Finding Chinitas

Travel

The trip to Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar was very unique. The place doubles as a hotel and a museum, it is very different from other museum because you can experience not only the exterior of the homes but also the interior of them. It is very different because in other museum you could only see pictures of the architecture and the furniture or the accessories are not arranged together, but here in Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar it is arranged based on how it really looked like before. Las Casas Filipinas De Azucar buys different houses from all over the Philippine that are of the Spanish Colonial Era. They transport the houses piece by piece and with caution to ensure that the building will still look the same as if it was not transported and to retain its design. Las Casas only buys properties if they see the establishment being neglected by their current owners. The owner said that it was sad to see that important part of history slowly being destroyed, he made the place to preserve these establishments for future generations to see.

It was my second time in Las Casas when we went there for the school trip. My first trip there was with my family and our friends we passed by there to check it out but not for long and we didn’t have the chance to see the houses because we got there at about 5 in the afternoon and we had to go back before it gets too late.

My first impression of the place was that it was very beautiful and unique, you would never see something like that in the city. My brother told me they had a field trip there when he was still studying architecture but there were fewer establishment when he had gone there. I told my parents we had to go back and see the whole place when we had the time. My second time in Las Casas was no different from my first time there I was still amazed and awed by how the place look. During our school trip and my second visit, we had the chance to take a tour of the place and the houses. We got to see the interior of the houses and how the furniture and the details of the house are made.

The best part about the trip for me was when we went to see how they make the wood carvings and the clay bricks just their factories in general, because you see all these people working hard and putting a lot of effort in these details. You see that they really put in a lot of work even in the smallest details, and the output is very elegant and beautiful. It’s very unique and one of a kind, because every one of the pieces are handmade and takes a lot of time and effort.

I learned that we should appreciate and take good care of all that is given to us because not everyone will have the chance to see or experience what we currently have right now. Also we should try to bring more attention to all things that help shape our culture.

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Travel

Bakit List

1. Bakit sa Bagac Bataan itinayo ang mga bahay na ito?

Si José "Gerry" Acuzar, ang mamayari ng New San Jose Builders at mamayari din ng Las Casas Filipinas De Azucar. Siya ang nagsimula na mag ayos o magkumpuni ng mga Spanish mansions sa kanyang lupa sa Bagac, Bataan.

How did they decide on the location? (Bataan)

Jose "Gerry" Accuzar, owner of New San Jose Builders chose to rebuild Spanish mansions on his property in Bagac.

2. Bakit Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar ang pangalan ng naturang lugar?

Ang pangalang Las Casas Filipinas De Azucar ay nag mula sa espanol na salita. Las Casas na ang ibig sabihin ay mga bahay. Filipinas na ang tawag sa Pilipinas noon. At ang De Azucar na ang literal na ibig sabihin ay galing sa asukal (at pwede ring ibase sa pangalan ni Mr. Jose.)

How did they settle on the name Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar? And what does it mean?

Literal translation is "The Philippine Houses of Sugar", Las casas in Spanish meaning house, and acuzar means sugar. The surname of Mr. Jose could also have been a contributing factor to the name.

3. Bakit ang tema ng resort ay paggamit ng mga lumang bahay?

Noong si Mr. Acuzar ay bata pa, ang kanyang kaibigan ay mahilig sa mga antigong kagamitan, sinabihan siya ng kanyang mga kaibigan na isang pamumuhunan ang pangongolekta ng antigong kagamitan dahil kokonte angantigong kagamitan pero ang tao ay dadami. Kaya naisipan niya na magtayo ng isang bahay sa kanyang lote, ang kanyang binili na bahay ay isang lumang bahay at ito ay ililipat niya sa kanyang lote sa Bagac, Bataan. Noong ito ay nilipat niya at naipaayos mula doon sa kanyang binili noon na napabayaan. Simula noon, bumili na siya ng mga lumang bahay na ililipat at aayusin niya sa kanyang lugar at doon nya naisip ang tema na ito.

How did this become the concept or theme?

When he was little his friends were fans of antiques, his friend told him that the antiques were a from of investment because its value increases in time. So he transported an antique house into one of his land properties and renovated it back into a good state. After realizing this he then bought another house, and another and that is how the theme came to be.

4. Bakit ang tagal nabuo ng unang bahay sa Las Casas Filipinas De Azucar?

Ang pinaka unang nailipat na bahay ay nagtagalan ng anim na buwan bago natapos dahil bago palang sa kanilang ginagawa at hindi pa sanay sa proseso ang mga mangagawa.

Why did the establishment process of the first house take so long?

The first transferred house took 6 months to finish because everyone was still new in what they were doing, and that is rebuilding and reconstructing.

5. Bakit napipili ang mga bahay na mga ito, ano ang batayan?

Binili ni acuzar ang mga bahay na ito na nasa estado ng kapabayaan ng mga kanilang mamayari. Subalit ang mga lumang bahay na maayos pa at naaalagaan ng kanilang mamayari ay hindi binibili. Walang bahay na galling sa Vigan ay binili.

Why is he moving the house from one area to another? And is there a basis to which house he chooses to move?

He bought houses which were either in a state of distress and neglected by the owners to move them into a location where they can be taken care of and renovated well. He also purchased other mansions/ancestral homes regardless if they were or were not well preserved.