My very own sweet Giant, Bubba, asked me to block October 24-25, 2010 for an overnight trip out of town.  He said I needed a short vacation to re-energize my overworked mind.  The destination kept as a secret to me ensued a continuing guessing game before the trip.  The only clues given were History, 2.5 hour drive, North area.

Little did I know that the place we visited wasn’t only rich in history, it made me feel that we were living in that particular era –the 19^th century.

Mount Samat and the Huge White Cross

The first stop was not the destination but it was a brief glimpse to what 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers went through during the Bataan Death March.  The car stopped over in the town of Pilar in the Province of Bataan right below a mountain where the “Shrine of Valor” stands.  This mountain is known as Mount Samat. 

In 1942, it was the actual site of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army.  Former Philippine President and war veteran Ferdinand Marcos built this war memorial at Mount Samat.  This memorial serves as a reminder of how the Filipinos bonded together for a courageous stand against oppressors. 

We were not with the group that sat on the altar

The erected war memorial features a colonnade that houses an altar, esplanade, and a war museum that has a display of paintings of the Philippine heroes and war armaments used during the heat of the battle.

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Standing massively on Mount Samat is a huge white cross –a silent representation of the men who died there.  Inside the 311-ft (95m) high memorial cross is a small elevator that takes you to the top floor for the landscape view of Bataan.  

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

After verifying the guest names on his list, the guard opened the gate that lead to the 400-hectare land of the Acuzars located in the Bagac town of Bataan.  Out of the total area, only 60 hectares have been developed but imagine how vast that already is.  

A complete change of scenery – the clock ticked counterclockwise.  Time seemed to move back to the 19^th century where children play in a cobblestone plaza and people gather by the watering hole and converse like there is no shortness of time.

This is the same era where our forefathers dwell in magnificently crafted original Bahay na Bato (Stone Houses) and Hispanic town settlements that are now considered as heritage houses.  These heritage houses, each with a special story to tell, are collectively rebuilt or restored “brick by brick” and “plank by plank” in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar –a somewhat big village that time warps you in the past.

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Breathe life into deeply-rooted traditions that seemed to be long gone through a guided Heritage tour.  A friendly tour guide brings you around the Heritage houses and illustrates how our forefathers lived in the past.

Recreational activities at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar include educational tours, culinary tour, traditional games like Tumbang Preso, Patintero, Palo Sebo, Basket and Hat weaving, Rice Planting, Vegetable planting, Zarsuela, Cultural dances, Harana, Carabao rides, and cigar rolling.  Unfortunately, since we left early the next morning to make it back to Manila by 1030am, we didn’t get to try the activities.

The Marahai Spa is located at the Indio House or Wooden Stilt Houses near the beach area.  Marahai Spa offers services like traditional hilot (Filipino massage that breaks cold spots in problem areas) complete with herbs and other pampering services.  La Pistana swimming pool provides a soothing scene of the Umagol River ripping into the South China Sea. 

Paseo de Escolta

The façade looks like typical Escolta buildings found in Manila during the early 1990’s where stores and shops fill the ground floor and the upper floors are used as residential or multiple dwelling/transient units.  I think some buildings still stand that way in Chinatown.  Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar trailed along that idea and built Casa Escolta on the 2^nd and 3^rd floors. 

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Casa Escolta serves as the resort hotel that provides 17 rooms to visiting tourists –all furnished with spacious individual toilets and baths.

The structures are built with a combination of old and new materials while the rooms and interiors were designed by the wife of the owner, Mrs. Tess Acuzar.  Despite the old look and feel of the rooms, there are modern enhancements added to it such as the AC, flat screen TV, and DVD player.

Our Room

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Bubba munching on Ruffles Cheddar Cheese

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My bags

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Pretty bathroom door

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He’s pretty excited about me taking too many photos.

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Right before Modern Family Marathon 🙂  I L-O-V-E MODERN FAMILY!!!!

Casa Mexico

Casa Mexico was reconstructed using salvaged materials from a junkshop and was rebuilt based on an old photograph.  Original location of the photographed house is from Mexico, Pampanga. 

Paseo de Escolta when night falls

Casa Candaba

Also a house originally from Pampanga and previously owned by one of the most prominent families living there, The Reyeses.  Estanislao Reyes was the last known owner of the house in 1941.  This same house was used in the 1961 movie adaptation of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere directed by National Artist for Film, Jerry de Leon.  It acted as the residence of Maria Clara and Kapitan Tyago.

Casa Baliuag 1

Initially constructed in 1898 and reconstructed in 2007, the Baliuag house formerly stood across the Baliuag Church in Bulacan.  It once served as Baliuag municipal hall in the 1950’s.  Last owner of the Baliuag house or Taberna del Senor Pepe is the Tolentino family.

Casa Hidalgo

Constructed in 1867, this formerly known as the Enriquez Mansion stood along Hidalgo Street in Quiapo Manila.  It is the very same street where numerous professional photographers visit now when looking for a new camera.  But before it became the site of camera stores, there once stood what was considered to be the most elegant house in the entire country during the Spanish regime.

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This mansion was also used as the first campus of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts which makes it so convenient for house owner Rafael Enriquez who became its first director for almost 17 years.  This was the first school of Architecture in the Philippines.    

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Other Casas include Casa Cagayan, Casa Baliuag 2, Casa Luna, Casa Jaen 1, Casa Unisan, Casa Meycauayan, and Casa Lubao.

Rich in history

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Imagine that

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Unfinished bridge

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Sprawling lawn

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Why did the chicken cross the street?

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Some old houses actually have this pathway on the sides of the house 

where visitors can walk without disturbing the main area or rooms 

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Secret doors

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Cane holder/stand near the door.  That’s where the oldies place their canes.

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Detailed houses

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I prefer modern toilet and bath 😉

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Marivent Café

Once we settled in, Bubba and I hopped over at the Marivent Café located at one of the Casas for a late lunch. 

On the Table

Tomato Soup PHP 130

Pinakbet Ilocano PHP 385

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Callos Madrilena PHP 475

Sautéed sliced ox tripe with Tomato Concasse and Madeira sauce

We went back to the Café in the evening for dinner.  We ordered the Paella ahead of time since it takes a full hour to cook and prepare.

Paella Valenciana PHP 650  

Sautéed rice in Spanish concasse and tomato puree mixed with assorted seafoods and meat

Paella Valenciana

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Filipino-Hispanic cuisine at Marivent Cafe

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 Table for Two Please 😉

La Plaza Mayor and El Centro areas are used for receptions and events that can accommodate 500-1,200 people.  These areas also serve as the resort’s outdoor social activity centers.  If you want a wedding motif that’s set during the Spanish era, Casas de Acuzar gives the ideal setting.

Take a relaxing flashback to our cultural heritage at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and gaze wistfully at the beautiful old Spanish houses and admire selected architecture that withstood time.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Bagac Bataan

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Album

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar DSLR Album

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