Bed and Breakfast at Casa Escaño
From old house to a new business concept, Casa Escaño is located on#94 Juana Osmeña Street. The old house was very popular in early 60’s and 70’s where parties, reunions and gatherings were held.
Designed in the 1950’s by a Viennese architect, Ernest Korneld, the Escano house was built for fun and entertainment. A wrap-around patio became the site of rehearsals for stage plays scanning generations- “The Loves of Leonor Rivera” (starring Mario Ortiz, and Delia Villacastin), “Blithe Spirit” (starring Nic Dean and Moya Jackson), The Cat and the Canary” (Cookie Escano, Joe Pritchard, Antolin Alonte in a cameo role) “Rashamon” (Claude Evangelio) and later, “Fillip” (Benjie Diola, Jing Ramos, Mayen Angbetic Tan, Tina Ferreros, Beebop Gonzales). The musical numbers presented during the reunions of the large Escano clan were rehearsed in this house, with singing often drowned out by the chorus of crickets inhabiting the caimito and mahogany trees.
But what made this house a comfortable place for friends and relatives was the spirit of ohana holo’oko’a – a Hawaiian tradition of extended family that translated into a warm unconditional welcome for anyone who wished to be part of the family. And with ohana holo’oko’a, the Escaño house constantly bustled with friends of Jess and Gloria Escaño’s seven children spanning a 12-year age range. It was not rare to find a friend or two sleeping over after a late night party, or stranded by the curfew imposed during the martial law period. And as tradition dictated, the family was ready to add an extra plate, and throw more water into the soup to welcome the additional family member.
Gloria herself was the driving spirit in the excitement within the Escaño house as she taught Bridge to anyone who was willing to learn, encouraged “clean fun” games like Password and Charades, and offered the use of the house and the famous patio for jam sessions, reunions, meetings, and party venue for the many organizations she was actively involved in.
Until today, the tradition of ohana holo’oko’a continues to echo in the walls of Casa Escaño, now a bed-and breakfast with 11 cozy rooms and a restaurant that
serves family recipes reminiscent of the extra plate service the Escaños were ready to offer to any guest.”
Source: sMisa Casaescaño
