Balay Negrense (Hiligaynon, The Negrense House) is the restored residence of Victor Fernandez Gaston, the eldest son of Yves Leopold Germain Gaston (originally from Lisieux, France) who was known as the Father of the Sugar Industry in Negros and Prudencia Fernandez (from Calatagan, Batangas). The house was built in 1897.
When the house deteriorated, a group from Silay decided to restore the house. The ancestral house became a museum. Some of the furnitures among other things were donated by various people. The Balay Negrense Museum contains Gaston’s telephone, books, a doll, piano etc. It will make you feel how it was to live in the house during his time. It’s like going back from the 19th century.
The doll inside a glass casket, the telephone and the piano.
Rear part of the first floor
Grand staircase.
The Balay Negrense
When you get here, be sure to go around the house. Visit each room. It will be worth it. The museum currently has an entrance fee of Php 10.00. Balay Negrense can be found at Cinco de Noviembre St. in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
My name is Fernando Concepcion Soriano Jr. I was born in Manila, PI but now resides in San Diego, CA. My mother was the sister of the wife of Victor Gaston (not sure about the first name) whose only son was Virgilio Gaston. Virgilio Gaston was married to Alice Locsin. Virgilio, my Aunt Nenita and my mother are now deceased. I wish to contact one of the Gaston members in conjunction with researching the Concepcion family tree. Unforntunately, the immediate prospect of contacting Virgilio’s family remained unfulfilled. This in itself is a long shot but worth trying.
Pasalamat gid.
Fernando
Maayong gabie Mr. Fernando Concepcion Soriano Jr., I am happy to know that you are also into searching for your family tree as we do it also in our church, we call it family history. Do you have any relatives left in the Philippines? I don’t know if you have provided me a real email add as I would like to speak to you privately. Maybe I can help as I have plans of going back to the place.
hi fernando,
my wife is the only daughter of virgilio gaston and alice locsin. we’re living in mountain view, ca. you can email my mother in law or my wife if you want to know more about your family.
joseph
hi po
nka punta nko sa balay negrenses nung may PCL last october 11 ang nice po ng house kahit decade still ang ganda parin sa na makablik ako jan
regards lang ko kay sir audie hehhehehheh thank you po
hi…………
im very glad to enter the balay negrense
i had learned many lessons there
i had been there just thid last dec.5 2008
we had our educational trip there
its very beautiful and it shows the dresses that filipinos not wearing today
it means that the culture of the philippines had change a much
it also shows the way of living of the past genarations
i really admire it
i had learned much lessons there
Hi, I am Valen Rivera, a far generation (I think) of the Gaston. I’m not sure of the name of my great grand mother but my Grandmother is namely Rosario Perez Rivera. My great grandmother was a direct Gaston. I have been in research for some time about the family tree, this sure is a great thing to know more about the family. Thank you for posting.
as to Fernando, which aunt are you referring? My grand Aunt is namely Nenita well it’s her nickname at least. Maybe we share something in common? ans yes I do remember my grandma telling me that one of her relatives married a concepcion.
hi,
I found out that im a 6th generation of the lineage of the Gaston. my dad just told me that the Gaston family has been undergoing family reunions every 3 years there in silay. If so, my uncle also knows the details of when the reunion would be set.
valen
Hi!
My name is Cristina and I am engaged to one of the descendants of the Gaston-Suarez Clan. They have reunions every 3 years (it’s always May) and it’s usually held in Manapla. They just had theirs last weekend in Hda. Rosario. the next one will be on May 2012. If you happen to go to their ancestral house, there is a family tree of the Gaston Clan, from the first Gaston, to his 3 kids (the only daughter married a Suarez) and it’s been continually updated — very efficiently, i might add. If you happen to go there, you might see your name and you can trace your lineage easily.
Good luck guys!
Thank you Cristina for sharing us a very valuable information. I know it will be a great help especially to those who are related to them. Happy reunion!
Last summer we went to Bacolod and there we had seen the famous Balay Negrense. I joined the On-Site learning (OSL), a program offered by our school. It was a good experience for I have learned that there are still houses that were like that one Silay
Hi Cristina,
Like the others above, I too am a descendant. I’ve been interested in trying to re-create my family tree for a few months now but I don’t know where to start! I’m 22 years old and am residing in Australia now, I used to live in Mindanao. My grandfather was Rene Gaston and my family used to be in Bacolod, and I used to remember seeing photos of the reunions with the other clans, it’s only recently that I have considered actively trying to find some kind of family tree. My great grandfather was a mayor of Cagayan de Oro City and we have a large park in tribute of him. I am interested in finding more information.
If anybody wants to get in touch with me, then please do so via facebook and we’ll exchance email addresses etc. Visit: http://www.facebook.com/gloryboy
Alternatively, just search my full name “Juan Paolo Gaston”.
Hope to hear from you soon!!
would anyone happen to know the contact information of the museum?