It is so far the most magnificent and most historically significant “jigsaw puzzle” I have ever seen in my life! Who on earth would have the idea of putting together parts of very old, decaying and abandoned heritage houses in one place and create a magnificently beautiful nostalgic paradise? I guess it is in the person of Jerry Acuzar, a rare soul with lofty ambition, who owns Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.
My Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar adventure, located in Bagac Bataan was like travelling through a time capsule bringing its visitors back to the glorious 18th and 19th century Philippines!!!
At the outset of our visit, I was a skeptic. I did not believe on the resort’s claim that the buildings were the actual and authentic parts of Filipino Principalia Mansions. Initially, the “illustrado” fragment of my soul was screaming “Cinverguenza! Punyatera! No way will Jerry Acuzar be able to transfer, rebuild and restore such old houses?!”
But when I and Karen went out of the resort to buy a pack of cigarette from a nearby construction workers’ carinderia (eatery and mini-store), we passed-by multiple decks of old stone bricks, voluminous timeworn planks of wood as well as various antiquated hard-wood house-posts lying on the ground. Those materials were obviously salvaged from an old house somewhere in this country. That was the moment I believed and confirmed that those massive mansions inside the resort were no-doubt authentic.
Let me then offer an honorable salute and a big standing ovation to Mr. Acuzar for such a rare feat, ingenuity and craftsmanship!
On our way to Namba Parks shopping complex in Osaka, me, my sister Joecel and my niece Erika passed by a store named Kiki. “Kiki” being a word that means vagina in Tagalog – out of fun – took the opportunity to take a photo with the store’s banner. Don’t be too assuming on what the store sells, because when I checked they sell ladies’ ready-to-wear clothes!
After marveling on the aesthetic architectural sensation of the building’s park and garden rooftop and had a huge hamburger snack inside the mall (a delicious break from all the Japanese meals we had and will be having), we decided to head back to Erika’s house. However, the three of us had some difficulty figuring out the correct exit door so as to have a short walk from Namba Parks to Erika’s apartment.
With nervousness starting to build up inside me (being in a country where the English language is seldom spoken by the locals), I was reminded that we passed through the Kiki store. Out of tenseness and uncontrollable edginess, I told Erika that we should look for the “puke” (the blunt and vulgar Filipino way of saying the word vagina). Still confused, I reminded Joecel and Erika that “we earlier pass through the pussy of the mall!”
When we found the Kiki store… I was relieved. We happily headed back at my nephew and niece’s apartment.
Pag nerbyusin ka din, kung ano-ano din naman ang nasasabi mo ‘di ba?
Late in the afternoon on our way to Super Tamade, a local store in Sennichimae Dori in Osaka to buy food stuffs to be cooked for dinner, I asked my nephew Denden if Japanese people are still amazed with and still looks forward to Sakura (the blooming of cherry blossoms). Since it is a yearly phenomenon, I supposed people in Japan must have been so used to it. I supposed that it was just like an ordinary occurrence in Japan similar to the blooming of bonggambilya or kalachuchi flowers in the Philippines. It’s nothing to celebrate about. However, he replied, “Definitely Tito, because autumn is such a gloomy cruel season. It is so depressingly dull it makes people feeling down and heavy.”
After our first night, walking along the streets of Osaka in the morning, I was a little disappointed because I can actually count few trees whose flowers has bloomed. Majority of the trees were just brittle branches with dark buds and whose leaves have totally fallen off during the autumn season. Erika, my niece who’s also based in Japan told me that we arrived too early and should have scheduled our stay in Osaka on the latter days of April to witness the amazing flowers.
On our sixth and seventh day of staying in Osaka we went to Kyoto and Nara, I noticed that only few trees has bloomed with cherry blossoms flowers. I started to feel the depressing dullness of winter. I already set in my mind that I need to be back in Osaka some other time and make sure that those days will be the time when cherry blossoms are on its best. I told myself that the trip in Osaka, Japan could have been more perfect if the cherry blossoms are in full glow. The Osaka trip could have been like tasting the greatest cake in the world but without the cherry on the top.
On the day prior to our flight back to Manila, my family’s itinerary is to go and visit the Osaka Castle. I was looking forward to seeing one of the most famous castles in Japan that played a great role in the unification of its people during the sixteenth century but has set my mind that only few cherry blossoms in the area has bloomed.
