My Life in a 200-Year Old Heritage Home

By Marie. December 2, 2025.

Heritage House, Ancestral Home, Sta. Cruz Laguna, A Sanctuary

When I first stepped into this almost 200‑year‑old ancestral house in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, I couldn’t believe my luck. The neighbors may be noisily alive with their own rhythms, but within these walls I’ve found a sanctuary — a place where history breathes and everyday life feels extraordinary.

Sunlight, Capiz, Wooden Floors

The floor is original, worn smooth by generations. The windows are original too, tall and generous, opening the house to the river breeze. And the capiz shells — delicate, translucent — filter light in a way no modern glass ever could. Every detail whispers of continuity, of lives lived before mine, and of the stories I now add to this living archive.

Sunrise, Nostalgia

Mornings here are my favorite. As the sun rises in the east, its rays peek through the floor‑to‑ceiling windows, spilling into my room. The plants on the window sills cast playful shadows across the wooden floor, shaping patterns that change with the day. It’s a simple scene, yet it feels like a blessing — a reminder that beauty often hides in the ordinary.

The aura of this house is unmistakably feel‑good. It’s not haunted, as some friends teasingly warn me; it’s alive! Alive with memory, with light, with the quiet joy of being held by heritage. In this space, I wake not only to sunlight but to gratitude — for the chance to live where history and present meet so gracefully.

Read: Finding My Way Home: A House, a Compass, and a Second Chance