Reliving our illustrious past among ancestral houses

MANILA, Philippines - To celebrate our 47th year managing the Operation Brotherhood Montessori schools, we chose to bring about 365 senior administrative and academic personnel to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. This treasure throve of 27 Spanish colonial houses circa 1870 to 1920 has been the brain child of Jerry Acuzar, who was part of NHA Director General Gaudencio Tobias’ team of improving squatter community zones in Metro Manila and Cebu during the Marcos governance.  Relocating these heritage houses from Binondo and Tondo, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Ilocos and Bicol to 400 hectares of rice-field in Bagac, Bataan must have taken place within two decades as Mr. Acuzar quietly courted the current owners, usually great-grandchildren of the rich principales or hacienderos who were privileged to build their homes around the plaza.  Regular maintenance became difficult since most of them live in Metro Manila or have migrated abroad. 

Thanks to Acuzar, his construction workers and architects have specialized in “carefully and painstakingly reconstructing heritage houses from different parts of the country, rebuilding them ‘brick by brick’ and ‘plank by plank.’” These “stand resplendent with pride against a backdrop of majestic mountains, expansive rice fields and a running river that flows to the sea.  Currently, there are 27 models of heritage structures, each full with memories and history.  Walking along village cobblestone streets or riding one of the caruajes (horse drawn carriages) commands a feeling of nostalgia, wonder and romance.” 

The restoration project in Bagac started in 2006 and is still on going.  Acuzar is a perfectionist, duplicating the carved air vents and tromphe d’ oil ceiling and carved arches of the various houses, specially within the sevn superior bedrooms and lounges of Casa Vyzantina (Byzantine), This is close to the entrance, together with Casa San Miguel, Casa Mexico (reception office), and Casa Candaba.  Around the central Plaza Belmonte are the strip of Paseo de Escolta with its shops and hotels, Casa Baliuag II, Casa Luna, and Casa Jaen I and Jaen II. Nearby are the wooden houses on stilts of Cagayan Valley. Facing the beach front are Casa Unisan, Casa Meycauayan, and Casa Lubao, on the left. On the right are Casa Binondo I and II, Casa Tondo, Casa Hidalgo (Colegio de Bellas Artes), Casa Baliuag I, and Casa Biñan. Several structures are also under construction in Las Casas like the thatched homes of the Maranaws, the cathedral, and other colonial houses across Lola Basyang Bridge.

The legacy of our filipino forefathers must be preserved

“At Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, the legacy of our forefathers and the beautiful Filipino traditions live on.  It is a step back into the past, reliving the age-old tradition and practices distinct to our culture, without leaving the luxury and comforts of the modern world.”  Mr. Acuzar is a very modest man, but he gave his mind and heart to this project.  It is time that mayors all over the country acknowledge and give prominence to the cultural landscape of each city.  These will rouse the pride of our young generation.