Macavinta House
The Macavinta House is one of the three houses given citation by the Iloilo City Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHC) for preserving its historical significance of its architecture and also for observing the ICCHC guidelines in conservation and preservation. (Reprinted from Iloilo Yearbook 2005)
It looks like a modified European Castle amidst modern edifices facing Gen. Hughes St., Iloilo City.
In 1945, after World War II, the Ferraris Family bought the lot and built the house on it. The year after, the same family sold the house to a certain Mrs. Mirasol who commissioned architect Luis Dichupa to do some renovations on it.
It was in 1977 when Esperanza Mirasol and husband Pedro Macavinta acquired the rights from the other Mirasol siblings and, with sons Howard and Glenn, made the house the family residence. The second floor was then leased by and housed the offices of the Bureau of Forestry and Office of Civil Defense.
In 1994, the Macavinta Family leased the first floor of the house to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. From 1995 to 2002, the house was vacant but it was maintained by the family to keep it in good condition.
In 2003, entrepreneur Louise Jardeleza-Cordova and son Miguel leased and transformed the Macavinta House into Afrique’s Restaurant, its length of stay thereat only time can tell.