Rody chooses Bahay Pangarap

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte will eventually use Bahay Pangarap as his official residence.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go yesterday said Duterte has opted to stay in Bahay Pangarap, which is directly opposite the Palace across the Pasig River.

The President’s aides did not provide details. They only said he would be moving in next week.

Duterte earlier said he would go back to his home in Davao City every day because he was more comfortable sleeping in his residence. He also said he was afraid of ghosts and did not like the labyrinthine passageways at Malacañang.

It was former president Benigno Aquino III who first used Bahay Pangarap as official residence. Previous presidents used it only as a rest house.

The rest house was constructed at the south bank of the Pasig River during the term of the late president Manuel Quezon from 1936 to 1937. It was named Bahay Pangarap after the Malacañang grounds were refurbished through the efforts of then first lady Evangeline Macapagal in the 1960s.

It was during the term of former president Fidel Ramos when Bahay Pangarap was restored and became the clubhouse of the Malacañang Golf Club. 

It is not yet known if Duterte will use the small golf course.

In 1996, Bahay Pangarap was used as an alternative venue for official functions in addition to recreational and social activities.

In 2008, Bahay Pangarap was essentially demolished by architect Conrad Onglao, who rebuilt it in a contemporary style by retaining the basic shape of the roof as a nod to the previous historic structure.

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the rest house during a Christmas reception for the Cabinet on Dec. 19, 2008.

The house is under the administration of the Internal House Affairs Office of the Office of the President of the Philippines through administrative circular No. 251.