Remembering How It Used to Be

Spending an overnight at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bataan was a stroll down memory lane in two ways--we were surrounded by restored old houses, the oldest dating back to the year 1780; and it was our first anniversary trip, making us recount the memorable moments of the year that was.





Las Casas (a Heritage Resort as described in the brochure) reminded me a bit of Vigan, albeit more stylized. The casas came from all over the country; some served as guesthouses, others as museums. The staff walked on the cobblestone pavement in Camisa de Chinos and baro't sayas. Ambient folk guitar music played the whole day in the "town square," where the occasional karitela made its rounds.

A walking tour of the whole place would give you a good work out. Our favorites were the cultural sculptures thrown all over the place--there was Lola Basyang in the middle of a story-telling spree, children playing street games (including palosebo!), and Pinoy mythical characters (aswang and tikbalang) holding up the bridge which led to the beachfront.




We really really liked our room too at the Escolta-inspired building. The furnishings harked back to the Spanish era, but with modern comforts. It was a glorious "staycation" as we flipped through the cable channels (we don't have cable at home) in full-blast air conditioning (we don't have aircon at home either). I especially liked the huge bathroom, the terrace, and the little coffee table by the window, which I'd imagine would be a great corner (home) office.




That night, over a huge bowl of pochero and of course, rice, we toasted our marital milestone, letting both the moment and dinner sink in.