Camarin na Tisa

The district of San Nicolas nowadays serves as the storage and warehouse facility of the many businesses based in the nearby Binondo district, owing to its strategic location in the middle of the Philippines’ busiest port. It is also the center for importing Chinese products. Even during the Spanish colonial period, a few businesses already used the district as for warehouses, for similar reasons.

During the Spanish period until the American period, San Nicolas was commonly the residential hub of rich mestizos (mixed heritage families mainly of Spanish descent) and Chinese immigrants. In the corner of Elcano and Lavezares Street, a two-story almost abandoned edifice stands in contrast to its modern surroundings. Built in the 1890s of stone walls and clay tile roof, this is one of the few remaining houses which in local lingo called bahay na bato, or house of stone. This one has many names, bahay na tisa or house of tile, but one that sticks because it was mainly built for that purpose: camarin na tisa or storage house made of tile.

Even when it was built, San Nicolas was already a storage area. The camarin, though in dilapidated state is a perfect example of the colonial-era structures in Manila. On the ground level, compact adobe stone was used for construction, while bricks set on timber frames composed the second story walls. The building is partitioned into several shophouses, which have warehouses at the back and on the second floor.

The camarin na tisa, though a heritage building, is under the threat of demolition. It is one of the few remaining bahay na bato in the historical district of San Nicolas. Heritage advocacy groups like Renacimiento Manila call for its restoration.