But when we were about 200 to 300 meters away from the yard vicinity of the great castle, I saw that the color of the trees were strangely different. I started to feel lighter and a little delighted. And as we moved in closer, swarms of people – young and old – started to walk in the same direction that we were heading. I was very glad and very happy because everybody were all heading towards the immense occurrence of Sakura!
Denden was all along correct! Sakura elicits a cheerful feeling pointed towards the core of someone’s heart. Witnessing the Sakura on the last day of our stay was just like putting the freshest cherry on top of a cake, it was like seeing the Reigna Elena and Reigna Emperatriz combined of the Pinoy Santacruzan, it was like hearing the last yet the greatest hit song of a singer during a phenomenal concert, it was like the highlight of the highlight!
The anime-ish hairstyles; the remarkable efficiency; the tranquility of the intricate subway trains; the quietness of train stations despite presence of swarms of people; the matchless technology yet preserved rich culture and heritage; and the unrivaled fashion.
a calm train station in Osaka
covered street in Namba
Kinkakuji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
The cute Japanese school uniforms; the efficient weather bureau; the smart looking young office workers dodging on thick manga books; the melodic language; the fine art of Kanji; the people’s civility, honesty and good manners; and the remarkable cleanliness and ecologically aware streets.
one of the colorful stores in dotonbori
an afternoon walk at dotonbori (nengkoy in white pants)
Don Quixote - a famous landmark in Osaka
wet market in osaka
The wet-less wet market; the people’s courteousness in using the escalator; the ladies’ fake eyelashes, wigs and fingernails; the composure of geishas; the blushed cheeks of cute little children; the aesthetic splendor and freshness of dishes; the serene temples; the wide roads with long tunnels penetrating the mountains; the wonderful cherry blossoms; and the Nissin Chicken Ramen TV commercial I posted below which caught my full attention while I was lazing at the hotel in Osaka.
geishas in kyoto
Todaiji (the Great Eastern Temple) in Nara
my nephew Den Den with cherry blossoms and Osaka Castle in the background (i love this shot!)
No doubt Japan is all very Zen. I am so impressed with Japan I sometimes wish I were Japanese. I could die happy even if I died because of a tsunami as long as in my next life I will be a “delicious” Japanese. But I guess the Japanese themselves wish they were something else.
One of the exciting places me and my family visited is the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda City, Osaka, Japan. The instant digestive solution of the hungry may it be a quick emergency snack, a late-evening nibble or after hunting for giant dinosaurs an emergency meal instant noodle no doubt has become indispensable in our daily lives.
Momofuku Ando was the Japanese dude responsible in the invention of the instant noodles right after the World War II on the time when Japan was a literally hungry. The museum showcased various features starting from the humble beginnings of how ramen was invented, how it was mass produced and was even one of the vital elements in the history of Japanese space exploration through the sustenance of its astronauts.
The most fun part was when we were all given the opportunity to design our own Nissin cups and got to choose four flavors that will be added in our noodles to have it truly personalized. Love it!
neil "delicious"
left most cup is nengkoy's cup
inside the noodle tunnel
Dapat sa Pinas meron ding ganito, Da Suman Myusiyum!
To His Royal Highness who sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne,
Good morning.
Let me take the pleasure of sending you a word and your imperial army that the most delicious earthling is due to arrive in your splendid land and noble empire anytime soon. In so doing, your gracious directive and decree is hereby in order which your dwellers have to ensure:
First requirement: Ensure that the delicate flowers that signify the welcome of spring season in your dynasty will be in its full bloom. The delicious earthling would like to witness this incredible phenomenon.
Second requirement: Your land being at the zone of the planet’s ring of fire must ensure that no tectonic-shaking circumstance must take place at any time during the length of stay of the delicious earthling. The delicious visitor hates the feeling of disequilibrium and whirling sensation.
Last and final requirement: Your kingdom is known to have preposterous fees and sky-rocketing prices. The delicious earthling plans to trade his wealth and richness with your abundant commercialized treasures. In other words, he plans to go on shopping! Therefore, ensure to assess and lower down the financial value of your land’s commodities during the delicious earthling’s stay. Otherwise, the delicious earthling will carry with him tons of Ma-Ling (canned luncheon meat) and large boxes of ensaymada (sugar-sprinkled buttered pastry bread).
