Weekend Get away

 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a 400 hectare open-air museum and heritage park in Bagac, Bataan where neglected architectural pieces were restored by its owner, José “Gerry” Acuzar. The park provides restaurants, a beach, a swimming pool, calesa rides, tours, workshops, event bookings, and 27 Spanish casas (houses) that also serve as hotel accommodations.

Visiting Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar reminded me of Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur as well as Intramuros in Manila because they capture the idea of being transported back to the Spanish colonial era. One of the effects of this 300-year colonial period in the Philippines was the influence of Spanish architecture. Filipino houses in particular evolved from nipa huts to stone houses (translated as “bahay na bato” in Filipino). A nipa hut is made from natural materials while a stone house is made from wood and, well, stone.
José Acuzar who is also the owner of New San Jose Builders, Inc. (developer of The Philippine Arena) transferred abandoned historical stone houses from Manila, Quezon City, Bulacan, Pampanga, La Union, Ilocos, and Cagayan to Bataan by rebuilding them to his heritage park now known as Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.

  

Casa Binondo: built in 1890 and used as a school in 1914

Paseo de Escolta is a replica of Escolta buildings in Manila.

It has 17 rooms that serve as accommodations for guests. The rooms were designed by Jose Acuzar’s wife, Tess Acuzar, who is an interior designer.

Casa Luna. Novicio family of Namacpacan, La Union was the original owner of the Casa Luna that was built sometime in 1850. The original house in La Union fronts the plaza across St. Catherine of Alexandria and the convent and casa municipal. We explored the second level of the house where a corridor surrounds the entire floor. Our guide reminded us of the concept of the “Aliping Sagigilid” (hearth slave), the lowest among the social class of our precolonial period.

How to be an aliping sagigilid in Casa Luna?

The corridor, literally on the “gilid” (edges) of the second level, served as the walkway for the servants when catering the needs of the family and their guests.

Hotel de Oriente (Convention Centre)

CASA QUIAPO used to be in the University of the Philippines as it's first campus and now it's in LAS CASAS FILIPINAS.

It was built in 1867 and owned by the University's first director.

We dropped by La Puesta del Sol part to see some of the houses and visit the narrow canal that imitates that of Venice’s grand canal. Ancestral houses in Plaza Marcelino are also hotels in addition to those along the road on the other side of the waterway.

 

Casa Ladrillo was my favorite casa, appearance-wise.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
Barangay Pag-Asa, Bagac, Bataan, Philippines
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Ilocos AdvenTour, an unplanned trip

Seriously, I really do not have to explain it further since I am pretty sure you have seen Laoag on a lot of travel shows, you have googled it, and just like me, you have dreamt of visiting it. But well, there would be a lot of ways to reach Ilocos -- either via plane, public bus, or an 8-hour-private-ride.

This was an unplanned trip, why? because it was just an ordinary day for me when Wein (also a traveler who i met in Thailand) called me up tru messenger that she's bored and took a 4days leave from work and she never been in Ilocos, so she was just trying to ask me if i would like to come.. And since i just been from Manila to get some orders, so I said yes.. that night we traveled separately. Wein from Manila, and me from Pangasinan. We decided to meet in Laoag.

We visited the Paoay Church first thing we arrived in Laoag. We ride a tricycle, DIY transpo. We never hired a tourist for less expense.

SAND DUNES

To start your Paoay Sand Dunes Adventure, hire a 4x4 Rough Riding vehicle at the base of the site. A fleet of these 4x4s are at your disposal and a professional driver will be your guide to the vast sand dunes. For 1,500php for a maximum of 5 people per car, the driver will tour the group at the Sand dunes for 30 minutes. Sightseeing and photo sessions can be done for this package. Since we're just two, we shared to pay the 1,500 fee :D

For the more adventurous type, rent the 4x4 for an hour which will then include sand boarding and thrilling drops on steep sand ridges that will make you scream in excitement. Hold on to the steel bar while standing on the 4x4 for the most exciting adventure in Paoay. The sand ridges can go as high as 10-20ft at the most, while the most thrilling ride is the “rollercoaster”, where a series of sand hills will make you hold on to that bar of steel for dear life.

We were in the middle of Paoay Sand Dunes, one of the many thirsty lands in Ilocos. Paoay Sand Dunes is an 88 sq km parched paradise that lies adjacent Suba Beach. It is one of the two most popular sand dunes sites in the province, the other one being La Paz in Laoag City.

I enjoyed the sand boarding!

Pagudpud Day Trip

We dont have plan to stay overnight in Pagudpud, we woke up so early and we ride a van from Laoag to Pagudpud which it takes just 1 and a half hour of travel. The van dropped us in Hannas Resort but we were no longer interested in that place since it is already over decorated so we jump off to the tricycle to take us to he famous Patapat bridge.

It was raining badly so we decided to abort the planned trip. We missed to visit the formation rock and the Bangui Windmill due to heavy rain. We rushed heading back to Laoag and to catch up the next trip going to Vigan..

Vigan

The Historic city of Vigan was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 due mostly to the fact that the place has been carefully preserved to show the fusion of old Asian and Spanish architecture. The influx of tourist in Ilocos risen to almost 40 percent since the declaration of Church of San Agustin in Paoay and Vigan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Calle Crisologo

Amazing street full of spanish style houses built during the spanish era. The ground is a layer of cobblestone while the rest of the street is asphalt. It was like going back in time during the spanish colonial times. The local government prohibits any motorized vehicle to travel along the road. Never leave Vigan without visiting Calle Crisologo. One of the best UNESCO world heritage site that I visited. 

Bantay Church And Bell Tower

Built in 1590, the St. Augustine Church or Bantay Church is considered one of the oldest churches in Ilocos Sur.

Few meters from the church is the Bantay bell tower nestled on a picturesque landscaped hill.

Our next stop is the Pagburnayan Pottery Maker in Vigan. The word "burnay"  is an earthenware jar crafted by a skillful hand, pottery wheel and kiln. 

Lets Make Jars

Liking for the burnay has reached the markets abroad, especially in Europe. Local and foreign traders have made contacts with factory owners to order from their current offerings or for burnay products to be done according to new buyer or market specifications.  

Hidden Garden was our last destination. And yes, i know that was a lover's corner.. just waiting for my right man to sit besides me :P