First of Summer: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Around early this year, we went to Ciudad Real de Acuzar to celebrate my birthday together with the rest of January celebrants. For those who aren't aware about this place, Ciudad Real de Acuzar is a 400 hectares of land in Bagac, Bataan wherein  famous heritage houses in Luzon were restored in this Spanish colonial village. The place is not yet open to public when we went here last January, so props to our friend who invited us here in this historical site.

Travel time to Bataan is around 3-4 hours from Manila depending on how many stop over you'll be having. We arrived in Balanga around 10 AM  to buy some stuff we need for the birthday celebration. I was amazed in the Balanga's public market because their wet market is actually dry compare to other public market and the implementation of the city ordinance as one cannot smoke in public places and put your garbage anywhere.

   Balanga, Bataan

Before going to Bagac we passed by Mount Samat, wherein the site for Dambana ng Kagitingan is located. The Bataan cross served as a dedication to the men who died in the vicious Battle of Bataan. There's an elevator that will take you to the top of the cross where you have a 360 degrees view of the Bataan.Sad thing though, we were not able to view the war museum wherein an array of paintings and armaments are diplayed because there were no electricity that time.

 

The road to Mount Samat

                                                                  View from Mount Samat

                                                                       Bataan Cross


By 3pm we set foot in the Spanish villa, we just keep taking pictures of the old houses and historical architectures we passed by. It's like time traveling to the Spanish era, as cobblestone plaza, old stone houses and mansions can be seen once you're inside the compound. After our excitement subside we decided to put our bags in the house that we're going to spend the night away.                                  

                                                              Real de Acuzar Spanish Villa

                                                                                    The venue for our birthday party

                                                        Some of the old houses in Real de Acuzar

                                          
                                          

                                         
One of the most notable buildings in the village is the original Escuela De Bellas Artes – UP Fine Arts which was taken in Hidalgo St. Quiapo, Manila. There were a lot of paintings displayed inside the UP Fine Arts building. Truly there are some things in the past that are worth preserving as it speaks so much of the value we put to our culture and heritage.

 
What's also about great this place is its location as Real de Acuzar is built facing the dark orange sunset of Bataan Bay. And that caps off the day,probably one of the loveliest scenes captured best from this site is of course the sunset of Bataan.

                                                                       Bagac Sunset

Big thanks to our friend and  Mr. Acuzar of course for allowing us to have a party in their old house. Sobrang saya dahil lahat nalasing. We even get the chance to ride a yatch kinabukasan. Woot! Woot!