Despacho

The despacho or the office is considered an important area of a bahay na bato. Here, business transactions are conducted between the master of the house and his kasama, encargados, and business associates. In this room, old “borroughs” adding machines, tankard, and crystal decanters are kept.

Oftentimes, the despacho also serves as the intellectual room of the master of the house, showing off his personal tastes, pasttimes, and wealth. The master's collection of old books, silver-tipped pointers and ink wells, letras y figuras paintings, hunting trophies of taxidermy antlers, horns and tortoise shells, and even an old “Scott” radio-phonograph are displayed as manifestation of the Don's masculinity and meticulous taste, an impression he wishes to convey to his colleagues.