What’s better than watching movies under the stars, surrounded by history and timeless beauty? That’s exactly what we did two weeks ago at MiraNila Heritage House and Library.

With friends, we caught Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo and Past Lives by Celine Song, both deeply moving films about what-could-have-beens, cultural divides, and the versions of ourselves we leave behind. A night of heartbreak and introspection, but in the best way possible.

We were seated on native mats, on an expansive lawn, watching on high-definition LED screens while enjoying snacks from Bizu.

Pelikula sa MiraNila was a wonderful fusion of love, history, and cinema. It was the first of two movie nights planned for Valentine's month, but I had to skip the second one as it coincided with my sister’s wedding. I was part of the team that helped promote it, so it was extra special for me.

I had the privilege of working with MiraNila’s archivist, Purissima “Petty” Benitez-Johannot, who lovingly oversees the house and personally gave our team a tour. 

For those who haven’t been, MiraNila is a hidden gem in Quezon City. This ancestral home of the Benitez family sits on Mariposa Street, named after the butterflies that once fluttered around its lush gardens. Built in 1929 on a one-hectare property, a full decade before Quezon City was chartered, the house is a declared Heritage House by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, one of only two in Metro Manila, the other being the Lichauco Heritage House in Santa Ana.

Helena Z. Benitez, a respected educator, senator, and founder of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, grew up here along with her siblings, Tomas and Alfredo.

Walking through MiraNila feels like stepping into another era. The mansion, designed in the California Revival Style, reflects the sophistication of its scholarly residents. With influences from Florence, Italy, the house stands four storeys high, complete with a basement and a tower that once served as an observation point. The name “MiraNila” comes from Helena Benitez herself, who once exclaimed, “Mira a Manila!” (“Look at Manila!”) while standing in the tower and watching a fire engulf Intramuros in the 1930s.

Inside, MiraNila houses 4,000 books, paintings, letters, and art collections, along with all the history that comes with them. These were collected by Helena’s parents, Conrado and Francisca Benitez. Conrado was an educator and constitutionalist, while Francisca was a suffragette and co-founder of the Philippine Women’s University, the first university for women in Asia established by Asians.

The living room is a showstopper, featuring elegant period furniture, ancestral portraits by Filipino masters, and a sweeping staircase. Petty shared that they have hosted musical events using MiraNila’s newly restored 1904 Steinway grand piano, a rare piece in the Steinway & Sons catalog.

Upstairs, the second floor features a spacious private library, meticulously organized using the Dewey Decimal System, complete with index card filing cabinets. Of course, the kids in our group had no clue about this system we used back in school. 

Among the interesting archival materials is a stack of personal letters from Maria Aurora “Baby” Quezon, daughter of President Manuel Quezon, to Helena. Baby was an undergraduate at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, while Helena was undertaking graduate studies at George Washington University.

This floor also houses the bedrooms and provides access to the mezzanine and tower attic. 

The climb to the tower is steep but well worth it. Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the sprawling garden and a refreshing breeze, making it the perfect hideaway and a quiet nook to read, reflect, or simply escape for a while. This was a favorite spot of Alfredo, who had a heart condition, as its north-facing orientation maximizes airflow, keeping the tower cool and breezy.

The tour ends at the museum’s gift shop, accessible via the mansion’s three-person elevator (yes, it has an elevator!). 

Beyond the house, the grounds include a chapel built in 2006 and The Blue Leaf, which runs The Gallery MiraNila for events. There’s also The MiraNamin Nest for boutique luxury stays, and for those craving a treat, Bizu MiraNila Café is right on the premises.

I’ve handled two events here before, but I never had the chance to explore the mansion until now. One was a launch for an energy company, and the other was for QCinema International Film Festival. 

If you want to visit, you need a group of at least seven to book a tour, but trust me, it’s worth gathering your friends for an unforgettable experience.

General admission tours are available every Saturday at 10 AM and 1 PM. Private tours can be arranged on other days by appointment for groups of 7 to 20 people. Admission is ₱400 per person, and each tour lasts about 90 minutes.

For regular tours at the MiraNila Heritage House & Library, call 0945 4876827. For events at The Gallery MiraNila, call 0917 7960106. For dining at Bizu MiraNila, call 0927 2015129. For high-end guest suite stays at MiraNamin Nest, book in advance through Airbnb, Google Vacation Rentals, Booking.com, or The Nest by the Sea. To see photos and get directions, visit MiraNila Heritage House on Facebook.