Location: Barangay Ibaba, Bagac, Bataan, Philippines
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort mirrors an open-air museum of historic treasure for it is a 400-hectare home to almost 40 original Spanish-Filipino Colonial structures as envisioned by Jose Acuzar whose deep passion is to collect, transplant, and restore the heritage of the Philippines to save these ancestral houses from total ruin and neglect. A chosen structure from any part of the Philippines is bought in whole, and then they are delivered by piece to this place and being assembled to its original form. In totality, there are 128 guest rooms and 63 elite casas available to guests who wanted to stay for a night or more in the resort.
Plaza Marcelino and the Neighboring Casas
Plaza Marcelino with the backdrop of ancestral casas of different origin from the Philippines
For those guests who do not intend to stay overnight, you can have the following options: (1) Weekday Heritage Tour, (2) Weekday Premier Heritage Tour; and (3) Weekend Heritage Tour.
For the Tour 1 Package is from Monday to Friday, it costs P1,500 per head, where guests can have a closer look at bits and pieces of the Philippines' rich history through an immersive interactive walking tour. It includes: welcome drinks, cold towel and walking tour.
Photo taken at 5:30 P.M.
The Tour 2 Package is also from Monday to Friday costing P1,850 per head, where guests will be given the opportunity to experience history first hand as the resort's tour guides will provide a comprehensive story of each structure. The package includes: welcome drinks, resort map, cold towel, walking tour, Hotel de Oriente Access, choice between River Cruise or Dining Credits.
Entry point to Plaza Marcelino
Tour 3 Package which is the Weekend Heritage Tour is good for Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays which costs P2,500 per guest. With this pricy option, one will be able to marvel at the striking design each structure and see history from a different perspective and it will absolutely make one's weekend fun-filled and exciting. It includes: welcome drinks, cold towel, resort map, walking tour, beach access, rain coat during rainy season, kalesa ride, Hotel de Oriente Access, River cruise and dining credits. Our group preferred this package.
Lola Basyang Bridge
Lola Basyang Bridge: Severino Reyes' created character as a time travel bridge
The schedule of walking tours are: 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning while in the afternoon are 2:30 and 4:30. With this, it is recommended that guests should wear comfortable clothes, because you are exposed to the sun and in most cases, you will be walking on cobblestone roads.
An open restaurant beside Lola Basyang Bridge
Religious, Cultural Events and Beyond
If you opt to stay beyond 5:00 P.M. there is a cultural show at 6:00 P.M. It will showcase the authentic culture of the Filipino people in that Spanish era in a number of dance presentation. Music and entertainment are vibrant in the evening.
A performance of a cultural dance (Adventurous Lens)
As a Spanish colonial community, it has its own Catholic Church, the Sanctuario de San Jose where it celebrates mass on Sundays at 10:30 A.M. There is also a Carabao Race and Palosebo during Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00 P.M. and some other events which showcase practices of significant cultural value.
Undoubtedly, this resort will give a great opportunity for enthusiasts of photography, because every corner of the place is worth postcard perfect.
Literature Translated to Statues
The statue of Lola Basyang with the backdrop of Hotel de Oriente
Indeed, Jose Acuzar, did not only showcase the famous ancestral houses of the Philippines in the resort but also on the aspect of literature like that of Lola Basyang. She is a famous book character created by Severino Reyes. The latter was a Filipino writer, playwright, and director of plays. He used the pen name Lola Basyang. He was nicknamed "Don Binoy".
Listening to Lola Basyang's legendary brand of storytelling
One thing more that guests can get from the resort is being able to have reflection and relaxation. As you walk back in time, the shady trees of the place will give you ample time to reflect and relax.
Mode of Transportation
The calesa free ride as an inclusion for Tour 2 and 3 Package
While the resort is so vast in terms of land area, one does not have to worry since there are transportation facilities like: jeep, shuttle, golf cart, bicycle, kalesa and London cab.
The River Tour
The exciting river tour on a balsa
The balsa tour sails along the Umangol River and to the inner most part of the resort in narrow but brick-walled canals. It is a fluvial stroll that resembles the gondola rides of Venice. This river empties to the West Philippine Sea.
Our group while on board the balsa
As the balsa glides along Umangol River, the guests have the opportunity to capture an array of casas and beautiful landscape in a closer encounter.
Relaxed and comfortable while on board the balsa
The balsa tour would expose the guests in the open sun. Thus, there is a need to bring with them umbrella to protect from searing heat of the sun.
The balsa navigating through the innermost brick-walled canals cutting
The canals also had arched bridges where the balsa will pass under it. If rive tour is not a part of your tour package, then you can avail of this service at a cost of P500 per head from November to June, and P300 per person from July to October. Both Day and Night Balsa tour cost the same.
The following are the pictures during our Balsa or River tour.
