Camiña Balay nga Bato

The Camiña house in Arevalo was built in the 1860s by a family of textile traders, and unlike most heritage houses in the country it is still owned and occupied by their descendants, who show visitors round themselves. It is a bahay na bato of the classic type - coral-stone ground floor, hardwood upper storey, capiz-shell windows, wide plank floors - furnished with the family's own pieces and with the looms and textile material that reflect where the money came from. What makes the visit distinctive is what comes with it: tsokolate, made from local cacao ground on a stone and whisked with a wooden batidor in the traditional way, served with local kakanin, while the owner talks about the house, the district and Iloilo's textile past. Booking ahead matters, since this is a household rather than a museum with fixed opening hours.

What you actually see

• The stone-and-wood house - an 1860s bahay na bato lived in still.
• The family furnishings - original pieces and textile equipment.
• The tsokolate service - stone-ground cacao whisked at the table.
• The Arevalo district - the old weaving quarter around the house.

When to go

November to May for travel. Book ahead - visits are arranged by the family and there are no drop-in hours. Mornings and early afternoon suit the chocolate service.

Honest expectations

It is a private home shown by its owners, so timing depends on them and booking is essential. The tour fee includes refreshments and is higher than a museum ticket. Photography rules are the family's to set.

Nearby

Molo Church and its plaza are close; Jaro Cathedral and Iloilo's centre are a short ride away.