Casa Gorordo is a superb example of a Spanish colonial era house called balay nga tisa. Its architecture combines elements of Spanish, Chinese and Philippine buildings, creating a unique blend of east and west that is called “mestizo”. The house was built in the 1850s and was originally owned by Alejandro Reynes y Rosales. It was bought by Isidro Gorordo, a merchant from the Basque province of Vizcaya in Spain. Four generations of his family lived in this house including Juan Gorordo, the first Filipino bishop of Cebu, and it is from him that the museum takes its name. Inside visitors can see antique furnishings, costumes, and various other memorabilia. There is also a small area for local art exhibitions on the lower floor.
The house was acquired by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) in 1979, renovated, and opened to the public as a museum in 1983. In 1991 is was designated a “National Historic Landmark” by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
