After mass, all you need is a good meal to brighten up your day. 

 

With hues of orange and pink in sight from the night view of Barasoain Church, there lies, only a few blocks away, one of the oldest and famous restaurants in Malolos, Bulacan. 

 

Bahay na Tisa is an old ancestral house from 1981 which used to be a rest house every summer before being remade into a restaurant. Today, it continues to capture the heart of many Maloleños because of its mouthwatering food and stunning architecture. 

 

The restaurant, whose name literally means brick, remains established as a cultural institution in the city. Its current homeowner is Ruby Carsi Cruz. Despite the family originating from Spain, the restaurant doesn’t fail to serve the taste of Pinoys. Some of its famous dishes include calamares, garlic chicken, mixed vegetables, sinigang fiesta, and Maloleño rice. 

 

In the days of Marcos, the restaurant began as a nipa hut and used to grill meat. After that, grilling became a popular course in town with the original name being “Ihaw-Ihaw sa Bahay na Tisa.” According to Cruz, the reason why it is called Bahay na Tisa is because she is really fond of bricks. 

 

Until today, the ancient restaurant remains standing and has even become a tourist spot in Malolos. According to Andrei Aniag, Cruz’s grandson, the Bahay na Tisa is still open today because of their dedication to serving meals to other people. It has been a long journey for them, from starting in a house to expanding it as an eatery. 

 

“Hindi lang yung lugar, kundi ang mga taong bumubuo din dito, yung mga memoryang pinagtibay ng panahon, alam mo kung saan ka galing,” Aniag stated. The restaurant started from scratch yet it now serves as a significant piece of history from life in the past. As the present and future generations continue to visit this place from the past, they can remember who they are and where it all began.