Backtrack to old Philippines (Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar)

After driving all the way to Mount Samat for me and my bff's double birthday celebration, we decided to take our lunch in the neighboring town of Balanga because food establishments are limited in Pilar area. What others do when visiting Mount Samat, they bring their own food and share it with their companions in picnic style. After our heavy lunch, we took the road again heading Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Las Casas is on the same road as Mount Samat. Distance between the two locations is about 20 kilometers more or less an hour travel time.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (The Philippine Houses of Acuzar) is a 400 hectares heritage park and resort located in Bagac Bataan built by José “Gerry” Acuzar, owner of the New San Jose Builders and history art collector. Entrance fee is 680 pesos for day tour with guided tour, welcome drink and cold towel. You can also use the resort's facilities including the swimming pool and witness the cultural show every 6 in the evening. Guided tour usually takes 1 and ½ hour which will bring you to different beautiful restored houses. The old houses are mostly Spanish design which will really let you travel back in time. These heritage houses were painstakingly transferred and carefully dismantled, brick by brick from their original locations in the different parts of the Philippines and carefully restored by the resort’s artists. These houses were rehabilitated to resemble the original structure. The parts that were missing like woodwork and bricks were replicated to resemble the original structure.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Some of the old houses you can see at Las Casas. Guests are allowed to enter to some of the houses just remove your footwear first. 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Old milk can

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Old way to iron clothes

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Mosaic interior

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Walking tour

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

First Class hotel in the area is Hotel De Oriente from Binono Manila. 

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Hotel De Oriente

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Hotel De Orient

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Hotel De Orient

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Lola Basyang bridge

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar walking tour

Cultural show

Generally, our historical tour in Bataan was so memorable. Not only we have got the opportunity to see the beauty Bataan has to offer but the chance to get a glimpse of the province’s rich culture and history. A history every youth should know and appreciate to ignite their heart for the love of country that can be passed on the next generation. 

Exploring Mount Samat

For a double birthday celebration, I and my best bud Vino decided to have a historical tour in Bataan. A side trip to Mount Samat for Shrine of Valor in Pilar and a visit to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac. We left Manila 8 in the morning and arrived 11 at Mount Samat. You have to pay 30 pesos for the entrance fee including the elevator ride to Mount Samat’s cross viewing deck. I believe that getting in Mount Samat is not that easy as it is advisable to bring your own vehicle to reach the steep summit.  Nevertheless, if you’re the adventurous type and loves to walk without worrying the steep slope you can reach the summit for 2 hours or more after riding a trike (100pesos) that will bring you to a certain drop off point.

Long line to the elevator Mount Samat viewing deck

Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

We reached the cross filled with people falling in line for the elevator ride. Luckily we rode the elevator just right in time before lunch break. Elevator ride to the cross closes at 12pm and reopens at 1 in the afternoon. The capacity of the elevator is just for 8 people that will lift you to 30^th floor where the viewing deck is located. You can see here 180 degree view of Bataan province and Manila Bay too. View in here is so relaxing because of lush greenery and cool breeze kissing your skin. We stayed here for just 15 to 30 minutes as guards on duty will take their lunch break.  Unfortunately we have no luck in visiting the museum since it closes at 12 but we’re able to explore the other side where stained glass murals and a historic stage are located.

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan viewing deck

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan viewing deck

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan viewing deck

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat Dambana ng Kagitingan Bataan

Mount Samat reminds us how our fellow countrymen and even Americans suffered during the World War II battle. We likewise saw the “Death March” marker while on the road that somewhat made us imagine how those heroes walked through their death. You will realize how great having countrymen that shows bravery and heroism for the love of country during the World war II.  Hopefully new generation will visit this Shrine of Valor so they can look back at our history.

Off - roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Summer season is about to end, so our group decided to have one last trip before rainy days arrived. We chose Pinatubo adventure since we were rooting for this trip for quite a while. Upon searching how to save for this trip we ended up getting the package of Kuya Wendell Mercado (0919-608-4313), the President of 4 Wheeler's Club since among online packages i find his reasonable. We are 8 in the group so we divided the expenses resulting to a 1800 contribution per head which comprised of the following:

• 3000 - 4 x 4 that will accommodate maximum of 5 pax. 
• 500 - conservation fee per head
• 500 - tour guide fee per 4 x 4 
• 150 - Aeta passway fee per head
• 250 - breakfast meal and 2 pcs. Chicken with extra rice for our lunch.

   

We left Alabang 3 in the morning and arrived in Capas Tarlac 5:30 in time for our breakfast. Mcdonalds in Capas just after the public market passing by a Caltex gasoline station is the common stop over among tourists to Pinatubo where you can take your breakfast or buy some necessities at the nearest 7 - 11. It's 7:30 already when we arrived at Santa Juliana where the tourist center is located. I immediately look for Ate Khey (Kuya Wendell's secretary) who assisted us in the entire registration. Please bear in mind that you must do all you bathroom necessities here since there are only 2 available bathroom areas, one is halfway the trek and the other one is on the crater. After settling our waivers and bills the adventure started. 

Tourism Center Sta. Juliana Capas Tarlac - drop off point to Pinatubo

Since we are group of 8, we're divided into 2 4 x 4 vehicles. The off - roading adventure lasted for an hour and you will enjoy a spectacular view along the way. 

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Off-roading adventure to Mount Pinatubo

After the thrilling 4 x 4 ride, our trekking started. Our original plan was to take the short route which will last for about 30 minutes trekking, unluckily, that route was closed (just a week ago) when we got there. So we have no choice but to bear with the long route that consumed us to 2 hours trekking. It was quite an exhausting walk (maybe because we have no enough sleep) but very manageable. You can stop whenever you want and enjoy sharing stories with your guide and your trekking buddies. 

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Along the way you will enjoy the scenery of different sand formations created by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in year 1995. We also encounter the local kids of Tarukan Capas enjoying their huge playground. Seeing them was so inspiring, will make you realized that we are so blessed in many ways. 

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Local Kids of Tarukan Capas Tarlac (Pinatubo)

Finally, after all the tiring walk, this was our beautiful reward. 

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo

Magnificent Beauty of Mount Pinatubo crater lake

After taking some photos, we rest for a while and took our lunch picnic style then descend to Pinatubo's crater afterwards. We lasted at the crater for an hour or 2 and started trekking back 1:30 in the afternoon. Going back was so light and fast that it took as only an hour trekking to our 4 x 4 ride. We arrived at the tourist center 3:30 in the afternoon. We rest for a while then took a bathe in the available shower areas just across the tourist center for 50 pesos per head. 

Our Mount Pinatubo trip was an adventure we will never forget since it was our first time to an off - roading adventure using a 4 x 4 vehicle and our first long hike/trek. So much learning and so much beauty. Mount Pinatubo left me in awe wondering how nature and God worked together to create this kind of beauty. A beautiful disaster, indeed. 

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

Trekking adventure to Mount Pinatubo

How to get there:

Via private vehicle 

Take the NLEX road until you reached the end road of NLEX which is Sta. Inez exit. From there take the Mc Arthur Highway Mabalacat en route Bamban until you reach the Capas Public Market. Just after the market left turn to a small road to Barangay Sto. Rosario and take 25km of countryside road passing by barangays Aranguren, Cristo Rey, Sta. Lucia, O'Donnell and finally Sta. Juliana where the tourism center is located.

Via commute

Ride any bus en route Pangasinan, Baguio or Tarlac and drop off at Capas Junction. Ride a tricycle just across Mcdonald's Capas that will bring you to Sta. Juliana, the jump off point to Mount Pinatubo