AHP was at it again when we "invaded" Tarlac to do a heritage tour of the proviince. Our first stop was at the San Sebastian Church where we admired the composite architecture which was built in 1686. It was converted into a stone church in 1872.. This was where the national assembly was reconvened after the capital was transferred to Tarlac in 1899. It was here where Apolinario Mabiini was appointed as chief magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Philippines on the 23rd of August 1899. This was where Leon Ma. Guerrero also opened the Literary University of the {hilippines on 8 August, 1899. The curch was renovated in 1959 and was declared a cathedral on 6 February, 1963.
We then motored to the ancestral home of the Aquino's in Concepcion, Tarlac. The expansive grounds and magnificent ancestral home is now a museum. It features the home created by Don Benigno and Doña Aurora Aquino for their brood of five. The home was designed and created by a certain Toti Ramos from Biñan, Laguna and skilled local craftsmen from Tarlac. It was directly supervised by the Don himself. The home is impressive with the use of red narra from it's wooden panels to it's coromandel screens and solihiya beds and mariposa sofas. The home is simple but exudes an old-world charm.
Our thanks also go to Tourism Officer of Capas Maita Claire on FB and Shrine curator Darwin Campo for a heart-rending explanation of the raison d'etre of the Capas Shrine. Credits also to Tourism staff Michael Paolo Avila for guiding us through different locations in our quest for knowledge and understanding our history and heritage. Job well done!