With its limited run from March 25 to April 3, the Villa Bridgerton mansion located at 35 Broadway Avenue, Corner 9th Street, New Manila, Quezon City was done up to emulate the opulent interiors that viewers are familiar with. It gave audiences a shot at experiencing the charm we see onscreen, highlighting the work of a pioneer of Philippine architecture, and bringing a glimpse of regency England into the heart of the city.
Photo by Joshua Carlos Barrera
Villa Bridgerton’s visitors were able to participate in activities such as spirited games of croquet, scenic carriage rides, and a truly awe-inspiring tour of the mansion’s grand interiors, all the while being serenaded by a string quartet.
The staff were also dressed in regency garb, so each guest who visited the attraction throughout its 10-day run had felt as though they were a part of the vibrant London “ton” for a day, if not a whole social season.
More history than meets the eye
The mansion, more commonly referred to as the residence of Narcisa “Doña Sisang” V. Buencamino-de Leon, who was the president of the now-defunct Filipino film studio LVN Pictures, was built in 1931 by Pablo S. Antonio, a National Artist for Architecture.
Antonio was among the country’s pioneers for architecture and was renowned for his expertise in the Art Deco style, which was also implemented in his other notable work such as Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila, the Manila Polo Club in Makati, and a number of houses for Manila’s most prominent figures at the timeーleading to the creation of Forbes Park.
“The use of a heritage house built [...] could not have mirrored the home of the Bridgerton family in the Netflix series more perfectly,” Antonio’s great-grandson, Joshua Carlos Barerra, ID 118 Arts Management student, shared in an interview with The Benildean. “Both the actual 1931 New Manila mansion and the ancestral city home of the Bridgerton family [showcase] a luxurious yet genteel quality suitable for a prominent family in society.”
With its rich history as the residence of one of Philippine film’s most prominent figures in the film industry, it is almost poetic how the mansion has been used as the set for various film and TV productions because of its impeccably preserved state and magnificent style practically tailored to fit the most cinematic and dramatic scenes. But beyond being a set, this mansion has also served as the de Leon residence for almost a century, until it was sold in the 2000s.
A thesis homage
Barerra had chosen to focus his thesis on the Pablo S. Antonio home, which is their family’s ancestral home in Pasay City. Built in 1949, his research led to an examination of his great-grandfather’s entire body of work; including the late architect’s sketches, blueprints, and interviews, which he brought together to form the Pablo S. Antonio Home website.
Photo by Joshua Carlos Barrera
“Today, I, along with my family, have the responsibility to preserve and share his legacy,“ Barerra said, emphasizing that Antonio’s work goes beyond what meets the eye. “Antonio’s work simply isn’t all about glamor or aesthetic, there are environmental features in his architectural practice that have become key solutions in the search for sustainability in contemporary Filipino living spaces.”
On the other hand, Barrera highlighted the use of indoor gardens, ponds, and large spaces for greenery to bring architecture and the country’s tropical climate into a balance with one another.
Back into the regency era
Based on American author Julia Quinn’s steamy series of novels, the second season of “Bridgerton” revolves around Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the duty-bound eldest Bridgerton sibling, and his quest against love.
Although Villa Bridgerton was a project that was exclusively handled by Netflix, Barerra was able to visit the attraction and described the different elements of Villa Bridgerton as “perfectly at home” with the Doña Sisang Residence’s picturesque interiors and extensive grounds.
When asked about his thoughts on the show's second season, Barerra confirmed he had been following the show since its debut in December 2021, “I [...] enjoyed the second season even more than the first,” Barerra said of this season’s long drawn-out enemies-to-lovers plot. “It continued the tale of romance and etiquette, intrigue and gossip, [and] elaborate settings and colorful fashion, ending in what matters most of all—the triumph of true love.”
As for our thoughts, dear reader—we have found the latest season of Bridgerton to be most beguiling indeed. Admittedly, simultaneous love at first sight and enemies-to-lovers story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) were equal parts mesmerizing and frustrating, as it took the entirety of the season’s eight episodes before either of them could admit to being enamored by the other. There was a notable lack of intimate scenes this season, which we, alongside the rest of Bridgerton fans, had not failed to notice.
Readers of the Bridgerton novels would also notice the blatant divergence from the series’ source material. From Quinn’s “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” the most noticeable deviation would be the infamous bee scene, where Anthony and Kate are caught in a compromising position and are forced to marry. Their true romance begins at the engagement, although taking this route would have been a tad too formulaic, especially following Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon’s (Rege-Jean Page) similar situation during the show’s first season.
What this season cut back on in steamy escapades, it made up for in tension, longing stares, cliff-hangers, well-crafted background plotlines, and the all too relatable dilemma between duty and desire. It would be safe to say that Bridgerton season two has been…well, safer than the first season.
Still, dear reader, this author awaits the third season with much anticipation. And now for the all-important question of whether Villa Bridgerton would reopen for the show’s third season—we await news with bated breath.
