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Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Tour

Looking for a place to relax and unwind while being surrounded by Filipino Heritage homes? Then Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar might be the best place for you! Read on to know more about it!

balsa in the man-made lake with balanga church on the background
Sanctuario de San Jose (Balanga Church) Replica and tourists on a Balsa River Tour

My Fascination with Spanish Colonial Houses

If I could time-travel, I’d love to transport myself to Manila during the Spanish colonial era (1521 to 1898) and experience life firsthand. My obsession with this historical period began when I first read Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, literary masterpieces penned by our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, as part of my high school reading list. Even today, over a century after their creation, the messages in these novels still resonate with Filipinos everywhere.

canal
 the Venice-inspired canal of  Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

I would love to go back in time to experience life in Spanish colonial-era Manila before the advent of modern technology. I want to see the beautiful Manila, but I also want to see with my own eyes the repression, inequality and torture that my ancestors experienced everyday for over 300 hundred years.

Heritage Tour courtesy of Bataan Tourism and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

However, since time machines haven’t been invented yet, a trip to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar would be a good substitute. As a self-proclaimed history buff, I was thrilled when I received an invitation from Bataan Tourism to visit Las Casas as part of my coverage of the 75th Araw ng Kagitingan celebration.

About Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinos de Acuzar is a resort filled with collection of Spanish-era houses, which showcases Filipino artistry and craftsmanship. The resort owner José “Gerry” Acuzar, a business man and the Chairman of New San Jose Builders, has been buying out Spanish-era houses and bahay na bato from different parts of the Philippines since 2003. His men will take all the original construction materials of the houses, as long as they are still usable, then these materials will be transported to Bagac, Bataan for reassembling. 

La Puesta del Sol on Estero De Binondo

Resort Amenities

Opened to the public in 2010, Las Casas Filipinos de Acuzar offers its restored heritage houses for visit to guests and day tour visitors. The resort also offers the usual amenities with historical touch. They have a batis-inspired swimming pool, jeepney service, calesa rides, balsa river tours, Fotografia de la Escolta (a photo-shoot with our professional in-house photographer while wearing our traditional Baro’t Saya and Barong Tagalog), and many more. They also have restaurants – Cafe Marivent, La Bella Teodora Cusina ni Nanay Maria, and La Parilla. 

jeepney
jeepney service at Las Casas Filipinos de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Tour

Upon entering the gates of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, I was taken back in time to the Spanish colonial era minus the sight of Maria ClarasPadre Damasos and Aliping Sagigilids (translated as slave). We were greeted by security guards dressed as Guardia Sibil, and staffs dressed in Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana Dresses.

What is special about Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar?

Although I was never a fan of guided tours, the heritage walk conducted by Dexter was really special. We were introduced to each casas and we got a glimpse as to how each house came about. We also learned some of the stories about the heritage houses, some of them inspiring, some are tragic and haunting. Aside from historical stories behind the casas and its structures, we also learned who were behind the the artistic and cultural elements in the resort. 

Balanga Church Replica
the front view of Sanctuario de San Jose (Balanga Church) Replica

How much is day tour in Las Casas?

Heritage day tours cost 1,850 pesos on weekdays and 2,500 pesos on weekends/holidays inclusive of:

  • Welcome drink
  • 30 minutes to 1 hour guided Heritage walking tour
  • Entrance fee and use of beach area
  • Vicinity map
  • Cold towel
  • All taxes and service charges

Contact Manila Reservation Office for more information: (02) 546-9123, (02) 332-5338, (02) 335-3032 and (02) 332-5286 or email [email protected].

bridge
Tulay ni Lola Basyang, a replica of the landmark Jones Bridge with the creepy creatures from Lola Basyang’s stories.

The Casas in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar not only offers day tours but also overnight stays in some of its Casas. Imagine sleeping in a beautifully restored ancestral house, complete with antique furnishings and modern amenities. Each Casa has its own unique story and character, providing a one-of-a-kind accommodation experience. You can book your overnight stay online using this link.

Casa Ladrillo

This is the only brick house in the whole of Estero Binondo. Its open-plan bathroom and bedroom design may be a bit unconventional, but it offers a unique and luxurious experience that is hard to come by. Plus, with two luxurious bathtubs, you can soak your worries away while enjoying the casa’s nostalgic vibe.

Casa Lubao

This casa is a personal favorite. It was the “youngest” among the ancestral houses at Las Casas because it was constructed in the 1920s. Owned by Juanita Arrastia and her husband, Dr. Wenceslao Vitug, this casa is very significant because this was where Diosdado Macapagal worked when he was a child. Because he was intelligent and a hard working kid, the owners sent him to school. He later became the President of the Philippines. 

balcony

Casa Jaen

This casa used to be the second home of the wealthy Esquivel Clan from Jaen, Nueva Ecija, my parents’ hometown. It made me wonder why they would transfer or sell such a beautiful ancestral house to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, especially since they are known to have deep pockets. If I were a member of their clan, I would never even consider selling our precious heritage. I mean, come on, can you really put a price tag on family history and cultural heritage?

Casa Byzantina

Once located in San Nicolas, Binondo, Casa Byzantina is a stunning example of a floral “bahay na bato” that showcases a mix of revivalist styles and classical art movements. The casa found its new home in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan, where it has been fully restored to its former glory.

Casa San Miguel

Casa San Miguel is one of the biggest casas in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, which can house 12 guests. It also has a balcony and it is complete with a living room, a game room, and a dining area.

Bellas Artes Projects of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Bellas Artes Projects, the non-profit foundation stationed in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, helped support local artists from Bataan to infuse their skills with Filipino heritage building and techniques. We learned that the wood carvers, stone carvers, terra-cotta sculptors, painter, welders and brick makers were all from Bataan. Dexter also told us that the women were assigned in meticulous designs because women are patient. I couldn’t agree more. 

look at the stone carvings in the ceiling! impressive, no?

Overall Experience

Despite the controversy surrounding the transplanted houses in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, I personally believe that relocating and restoring these historic casas is better than leaving them to crumble into ruin and decay. Unless the government launches a dedicated program for the conservation of historical buildings, I am comfortable with the resort’s approach.

So, that’s how our day tour went in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. I did not expect to love Bataan as much as I eventually did when I first came to the province. To be fair, I did join a media familiarization trip, but opinion and experience remain my own. As always, thank you so much Bataan Tourism for making this trip possible! And thanks to my co-Pinoy Travel Bloggers who participated in this trip. You guys made this adventure one for the books!

Things to know before you go

How to get to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

  • Take the Genesis Busis or Bataan Transit along EDSA Cubao (trip starts at 4:00am every 30 minutes) to Balanga Bus Station
  • From the bus station, take the jeepney going to Bagac or Morong (Bagac-bound has a limited time while Morong-bound has a longer time)
  • Upon reaching Bagac, get down at the Filipino Japanese Friendship Tower and go to the tricycle station
  • Take tricycle going to Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar (Gate 5 entrance)
    One way fare: approximately PHP 270+ per person

Have you been to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar? Do you think it’s ethical for them to continue buying out houses and transplanting them to Las Casas? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Go to the comment sections below!

By Project Gora

Hey there! My name is Milet Miranda, and I'm a full-time corporate employee during weekdays and a traveler during weekends (and holidays...you get the picture). I'm a foodie at heart and I love joining food tours. When I'm not traveling, you'll find me walking my dogs or biking around my neighborhood.