A Special Day In Bagac ~ Eturister

Yesterday, my wife and I celebrated our first year of married bliss at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan. We got a rare complimentary private tour of the place plus a free night's stay. The weather was a beautiful 30 degrees warm, perfect for sun-lovers.

Getting there by local bus from the provincial capitol city of Balanga costs about P50 each and takes about 45 minutes through winding roads that snake around the mountainous terrain.

Amazing, scenic views of the countryside, the rice farms and Mt. Samat greeted us during the bus ride to Bagac. Coincidentally, Bagac was also celebrating it's town fiesta yesterday so I know we were in for a treat.

During the bus ride, we sat with these Koreans, a guy and a girl. They don't seem to be a couple and we didn't try asking. We didn't caught their names, but they would, for some reason, hook up with us throughout the day.

Bagac is a small quaint town. Its quiet and simple. There's not a whole lot to see but whatever the locals have, they proudly share it. Everything is small and packed in. There are hamlets spread about by the only road leading to and out of the town. Yet, being there gives you this snuggly feeling. Perhaps it's the warmth and friendliness of the people there to travelers. They are very accommodating and helpful to oblivious outsiders like us.

Something about this place truly brings people together.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (LCFA) is the town's pride. A tourist trap for the "can afford it" types. It's a resort-like community or a themepark of sorts. They call it a "Heritage Resort" and it features old houses from during the colonial age. Mansions or Casas aged hundreds of years from all over the Philippines are procured, photographed and demolished on location then transported and re-assembled piece-by-intricate-piece here for the public to enjoy.

For P650 entrance fee per head, you can be mesmerized and inspired by the now rare houses that are impeccably restored to their old glory. The Koreans entered the place with us paying the minimum entrance fee without the guided tours. They brought their own snack. The guy's backpack has a jar of kimchi and the girl was nibbling at crackers and navel oranges. We asked them to join our tour but they both opted to scout the place on their own.

Everyone is clad in traditional Filipiniana style clothing. The staff, who didn't mind me bugging them for photos, is friendly and helpful. Being there feels like you are back in time to pre-independence Philippines. Of course, modern amenities are also given a colonial flare. There are restaurants and snack bars serving local and foreign (Spanish) cuisines. They have their own church for weddings and a mini golf course across the wooden grandfather-bridge. Since LCFA is located by the ocean, they have their own beach with white glowing sands. There's also a 4-foot deep swimming pool and a spa. The place is huge with at least 20 Casas and more still being built.

For P1500 per head, you can get a tour package of the place with buffet meals. We, on the other hand, got a special complimentary (private) tour with one of the executives, Ms. Olive who kindly showed us around--and it's quite a huge place. Statues of children playing and olden time Christmas ornaments decorate and bring a sense of the holiday festivities, complimenting the cobblestone roads that expanses the entire compound. She gave us a tour inside one of the new mansions, Casa de Lubao, and boy were we surprised. The furnishings are rustic, minimalistic yet beautifully designed with matching paintings from the era. So much care and attention to detail is obviously given to ensure authenticity.

After the tour, we ventured outside to the town plaza. We visited a local carinderia called Olive's Food House. As you might've guessed, it's Ms. Olive's mom's restaurant. She served us a hearty, delicious serving of menudo, sinigang, lechon kawali and liempo with matching atchara. Boy were we stuffed! Finally, we strolled the local beach strip.

We didn't stay long but we caught up with our Korean friends and hung out with them for a bit before heading back to the town poblacion for church, some "kasoy" shopping and the mardi gras parade. We spotted them later at the flea market haggling with local souvenir vendors.

At around six, we checked into our free room and enjoyed the rest of the quiet evening, reflecting on our beautiful and enjoyable day in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. As we look forward to another year of marital bliss, over a cup of nightcap coffee, I jokingly proposed to my wife asking her if she'd marry me again. She answered amusingly, "of course, sweetheart."

And whatever happened to the Koreans, you wonder? We didn't see them after we spotted both at the flea market. I'm sure they had an interesting time with stories to tell about their Bagac adventure. My wife at least thinks serendipitously about it. Something about this place truly brings people together.