Visiting old houses in Bacolod and neighboring cities is a must when in Negros Occidental. I love old houses like those made of coral stones with adobe bricks.
If money is no object, I would buy one of those abandoned houses in Negros where I can spend my time writing my novel.
While your travel writer was working for an assignment, I had the opportunity to visit Gen. Aniceto Lacson House. The ancestral house of the Lacsons, one of the wealthiest sugar kings in Sugarlandia. Not to be mistaken as that of The Ruins, built by Mariano Lacson who is the brother of Gen. Aniceto.
I’m grateful for Negros Occidental Tourism for including the Lacson House in our itinerary. It is located in Hacienda Claparols ( one of the Lacson descendantss married a Claparol from Spain) in Talisay City, just a few kilometers from Bacolod.
During our visit, I saw one of the current owners and of course, a descendant of Gen. Lacson, who was easy to spot with his light-brown eyes and mestizo features. After informing our intention, the tourism officer and my guide, Raymond told me that he is Caloy Balcells, bassist of the famous band, The Dawn.
The house is not in its best form but the fact that it is still standing in the midst of their vast hacienda is immensely admirable. Built by Gen. Aniceto Lacson in 1880s, it was home for this family with 11 children. Colonial Spanish in style with touches of the Orient. Throughout the years, it became a seat of government for the short-lived Negros Republic with Gen. Lacson as president to headquarters of the Americans and the Japanese.
This chapel on its ground floor is still used today and saved Casa Grande (grand house). The Japanese was scared to burn it and instead, continued the deed with the other Lacson mansion which is now, The Ruins.
Descendants lived here till the 70s until a strong typhoon blew off its roof and it was no longer safe. From 1989-1999, it was haven for the Marian Missionary. During our visit, I think one room served as their business office.
The house needs to be restored and fixed though I saw two carpenters fixing some parts of the house. We didn’t go up because my guide it is no longer safe. Your travel blogger just had a shot on its staircase.
Very intricate and bold. Love it.
I wish to share more photos and information as relayed to me by our guide but I want you to discover this house more. I want you to go there and learn many things about this house from its one-of-a-kind designs to its roles in films and social events. Or perhaps hear some paranormal stories which is normal for houses like these.
My intention in writing this blog post is to inform you that a centuries-old house like the Gen. Aniceto Lacson exists and one of the ways to preserve it is to visit. As long as people appreciate this structure, it will continue to stand.
To visit, you can arrange it together with the provincial tourism (+63(34) 433-2515, +63(34) 476-2018). I will try to look for the owner’s contact, will edit later but I do hope they can read this and tell us how you can visit the Lacson house.
More Ancestral homes
7 Comments
Hi. Thanks for the blog. I am a CHERIT (Comparative Heritage ) Foundation International Research Associate and I am interested to interview you about the Casa Grande. I will be visiting soon and would try to create a follow up blog to what you have created… your work as RRL. It is nice of you to mention Caloy, My
Charlie Bravo “idol”. I hope to get in touch with you one of these days and I hope you can visit my blogs too.
http://mstilit.blogspot.com/2018/05/charlie-bravo-in-corner-blues.html
I haven’t been back to the Grand House. I want to see it again. Love that place.