The Yusay Consing Mansion, is a building of huge heritage significance in the Molo District of Iloilo City. It had for years been seriously neglected and fell into serious disrepair so much so that the property, once one of the jewels of the region, effectively became a dumping ground. And in came riding to the rescue a white knight appeared to save the once magnificent property from the wreckers ball. SM Properties bought the property and committed themselves to saving it for subsequent generations while using the property surrounding the mansion for commercial purposes.

SM Properties are heroes and their work has started positively, we only wish they would admit us on the grounds to record, in our small way, this important work for posterity.

The approach is for adaptive re-use wherein it will be converted into a retail shop or museum for Kultura which will showcase Ilonggo local products. While a commercial building will be built within the compound, the mansion, which is in a decayed state, will be rehabilitated and will be used as a heritage museum with a cultural retail shop.

“The mansion will showcase the best of Ilonggo arts, crafts and delicacies,” SM said in a statement.

Built in the 1920s, the Yusay-Consing Mansion was originally owned by Doña Petra Lacson-Yusay. It was later handed down to the family of Timoteo Consing Sr., who served as Iloilo governor from 1935-1937.

The mansion was said to be where Presidents Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña were hosted and stayed in when they would visit Iloilo.

When completed, the retrofitted structure will look the same way the original did, as if nothing were added or subtracted.

Fitted into the heritage interior are a small museum, retail shops and restaurants, and the heritage structure will be integrated with a commercial area on one side and behind, leaving much of the front garden as an open public plaza.