I have been getting a lot of queries re Las Casas, hence
this post.
Las Casas is located in Bagac, Bataan, a 4-hour drive from Manila.
It houses over 20 architectural treasures, reminiscent of 18th
century era. Houses made of wood or bricks were magnificently replicated and
rebuilt in the huge complex, reflective of various Philippine regions. The Luzon
and Visayas inspired houses are already in place, the Mindanao
area is still under construction.
A 30-min tour of the place is provided for free. You’ll get
to feel the antiquity and uniqueness of the place as you start walking on its
cobblestone streets.
Wear a hat for sun protection ;)
Highly recommended for a weekend getaway.
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| Hi, Sharon! |
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| The rest of the gang. |
At the entrance, the first building you will see
is the Reception.
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| The ever hyper, Carlo. |
Several sculptures are randomly displayed all over the
complex.
The building on the right side is Casa Escolta. The ground
floor is a commercial area (bakery, photo center, souvenir shop, etc.), the 2nd
and 3rd floors are the hotel rooms. We were billeted at the 3rd
floor.
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The view from the loft of the bedroom.
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The columns lining the casa.
The gazebo just beside the Escolta.
The Escolta by night.
The Casa Cagayan. A one-bedroom unit you may opt for your
accommodation.
The construction of Mindanao casas,
which will be completed within the year.
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| With tweeners Lyka and Che. |
A museum can also be found within the compound. It houses a
collection of antiques and paintings. You will be asked to remove your footwear
in order not to scratch the wooden floors.
Hardwood with intricate carvings.
Porcelain dinnerwares.
Chandeliers galore.
The bridge leading to the beach.
Under the bridge are “tikbalangs”.
Just a regular beach. Black sand. Water not clear blue. But
clean, no weeds and other floating elements.
This is Lola Basyang. Did you know that Lola Basyang is a
HE? Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang is written by Severino Reyes, who adopted the
persona of Lola Basyang (a grandmother fond of telling stories to her
grandchildren). *geek mode*
The pool area. Very shallow, but so refreshing.
So, there. Just a glimpse of what to see inside this cultural village.
Since this was a company outing, my first after 4 years of being employed, I was ecstatic all through out ;) It was really nice bonding with colleagues outside our work area.
Here are some random pics during this 2-day outing:
