Senator Edgardo Angara, Mayor Antonio Angara and the National Historical Institute.

Original

Based on archival documents and old photographs that brought out what were the original details of the house, the rebuilt version keeps as closely to the original as possible.

The living quarters have been returned to its original look, with polished hardwood floors and walls. Furniture formerly in the house have been returned by family members from their own homes.

Doña Aurora?s memorabilia associated with her life in that house have been returned and put on public view.

However, there are a few changes now, although none that alter the character of the house.

The open silong was paved to provide a large meeting area for the Baler community; the garden re-landscaped to accommodate an overflow of people should functions be held there.

Once a reading center serving the community, the house is again seen as the focus for Baler cultural life, providing another venue to augment activities of the Baler Museum, which has an excellent exhibit on Baler history and lifestyle.

To understand Quezon?s Baler, a visit is the essential eye-opener.

On the other hand, an armchair visit is also possible through the award-winning book ?Baler, Aurora,? published by READ Foundation spearheaded by Sen. Angara.

The book brings together essays by noted scholars and writers Jesus Peralta, Domingo Madulid, José Maria Cariño, Xavier Brisset, Enrique Quezon Avanceña, Manuel L Quezon III and Ricardo José, on aspects of Baler, its history and its lifestyle, especially the fascinating account of the Siege of Baler where Spanish soldiers occupied the church, remaining there well after the end of the Philippine Revolution.

The handsome, lavishly illustrated book, available at major bookstores, is an essential addition to any Filipinana library and key to understanding the Baler lifestyle and appreciating how it grounded the lives of Manuel and Aurora Quezon.

Sustainable architecture

Green Forum, a two-day seminar on sustainable architecture, will be held September 4-5 at SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia. Organized by the Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines, experts from the Philippines and overseas will present insights on green building principles. E-mail greenforum@manilacon.com

E-mail the author at pride.place@gmail.com.