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Amidst the hectares of sugar cane plantation lays the famous “ Ruins of Maria Braga Mansion”. Built in 1900’s by sugar business tycoon Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, it was a gift for her wife Maria Braga – a Portuguese from Macau. It is built meticulously with the supervision of Don Mariano’s son, making sure the structure gets A-grade mixture of concrete and its pouring accurately met.

Front Facade (Photo By: Flickr.com | Joel C Garcia)

The Mansion is an Italian inspired architecture with neo Romanesque columns. Having a couple of terrace facing the west holds an excellent spot to have a picturesque sunset view. While the spot on top of the main door is called the Belvedere by the Lacson Family, where they gather everyday at 5:30 pm to look at the sunset together.

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Entrance Hall

But one sad fateful day came and the World War II ended the “Taj Mahal of the Phillippines” glorified days when the military forces and guerillas burned down the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces to utilize it as their headquarters.

The stunning beauty of the mansion was reduced to into a skeleton structure. Despite the reasonable arson, the structure stood still and survived the World War II. Figuratively, it shows how one’s love can stood forever, despite the challenges it faces. They may have burned the whole mansion but not the mark it left and the proof that #mayforever!

Photo By: Flickr.com | Marco Mariano

The timeless beauty of the structure remains and became an exquisite icon of Bacolod’s tourism.

How to get to The Ruins, Bacolod
From Silay City, ride any jeep going to Bata, alight at Pepsi Bottling Plant. Hail any tricycle on the area and ask the driver to bring you to the Ruins. Fare should cost only P50.

Entrance Fee:
Travel time takes 10-15minutes to reach the Jessebel Compound where the ruin is erected. Entrance Fee is P60 per person.

Travel Notes:
1. The Ruins is open Monday to Sunday including holidays from 8:30am to 8:00pm.
2. There is a restaurant & snack bar inside the compound where you can have coffee and a decent Mediterranean meal.
3. The Ruins is best visited during the sunset as the sun beams a red orange shade highlighting the beauty of the structure.
4. Wild mudberries are abundant inside the compound. You can eat them while waiting for the sun to set and capture the scenic ruins before sun down.