Harana A Weekend At Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar with Lani Misalucha. Venue at the majestic Hotel de Oriente Convention Centre. 4-course gourmet dinner show on Oct 31, overnight room accommodations with breakfast Oct 31 – Nov 1, tour of the country’s first and only Heritage Resort by the sea, use of the pool, beach and more!. Great way to spend the weekend! For tickets go to www.ticketworld.com,ph or call Manila sales and reservations office (63-2) 3325338, (63-2) 3325286, 09178729371.

Quiapo Manila Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista atbp Lugar, Inc. A non-profit organization whose advocacy is to preserve culture, heritage houses, appreciation of art and impart these to the youth through value formation and education. This is the beneficiary of the event “Harana A Weekend At Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar with Lani Misalucha” Oct 31, 2015. Get your tickets at www.ticketworld.com.ph

Day trips at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar are now made more convenient as the country’s first and only heritage resort by the sea offers daily shuttle service from Manila to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan and back. For as low as Php 1,999 interested parties may have a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and have a relaxing time at the resort with the Heritage Day Tour and Roundtrip Shuttle Service Package. Guests will surely have a grand time travelling north in a cozy coach while enjoying the beauty of greeneries along the way. Upon arrival, they will marvel at the resort’s old-world beauty featuring picturesque ancestral houses and structures near the scenic Bataan shoreline. Regular shuttle service for guests are also available for Php 750 per way. Designated pickup and drop off points are the New World Hotel Makati and the Astoria Plaza in Pasig City.

Most of the beautiful homes are at its finishing stages. We were so lucky to have had a first glimpse at what will soon rise a fully completed world-class Filipino heritage resort! <3

We were pleasantly surprised to see our home for the night partly “submerged” in water reminisce of Venice. Sure a canal is a canal is a canal, but I swear, this has to be the cleanest canal ever with round the clock sweeping by a gondolier. (Yes we watched him clean by the hour, lol)

Attention to detail is given. Even the balustrades, beams & stair supports were either carved or etched. Beautiful! (On your way out -or in, right by the parking area, you’ll see several single detached units that houses the woodworking, painting, bricking areas/workshops. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar has its own round the clock artisans always building, always creating. Too bad I didn’t get to usi!)

4 bedrooms upstairs & 2 down below.

We spent a better part of the early afternoon ensconced in our room because of the outdoor heat, which was okay because the kids got to study (and nap). The aircon was really cold, just look at my binalots! ;)) I suggest you bring a light sweater for when you decide to veg in the comforts of your room mid-afternoon when the sun is at its peak.

I must confess, I didn’t know how to use the bidet. 😛 Although the houses by the beach & canal are fairly new, they were constructed in line with Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort’s theme.

Oh! and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort makes its own organic bath & grooming products! Visit TESS THE FARMER (named after his wife -who is also a passionate interior decorator & designed most of the rooms & interiors) at the town proper beside the Fotografia booth for pasalubong items. Tess Ochoa-Acuzar is the sister of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

For a quick snack & a cold drink to quench your thirst from a full day of exploring, the Panaderia de la Escolta is open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM (Weekdays) 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM (Weekends) It is located in the commercial area of the hotel at Paseo de Escolta. Popular breads, cakes and pastry recipes from long ago are served fresh daily.

Look for Comida de la Calle at Plaza Belmonte from 5-8 pm daily for street food & local delicacies. Walk leisurely along the cobbled stone paths and go down memory lane with your friends and loved ones amidst a backdrop of historical heritage houses. Munch on traditional street fun food such as nilagang mani, skewered pork bbq, hot dog, deep fried fish or squid balls, and the exotic balut. Also sample native Filipino all-time favorites the bibingka and puto bumbong served oven-fresh.

Cheers. Happy birthweek mom! <3 Here’s to long life & good health for you. And syempre also for us! ;))

Clockwise from top: Complimentary bread basket, Caprese 320 php (tomatoes, mozzarella, basiland oregano salad), Insalata Di Mare 495 php (assorted seafood salad marinated in extra virgin olive oil), and Minestrone 195 php (classic Italian vegetable soup).

Clockwise from top: Spaghetti Alio Olio E Gamberetti 520 php (with garlic olive oil and shrimp), Tuscany Doña Theresa 560 php (with fresh sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, assorted mushroom, capers, spinach and parma ham, Quattro Formaggi 560 php ( pizza with four Italian cheeses), and Spaghetti Bolognese 320 php (meat sauce).

Counter-clockwise from top: Braciola Di Maiale 460 php (grilled porkchops with Italian herbs), Chicken Parmigiana Di Pugon 570 php (chicken breast with parma ham, parmesan and mozzarella cheese), Tiramisu 285 phph (lady finger with coffee & amaretto liqueur; and Panacotta 210 php.

Many thanks to Liza D. Arbis – Resort General Manager, and the kind staff of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort, for the love na umaapaw. <3

La Bella Teodora serves varied breakfast entrees daily so you don’t have to worry about eating the same thing over & over again. For our first day: Corned beef, fried bangus, scrambled eggs, longganiza & ensaymada with watermelon for dessert. For our second day: Congee, Beef Tapa, Pork steak, danggit, pancit, scrambled eggs, soft bread & melon for dessert. Unlimited juice & coffee/tea with your breakfast.

We enjoyed this thick & fat Homemade Cassava French Fries 165 php.

Clockwise from top: Nachos Grande 340 php, Pork adobo on pandesal 220 php, Sizzling sisig 395 php, and Tacos del Rio (3 pcs.) 340 php.

Gambas al Ajilo 350 php, and Beef Salpicao 565 php.

Before you bid the resort adieu, do look for Casa Baliuag. The Founder occupies this lovely 2-bedroom structure which houses his 4 ATVs, otherwise known as Toys for the big Boys. 😉 From Bulacan, this house was found within the vicinity of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Baliuag. Before being transferred to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Heritage Resort in 2006, this house was utilized as a function room for the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo. Wooden and metal parts of the house have been preserved and restored until today. Year of Construction – 1898; Year of Reconstruction – 2007.

3 words. You complete me. <3 Yiiiiiiiiii #kiliggity #GrowOldWithYou