Introduction

The Marasigan Story

Angkan MarasiganAngkan Marasigan or Marasigan Clan is well known for their haciendas (plantations), as founders of the Bolbok Rural Bank in 1956.They owned the only cinema house, organized social and charitable events and donated lands for the Casa Tribuna, public market, jail site, school buildings including a library and covered court.Long time ago, Mr. Francisco Marasigan owned this house with his wife Irene and lived in the old town or lumang bayan called Pinagbayanan. The town was near the river. They had three sons and one daughter. In this house, Franciscos son, Benito and his wife Soledad lived and raised eight children.Picture of Don Benito Marasigan and Doa Soledad Villapando

A Buena familya, Poly is the son of Don Benito Marasigan and Doa Soledad Villapando. His grandparents were Francisco De Villa Marasigan and Irene Perez Mercado. Irenes grandfather is Camillo Perez, First governor of San Juan in the late 18th century and known as the founder of San Juan. Francisco was also an appointed Captain Municapal in the late 1800s. Francisco relative, Claudia Marasigan Escudero of the Escudero Estate in San Pablo, Quezon is a grand aunt of Poly.In 1994, one of the children of Don Benito, Poly married the beautiful Arceli Lecaroz from Sta. Cruz, Marinduque. Cely was a businesswoman, active in religious and civic organization and became the first principal of the high school of the San Juan Institute, now called Joseph Morella Institute.

Pictures of Arceli MarasiganMarriage Contract of Poly and Cely

Mr. Apolonio Poly Marasigan was born on March 08, 1921 in San Juan de Bolbok. A war veteran, he joined the Philipppine Army in Quezon and Bataan under the United State Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and fought against the Japanese during the WWII. He endured all kinds of hardship, suffered injuries and survived death march in Capas, Tarlac. He is also a politician, he was a three term councilor in San Juan and elected as Congressman to the 2nd district of Batangas. Also a businessman, he engaged in buy and sell business and trucking service to Manila. He put up the first gasoline station in San Juan in 1946 and traded agricultural products to Manila.Picture of Don Apolinario in serviceice

The house was given as a wedding gift to Poly and Cely and lived there together with their 11 children, namely: Ariel, Alvine, Arceli, Aleli, Apolonio Jr., Adrian, Agerico, Armin, Aberdeen, Arnefil and Aimee. Together with the house a long wooden table big enough to seat 20 people. The story goes that in the old days, when you cut down a tree, the owner gets one third of the wood and equal parts go to the church and the local government. Since the wood was big, heavy and long, they used the windows of the house to bring in the table. Cely passed away in 1964 and Poly passed away on December 23, 2012.The long wooden dining table of Marasigan

BAHAY NA BATOFrom 1883 to 1886, the whole town of Pinagbayanan had storms and floods which destroyed homes. By early 1900, residents moved their house to Calit Calit, which became the new town or Bagumbayan. This house, piece by piece was transferred to the corner of Calle Mayor. It was built along the boulevard street lined with trees which stars from the church up to the town hall at the end. Today this house is recognized as one of the oldest heritage home in San Juan.The old Marasigan House

Bahay na bato is an object of art. It is made of all natural materials like stone, mortar, bricks, wood and used capiz windows. It is environment friendly with lush fruit trees, rustic walkways, wide windows, high ceiling and good ventilation. The building itself was inspired from early 20th century architecture, a two storey building with stone structure at the ground level, and woodwork at the second level.The present Marasigan House Left: Rear View Right: Right View

The interiors were inspired from Manilas prestigious mansions and furniture design from abroad. Art deco fashion was in vogue and the house combined Art Deco with the classic lines of Art Nouveau. Fine Furniture and objects which showcase the owners wealth, personal style and status in society.The Marasigan interior furnishings Left: Living Room Right: Dining Room

The Treasures of Marasigan

COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDINGIn the late 1800s, landlord and wealthiest families built up their plantation in San Juan and this agricultural production became the foundation of the towns economy. Some of the members of the wealthiest families became the pillars of the community and were the builders of the towns heritage houses. One of the wealthiest families is the Marasigan family. In the late 1840s, there was a Faustina Marasigan who became a wife of Alejandro de Chavez, one of the original Tinientes. Angel Marasigan became the punong bayan in 1877. In 1894, Francisco Marasigan became the first Capitan Municial under the Maura Law of 1894, and he married Irene Perez Mercado, who was a member of one of the wealthiest families in San Juan. The Marasigan was intermarried with Perez, Mercado and De Villa Families and sometimes they were married to their own relatives to extend the wealth of the family. The Marasigan had vast landholdings in the northeast portion of the town and in the southern part, new poblacion site in Calitcalit including the sites for the Casa Tribuna, a market and a jail site that they donated to the town. They also have a heritage house along Calle Mayor at this the oldest house in San Juan. According to the Marasigan Family, the house was actually the grand old bahay-na-bato house of Francisco Marasigan and Irene Perez Mercado. And today, the Heritage House with a coffee shop named Cafeno is owned by Joy Marasigan according to the townspeople. Joy also owned the near Petron Gasoline Station located at the front of the Cafeno. The Cafeo: A dining coffee shop built in the Marasigan House

Franciscos son, Benito Marasigan and his wife Soledad Villapando built their own heritage house along the Lawaye River in the 1930s and they expanded their plantations in Bicol, maybe this is what the townspeople are trying to say that the Marasigan owned a 20,000 hectares land in Bicol. Benito also owned the Bolbok Rural Bank that was established in 1956, and presently managed by Anthony Marasigan. The two other sons of Francisco, Joachin and Alfredo Marasigan were educated in the United States and were reportedly the first car owners among the other families in San Juan.And there are famous descendants of Marasigan. Polonio Marasigan became the congressman of Batangas. Anthony Marasigan became the Vice Mayor of San Juan. Bartolome Marasigan became the governor of Oriental Mindoro.The Marasigan Family has been indeed remarkable to the town and townspeople of San Juan. They became famous because of their properties and what they contributed to the town. But remember, that they became famous not just because of these things; they became remarkable because they helped people. And that is the most important treasure.

Family Tree

Introduction