A sprawl of houses with stone bases, wooden upper floors, and red clay roofs greeted me behind sliding capiz windows as I went sauntering along a narrow hallway once used by alipin sagigilid, a type of Spanish-era servants who were not allowed into the main halls of these stately homes. I caught a shimmering glimpse of the past behind a façade of the present. A time where carriages carried the rich illustrados, powerful friars, and gobernadorcillos across cobbled streets; an era which is arguably much more regal and opulent than our present.

JOINED A GUIDED DAY TOUR OF LAS CASAS FILIPINAS DE ACUZAR ON FOOT

I was at the much talked about Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in the town of Bagac in Bataan. It gained popularity among the masses and equal parts infamy for heritage conservationists with the way it restores old houses from across the Philippines.

► CHECK OUT: PAWIKAN FESTIVAL

Bataan is one of those places history geeks go nuts over. It became the last hold-out for the American forces during the Japanese invasion, a jump-off point for a Corregidor tour, and is the location of the infamous Death March—enough reasons for those interested in knowing more about World War II to visit. During our three-day tour of the province for the Pawikan Festival, we were able to touch base with a few of these.