Research on the Negros Cantonal Republic conducted at Talisay City, Negros Occidental in cooperation with the Claparols, Rosello and the Balcells Family.

1. GALAH
TOWARDS THE PROCLAMATION OF THE
REPUBLIC OF NEGROS: EXPLORING CASA
GRANDE DE PRESIDENTE ANICETO LACSON
Y LEDESMA IN TALISAY

2. Notes to users:
• 1. This “hard work” is a research in progress.
• 2. Please acknowledge the author when presenting it.
• 3. This work is dedicated to all Buglasanons ( original name of Negros
Islands),
• 4. Be mindful of intellectual honesty.
• 5. Reserve credits to whom it is due.

3. How do you teach
Phillippine History?
• Why do you need to teach
Philippine History?
• For whom do you teach
Philippine History?
• Have we learned anything
from Philippine History?

5. The following questions were asked among 100
Luzon-based students: (age range 17 -22)
1. Do you know General Aniceto Lacson?
2. Did you read anything about the Negros
Revolutionaries in Philippine History
Books/Textbooks?
3. Do you know the story behind the Casa Grande in
Talisay?
4. Did you read anything about the Casa Grande in
Talisay?

6. hope dat nasty post does not deter
u to pursue d ancestral house.. "they"
only constitute 1/4 co-ownership
of d house n cannot stop u,
as long as am there
i will confront them, with my life..

8. Research Gap
Tayabas
Regiment
Masonry KKK

9. Revolucion
de la
Negrenses
• Official flag of the Negros Revolution until 1898. The flag would be
changed when the Negros Republic was established (1898-1901)

10. The Fake Arms that led to the
surrender of the Spanish Forces in
Negros Occidental
Republic Act 6709 declares every November 5 a special non-working
holiday in Negros Occidental.
Cinco de Noviembre is…. Intended to
commemorate a historic event when Negrenses
won against the Spanish conquerors we all
know now as Cinco de Noviembre. This event
marks the bravery and ingenuity of Filipino
soldiers when they developed a brilliant war
tactic that deceived the Spaniards by using fake
canons and rifles that led to the surrender and
retreat of the oppressors.

11. MEN BEHIND THE
REPUBLICA DE NEGROS
•Gen. Aniceto Lacson y
Ledesma
•Don Jose Ruiz de Luzurriaga
(Some Sources Eusebio…)
•Gen. Juan Araneta

12. Negros Cantonal Federal Republic

13. Hierarchy of Leadership
General Aniceto Lacson
(President)
General Juan
Araneta
( Secretary of War)
Jose
Luzurriaga
(President of the
Chamber of
Deputies)
Eusebio
LuzurriagA
(Secretary of
Treasury)
Simeon
Lizares
(Secretary of the
Interior)
Nicolas Golez
( Secretary of
Public Works)
Agustin
Amenablar –
Secretary of
Agriculture
Antonio
Ledesma
Jayme –
Secretary of Justice
Melecio
Severino
(Governor General
of the Province)
Demetrio Larena
(Vice President)

14. Constitution of the Republic of Negros
• This copy of the constitution was vaulted at the USLS Museo De La
Salle
• Donated by Ed Ledesma
• Handwritten in Spanish

15. Authentic
Copy of
Negros
Cantonal
Republic
Constitution
(from Museo
de la Salle,
USLS )

17. Statues of National
Heroes in Talisay

18. Historic meeting

19. General Aniceto Lacson
Standing tall at 6 ft 1 with Emilio Aguinaldo (seated)

20. ANICETO LACSON's REMAINS - buried in Talisay Church, on one of 3 altars, the one
to the right, he is the builder of the Ancestral House. — at Talisay, Negros
Occidental, Philippines. — at Talisay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. ( Post of Miguel
Claparols Rossello)

21. Negros Island
(Buglas)

22. Vast Sugarcane Plantation near Bacolod

23. Social Setting
(then and now)

24. Nomenclaturas
de Esclavos

25. Hacendados y Hacienderos

26. ACT OF CAPITULATION

27. Act of Capitulation
“……Act of surrender of one
government to another
government in power…”

28. FLAGS

29. SEAT OF
GOVERNMENT

30. Insiders Notes on GALAH
RESEARCH METHODS
• Blogging and Narrative
• Online hooks
• Actual Interview
• Stalking
• Cross referencing
• Tracking/monitoring ( non-stakeholders informants)

31. Location –
Barangay
Matabang,
Talisay City

32. Aniceto
Lacson y
Ledesma
Family Tree
(upper page)

33. Aniceto
Lacson y
Ledesma
Family Tree
(lower page)

34. Aniceto
Lacson y
Ledesma
Family Tree
(lowest page)

35. GENERAL ANICETO
LACSON Y LEDESMA
Marriages

36. Children (Rosario and Aniceto) – 11 Children
• Jesusa, the eldest, married Jose Maria Arroyo y Pidal, her second cousin. Jesusa and Jose are the
grandparents of Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo,husband of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo;
• Emilio and
• Clotilde, both died at an early age;
• Carmen, married Ricardo Claparols, a Spaniard
• Enriqueta, married Domingo Lacson III, a first cousin;
• Isaac, who became governor of Negros, then congressman and senator of the Republic married
Carmen Paterno;
• Mariano, married Lilia Montilla;
• Perfecta, married Santiago Franco;
• José, died young;
• Aniceto, Jr., married Aurora Lacson, a cousin; and
• Dominador, married Visitación Lacson, another cousin.

