Memorable Tour To 'The Ruins' Before 2011 Ends!

The "ruiners" from La Carlota City led by by this blogger, Gil Camporazo paid a half-day morning tour to the ruins of mansion of Italianate architecture of the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948) in Talisay City today, December 31, 2011 before the year ends.

Ricalyn Camporazo (blogger's granddaughter) and Glenn Salas, the newly wed couple; Nidabel with her daughter Ara, Marzon Oceña, Bebing (blogger's nephew), Gingging (blogger's 2nd eldest daughter), and Grace Nicor eagerly, curiously, ocularly inspected the historical remnant of the building which was considered as the Taj Mahal of the Philippines in Negros Occidental.

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The mansion was built in 1911 after the death of Don Mariano's wife, Maria Braga, Portuguese from Macau as his loving memory of their enduring love affair.

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In 1942, during the World Ward II, the guerilla fighters burned the mansion. The fire gutted the said mansion, that lasted for 3 days. Now what had left was the architectural structure of the building as a reminder of Don Mariano's glorious past of his love for his beloved wife, Maria.


It was told that the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters in the Philippines, that burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters. It took days of inferno to bring down the roof and the two-inch wooden floors. As of this writing, the 903-square-meter structure still stands tall amidst sugar plantation and amazes both local and foreign tourists. for her magnificent view especially at sunset and nighttime when all lights are on...