The Legarda Ancestral House, or Legarda Mansion is the home of Dr. Alejandro Legarda and Doña Ramona Hernandez, a historic house located in San Miguel, Manila, Philippines. It was one of the first Art Deco houses in Metro Manila built in 1937. It was in 2001 that the house was converted into a restaurant called La Cocina de Tita Moning ("The kitchen of Tita Moning", "Tita Moning" being the nickname of Doña Ramona Hernandez) - an adaptive reuse for this heritage structure. Location The Legarda Ancestral house is located at 315 St. Rafael St., San Miguel, Manila. It is beside what used to be the Malacaňang Clinic, which, in turn used to be the home of General Basilio Valdes, the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the term of President Manuel L. Quezon. Historical background The House The Legarda Ancestral House was built in 1937 and was among the first Art deco houses built in Manila. The houses flanking on both sides of the Legarda Ancestral House and the other houses on the street belongs to the other members of the Legarda-Valdes-Prieto clan. The house at 315 San Rafael St. belongs to the family of Dr. Alejandro Legarda, his wife Ramona, and their four children, Filomena, Carmen, Alejandro, and Ramon. Casa Rita is still owned by the Valdes-Araneta clan but the house of General Basilio Valdes was sold a long time ago and was made into Malacanang Clinic and now home of the Presidential guards. Features The Zalameda Upon entering the main door you will find the Zalameda at the left wall of the house. It is where the painting “Sailboats” of Filipino artist Oscar Zalameda is placed. The painting was bought by Mr. Ramon H. Legarda circa 1970’s for only 3,000 pesos. The Library Being a doctor, Dr. Legarda had his own collection of medical books and encyclopedias placed on the house’s library. Inside the library there are still two other rooms, the small door behind the chest was his dark room and the other one served as a guest room for family guests and relatives. The Antique Camera Equipment room Left of the stairs, down the hall to the right is where the antique cameras and equipment used by Dr. Legarda before is displayed. He was recognized as the oldest living member of the “Camera Club of the Philippines” at the time of his death