37. Second Marriage -
Magdalena Torres ( 10
Children)
• Resurección, married Carlos Sackermann;
• Margarita, a former Miss Negros Occidental, married William Gemperle;
• Leonila, married Angel Gamboa;
• Leoncia, single born 6 December 1903 died 29 June 1981;
• Nicolas, married Amparo Lacson, sister of Arsenio Lacson, Mayor of Manila,
parents of the famous and controversial Rose Porteous of Perth, Australia;
• Juan, married Reymunda Villareal;
• José, married Estelita Adrias; had 6 sons- Aniceto, Jose Douglas, Rizal, William,
Alex, Anthony.
• Lucio, a Marine Engineer married to Consuelo Flores; had 6 daughters -Jennifer
Lacson Snyder, Christie Lacson Eccleston, Kathleen Lacson Griffith, Vivienne
Lacson Pascual, Grace Lacson Hosseini, May Lacson. He died in 1989.
• Luis, married Lily Distajo; had 8 daughters and 7 sons - Ma. Elena Lacson de
Gracia( died at age 36), Ma. Luisa Lacson Marte, Ma. Carmen Lacson Escutin,
Luis Distajo Lacson,
• Manuel Distajo Lacson, Sebastian Distajo Lacson, Ma. Corazon Lacson Mirasol,
her twin sister Ma. Gloria Distajo Lacson died when she was only 3 months old,
Ma. Rita Lacson, Ana Maria Distajo Lacson, Aniceto Miguel Distajo Lacson,
Jacinto Distajo Lacson, and Ma. Asuncion Distajo Lacson who died at age 50 on
Nov. 2, 2014.
• Consuelo, married Sebastian Corr

38. Second Marriage - Magdalena
Torres ( 10 Children)
• Resurección, married Carlos Sackermann;
• Margarita, a former Miss Negros Occidental, married William Gemperle;
• Leonila, married Angel Gamboa;
• Leoncia, single born 6 December 1903 died 29 June 1981;
• Nicolas, married Amparo Lacson, sister of Arsenio Lacson,
Mayor of Manila, parents of the famous and controversial Rose
Porteous of Perth, Australia;
• Juan, married Reymunda Villareal;
• José, married Estelita Adrias; had 6 sons- Aniceto, Jose Douglas, Rizal, William,
Alex, Anthony.
• Lucio, a Marine Engineer married to Consuelo Flores; had 6 daughters -Jennifer
Lacson Snyder, Christie Lacson Eccleston, Kathleen Lacson Griffith, Vivienne
Lacson Pascual, Grace Lacson Hosseini, May Lacson. He died in 1989.
• Luis, married Lily Distajo; had 8 daughters and 7 sons - Ma. Elena Lacson de Gracia(
died at age 36), Ma. Luisa Lacson Marte, Ma. Carmen Lacson Escutin, Luis Distajo
Lacson,
• Manuel Distajo Lacson, Sebastian Distajo Lacson, Ma. Corazon Lacson Mirasol, her
twin sister Ma. Gloria Distajo Lacson died when she was only 3 months old, Ma. Rita
Lacson, Ana Maria Distajo Lacson, Aniceto Miguel Distajo Lacson, Jacinto Distajo
Lacson, and Ma. Asuncion Distajo Lacson who died at age 50 on Nov. 2, 2014.
• Consuelo, married Sebastian Corr

39. Other Lacson

40. Properties of Gen.
Aniceto Lacson
The Hacendado owned about 1300 ha of
grassland ( converted to sugar cane plantation)

41. Carmen
Lacson –
Ricardo
Claparols

42. GALAH OWNERSHIP
Eduardo m Cecilia Javellana
Jaime m Sagrario Medina
Carmita m Alberto Balcells
Eulalia m Francisco Rossello
Carmen Lacson m Ricardo
Claparols
Theresita (Died at age 7or 8)

43. The stakeholders of GALAH
Dona Carmen
Claparols y
Lacson with the
Claparols,
Rosello &
Balcells
Grand Children

44. Hacienda Matab-ang at the GALAH

45. My informants – Carlos
and Anna Balcells
• Carlos – Former Bassist of The Dawn
• Anna – Founding President of Kalipay
Negrense

46. Carmen Nena
Rossello

47. Other stakeholders – Claparols Families
Separate meetings with separate ideas

48. Narrative of the
Claparols

49. The Balcells Narrative
Yes, it was really THE Gala
mansion. Not only was it the Gala
residence, it was where endless
gala receptions were held… In my
childhood, the happiest place to be
was the over-the-top, palatial
verandah… it is like Chatteau de
Versailles… it was used for functions
until 1970s

50. NHI Historical
Marker being
questioned
• “….regarding the old house. we are
not part of galah foundation and
we’re against them attempting to
restore it without first a
comprehensive study on the
structure. this is of record with the
nhi. the plaque indicating it is a
historical site is not of record with
the nhi. the people behind have not
made any efforts in communicating
with the other owners their
explanation and action. this is now
in court….”

