Exploring the Unexplored: Ruins; Part of our History

The Ruins by Day

Ruins by Night

What is/are Ruins? - Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction. Disasters , warand depopulation are the most common root causes, with many structures becoming progressively derelict over time due to long-term weathering and scavenging. There are famous ruins all over the world, from ancient sites in China, the Indus valley and Judea to Zimbabwe in Africa, ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman sites in the Mediterranean basin, and Incan and Mayan sites in the Americas. Ruins are of great importance to historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, whether they were once individual fortifications, places of worship, houses and utility buildings, or entire villages, towns and cities. Many ruins have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites in recent years, to identify and preserve them as areas of outstanding value to humanity. I hope someday i'll get the chance to see all these famous ruins.

The first ruins that i saw was DON MARIANO LACSON RUINS. The Ruins is about 30-minute ride from the cityscape and tucked into idyllic sugarcane farmlands (about 2.4 kms. from the tri-sikad terminal, along the stretch of "Bangga Pepsi") in Talisay.

The Ruins showcases what is left of the Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson Ancestral Home in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. During its heyday, the mansion was the largest residential structure ever built. It boasted of its garden of lilies in and around the four-tiered fountain on the mansion’s front lawn and the finest furniture, chinaware and decorative items that its owners brought from their travels across Europe and Asia.

The mansion dates back to the 1900s when it was built by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson for his first wife, Maria Braga, a Portuguese from Macau whom he met in his vacations in Hongkong. The mansion’s structure is of Italianate architecture enhanced by a belvedere complete with renaissance-type ballustrading typical of the homes of English ship captains.

One of Don Mariano’s sons supervised the construction of the mansion making certain that the A-grade mixture of concrete and its pouring mixture was precisely followed. Thus perhaps, the marble-smooth finished walls’ sturdy response to the damage caused by fire when the mansion was torched during World War II by the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters in the Philippines, to prevent the Japanese Forces from utilizing it as their headquarters. The fire lasted for three days annihilating the mansion’s woodwork and bringing down its roof but the concrete structure was able to survive and persist.

Today, the 903 square meter skeletal structure stand proud, amazing local and foreign tourists. From the time that it was opened to the public in January 2008, it has become a favorite venue for wedding receptions, debuts and birthday parties (the rains could really be a downer, though). For a minimal fee of PHP25.00, one could take pictures around the mansion. Its owners, the Javellanas, are continually adding improvements in the place, even setting up a cafe which serves light drinks and snacks (for a fee, or course. And they are going to add some exciting stuff in their menu in the months to come.)

When we first laid our eyes on her amidst the tall sugarcanes and under the heat of the sun..it was simply striking, like looking at a femme de monde. It stands so proud and elegant, never worn out and when we arrived after walking for more than 2.4 kilometers ( whew!), the mansion is really a marvelous sight.

We paid for 40 pesos for the entrance fee and you can freely walk on its well-manicured lawn, take some awesome shots and just reminisce how lavishly these elite people used to live. They have a semi haute cuisine restaurant serving pasta and some recipes of the Lacson family with impressive live jazz music.

I have told my companion that I dont agree with its name “The Ruins” and I have said it many times. The old mansion is more than just “the ruins” for me. I would just prefer to call it “the old mansion” for though it has its ill-fated story;burned for days by the local guerilla fighters during the Second World War, you cannot deny how grand and luxurious this home is.

For me, the Ruins is best enjoyed during dusk. What better way than to slowly sip a good cup of coffee (best if spiked) while taking in the beauty of the sunset. The drama! If you stay a little more, you can catch the mansion in its mystic glow bathe with lights and over.

Taken last September 2009 with my 4th year tourism students. Another memorable experience that i'll surely miss...I promise myself i will visit this ruins again.

Next ruins - Cagsawa or some call it Cagsaua -

Cagsawa Ruins – A Legacy to the Bicolanos

For almost two centuries the Cagsawa Ruins has stood as a symbol of Bicol region’s impressive landscape, rich history and the people’s strength and resiliency to face and to rise from the ravages of Mother Nature.

Cagsawa Ruins Park is a few minutes jeepney ride from Legazpi City. Legazpi City is one of the most important cities of Bicol. By air, it is 55 minutes away from Manila. About 9 hours travel time by air-conditioned buses that ply the route daily.

Cagsawa Ruins Park is one of the most visited places in the area. From this point tourists are afforded with an unhampered view of the majestic Mayon Volcano with its world renowned perfect cone.

Folklore states that originally Kagsawa was derived from the word “KAG” meaning owner and “SAWA” meaning python. Kagsawa could also mean excesses or too much. The February 1, 1814 Mayon eruption was said to be a divine justice for the people’s overindulgence.

The 1814 eruption was recorded to be worst eruption of Mt. Mayon. Some 1,200 people who took refuge and sought the sanctuary of the church during the eruption all died when the church was engulfed by the flowing lava.

Only the Cagsawa church belfry remains today. It is a grim reminder of the events that took place and many people come to see the belfry as a reminder of times past. Through all the developments done by the local government, the Cagsawa church belfry remains standing, with the giant stones spewed by Mt. Mayon around and with the history of the region buried underneath.

The place is now called Cagsawa Park. It is managed today by the municipal government of Daraga, Albay.

At the entrance of the park visitors will find a wide variety of souvenir shops and stalls which showcase native products and handicrafts. A wide selection of T-shirts with native scenes and designs are also available.

Inside the park are restaurants where tourists and local residents feast on native food and delicacies. Inasal na sira (grilled fish) and Bicol express-a spicy shrimp dish with coconut cream is highly recommended. Both these dishes are quite famous all over the Philippines and should not be missed.