The Ruins in Bacolod City
Love is the one thing that we all have in common: like how Don Mariano Lacson showed his great love for his wife, Maria Braganza who died in 1911.
Don Mariano Lacson and wife Maria Braganza had 10 children together. In the year 1911, while nearing the full term of her 11th pregnancy, Maria Braganza had met an accident after slipping and having a miscarriage which caused her sudden death. Because of this accident, it left Don Mariano to feel heartbroken and inconsolable thus deciding to later on build a mansion in remembrance of his dear wife in a 440-hectare sugar plantation in Talisay, Bacolod City.
The Ruins, or the Nutsberry Garden, was built in 1920 but was burned in 1942 by Filipino guerilla who were against Don Mariano’s approval of letting in some Japanese soldiers during the seat of the World War II. The mansion itself was made from a mixture of sand, cement, and egg white, thus making the establishment withstand any calamity or disaster. It is known as the Taj Mahal of Negros where the entity of the said establishment was designed by an Italian architect. This has 10 big rooms adorned by pieces of furniture made from Narra wood and Machuca tiles for its flooring.
The mansion itself was left to burn for three days but had not consumed all of the entity of the said establishment. What makes this establishment special is that two letter M (M for Maria and Mariano) facing each other, were molded on every post of the mansion, leaving behind reminders of a glorious and colorful past that can still be seen up to present.
The Ruins became available to the public last 2008 under the ownership of Don Mariano’s great grandson, Mr. Raymund Javellana. Touring the Ruins in Talisay, Bacolod City will include a look back of the rich and colorful history of the place through the humorous tour guides known throughout the city. This place was also featured in different movies and local TV shows.
Aside from their local guests, they also receive foreign guests that are usually Japanese, or Americans. The Ruins in Talisay, Bacolod City has been acclaimed as one of the 12 most fascinating establishments in the world.
The Ruins have also received a number of awards and recognitions which include the following:
- 2009- Province of Negros Occidental: Emerging Tourism Activity
- 2014-2016 Trip Advisor: Certificate of Excellence
- 2015- Gawad Turisimo Awards: Best Tourism Attraction
- 2016- Choose Philippines: Best Destination Heritage Sites Category
Guests who would want to have a tour in the said place are welcomed. Entrance fees as follows:
- Adults -Php 100
- Students -Php 50 (but should provide a valid school ID)
- Senior Citizens – Php 60
- Children below 8 years old – Php 20
DETAILS:
The Ruins
Address: Talisay City, Bacolod negros Occidental
Business Hours: Open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Website: www.theruins.com.ph
E-mail: lacson_mansion@yahoo.com.ph
Written By: Patricia Antoinette M. Nacianceno
This also appears in the February 2018 issue of the Philippine Primer Japanese Magazine.