Just passing thru under the Lola Basyang Bridge with the backdrop of Sanctuario de San Jose Church
A Maranao Torogan House along the tributary Limutan River
Hotel de Oriente Tour
The famous Juan Luna's Spolarium painting hanged at the massive wall of Hotel de Oriente
This is a three-floor replica of the first luxury hotel in Binondo which can accommodate intimate parties of 10-30 and grand banquets of up to 1,000 people.
The interior of the hotel
Stepping inside the hotel will lead you back to the time of the Filipino elite during the colonial era. The massive floors are shiny and clean and you can even lie down. It is equipped with figures that depict the masterful works of artisans from Paete and Betis.
The massive banquet hall
Looking closely to its various carvings, they obviously showcase spectacular effect which reflects the blending of Filipinized images along with the Western-inspired design.
Blended Filipino craftmanship with the Western design
Hotel de Oriente as captured from the Plaza Mayor de Tobias
The giant glass windows of Hotel de Oriente with the backdrop of Lola Basyang bridge
The hotel as captured from Plaza Mayor de Tobias at 6:30 P.M.
Water Activities
The most common water activities available the resort is the swimming pool and the beach. There is also kayak but it is not included in the day tour packages. Swimming pools are only open to checked-in guests.
Batis-style swimming pool
Batis-style swimming pool
Batis-style swimming pool
Batis swimming pool is situated along the Umangol River opposite Hotel de Oriente. It is near Casa Jaen I, Casa Baliuag II, Casa Luna and Casa Cagayan.
On the other hand, other pools are overlooking the Umangol River at the back of Plaza Marcelino. They are hidden as compared to the Batis-Style swimming pool.
On the other hand, the beach is situated down the Estero de Binondo - the main road of the resort from its main gate. La Puesta del Sol hotel rooms are beach front accommodations and it has accessibility to sunset view. The beach is just across the main road.
La Puesta del Sol hotel rooms
The terrace of the units in La Puesta del Sol
The grass-covered landscape connecting the beach
The grass-covered beach walk pathway
The beach with the backdrop of Mount Mariveles
Tents for hot sun cover at the beach
The beach is open for the guests who avail the Tour 2 and 3 packages. However, when I was here, I did not find time to swim on the beach, because toured to almost all corners of the resort. That is, touring around Plaza Marcelino and its surrounding elite casas.
The gate to the beach
The lifeguards on alert
The beach sand texture
Playing volleyball at the beach
My companions (L-R): Mr. Francisco Llego, Maria Ana Diaz, Mam Nelsie Caculitan, Mam Priscilla Amante and Mrs. Lucia Llego
Fine Dining Experience
Sumptuous lunch at La Bella Teodoro Restaurant at Casa Binan
Our group of twelve had lunch and dinner both at La Bella Teodoro Restaurant, though there is another major restaurant in the resort at Cafe Marivent of Casa Unison. Meals are pricy but they were all worth the bite. The good thing was we had meal credits. With this, we used 6 meal credit stubs for lunch and another 6 for dinner. We paid the excess amount. It was such an excellent dining experience.
More To See at Las Casas Resort
ATM Machine
Part of the Plaza Mayor de Tobias
Shady trees to rest from an exhausting walk tour
Casa La Drillo
Walking at evening time
The Admin Building
Location Map
Vicinity Map
Contact Details
Landline Number: (02) 8833-3333 local 116-117
Mobile Numbers: 09178729361, 09258055232
Things to remember
The resort discourages and fines guests who bring food inside for consumption since there two major restaurants operating inside. Personal belongings are strictly checked at the Admin Office before admission. Snack and bottled water are allowed but viands and meals are strictly prohibited.
Only small pet cats and dogs are allowed for check-in guests. Day tour guests are not allowed to bring pets to the resort.
How to go there
By Private Vehicle
Take the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit through San Fernando. The drive will take roughly three hours.
By Public Transport
From Pasay Rotonda along EDSA (below MRT Station) Bus Fare approx. P300/per head
- Take the Genesis Bus to Balanga Bus Station (trip starts at 4:00 A.M with bus is arriving every 30 minutes)
- From the bus station, take the jeepney going to Bagac or Morong (Bagac-bound has limited time while Morong-bound has a longer time)
- Upon reaching Bagac, get down at the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Tower and go to the tricyle station.
- Take tricycle going to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Gate 5 Entrance)
From Cubao along EDSA (below MRT Station) Bus Fare approx. P270 per head
- Take the Genesis Bus or Bataan Transit along EDSA Cubao to Balanga Bus Station (trip starts at 4:00 A.M. where bus is arriving every 30 minutes)
- From the bus station, take the jeepney going to Bagac or Morong (Bagac-boun 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 tricyle station.
- Take tricycle going to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Gate 5 Entrance)
By Sea
Take a ferry from SM Mall of Asia going to Orion in Bataan. From Orion Port, board the shuttle bus to Alauli (Mariveles-bound), where you can hail a bus or jeepney heading for Morong and Bagac, respectively. Alight at the main entrance of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Gate 5)
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