Your Comrade in Wealth,
The Delicious Earthling
Dahil malamig dun, magbabaon din ako ng Kopiko tri-in-wan copi.
Nengkoy wished that her 75th birthday be held and celebrated in the vast coconut plantation estate that was converted into a tourist destination located south of Metro Manila. True enough, her wish was made into a reality when Nengkoy, twenty seven crazy members of my family and I trooped to Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort on her birthday.
Every member of my family was treated with a 2-day glimpse of a typical life of rural Philippines. Upon arrival we were served with refreshing “gulaman” as a welcome drink. After which, the whole pack were led to the magnificent museum that houses the marvelous antique and unique collections of the Escuderos. There were all forms of Catholic statues and statuettes. We saw an overwhelming array of Filipino costumes, jars, vases, indigenous forest hunting gears, stuffed Pinoy-once-endemic fauna and other eclectic treasures made, found and discovered in the Philippines. I was particularly was astonished by the collection of authentic handwritten letters of Philippines’ National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal displayed in that marvelous museum.
facade of the museum
After feasting our eyes to the overwhelming collections found in the museum, we were then taken for a ride on a carabao-drawn cart for a tour around the vast resort. Seated at the end of the cart were two resort staffs in traditional Filipino clothes. One played the guitar while the other sang traditional Filipino songs while the cart was being drawn to lead us to checked-in at our respective nipa-like villas built right at the edge of a serene lake. The villas were reminiscent of a traditional Filipino house called “Bahay Kubo”.
my monster "pamangkins" on their carabao caravan ride
jumpshot!!!
We then immediately proceeded to one of the highlights of our stay. The scrumptious buffet lunch served and eaten al fresco style few meters away from the base of a waterfall. Still typical of a Filipino dining set-up, we ate on native bamboo-craft-woven plates with banana leaf as its lining and our soup bowls were coconut shells! Breakable chinaware was non-existent! Flowing water on the ground touching and lashing our feet add up to the delicious dining experience.
An hour after lunch, we then headed to one of the resort’s pavilions where a Filipino cultural dance display is being held. The show featured various ethnic and colonially influenced Filipino dances performed by the employees of the resort. The costumes, the music, the colors, the graceful dance moves were all but a rewarding add-on during our stay in Villa Escudero.
a piece of a young coconut palm leaf weaved to form like a fish handed to me by one of the dancers
After the show, we proceeded to our assigned villa for a short afternoon rest. The villa is not equipped with TV, sound system and not even an internet. All you got is the refreshingly beautiful scenery of what the old Philippines were plus the melodious sound of birds lurking around the area.
Later in the afternoon, majority of us lined up to get our respective paddles plus a life vest for we did a little of rowing at the pristine lake using an old-fashioned kayak in the form of a bamboo raft. While we do the rowing, other members of the family were busy trying to catch live fish from the lake or just busy lazing around. In the same afternoon, a number of employees of the resort serenaded Nengkoy at the villa singing a couple of Kundiman songs plus of course the classic birthday song in Tagalog version.
erika and the band!!!
Dinner buffet was served inside an elegant pavilion. This is the moment when Nengkoy was greeted by the singers performing during dinner time and was surprised when a birthday cake was brought to her table for her to make a wish and blow the candle. After which, the rest of the night was spent bonding and chitchatting before everybody hit the sack with smiles on our faces.
nengkoy about to blow her birthday cake candle
Our stay and adventure in Villa Escudero to celebrate Nengkoy’s 75th birthday is no doubt one of my family’s memorable experiences! I actually don’t know how to end this writing. But one thing is for sure Villa Escudero is one authentic representation of Filipino pride, culture and extravaganza.
It made me want to dance the Tinikling as sang by the 50’s circa Pinay diva, Sylvia La Torre…
It is so far the most magnificent and most historically significant “jigsaw puzzle” I have ever seen in my life! Who on earth would have the idea of putting together parts of very old, decaying and abandoned heritage houses in one place and create a magnificently beautiful nostalgic paradise? I guess it is in the person of Jerry Acuzar, a rare soul with lofty ambition, who owns Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.
Nengkoy 