BAGAC, Bataan – Time warps at the sprawling Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.
Walking along the cobble stones of Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar or the Philippine Houses of Acuzar will transport visitors from the Spanish Colonial period to pre World War II period, with at least 55 old houses seemingly frozen in time, each having its own story to tell.
The old houses, one of which was done in 1744, are re-constructed at the resort here to highlight the businessman’s love for the arts, culture and heritage of the country.
Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, spread on a 400-hectare property facing the West Philippine Sea, is owned by New San Jose Builders Chairman Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who decided to collect houses established during the Spanish Colonial era.
“Mr. Acuzar noticed during his travels to other countries that they value a lot their respective culture, arts and heritage. It’s not the same in the Philippines. So he decided to do Las Casas,” said head tour guide Dexter Manansala to Central Luzon-based journalists during a tour at Las Casas on November 24.
“Acuzar said he will restore houses at La Casas as long as he can,” he added. So far, only 26 hectares of the huge land was used for the houses and other amenities.
A tour at Las Casas would also involve story-telling about the people who lived in the houses.
by Ric Gonzales
“Las Casas Filipinas is not just about the showcase of these colonial houses, it is about the people behind these houses that gives it importance. The stories behind these houses. The kind of life Filipino we had during those times,” according to the Management of Las Casas.
“The heroism, the daily toil, the anecdotes that make up the histories behind these houses. Sometimes it is about the discoveries in the process of transferring these houses were the story lie.”
The Houses
Most of the houses were from the Luzon Island, one of which is Casa Majayjay in Laguna. It was established in 1744 and its restoration is set to be completed this year.
The oldest and one of the most prestigious house in the complex, it was occupied by “money-lenders with a heart and Indios loaded with gold.”
At least four houses from Pampanga are re-established in Las Casas, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the City of San Fernando. The houses were from Sta. Rita, Candaba, Mexico and Lubao towns.
Casa Lubao is the “youngest” among the houses. Constructed at the heart of the town, it was completed in 1920.
It was a plantation house built by Valentin Arrastia and Francisco Salgado. It was acquired after World War II by Juanita Arrastia and her husband, Dr. Wenceslao Vitug.
Arrastia and Vitug sent their poor young neighbor — Diosdado Macapagal — to school. His education helped him later to become a Philippine President .
Macapagal’s mother volunteered to be a househelp to the Vitug couple to express her gratitude to them.
Casa Candaba is one of the biggest houses at the property. It was used in 1961 for the movie “Noli Me Tangere.”