Be still and learn in awe at Manilay Heritage House

Before we went off Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani Province for the Sarbay Festival, we had a valuable side trip in General Santos City on June 3 in the afternoon in Manilay Ancestral House. It was a perfect opportunity for me to visit the place as I was looking for places with historical value the fact that I am in an early leg of crafting a historical tour package for my beloved hometown.   

Manilay Ancestral House is a heritage structure nestled in a modern city known for its contemporary attributes. The collection of old stuff here shows the tremendous interest of the owner on numismatism. It also shows extraordinary exhibit of patience, especially since all of the materials are gathered all throughout the country.  

We met the owner Mr. Warren Manilay in a separate venue in Gensan because he was busy with enrolment as he also runs a tertiary school there. There we were able to ask him several questions about his ancestral house project. He said it was coined out of a hobby, him being into it ever since. The house was then tailored continuously using old materials obtained from as far as Batangas in Luzon.

From the looks of it the house really declares a throwback theme but it was only erected in 2007. The architecture was well-researched by Sir Warren to camouflage it with yesteryears, which according to him also one of the hardships in the construction phase.

And then after construction he filled the house with his wide array of collections – from currency, music, religious materials, old pictures, etc. He even said the collection process was also extensive where he had to buy some of it from friends. He also used to visiting junk shops to scout for more valuable materials that would be part of his pool of antique resources.  

Outside the house is a display of vintage cars and motorbikes. Mr. Manilay revealed the cars are among his most expensive collections. Some of them not really familiar to me but I simply love the White Vintage Car, a favourite selfie background to some- if not all. There is also a Manny Pacquiao-inspired motorbike in the pool with actual signature of Manny. Sir Warren said the motorbike simply gained popularity all over Gensan as it was exhibited in one of the malls in the city and was unveiled in the very day Pacman celebrated his birthday.

The Manilay Ancestral House to me is a revelation of the hard work presented by the Manilay clan in Gensan. It has become now an integral part of the city tours and a destination for those who love to throwback. As Sir Warren would put it, “I want to make this an educational tour destination.” And with more people visiting the place, he is now planning to put other structures like coffee shop and function hall.

Truly, the Manilay Ancestral House is the right place to visit for those who love to reconnect with the past and for those who would like to savour the stillness of life.