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written & photographed by: fergus jm ducharme

The De la Rama Mansion Sights & Sounds of Ilo²

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Don Esteban de la Rama was a very well educated man having studiedextensively both in the Philippines and abroad.

He was general in the Philippine Revolutionary army in 1898.

He was one of the most outstanding businessman in the Visayas, he was a verysuccessful sugar producer, the founder & owner of Panay Electric, and themanager of the De la Rama Central and owner of M/S Don Esteban.

He was second Vice President of the Asociacion de Los Veteramos de laRevolucion and commanding officer of the 6th Division of the NationalVolunteers of the Philippine Islands with the rank of Major General.

On February 22, 1921, Don Esteban de la Rama, a sugar baron after whom astreet in Iloilo City is named, was granted a franchise “to install, operate, andmaintain an electric light, heat, and power system in Iloilo”. The franchise, witha lifetime of 50 years, was embodied in Act 2983 issued by the PhilippineLegislature. In 1923 he founded Panay Electric

He served as Senator for two terms: 1941-1945 and 1946-1947.

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It appears that at his death in 1950, a major tax problem manifested itself in histerminal tax return. It was alleged by the Tax Authorities that Don Esteban’sestate misstated his income for his terminal year by about P56 million.

The assertion of the Tax Authorities was challenged and appealed severaltimes and resulted in the same outcome each time – Judgement in Favour ofthe Plaintiff (The Tax Man). Several years later, in November 1966, the SupremeCourt delivered a final judgement and a demand for payment of P86 million wasmade.

Arrangements were made with the bankers to pay that debt and the IloiloAncestral Home and its adjacent properties were used a collateral for the loan.

Over the years, it became more and more difficult to support the obligations tothe bank and the bank was eventually forced to foreclose on the loan and takeover the extensive properties on De la Rama Street in Iloilo City proper.

The result is what can be seen in the photos that follow in our presentation.The place is now completely run-down, has been totally looted of anything ofvalue and a formerly magnificent estate is infested with “informal settlers”.

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Jomarie Acallar: friend, navigator, facilitator & assistant discoverer

Nilo Jimeno: friend, pilot, facilitator & assistant discoverer

Thank You!