Visiting Benjamin Andrada Building and Museum

As I was trying to familiarize myself with Iligan City and it's history, my foot took me to this one familiar building in the city. I have passed by and saw this building for over 27 years of my existence, but I never cared to visit or even known something about that building. It's quiet distinguishable today because of its eye catching color and one of the , I could say, well maintained old building in Iligan City. Majority of the old structures where already gone and have been replaced with new and modern designs. 

IBS members booked the society on schedule to view the said museum. I really don't have an idea what brought them there and who educated them about the museum, I didn't bother to ask them too lols... I was that blank when I met them earlier for the photo shoot, hehehe.

Benjamin Andrada

We went there at exactly 10 in the morning and take pictures like as if we can never go back. lols 

When you enter the building you will be greeted with the stairway  It's quiet creepy if you'll think differently lols... it will lead you to their Offices. 

You need to pass by another stairway to reach the museum. 

It's quiet different from what the typical museum like feel. It's more of a display of personal or I should say family belongings. A documentation of their culture and traditions, travel souvenirs and story. 

While looking at each of the stuff in it, I quietly uttered how I wish my grandparents house was never renovated. The old house in Oroquieta City is gone, and went totally modern wew it could have been a legacy.

I observed that the family is very religious. They're Catholic, I should say, I mean the number of rosaries and statues in there I guess would tell you. 

I am amazed how the couple document their anniversaries in a jar, by placing cake icing flowers in it and mark it with dates when it was used. I saw as old as 1965 for the 1st wedding anniversary, that's so cool... vintage! 

[Update November 9, 2012]

Nicole 

• Hello Purple Slipperz! Thank you for featuring the Benjamin Andrada Museum. I am one of the great grand children and we loved your article. There is just one correction in the part 1 article which mentioned about the icing, etc in the jars that it was Benjamin and Concepcion's wedding anniversary in 1965....that was actually Benjamin's first death anniversary  Lola Concep would celebrate his death anniv by having a cake and keeping a piece of it. 

Collection of clothes and shoes

Leather shoes

Hospital bed, it is.

The personal belongings like shoes, dress, tuxedos, neck ties, bags, shirts and even medicines and medicine bottles were kept for memories. Did I mention that a hospital bed was there too? hehehe

The tinted glass windows were time witnesses how the family lived happily in that house and how prosperous their living was. The building was used as their Office too when they opened the first company in Iligan City.

Have you visited the place? You might want to visit the museum in your next visit to Iligan City.

If you find information here that are inaccurate, please contact me for corrections. Thank You! 

[Update November 10, 2012]

Nicole 

• Hi Xy-Za,
  Thanks for your reply. Would you believe the 2 houses that they stayed in are still in good condition too. They're adjacent to the museum and the bigger house at the back was used as a headquarters during the war.