LIFESTYLEFEATURE
In a country that has more than 7,000 islands it seems that running out of places to visit is close to impossible. Believe it or not, the Philippines has more than incredible beaches and breathtaking mountaintops, if you just knew where to look. In our search for the perfect location for our Foreverism issue, we stumbled upon Bataan’s best kept secret. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a refreshing treasure in the town of Bagac. Managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts and owned by Jose L. Acuzar, it takes visitors back to a simpler but grander time—where majestic staircases and magnificent fountains were the norm in every home and town plaza, respectively. According to Acuzar, the choice of the site was accidental as it was not intended to become an outdoor museum of ancestral homes but a vacation house for his family to spend their holidays at. Originally a hobby, his love for the collection and restoration of old Philippine architecture has given birth to a resort village of 22 ancestral homes and counting that is placed beautifully, “where the sea meets the river and the mountains meet the sea.” Inspired by his travels through Europe, Acuzar took it upon himself to preserve centuries-old structures because he says the ancestral homes are things of beauty, treasures to behold and a place to be where one can reminisce and be mindful of the richness of Filipino cultural heritage. Some of the words that best describe how his vision came about are, “may dating at puso kapag pinagsama-sama, gumaganda kapag nabibihisan ngunit pumapangit kapag pinababayaan. May damdamin at karakter, may pera sa bulok—pagkalinga sa kalikasan at kapaligiran.” Thus began the gruelling 12 years that Acuzar spent rebuilding the different structures from the ground up. Reconstruction began with documentation, and then the subsequent marking of every part of the house prior to dismantling it and transporting it to the new site. The house is then rebuilt piece by piece in its original form. The dedication and attention to detail by Acuzar is admirable, as any guest 72
DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011
LAS CASAS FILIPINAS
DE ACUZAR who is lucky enough to visit can see and appreciate the reconstructed houses in their original splendor that has hardly any trace of dilapidation or abandonment.
Each house in the village has its own story to tell along with its own architectural character, and at first, the owner only wanted to learn about how they constructed houses in the past. As the project got bigger, however, the owners of ancestral houses started to offer their houses and Acuzar chose the ones with cultural, architectural and historical significance. In keeping with the theme, the streets of Las Casas Filipinas are cobblestone, and although the various structures are from different places, there is a sense of harmony in the village. Even the small bronze sculptures of children playing on the street are the perfect companion of the immense houses fitted with capiz-shelled windows. You’re left with a questioning feeling as to whether the children come alive to continue their rambunctiousness when the world is fast asleep.
One thing is for sure, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is an enduring concept. A time machine of sorts that instantly take you back the second you set foot past the gates of the village. A Philippine Brigadoon, only it doesn’t disappear once you leave. But surely, a model for the young and frivolous to marvel at and be inspired that there is something beautiful to be made out of old structures. A village that was not only built by a passion for architecture, but also for the love of history. For reservations and inquiries, visit their Manila Sales office at the mezzanine floor of Victoria Towers at Timog Avenue, Quezon City, call 332-5338, 335-3032 or e-mail them at reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com.