Molo Mansion — Attraction in Iloilo City

A great free tourist landmark

The story goes that the Philippine shopping giant behind SM stores bought this old property, aiming to build a grocery store on its site. However, they were not allowed to demolish the existing house because it is a historic landmark. So, the company decided turn it into a souvenir shop and open part of the yard into a concessionaire's stand. In my view, that's a win-win situation. considering that many old houses in Iloilo have been left in a sad state of decay.

The concession stand offered a number of good, local and locally-inspired fare. I wish it had more of the locally known food like ibus, suman latik, and puto... with tsokolate or salabat. But what they still offered are great dishes like callos and pancit molo. They also have artisanal ice creams in dragon fruit and blue ternate flower flavors. Only the latter was available the day we went and it was beautifully made. The staff in that restaurant were friendly AND knowledgable... quite a wonderful departure from the uncaring attitude of many service staff I've seen in this city.

The building itself is restored beautifully, with its turn of the century design. Inside, we wish the products were curated better. I am a frequent visitor to the Kultura Pilipino shops of SM and I definitely know they could have stocked the shops better. I also wished they (and the visitors) had more care for the building they are in... some of the shirts were sloppily piled on a table like rags and boxes and plastic were strewed under the stairs. The food shop inside the store also stocked with good produce but sadly, we already bought souvenir snacks a stop before this one.

The Molo Mansion offers a lot of possibilities and I hope it continues of open and attract visitors.... hopefully they will reopen the second floor as well.

One thing I wished the new owners of the Mansion did was to create a better experience that goes into the story of the house. We were all in the dark on the story of the place and the family behind it and that would be a very compelling reason to attract people... a souvenir shop inside an old mansion is nice enough, but a souvenir shop inside the old house of an interesting family, who happened to be one of the...

Though already commercialized because its ground floor is occupied by Kultura boutique and there are food stalls and gardening supplies store occupying the side and back areas of its vast lot, great thing that the SM Group helped in preserving this precious jewel from Iloilo's illustrious past and saw its potential in drawing tourists aside from customers. And the entrance to explore the mansion and its premises is free! For me, the Molo Mansion, with its distinct architectural design and the superb quality of materials used in its construction in 1926 during the American occupation and when Iloilo had a major economic boom and bloom, is the cutest among Iloilo's heritage houses.

While most of the products on sale at its Kultura branch are pricey, quality is assured and we bought t-shirts, neck pillows, and cushion cases there which have Molo Mansion designs. The second floor which used to be the bedrooms for the prominent Yusay-Consing family who were the former owners of the mansion, are re-purposed as special events place dedicated to dance and creative arts. The balcony at the upper floor gives a picturesque view of the Molo Church and Plaza. The mansion's lot is so wide and there is a great balete tree at the backyard, a silent witness to the mansion's fate and transformation...

The Molo Mansion is a beautifully restored heritage home and remains one of the most iconic ancestral houses I’ve visited. It showcases a striking blend of Spanish and Filipino design elements, featuring grand windows, wooden floors, and elegant interiors that evoke a sense of the past. Conveniently located across from Molo Plaza and Molo Church, the mansion is a must-visit when exploring Iloilo's rich history.

However, it's a bit disappointing that only the first floor is open to the public, which primarily houses a souvenir shop. I was hoping to explore more of the mansion or learn more about its cultural significance, but unfortunately, there isn't much historical information provided on-site. It would be great if they expanded the areas open for viewing or offered guided tours to delve into its history—though you can always look it up online.

The souvenir shop inside carries products from "Kultura," offering a range of traditional Filipino crafts and items, but I found the prices a bit steep for my budget. Outside the mansion, there are several food stalls where you can grab a bite to eat and relax in the scenic surroundings, which adds to the overall experience.

While the visit was enjoyable, a deeper cultural immersion and access to more parts of the mansion would have made it...