Mukhang Munisipyo: Check Out This Family's Uniquely Pinoy Home

A municipal hall or munisipyo is rarely one's peg for a family home, but for Dr. Elvie Razon-Gonzalez and her family, it's the perfect inspiration for theirs.

Immersed in Iloilo's rich architecture, Dr. Elvie decided that their home would reflect the city’s old-world beauty. "My husband is also very patriotic and loves history. We wanted to breathe Filipino culture into our own house."

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"We wanted to merge Filipino heritage and our personal family history," she says to Real Living. "We wanted every piece of our house to have a story of its own."

"She liked the old Jaro Municipal Station," her husband Dr. John Paul adds. "I just wanted a home that is functional [and] quiet, and [has] good ventilation." They achieved the latter by using autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks instead of hollow blocks for the walls. AAC blocks also help sound-proof rooms.

Blending the past and the present

From its high-ceilinged entrance to its long hallway where works of Ilonggo artists are displayed, the Gonzalez home is like a living museum. The couple wants to showcase their art collection to their four kids.

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Their home brings together the past and the present. You can see that in the 1920s Singer sewing machine that used to belong to Dr. Elvie's great grandparents. Now, it's being used by her own family as a table. "The theme or the story of our house is 'bringing the 1920s to the 2020s,'" says Dr. Elvie.

Most of the pieces their our house are mostly made of materials from the Philippines. These include the machuca tiles and the wooden chandeliers that you see when you enter the house.

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Favorite spaces

Also a writer and a poet, Dr. Elvie says every part of their house is her favorite, but her non-negotiable is having her personal space. Her personal library is her "own breathing space," where she's surrounded by art and books.

Dr. John Paul's favorite space, on the other hand, is the family room, where he watches movies and exercises daily. His second favorite is the garage, which is home to his "toys" or bikes.

A sense of gratitude

"When I [first] entered the big doors," Dr. Elvie recalls, "there was a rush of gratitude [for] God's faithfulness in my life." They moved into their current home in the middle of the pandemic, and they were more than happy to be stuck at home.

"[For me, there's also] the realization that if you work hard, it's worth the hard work." Dr. John Paul adds. "You can see the fruits of your labor."

"Maybe it would be a heritage house in the next few years or few decades," Dr. Elvie says. "I think it would stand the test of time."

Watch the house tour:

This article is originally published in Real Living as part of its KakaiBahay series, with revisions by the Smart Parenting team.

Featuring unique homes with unique stories, KakaiBahay goes beyond design and highlights the personal histories of those who live in them. In KakaiBahay, homeowners take us through their spaces, going down memory lane as we get to know their favorite corners, interesting furniture, and sentimental pieces.