Date of visit: May 28, 2025.
Before pandemic, I think the entrance was 150 pesos then and it had a price hike after a couple of years, though! After payment for entrance at the souvenir shop, a downloaded video from Rappler about the house tour was presented. The owners of the old house really take care of their ancestors' legacy. The whole house, with all the antiques and other cherished things from the past, is already a museum itself plus restaurant. Dining areas occupy almost the whole second floor. Camiña Balay, just like most of Iloilo's heritage houses, brings that Old World nostalgia. Visitors are of diverse background and not everyone can be pleased yet if you're into history and fascination for "bahay na bato" with all the antiques, don't miss this important cultural property when you're in this suburban district of Iloilo City.
After the tour, they serve cookies and thick hot cocoa drink served in pretty little porcelain cups. So reminiscent of a chapter in Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal where two types of the said beverage, according to the gossip of the unnamed municipal Alperez, were Padre Salvi's culinary language when it comes to accepting guests; the two Noli characters are known to be bitter frenemies. "Chocolate e" for honored visitors, which means, the best quality hot chocolate that is syrupy and coats the biscuit or cookies. "Chocolate a" for unwanted visitors; the thinly-prepared cocoa drink, probably a sikwate.