FINALLY, I visited and saw a place that I have longed to go to for a long time -- the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. Nestled in a 40-hectare beachfront property, the heritage destination is home to 63 old houses that come from different parts of the country. Its owner, Jose "Gerry" Acuzar started to build the Las Casas Filipinas in 2003 and has also continuously added more structures to the property also serving as a hotel and convention center.
In 2017, Las Casas Filipinas was recognized and part of the Historic Hotels Worldwide and was named Asia Awards of Excellence winner for Asia’s most excellent destination.
Casa Lubao, where the first structure where the tour orientation was held, is originally a plantation house owned by haciendero Valentin Arrastia and Francisca Salgado. During world War II, the Japanese soldiers used the house as a garrison. Since the Japanese usually burn down houses and buildings after they use it, Casa Lubao almost suffered this fate if not for the help of the Japanese colonel who pretended to be a driver of the Arrastias. According to the tour guide, the Japanese who served as a spy had gotten close to the family and prevented the Japanese from burning Casa Lubao.
The Arrastia couple, who were believed to spend their mornings in their veranda, helped the poor boy from Lubao, Diosdado Macapagal in his schooling at the Don Honorio Ventura in Bacolor, Pampanga.
We were then shown "Tulay ni Lola Basyang" which is a replica of Manila's Jones Bridge named after the famous Lola Basyang, the pen name of Severino Reyes who wrote more than 400 stories who amused children with magical tales, enchanted places, and mysterious creatures.
We then went to Casa Binan from Biñan Plaza in Laguna which was originally owned by the ascendants of our National hero, Jose Rizal. It was built in the 16th century by Gregorio Alonzo. The house is filled with history, scandal and conspiracy, leading up to the years of Teodora Alonzo, Jose Rizal’s mother.
The last building that we visited is the Escuela de Bellas Artes or Casa Quiapo, which housed the first U.P. School of Fine Arts. The said building was the first casa to be relocated in Bagac and was the former mansion of Filipino intellectual and painter Rafael Enriquez y Villanueva where he would hold workshops here with his peers José Rizal, Juan Luna, and Félix Hidalgo. Inside were many sculptures and other artworks which were collected by one of owner's daughters, Jam Acuzar.
Our day tour might have ended there, but I would definitely go back to explore the other stories that gave life to the old edifices that form the wonders of the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.