A historic ancestral house in Gingoog City, constructed in 1881, still stands today as a testament to its durability and historical significance. According to a Facebook post by Gingoog City Museum and Archives, the house of Gaw Tian To, located at the corner of Lugod and Guazon Streets near the Gingoog Wharf, is made of durable hardwood. It holds historical importance as the first establishment to sell gasoline in the area under the Caltex brand. The house also served as a shop for batteries and materials used for early home lighting during a time when Gingoog had no electricity.
In this undated photo, you can see the Caltex logo at the ancestral house.
More than 140 years later, here’s the same house photo taken in 2023,
Gaw Tian To later became the owner of Gingoog’s first ever gasoline station, the Caltex Gas Station. Although it no longer exists, the station was previously located at the corner of Guanzon Street and the national highway. Today, the site is occupied by the Mr. DIY store.
