• The ARAMBULO Family An...
FYI: The video content here is the SAME as the Celebrate Me Home Video. Relatives in the PH were unable to open this one hence the need to upload the other.
Music:
Brian's Song by Emile Pandolfi
What Matters Most by Kenny Rankin
Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Purpose by Justin Bieber
This is a short docu-video of the old ancestral home of the Arambulos in Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines. Located at the heart of the town along JP Rizal Street, a stone's throw away from the iconic "Calam-Banga", old St John The Baptist Catholic Church and a short walk to Dr Jose Rizal's childhood home. It has been a provincial landmark for almost a century.
More commonly known as "Dilaw na Bahay ni Arambulo" it was custom-built by the Cabeza De Barangay/Teniente Del Barrio Don Esteban Elepano Arambulo of Santa Rosa and Dona Anacleta Quiogue of Pateros as their family home presumptively in the 1910's based on the columns at the facade (exact build date is unknown because public records of the title were burned during WWII at the Municipio) or it could be built well within the late 1800s, it's a mystery still being investigated. Featuring a grand staircase and sala that was included in mainstream Regal Films Metro Manila Film Festival entry, a vintage piano featuring its own set of candle holders, custom hand-painted murals on glass said to be painted by Don Esteban Arambulo himself.
The Arambulo Ancestral Home is the oldest Bahay na Bato house in Calamba, Laguna, even older than the foremost historic and tourist destination in Laguna, the Jose Rizal Shrine. Stone columns in front are American Colonial-inspired, capiz windows, decorative ironworks, 5 bedrooms and 2 full baths, solid Narra wood plank floors and doors, a large upstairs pavilion-style drawing room with intricate wood-work all throughout the house, an altar room with a custom-made wood carving of the family's patron Saint Joseph with Jesus, Mary and an angel in attendance, with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit looking down from above the deathbed scene. It was commissioned after a painting and have since been made a family tradition to hold a 9-Day novena in his honor until his feast day of March 19. This custom is still being practiced today....
Fun Fact: It was common knowledge but not authenticated that during the Japanese occupation, the Japanese tried to set the house on fire but it didn't burn down, in fact, it was used as a shelter instead during the second world war. This miracle was always believed and attributed to our patron Saint Joseph, the carpenter-father of Jesus being the protector of the ancestral house. The family ever since has been very devoted to St. Joseph.
This video is specifically created for Dr Manuel and Concepcion Arambulo's descendants, the family who occupied and called it "home" for decades. Poignant memories of parties and endless weekend reunions were held while Lolo Manolo and Lola Conching were still alive. Cousins got really close and grew up ingrained with the all-important virtues of family loyalty, fealty and bonding solidly formed within its walls.
Another goal of this video is to educate and update relatives of the ongoing restorations painstakingly being made to bring the beloved old yellow house to its former glory. Room by room, little by little albeit with a very limited budget.
A big shoutout THANKS!! For the additional funds besides the council's output donated by Dr Sergio M Arambulo for the renovation. Subsequently, there are still A LOT more work being discovered that needs to be done...
With God's grace, the old ancestral home will be celebrating its family-decided "official" centennial year in 2021 (Manolo and Conching's 100th Wedding Anniversary) and there are talks of having a Grand Family Reunion to celebrate its very important milestone!
In the meantime, it is also meant to inspire and encourage relatives to take part in the work being done at the old house --- (roofing, interior walls, furnishings, updating bathrooms, decorations, upkeep and maintenance, etc) and donate generously whether be it through the gift of time, talent or treasure, it will all be appreciated by the entire family.
For interested parties wanting to take part in this endeavor, you may contact any of the Arambulo Council Members for more info or Dr Ruby Arambulo-San Juan or Connie Arambulo-Agojo.
Thanks for watching!!!
Photos provided by:
Connie Arambulo-Agojo
Ariel Arambulo Silva
Dr Ruby Arambulo-San Juan
Dr Mayee Arambulo-Bejar
*Acknowledgement and many thanks for some of the historical details are given to our Family history researcher/muralist cousin Ariel Arambulo Silva and former resident of the old house and eldest female cousin (really a Dentist-by-profession but have since become the Restorer/Decorator as a passion for the old house) Everybody's "Ate" Ruby -- other information is from family oral history passed from generation to generation.