Kamistisuhan District of Malolos (Lumang Bahay)

 After the declaration of the Philippine Independence in Kawit,General Emilio Aguinaldo moved the seat of government toMalolos, Bulacan. It was in the ancestral houses near the Malolos Cathedral that Aguinaldo established various offices for the First Philippine Republic from September 10, 1898 to March 29, 1901.

Some of these ancestral houses are still inhabited and in good physical condition. While there are some houses that have been converted into commercial establishments, there are also those that has been demolished several years ago.

 With a book written about ten years ago, we went to Malolos to locate these ancestral houses in an area near the Malolos Cathedral called as the Kamistisuhan District. From Casa Real, we started off by walking through the General Felipe Estrella Bridge on my way to Malolos Cathedral. The Cathedral’s facade stands out from the opposite end of the bridge.

The Convent of Malolos Cathedral served as the Palacio Presidencial de Aguinaldo or the Seat of the Aguinaldo’s Presidency.

 Directly across the Lomotan House is the famous 1877 Jose Bautista House with the caryatids on the street façade. Don Jose Bautista served as Aguinaldo’s aide de camp. The house served as office of the Secretaria de Fomento. We’ve learned that the descendants of Don Jose converted the  house into a living museum of antiquties.  

 Turning left to Sto. Nino Street, on a corner lot stands the gabled-roof Lomotan House.

Barasoain

Barasoain Church is also known as (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish) is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City, Bulacan.    This church housed the revolutionary congress which was inaugurated on September 15, 1898,  Pedro A. Paterno was the President. It was here, that the congress, among other measures discussed and approved the Malolos Constitution.

Barasoain was originally part of Malolos until its official separation on August 31, 1859.  In 1903 it became part of Malolos again.  The old church constructed by Rev. Francisco Royo, O.S.A., was destroyed by fire in May 1884, but rebuilt by Rev. Juan Giron, O.S.A., in 1885.  This church was the seat of the Revolutionary congress which convened from the middle of September 1898, to the last week of February, 1899 under the presidency of Pedro A. Paterno.  Among the important measures passed by the congress was the Malolos Constitution drafter chiefly by Felipe G. Calderon

Si Emilio Aguinaldo at ang kaniyang mga kakampi ay nagpasiyang lumipat tungong Malolos mula sa Cavite noong panahon ng digmaan ng mga Filipino at Espanyol. Ito ay ginawa nina Agunaldo upang mapalakas ang kanilang puwersa laban sa mga Espanyol. Ang Simbahan ng Barasoain ang nagsilbing tahanan ni Aguinaldo at ng kaniyang mga kasama. Dito rin sila nagsagawa ng mga plano at pagpupulong kung paano nila mababawi ang lalawigang kanilang isinuko sa mga hukbo ng Espanyol. Sa nabanggit ding simbahan nilagdaan nila ang konstitusyon hinggil sa katuparan ng kanilang plano. Ginamit din itong lugar sa pagboto ng mga tao, ngunit ito ay natupok ng apoy noong 1884. Gayumpaman, may mga pag-aayos na ginawa upang maibalik nang kaunti ang dating itsura ng lugar.

Sa Simbahan ng Barasoain ibinalangkas ang Konstitusyon ng Malolos noong 29 Setyembre 1898. Pagkatapos magbuwis ng maraming buhay, ang mga Filipino na may matinding paninindigan at pagbubuklod, ay nagwagi laban sa kanilang mga kaaway. Di naglaon ay pinasinayahan ang Unang Republika ng Filipinas na ginanap sa simbahang ito noong 23 Enero 1899. Ang makahulugang pook na ito ay naging saksi sa makapangyarihan alyansa ng mga Filipino laban sa pananakop ng mga Espanyol.

Simula noon, ang Simbahan ng Barasoain ay malimit bisitahin ng mga Filipino at maging ng mga dayuhan na mula sa kung saan. Maging ang dating Pang. Joseph Ejercito Estrada ay dito sa altar ng simbahan nanumpa bilang pangulo, at dahil dito'y kinilala siyang pangalawang pangulo na nanumpa sa Malolos, pagkaraan ni Aguinaldo.

Sulit na sulit ang pag puntan amin sa bayan ng malolos para makita lng ang Simabahan ng Barasoain. Hnd kumpleto ang pagiging isang bulacenyo mo kung di mo napuntahan ang simbahan na ito.. na nagsasagisag ng pamumuhay sa mga dumaan na panahon.

Ngaun maipagmamalaki ko na, nahindi lang sa dating sampung pisong papel ko nakita ang simabahan ng Barasoain kundi nakita ko ito ng personal. at para sa akin isa itong fulfillment.