Angelicum Iloilo unveils ICP marker and new library

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Angelicum School in Iloilo City, with the support of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), unveiled the Important Cultural Property (ICP) marker for the historic Lizares-Gamboa Mansion and introduced the newly-renovated UST-Angelicum library on Wednesday, March 13.

The ceremony was led by UST Rector Magnificus Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., who blessed the marker awarded by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), in the company of officials from both Angelicum and NMP-Western Visayas.

Constructed in 1937, the Lizares-Gamboa Mansion stands as a testament to the region’s rich history.

Originally the family home of Don Emiliano Lizares and Concepcion Gamboa, the mansion saw use as a headquarters and prison by the Japanese Army during World War II.

Despite these turbulent times, the mansion remained under family ownership until 1962 when it was sold to the Dominican Order.

The Order converted the property into a House of Formation in 1963 and, 15 years later, established the Angelicum School within the mansion’s compound.

The mansion and its lawn are also being made available for the public’s use for their private events.

The mansion’s historical and cultural significance was formally recognized in 2015 when it was declared an ICP via Museum Declaration No. 24-2015, in accordance with the National Museum’s authority under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

Architectural and engineering structures of considerable historical and cultural value fall under the cultural properties category as defined by the law.

The declaration highlighted the mansion’s artistic and architectural merit, reflecting the local history and culture deemed worth preserving for future generations.

“[T]he Lizares-Gamboa Mansion is a cultural property enjoying the presumption of law under Section 8.4 of the IRR as an Important Cultural Property. It possesses exceptional artistic and architectural significance reflective of the local’s history and culture, making it worthy of preservation for posterity,” the 2015 declaration read.

“[T]here is a manifestation of commitment on the part of the National Museum to be the leading government agency in promoting the protection and preservation of the Lizares-Gamboa Mansion as part of the significant built heritage of the country for posterity,” it added.

The Lizares-Gamboa Mansion is one of two ancestral homes in Iloilo City recognized as ICPs, alongside Camiña Balay na Bato in the Arevalo district.

Angelicum School Iloilo’s Principal, Rev. Fr. John Stephen Besa, O.P., thanked the NMP’s recognition and their ongoing commitment to the mansion’s conservation.

“We are very appreciative of what the [NMP] has given to the Lizares Mansion. This is a testament that the mansion has history in it. That is why we are also giving our support and commitment to preserve and maintain the Lizares Mansion,” Besa said.

The school’s new library, which began renovations in 2023, drew inspiration from the UST Senior High School library in Manila.

Besa referred to it as a ‘mini-me’ version of its Manila counterpart.

“This is our commitment that this hall, this library will be the center of the learning process of the Angelicans. It is Wi-Fi ready. We have CCTV [cameras], and we also have online learning resources. Hopefully, we could open this to researchers of Iloilo,” he remarked.

“We opted to really make this [library] spacious, [and] considering the number of our learners, we have to increase the space so that we could accommodate more learners or even other learners from different schools. This is really their place for research, discussions, assignments, and modules,” he added.