52. Statement of Mr.
Javier Claparols

53. Larger Statements
• regarding the old house. we are not part of galah
foundation and were against them attempting to
restore it without first a comprehensive study on the
structure. this is of record with the nhi. the plaque
indicating it is a historical site is not of record with
the nhi. the people behind have not made any efforts
in communicating with the other owners their
explanation and action. this is now in court (FB
Messenger- Javier M. Claparols , Dec 16 2018

54. Even Larger Statements re
Arch. Augusto Toti Villalon
• he was never directly
involved as far as i know.
• in fact that was the jest of
our position that until the
structure being wood was
studied nothing should be
done to alter it. toti would
not allow any artificial parts
as it is now (Javier Claparols)

55. Interview with
Non-stakeholder
but a direct
descendant from
the Araneta
maternal side
“…It is palabra de honor
that makes a LACSON
WHO HE IS….”

56. Atty. Alex Lacson
“I take the liberal side of Restoration : )”

57. Carlos with other primos
maintain the GALAH

58. Memoirs of
the
Haciendero
Kids

59. Carlos Balcells and
Michael Claparols at the
GALAH

60. Reconstruction
Pictures

61. Division of Furnitures
• Jaime – “the left overs” (not present during the partition)….
• Eduardo Claparols– Rosario Araneta’s Mirror and Dresser
• Carmita Balcells – Ah Tay’s Cama de medio cielo, living room suite
with floral pink (rose colored silk)upholstery & aparadores de la tres
lunas
• Eulalia Rossello – Ah Tay Dining Suite
- long sectional dining table & chairs
- mother of pearls in laid furnitures & chess table
- Lacson- Araneta china & silver wares
- 2 corner cabinets with display shelves

62. 1880 Furnitures

63. Inside Casa
Grande
• “Phallic Symbol? Coat of Arms???” at the gate
• Oro Stairs to the main hall and a winding stairs
case at the Azotea
BOLD geometric patterns of cement tiles on the azotea floor
lead to the adjacent kitchen area.
ALL rooms open out to a verandah
that encircles the entire second floor.

65. The Gate
(Heihnpragt
Interpretation)
• Coat of Arms – Fleur de Lys
Symbol which is the emblem of the French
Monarchy and a fitting passion of the GALAH
as the Chateau de Versailles of Talisay
• Phallic Symbol – also known
as Cenfacinum AMULET
among th Romans which is used as remedy for
an evil eye of defeat, intended to ward off
enemy attacks in battles and other danger
posed by wars. (In Thailand and Bhutan this is
called Phalad Kiki which is an amulet to
attract women)

66. Family Crests
When in Negros Occidental

67. Familia Lacson
Crest
( From Domingo Lacson’s Family
Members)
Domingo is a cousin of Dominador
(youngest son of Aniceto) he married
Dominador's elder sister Enriqueta

68. Veranda, Azotea, Baldoza….

69. One lonely place to be was once
a setting of the First Negros
Republic

70. Chapel inside the Casa
Grande

71. Carossa de Santo En Tierro

72. Santo En
Tierro –
Decorated and
Paraded all
over Talisay

73. Seat of Grandeur and Fame… and more

74. In a state of dilapidation…

75. Attempts on
Restoration

76. ….attempts to restore

77. ….restoration in progress

78. …basic support to the
integrity of the structure.

79. Termite nest pestered
the house
TEAM of architects documenting the heritage structure

80. This is how massive the
restoration has to go…
• There is so much to be done
• There was an attempt to restore
• But this needs to be talked about

81. What about
ADAPTIVE RE-
USE?
GALAH FOUNDATION PROPOSED …
Casa Grande  Museum of Sugar Industry
in the Philippines
Judicial Partition be reviewed
Technical assessment be conducted ( to be
requested by the family of stake holders)
Assignment of a new restoration architect
( Arch. Toti Villalon passed on)

82. Adaptive Reuse according
to Hiroki Yamada
it is important to consider the
way with people who will use
oftenly. Don't rely on the
government or subsidy. Show
the will( image) by DIY and
temporary use before the big
project for permanent use.

83. Adaptive reuse is about this…

84. Vision of a Sugar Cane Industry Museum

85. Offices within GALAH (2013)

86. Current
Workers
Condition at
Hacienda
Claparols
( Matab-ang)
in Talisay City
• DOLE mininmum wage for agricultural workers of
P295.00 per day for regular farm employees
• plus 13th month pay , SSS, Philhealth and PAGIBIG
• other benefits INCLUDES
- free housing
- cash advance/loan (interest free)
- production incentives
- school subsidies when their children reach
university
- company (Hacienda) guarantee note for
hospitalization (wherein the company pays for
the hospital bill upon check out, worker’s family
gradually pays the company ( interest free)