DAY TWO, Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar - Today, I will show you some pictures from the walking heritage tour.

Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar has several tour guides who are very much connected in the past. They will guide you all throughout the walking heritage tour (about 1.5 hours) scheduled from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the morning and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM in the afternoon (with one hour intervals). Place of assembly is in front of Casa Mexico (resort reception area). Just look for these 3 "kids" playing and you won't get lost.

Remember, it's okay to ask. They are there to get you reconnected with the past and help you re-live it.

The first ancestral house we visited was Casa Binondo III, which is also known as Casa Bizantina. The most premium house for rent and the only rental house with free wifi, this is where Vice-President Binay stayed and other VIPs. You may rent the whole house (with 7 rooms) for Php 150,000 per night - with full butler service.

Just like in the old Filipino tradition, please do not forget to remove your shoes/slippers before stepping into the houses. This is done as a sign of respect and acknowledging Filipino hospitality.

FYI: In case you're wondering, the painting on the right is the majestic ceiling of Casa Bizantina's lobby.

The mosaic wall is another masterpiece by Las Casas Filipinas's inhouse artist.

Casa Bizantina: Don Lorenzo Del Rosario room (Php 22,000)

Casa Bizantina: Esteban de Peñarubia room (Php 17,000)

Casa Bizantina: Binondo room (Php 16,000)

Casa Bizantina: Antoni Gaudi room (Php 18,000 - bathroom with a balcony)

Casa Bizantina (3rd floor): Joan Joseph, Jose Hervas y Arismendi room
(Php 40,000 - the largest and most expensive room)

... complete with Hermes toiletries of course.
Yes, this is where most VIPs stay when they visit Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.

Casa Bizantina (3rd floor): Madrid room (Php 25,000)

Aside from the huge rooms in the 3rd floor of Casa Bizantina, this is also what they get - a wonderful view of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.

Casa Binondo I - perfect for guests who will be bringing Senior Citizens with them because this house is close to the restaurant and has one huge bedroom at the first floor - the elderly guests do not need to climb up the stairs anymore :) The younger ones can stay on the second floor, which has 3 more bedrooms. The stairs in most ancestral houses are designed like that because as Filipinos, we usually have long goodbyes. I think this is still true until now - after saying goodbye at the dinner table, you'll find yourselves standing at the doorstep after an hour still talking and talking and talking :p

Casa Meycauayan is one of those houses closest to the pool area.

Casa Baliuag I is now Mr. Jerry Acuzar's private vacation house. This was originally owned by Capitan Vergel de Dios, who lived here with his 21 children.

Casa Quiapo (also known as Casa Hidalgo) was considered the most elegant house in the entire country during the Spanish regime. The mansion was then used as the first campus of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts.

"Young artists in the 1870s used to train in the entrezuelo (mezzanine) of the house, notable among them were JUAN LUNA and FELIX HIDALGO. Later, outstanding artists who were products of the school included FERNANDO AMORSOLO, GUILLERMO TOLENTINO, EMILIO ALVERO, CARLOS FRANCISCO and TOMAS MAPUA."

These are the original columns from the 1867 ancestral house. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar was able to preserve what's left of this house.

Casa Quiapo / Casa Hidalgo has a very nice view of the beach and Umagol river. This house is really huge that's why it's used for big functions like weddings and other major events.

Aside from the magnificent view, a church is also being constructed across Casa Hidalgo. It's going to be the biggest structure in the village. I wonder who will be the first couple to get married here?! A Filipiniana themed wedding would be perfect!

One of the most interesting house in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar would be Casa Biñan, which used to be the house of Jose Rizal's mom. You have to be all ears during this part of the tour to know bits of history that wasn't taught in school.

Another great sculpture inside Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar - Lola Basyang sharing stories to kids. Behind her is Casa Lubao. This ancestral house is not for rent, rather, it's a show-house. If this looks familiar to you, that's because Casa Lubao was used in GMA-7's Teleserye Zorro.

Among the 27 heritage houses inside Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, Casa Lubao is the youngest, having built in 1920. The windows and other details of this house are somehow unique (e.g. glass windows instead of capiz). This is due to the owner's inspirations from traveling abroad.

Fruit baskets in the ceiling represents how lavish Filipinos from Pampanga are with food when they celebrate. Also shown in Casa Lubao are the sofas in the living area, which are only about 6 inches high for a more comfortable fit during the 1920s.

There are also 4 ancestral stilt houses for rent along the beach of Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, which were referred to as "The Poor Man's House" during the 1900s. Across these comfortable rest-houses is Casa Luna, which houses Mr. Acuzar's antique collection.

Pictured on the right is Joycelle demonstrating how Filipinas used to iron clothes in the old times. On the left is a volada, where "aliping sagigilid" used to walk around the house, silently serving their masters.

If you liked the preview of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, you'll definitely love the place even more when you visit. Don't be left with that nostalgic feeling. Bring the past alive. Let Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar help you restore the feeling of "Pride in the Past and Hope for the Future."