Baleg ya Abung, a Treasure of Pozorrubio and Pangasinan

Baleg ya Abung, a Treasure of Pozorrubio and Pangasinan

By: Rodrigo P. de Vera, Jr., Ed. D.

Bobonan National High School (BNHS)-Senior High School Subject Group Head

Amidst the rapid development of infrastructure within the town proper, the Jovellanos-Venezuela Ancestral House , popularly known as the Baleg ya Abung, the Pangasinan term for the big house, along Sison Street, remains the only reminder of the  past.

            People are wondering why this house is still there standing in the midst of new buildings  that have been constructed around it. For them this house has become an eyesore as the structure seems to be forgotten as shown by its age- rusty roof, termite-infested walls and ceilings, and dilapidated old windows. In their mind, they wonder why the owner doesn’t seem interested of tearing it down and build a new building instead.

            People don’t know the importance of this house in the history of Pozorrubio. Many Pozorrubians don’t know that this ancestral house played a significant role in the life of our President Emilio Aguinaldo.  President Aguinaldo and some of his men slept in this house on November 14, 1899 while retreating from  his American pursuers.

 Three days after President Aguinaldo left this house, his American pursuers also occupied this house leaving their mark (13^th U.S. Rifle Co.) at the back of  the door of the room where President Aguinaldo slept.

During the World War II, the Japanese Military Commander used the house as his personal quarters between 1944 and 1945.

The ground floor of this ancestral house was also used as classrooms when the Pozorrubio High School, now Benigno V. Aldana National High School, was put up in early 1946;

After the July 16, 1990 earthquake, this ancestral house served as the office of some departments of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pozorrubio for almost one year;

This is the only existing Spanish-style edifice in Pozorrubio and it is now in great danger due to infestation of termites that are slowly eating the woods of this house.

In order to preserve this house, the Association of Advocates of Historical and Cultural Preservation of Pangasinan (AAHCPP), a group of teachers from the different towns of Pangasinan and nearby provinces of La Union, Zambales, and Tarlac, has adopted this house for their community extension program. In fact, they even filed a resolution for the Sangguniang Bayan of Pozorrubio to declare this as a historical site.

During its Brigada Historia, a clean up activity similar to that of Brigada Eskwela of the Department of Education, conducted last May 26,  the Association also launched its biggest card in town and in Pangasinan featuring the “Baleg ya Abung” in the news segment of Bagong Umaga, Bagong Balita, a morning program of ABS CBN-Dagupan City and  TV Patrol North Central Luzon on May 29, 2017.