Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Bagac, Bataan

If you wanna get a vibe of how people lived during the 1800s, or get a feel of Spain in the Philippines, Las Casas is the place to be.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located in Bagac, Bataan where old historical houses are reassembled, maintained and showcased. Bagac, Bataan is a small town 3 hours away from Manila. 

Death March Kilometer Marker

When I hear the place Bataan, one historical event comes to mind... Death March!
On the way to Bagac, Bataan, you will find death march markers along side of the road indicating the distance from the start of the march. 

The Pawikan Conservation Center is also near Las Casas. It is in Morong, Bataan, just 24 km away from Bagac, Bataan. It is nice to drop by the conservation center and adopt a turtle if you have time. Make sure you get there before dawn to experience releasing a baby turtle to the sea.

Going to Las Casas is easy. You can go to there via car or commute.
If you're bringing your own car, you may take these routes.

• Take NLEX
• Exit in Dau and enter SCTEX
• Exit in Dinalupihan
• Take the national highway until you reach Bagac, Bataan

or

• Take NLEX
• Exit in San Fernando
• Take the national highway to Bataan

Personally, we take the second route to save on gas and toll fee. :)

Via commute: 

• FIVE STAR BUS: Cubao-Balanga Bataan terminal = 200 pesos/head
  (Smoking and selling of cigarette is prohibited in Balanga.)
• JEEP: Balanga Bataan terminal - Bagac = 47 pesos/head
  *approx 1 hour*
  (Just ask the driver to drop you at Las Casas.)
• Tricycle: Bagac - Las Casas = 10/head
  *approx 5 minutes*
  Walk: Bagac - Las Casas = free
  *approx 20 minutes*

Guardia Civils will greet you at the gate. If you already have a reservation, let them know so they can take you to your reserved casa via their customized jeep.

Houses in Las Casas all have historical backgrounds. These casas were reconstructed piece by piece (if not refurbished) by San Jose builders owned by Mr. Jose "Jerry" Acuzar. 

Guests have a choice to go for a day tour or overnight stay.

Tour Guide

There are several packages for historical tour:

• Package 1 (set meal) Php 1,200 per head.
• Package 2 (buffet meal) Php 1,500 per head.

Historical tour includes 30 minutes to 1 hour guided tour of the heritage houses, 1 lunch, afternoon snack, 2 tetra-pack juices, and 2 bottles of mineral water.

Tour guides explain details about each house and its historical significance. Houses in Las Casas were brought in Bataan from different provinces. The tour guide will also tell the stories about the families who originally owned each houses.

If you just wanted to enter the premises without the guided tour, you can pay
Php 850 per adult and Php 425 per child for entrance with snack or
Php 685 per person if you do not want snacks.
However, you will not be allowed to enter the casas without a guided tour.

Breakast: Tocino + Egg + Water Melon Slice + Rice

Rates are on a per night basis. Overnight stay range from Php 5,500 to Php 9,500 per room, or Php 18,000 to Php 45,000 per casa.
This includes overnight stay, complimentary bottled water, a set breakfast, and a guided heritage tour.

Casa Bizantina

Casa Bizantina is the most expensive casa which may cost up to 150,000 pesos per night. Rates vary depending on which day you go there. Prices are higher during weekends compared to weekdays. This casa is usually rented by VIPs. Inclusions are the following:

• 24-hours Major Domo/butler service
• Coffee and Tea service with your choice of native rice cakes, tea sandwiches, or cookies
• (1) one hour standard cocktail drinks
• Goodnight treats

 

Our Huge Bathroom

One can really enjoy their stay in Las Casas. The bedrooms are so comfortable, the designs and carvings on wood are so intricate, and the bathrooms are big. :)

We had our dinner at one of the restaurants there, La Bella Teodora. This restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine. Food can be a bit pricey though but it's fair enough.

Roasted Chicken

Grilled Prawns

Pizza

 

Surf & Turf (Steak + Grilled Prawn)

Outside the restaurant is the view of the "lake" in front of the reconstructed church.

Basilica

A Church is to be built to accommodate bigger weddings I guess. 

For now, they accommodate weddings and hold ceremonies in this chapel. This place is ideal for special occasions like weddings or pictorials for pre-nuptials. Several weddings and pre-nuptial shoots have been done here.

Bike for Hire

Some of the amenities you can hire in Las Casas are the bikes. Ride the bike on the cobbled streets for only Php 150 per hour.
Entertainment Rental:

• Bike - Php 150 per hour
• 1(one) round of Kalesa ride - Php 50 per round
• Golf Cart - Php 650 per hour (if guest driver)
  Php 350 per hour (if resort driver)

While in Las Casas, guests get to dip in the pool or enjoy the beach as well. 

We were told that on 2015, APEC Summit will be held in Las Casas. As of writing, they're reconstructing a replica of the first luxury hotel in Asia, Hotel de Oriente.

There are no means of salvaging the original pieces of this hotel because this hotel was totally destroyed in World War II. To reconstruct this hotel, builders will be basing the details on books and historical reasearches. Target finishing date for the reconstruction is on October 2015, in time for the 2015 APEC Summit.


For more info (Room Rate, Price), bookings & reservation, visit www.lascasasfilipinas.com