Somewhere in Time

In a continuous effort to promote Filipino heritage globally, Las Casas Filipinas joins Historic Hotels Worldwide, writes Beatrice Malveda

n the outskirts of Bagac, Bataan sits a sprawling 400-hectare property famous for its 18th century Spanish houses. This vast area is home to a heritage community resort, the first of its kind in the Philippines. It started undergoing developments in 2000 and officially opened to the public in 2010. 17 years later, it comes as no surprise that travellers from all over the world have come to visit.

Known as Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, or simply Las Casas, the destination takes pride in its collection of old houses and restored buildings sourced from different parts of the country. Some are replicas of the original design while others are original old homes transported to Bataan and rebuilt piece by piece.

Last year, the management developed 26 hectares of the total land area into a collaborative community run by trained personnel and hardworking artisans. These employees are responsible for the intricate wood carvings found around the Las Casas Hotel, exclusive art workshops, and the educational tours that ignite a love for Filipino culture and heritage.

Through the years, Las Casas has been successful in drawing people to come and visit Bataan, a northbound destination that takes less than four hours from Manila. Guests are always impressed by the sight of traditional houses standing proudly against the backdrop of the West Philippine Sea.