1859 Lichauco Heritage House in Manila goes up for sale

One of the oldest surviving ancestral homes in Manila—and one of only two officially declared Heritage Houses in Metro Manila—is now up for sale.

The Lichauco Heritage House along Pedro Gil Street in Santa Ana, Manila has been placed on the market, according to a Facebook post by historian Dr. Nestor T. Castro, who shared photos of the property bearing a “Heritage Property for Sale” sign from Leechiu Property Consultants. Castro said the Lichauco family is selling the estate and expressed hope that its future owner would continue preserving it as a heritage house.

Built in 1859 during the Spanish colonial period, the ancestral home was designed to face the Pasig River, which served as Manila’s principal transportation and trade route at the time. Constructed in the classic bahay na bato style, it features a massive stone ground floor, spacious wooden living quarters above, and a riverside veranda that once welcomed travelers arriving by boat.

The property is formally known today as the O’Brien-Lichauco Heritage House, reflecting two of the families that shaped its history. Historical records show that before World War II, it belonged to the European-American O’Brien family, who fled the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. In the late 1940s, prominent lawyer, diplomat and statesman Marcial Lichauco purchased the estate from the O’Briens. Together with his wife, philanthropist Jessie Lichauco, the family preserved the ancestral home and many of its original architectural and historical features for generations.

The estate also played a significant role during the Liberation of Manila in 1945. While much of the capital was reduced to rubble during the Battle of Manila, Santa Ana was the only district spared from widespread destruction. The house subsequently served as a refuge and medical triage center for hundreds of civilians escaping the devastated city.

Recognizing its exceptional historical and architectural significance, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) declared the property a Heritage House on July 10, 2010, installing a Level II historical marker on the site. Today, it remains one of only two officially declared Heritage Houses in Metro Manila, alongside the MiraNila Heritage House in Quezon City.

The sprawling compound is also home to a centuries-old rubber tree, more commonly known as a balete, which has been designated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a protected Heritage Tree.

As of writing, neither the asking price nor the identity of any prospective buyer has been disclosed.

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