Tucked into the lush landscape of Negros Island, the Gaston ancestral home in Hacienda Santa Rosalia was built in the 1930s. Constructed by descendant Jose Gaston, married to Consuelo Azcona - it is the home where they raised their eight children amidst a bustling sugarcane plantation.
This decades old Filipino French villa has undergone several striking transformations through tumultuous years in the tropical climate and fraught history of the Philippines. The Gaston generations have since struggled to honor its heritage by opening its doors to the public - sharing their gracious home and life history with us.
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| Hacienda Santa Rosalia - where stories live & roots run deep |
The project seeks to preserve the site’s original structure - retaining key historical elements and preserving its old world grandeur. It remains a spacious, secluded retreat that has accommodated a large growing family while maintaining the soul of the original owners.
A home where history is not just acknowledged but actively engaged with and evolving with the times - retaining the old and reincorporating the new. That is the intention the current Gaston heirs and management have chosen to continue.
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| front driveway and grounds of the hacienda |
A living heritage, family home, and fully functioning sugar plantation - Hacienda Santa Rosalia balances heritage and contemporary luxury as a guiding principle throughout. Wherever possible, traditional elements were retained or reinterpreted.
Many elements of the original structure remain intact - the external walls, certain moldings, and key architectural details that define the structure’s historic character. The stone walls, a hallmark of European inspired architecture, are preserved and repainted. The mirador lookout tower may look like a newer addition but is actually part of the original construction.
The Juliet balconies are notably absent in one part of the home, where the women of the household slept. For added security and caution against temptation or illicit affairs - this was a respectful nod to architectural traditions of their times.
While the architecture is a careful negotiation between past and present, the villa is above all a home -one designed and maintained for a close-knit family that values togetherness. The formal dining area naturally the heart of the house - a space where long, leisurely meals extend into conversations, late-night drinks, and impromptu group games.
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| Gaston family welcoming guests to their open house on June 21, 2025 |
Smaller surrounding balconies and terraces are added options for smaller groups - for more privacy, a cooler breeze, or a different view out. Both bedrooms and ensuite baths on either side of the upper floor offer both privacy and communal warmth.
This jewel is set in a extensive verdant and gorgeous open landscape of rolling fields bordered by flowers, shrubs, trees, potted palms and an herb garden. The gate opens to the generous rotonda featuring a Victorian style fountain at its center. the grotto of the Virgin Mary is flanked on either side by the French and Filipino flags.
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| setting the stage for the hacienda's heirloom menu feast to come |
Past the driveway and house are a huge fresh water swimming pool - once used to hide in during World War II. Between the house and pool are a basketball court, a windmill, and a shoe house and playground.
The villa is more than just a restored home - it is a deliberate revival, where history is filtered through the lens of long lost opulence. The past lingers in details, in materials, in whispers of what once was - yet it is the present that takes center stage, shaped by heritage, legacy, and a desire to keep the family history relevant to all generations - family, friends and visitors.
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| the famous family long table continues to welcome many |
At the recent open house hosted on June 21, 2025, we all came to celebrate with the Gaston family. Under the cool shade and gentle breeze flowing through the interiors, we gathered among friends and strangers. Lace covered and daintily crocheted vintage tablecloth spread over long and round tables - oversized and cozy.
We were sumptuously served the Gaston heirloom menu and a selection of wines along with their famous house punch. We toasted the hosts and staff as we exchanged stories and deep belly laughs in the warmth and connection we shared under one roof. Sheltered and cared for as generations of Gaston descendants were raised and brought up in this happy home.
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| upstairs living quarters |
My father, who turned 100 years old this April, grew up here in Manapla too - although in a simpler abode that has long since been erased. There were crocodiles in the river here when they used to swim it as kids. My daughter and I are among the lucky who have come to Hacienda Santa Rosalia and have fond memories of our youth here as well.
Tita Ting Tordesillas, a daughter of Jose and Consuelo Gaston is the mom of my childhood friend Mayee Fabregas, her sole daughter. We went to school together - from prep to the start of our college years. They have always welcomed us in their home through many years - happy, healthy, sad or bad.
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| fun times in sun, sea, sand |
Our shared and separate histories have kept us in each other's orbits no matter where in the world we live today. It is a connected world overflowing with love and delight. I was so proud to see my amiga's efforts bring this place back to its past glory and open up their ancestral home for so many more as well.
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