Gamboa is not just a venue; it is a lived-in home where guests are welcomed with warmth and intention. Gamboa is the stately manor of Aguinaldo and Alicia Gamboa, built in 1939, in the idyllic city of Silay in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Aguinaldo was the eldest son of Generoso Gamboa and his second wife, Olympia, who, as a matter of fact, figures prominently as one of the heroines of the revo
lt of the Silaynons against the Spaniards. It was Olympia and two of her cousins that sewed the Philippine flag which was waved high and proud during the revolt of November 5, 1898. Alicia was the daughter of Senator Santiago Lucero and Florentina de Guzman of Nueva Ecija. As a young medical doctor, she was assigned to the Silay Puericulture Center in the 1930’s. Enamored upon meeting her, Aguinaldo immediately staked his claim and told the other single men of Silay that she was his. Their marriage bore three children – Doreen, Della, and Danilo. This home can aptly be described as “influenced by the pre-war American Style Chalet” but still retains certain Castillian features such as the “ventanillas” that allow for free air circulation throughout the home. Typical of the period, the living quarters are all on the upper floor while the ground level was where they had the helpers quarters, storage rooms, the garage, and a rainwater cistern. Something worthy of note is this house has FORTY doors! It was fortunate that during the Second World War, the Japanese Imperial Army “sequestered” the home and was used as the residence of a Japanese colonel, thus it was spared from damage. Later, when the Americans came to liberate, it then became the headquarters of the 5th Division of the US ARMY and even saw General Douglas McArthur, a guest! Presently, Casa A. Gamboa is my home and it is my pleasure to share it with you. We accept private bookings for small gatherings of 6 to 20 persons inside the house and can have larger gatherings in the garden (up to 200 persons), weather permitting. We accept bookings for breakfast, lunch, merienda/cocktails, or dinner, whichever is your preference. The garden is also a perfect venue for private parties or other special events. We have even seen a fair share of photo shoots as the house and garden provide a wonderfully unique location and backdrop. Our menu is also noteworthy as it offers an array of home-cooked cuisine, all creations of the family doyenne, Lyn Gamboa. If our standard menu is not within your preference, we can make special accommodations to cater to what you might desire more. We also have an adequately stocked wine cellar with a variety of premium yet affordable Spanish and other wines, as well as a few choice spirits. And we have the perfect wine complements from our little food deli too! Our table settings are a feast for the eyes, planned to perfection down to the last detail. From the china and cutlery, down to the flowers and foliage gathered from the garden and adorning the table, we go through all lengths to make everything just perfect. Both the garden and indoor dining areas are well-ventilated and are tastefully and adequately lit to give you the utmost comfort during your dining experience with us. When you are booked at the Casa, you will enjoy the utmost in privacy as we only accept one booking at a time. You will have the entire place to yourselves. If you wish, you may even stay an evening or two as we have some rooms offered as a bed and breakfast too. Another feature is our own little boutique that showcases the beautifully handcrafted products of Whimsy by Silay Export. Watch out also updated posts in our Instagram and Fb pages for events like art exhibits, bazaars, markets, and even craft classes. What more can we say? Gamboa is the TOTAL experience…
