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Thursday October 15, 2026
I have always been fascinated by historic ancestral houses ever since my childhood.
And one particularly notable place known for having an extensive on-site collection of these is Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.
So when I finally got the chance (had the time and some extra money to spare), I decided to give it a go.
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a celebrated heritage resort and open-air museum in Bagac, Bataan, set across a vast coastal estate dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Philippine architecture from the Spanish and American colonial era.
The site features an impressive assortment of authentic, centuries-old houses, each carefully dismantled from various parts of the country and meticulously reconstructed piece-by-piece.
Las Casas Filipinas can be experienced in one of two ways: via a day tour, or via an overnight stay in an elegant hotel room or a private restored casa.
As we had other plans for this Bataan trip aside from Las Casas (we had planned to stay at Camaya Coast after), we opted for the day tour package that includes, among others:
Guided Heritage Walking Tour, where guests are taken through a 1-hour immersive historical journey through the vast grounds and interiors of restored Spanish-Filipino colonial houses, set along charming cobblestone streets;
Hotel de Oriente, a spectacular three-story building that is a grand-scale reconstruction of the Philippines’ very first premium luxury hotel, where historical icons like José Rizal stayed before it was completely destroyed during World War II.
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| Hotel de Oriente, as seen from across the Umang River. |
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| The ground level showcases the opulence of the hotel, with intricate ornamentation and a polished hardwood floor. |
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| The second level, as seen from ascending the staircase, reveals the lavish architectural style and craftsmanship of this colonial-era hotel. |
Balsa River Cruise, where guests embark on a memorable journey aboard a boat down the Umang River, gliding beneath historic brick bridges and past concrete river walls for exceptional, unobstructed views of the heritage mansions from a different perspective.
In addition, we opted to do the Kalesa Adventure, a guided tour around the premises aboard a horse drawn carriage, presenting a different immersive perspective of appreciating the heritage architecture.
Note, though, that the kalesa experience is not included in the base package, but offered as an add-on.
In the forthcoming posts, we shall explore and reflect on these remarkable experiences in depth. But first, some need to know before you go.
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