Bacolod, Historical Tourist Sites, Negros Occidental

The Ruins – Talisay City, Negros Occidental

The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental is what remained of the grand mansion that Don Mariano Lacson built, following the death of his first wife, Maria Braga.

The Ruins at sunset
The Ruins at sunset

Built in memory of Maria Braga, the mansion became the residence of Don Mariano and his unmarried children.

Today, it is a tourist attraction for its romantic, yet strong structures. Many interesting tales and facts lie within the walls and posts that remained of the Ruins.

Portraits of Don Mariano and Maria Braga, a Portuguese from Macau, for whom the mansion was built.
Portraits of Don Mariano and Maria Braga, for whom the mansion was built.
The Ruins at sunset front side
Side entrance used to start the tour

The Ruins is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque twin columns. The couple’s initials M and M are molded onto the mansion’s posts.

The Ruins in detailThe top edges of the mansion also feature a shell-inspired decor, which in New England indicates that the home is owned by a ship captain. This particular design is in honor of Maria Braga’s father, who was ship captain.


Still in keeping with the marine theme, the second story of the mansion features a belvedere that faces the west. According to the tour guide, Don Mariano would be often seen sitting in the glassed-in sunroom viewing the ships that come and go along the coastal waters of Talisay.

The mansion was reduced to its skeletal frame when in the early part of World War 2, the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), guerilla fighters during the Japanese occupation, set the mansion ablaze so it will not be used as headquarters by the Japanese forces.

The fire burned the mansion’s roof and the 2-inch thick wooden floors but the foundations remained standing, thanks to its oversized steelbars and the meticulous way of pouring the A-grade mixture of concrete.

The Ruins entrance from the garden
The Ruins entrance from the garden

Indeed, my first impression upon seeing the skeleton of the mansion was that it appeared to be structurally very sound, that it would be easy to bring it back to its former grandeur.

The Ruins wellThe walls of the mansion were incorporated with egg whites mixed with cement, and to this day, visitors can see the gloss or shine on the mansion’s walls.

To accomplish the high-quality strength of the structure, the construction had to be done 24 hours, 7 days a week, so that the mixing and pouring of the concrete would be continuous, thus ensuring that the concrete was very compact and that no air got in.


In its heyday, the fountain outside the mansion was surrounded by a beautiful lily garden, which was maintained by a Japanese gardener, who mysteriously disappeared following the burning of the mansion.

Today, it is a landscaped garden, drawing various inspirations, from formal English gardens to Japanese-inspired gardens.

The fountain and the garden were renovations done when the Ruins was opened for tourism purposes.
The fountain and the garden were renovations done when the Ruins was opened for tourism purposes.

Ruins chimneyAlso outside the mansion is the ‘Simborio,’ the chimney for the muscovado sugar mill of the family’s sugar farm. It is in the mill where the juice of the sugarcane is extracted before transferring them in large vats where juice is heated and then cooled to produce the sugar crystals.

There are also modern additions to The Ruins: the 18-hole mini golf course and newly built toilets that still use the mansion’s original septic tank.

Inside The Ruins is a semi-fine dining restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine and a mini-bar.

The Ruins is open to the public from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm daily. The Ruins may also be used for special events such as weddings, family reunions, etc. There are also camping and picnic grounds, bath houses and a pavilion.

The interior of the Ruins. A portion has been turned into a cafe for people to sit down and rest.
The interior of the Ruins. A portion has been turned into a cafe for people to sit down and rest.

Directions

Copied from Lacson Ruin’s Facebook account: Proceed to Bata (Pepsi bottling plant) and turn east. About 600 meters, you will see a cellsite above a 2-story bldg on the left. Opposite that bldg you will see a big sign that says ‘THIS WAY TO THE RUINS’. You will enter that narrow street leading to Rose Lawn Memorial gardens. Follow the small red and yellow signs on the electrical posts which will lead you all the way to the RUINS. We are in Talisay City (next to Bacolod)


 

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27 Comments

  1. Alexander S. Fangonil, M.D.
    · Edit

    Beautiful pictures and scenery !!! I hope to see the historic ruins and play the golf course soon. We are scheduled to have a medical/surgical mission in Talisay on Jan.23-26, 2011, by the APPA (Association of Phil. Physicians in America) with the Talisay City Lions thru Mr. Jose D. Libo-on. Dr. Rano Bofill is the President-Elect of APPA and he is from there. Is it possible to rent a set of golf clubs there (graphite shaft, regular flex)?
    Thanks.

    Reply
  2. jean
    · Edit

    hello, may be you have the contact number for the ruins…i wish to make reservation to visits the place been searching online about it pls help me also how to get there from bacolod city…

    thank you a lot!

    Reply
    1. Emma
      · Edit

      Hi Jean,
      You don’t really need a reservation to visit the Ruins. As for the directions, we will try to recall how we got there. 😉 We only asked the locals on the best way to go there.

      Reply
  3. preshie
    · Edit

    its an extraordinary feeling to see personally the magnificent ruins in talisay. of all the places we have visited during our field trip in hum.1 I was more captivated with the beauty of the ruins. I hope to come back there someday to see the magic on the ruins.

    Reply
  11. Jayson
    · Edit

    hi! its really an honor to post my comment on this page of ”the ruins”

    We’ve been there last March 29 as part of our educational trip. At first I was wondering why they called it as ‘the ruins’ but as we enter the place where it can be found, the way to got there would really explain the title itself as ”the ruins” I was really amazed!when we are near on the place, I could see the magnificent view of the mansion with the sparkling light that attract my full attention, it is truly a ”Paradise” for
    me. Sooner or later I will be going back there again but not to tour and listen to our tour guide but to conduct my ”wedding vows” on that beautiful place.

    Reply
  12. Sheena Bree
    · Edit

    It was just last year when I and my Tita Pet celebrated our birthdays at The Ruins. It was a “Bring-Your-Own-Baon” get together with all other singles friends. Though we were charged for a corkage fee, we were still happy eating at the newly built picnic huts few steps away from the skeleton building. Facilities are indeed improving from year to year. Aside from birthdays, The Ruins is also a good venue for weddings and reunions. Just don’t forget to bring your fully-charged cameras.

    Reply
  16. Ludovic & Luisa Ramaekers
    · Edit

    ღ We ℒℴνℯ iT ღ ℒ & ℒ ღ
    The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental is what remained of the grand mansion that Don Mariano Lacson built, following the death of his first wife, Maria Braga. Built in memory of Maria Braga, the mansion became the residence of Don Mariano and his unmarried children. Today, it is a tourist attraction for its romantic, yet strong structures. Many interesting tales and facts lie within the walls and posts that remained of the Ruins.

    Reply
  18. Emmanuel Martinez
    · Edit

    Hello.. is there a place where we can eat at the ruins?? and anong oras po maganda pumunta?? what is the best time to go there?? yung hindi masyadong mainit.. Thanks..

    Reply

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