Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

It's another trip to North!  Before  we finally  headed to Las Casas  Filipinas de Acuzar, we first  stopped by at Bataan Tourism Center to get some information and know more of  the tourists spot.  It was my first time to see Bataan and the only thing  I knew about  the place concerns with  the death march and the monument  that  the late President Marcos built to honor  the heroes of  the battle.   We want to maximize the travel and made a quick visit to   Mt. Samat,  Dunsulan Falls and Pawikan Conservation Center.  The Mendiola Family  is really so awesome  and that I consider every  travel  with them  an amazing and  memorable trip. Thanks to Joy who prepared  the itinerary for the day and  to her  husband John  who pushed  the travel  all the way to Pawikan.

Behold Bataan!  That welcomes us at the Tourism Center.  Unfortunately,  the office was still closed when we dropped by  at around 7:45am.  The Communication Rescue and Security  Division  inside the Tourism compound  however  operates  24/7  and  gave us  a brochure of   "It's more fun in Bataan." 

After  a quick glimpse to some tourist spots,  we  went straight to our final destination,   Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.  I  already  had enough information from the internet about the heritage place  but I was still very much surprised when  I stepped my foot inside  Las Casas.   I  felt  like I  traveled back in Spanish Era.   Staff and the workers  wear  traditional clothes including  the guards who  also act  like Guardia Civil.  We were  welcomed  with  Filipino drink,  a very  Pinoy  sago gulaman.

This heritage view welcomed us.  It's like walking back to 19th century.    It was not  quite long ago when I watched on TV about  the old house in Binan.  Now I knew where that house went.  Anyways, I  will leave and  end  the story and controversy  here.   These heritage houses  were  transported  into this village  and   restored.  The owner's  intention and passion to  preserve  and rebuild  old  houses  now  produce  a  heritage resort  but  the history  and  design remain. 

Don't be deceived with this  old door  for  behind  this  is  a  wonderful  sight.  It has all the amenities of a five star hotel.  I could compare the furniture and design to  a world class hotel  in Manila with  modern  facilities.

One of the rooms of the Casas 

There is also a  kalesa  that will tour you around for a  minimum of  P50  per person.

 

The Calesa Ride

Souvenir items and hats are also available at the store. 

 Quick  pose at  La Panaderia. You can buy your refreshment, pasalubong and  light snack in this area.

If  you love old  houses  and  history,  then visit the place and walk back to old times.  

Accommodation:

We stayed in one of the rooms of  Paseo de Escolta with a loft.   It's  a  big room with a  comfortable  couch.  It's a combination of old and new.  The house  has  old  furniture  but   with modern amenities such  as   LCD,   telephone,  ref and   spacious  bath room  with  shower and  bath tub.

It was quite big enough for us. There's no wifi  inside the room but you can  proceed to reception area should  you  need to connect to the online world.

The view from the window  to our rented  room looks like this. The place is very picturesque.  There is no angle that you need to find to have a good shot.   Amazing!

My children weren't really prepared to go on swimming that day.  They told me they're not gonna swim but when they saw the pool, they quickly changed their mind.

The beach was not ideal to swim that day because of the windy weather that creates  big waves.  The lifeguard on duty  told us to just stay in a  shallow area.  It wasn't safe anymore to swim so we  headed back to the  pool.

The spring inspired pool  will  give you a soothing and refreshing feeling.

Here's more of the photo at the pool.  I find it very peaceful with the sky that's  about to turn gray at 6pm. 

If you  walk towards this view,  you'll reach an open sea with equally beautiful sight.  If you are a romantic person and just want to have quiet time,  then this place is for you  to relax with only the sound of the waves  to  hear.



Sunset view at  Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar 

It  was a beautiful sky  although  the sun hardly  appears.  The gold and gray color seemed to blend perfectly that   gave us a very beautiful sunset. 

We went there on Monday  while the  rest of the  world and travelers are busy  for  the  work week.  We almost own the heritage village, ours for the meantime. 



Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar by night

 Paseo de Escolta

We stayed in one of the rooms here at  Paseo de  Escolta.  Another  amazing view at night.



Breath taking view in the morning

Cafe Marivent

We choose to stay near the window facing the sea  during  our breakfast at Cafe Marivent  and captured  this  beautiful morning sight. How lovely!

After  breakfast, we headed towards the pool  before our  guided tour started.  I could smell the sea and hear the waves  from this pool.

The Heritage Tour

We're supposed to have  an 8:30am  tour but we woke up very late to catch up  and ended up to 11:30am schedule.  It was really hot for that activity.  The hats given to us served as a shade  walking  from one house to another..  We could have enjoyed a lot more if  the tour's done earlier or  late afternoon.

Our friendly tour guide brought us back to the 19th century through her scripted stories.  I remember only  a  few of them  because  I  was half  focused,  hearing old stories of the past and taking photos.  We  were asked to leave our  slippers and shoes  to  some of  the  houses  to give respect to the original owner.   Some of  them  were used for location shooting  of  movies  like Zorro,  Asiong  Salonga,  Jose Rizal and more.

See  more photos below.

 

The  Bridge 

Amazing sight  everywhere!

 

Old House. Rich History. 

Undergoing  construction  of  a  new church.  I  don't  how  much  it  would  cost  to have a  wedding here once done.  If you want a set up like that of  Spanish era,  then start planning now for that  theme wedding.

Can you guess what this is? 

Among the stories that have  been told to us by our tour guide, this, I clearly remembered.  This is the room where  Jose Rizal's  grandmother  was detained and at the same house,  Rizal's grandma  asked  some help from the  guard  by throwing  secretly a letter right outside  the window.

The gazebo where the ladies spent their siesta time, catching  up with their  talks during those era,  There seemed  to be  no shortage of time,  no pressures to think about,  but  just wait  for the  sunset  to fall.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar made us feel were actually living in the old times.  In 24 hours of  stay,   we  were able to discover more of the history  and the way of  life back in the 18th to 19th century.  There are currently  27 architectures  in the heritage village.  You may want to know the stories behind each of the houses,  day  tour  is  welcome  but I suggest to stay overnight to enjoy  more of the heritage resort.  All the staff  we've  met  were all  polite  with  ready  smiles  and  greetings like  "Magandang  Umaga, Gabi  po."

A quick pose before leaving  Las Casas Filipinas de  Acuzar with our tour guide  Joyce.   How come we're not wearing  themed shirts here?   We're Pinoys  inside our sleeves anyway. :)

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
Bo. Pagasa,  Bagac,  Bataan.


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Website:
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