We decided, due to the late hour, to spend the night in Taal. Driving back to the municipal hall, we stopped at nearby Casa Punzalan, Taal’s first pensionnne. The ancestral home of the prominent Punzalan family, it was leased by Mr. Jesus Samala Punzalan, Jr. and Capt. Nieto Punzalan, at no cost, to the Taal Heritage Foundation. We were welcomed by Ms. Betty Lualhati, a U.S. balikbayan and one of the foundation’s members.
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| Jandy at Casa Punzalan |
The foundation was, together with the Department of Tourism and in close coordination with the municipal government, in the forefront of Taal’s recent failed campaign to be included in the World Heritage List of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). They also organized the Taal Heritage Tour (or Taal Walking Tour), an educational, enriching and entertaining guided tour that allows the visitor to experience the lifestyle of the town; its culture, arts, crafts and the warm hospitality of the people.
It just so happened that we were the only boarders at Casa Punzalan for the night, and I not only got the feel of Taal’s 19th century lifestyle, but also a tingling feeling one gets when one stays alone in a old, haunted house. The inn has 7 rooms, all named after owners (Graciano and Juliana) and their children; 5 of them fan-cooled (PhP600) and 2 airconditioned (PhP1,00-1,200), all accessed by a grand staircase. It also has common baths (mens and ladies), a living room (sala), a coffee shop and a gift shop. We opted to stay at the corner and well ventilated Graciano Room with its excellent view of the basilica and park from its capiz windows. After a well-deserved bath at the modern-looking common bathroom, we retired to an uneventful sleep.
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| Graciano Room |
We were awaken at 6 A.M., stirred by the sound of crowing roosters, packed our bags and were off, after an early breakfast at Lemery, to Cuenca and its stately 1,145-m. high guardian, Mt. Makulot.
Casa Punzalan: cor. C. Ilagan and P. Gomez St., Brgy. Poblacion 7, Taal, Batangas. Tel: (043) 408-0084.
Taal Heritage Foundation: Casa Punzalan, Taal, Batangas. Tel: (043) 421-3034, 421-1053 & 421-1071. Fax: (043) 408-0577.
The ancestral home was leased by Jesus Samala Punzalan Jr. and Nieto Punzalan, at no cost, to the Taal Heritage Foundation.
Nieto S Punzalan was a Captain of jumbo B747 of PAL, international airline pilot for 43 years.
Your comment was noted and implemented. Thanks
Please make the following corrections: The house shown on top is not Casa Punzalan but the Banea residence. Casa Punzalan is three houses farther down on the left. Dr. Jesus Punzalan is the younger brother of my Mom and his middle name is not Samala but Nanaman – he was not a Jr. Thanks for visiting Taal!
BTW, I’m the grandson of Graciano Punzalan, former Alcalde-Mayor of Taal and who built the ancestral home.
The information above regarding the lease is absolutely correct. I am the younger son of Dr. Jesus N. Punzalan and yes I am Jesus Jr. When my father died, Casa Punzalan was passed-on to me and older brother Nieto. We then decided to lease it for free with the Taal Heritage Foundation to preserve it’s historical significance to the town. Dan, I don’t think we’ve met before, maybe someday we can reconnect as long-lost cousins.
good day sir jess can i have the updated contact number of casa punzalan? i would like to make a reservation , i planning to stay in casa punzalan this coming weekend…hoping for your response
Thank You! 🙂
Hi! I wonder this, my father in-law has an ancestral house there in Taal as well near the school. Do you by any chance know Mr Cireneo Punzalan and his family? And any relation? I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Sorry I don’t know him. I just happened to stay overnight there
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