The Ruins

Built out of love, brought down by war. Behind its grandiose facade and impressive walls is a story of loss, dedication and tragedy.


I won't be going into details, but what happened to Don Mariano and Maria Braga is something you should know to appreciate more the beauty of The Ruins.


Located amid a sugarcane plantation in Talisay City, the site is a favorite stop among tourists when visiting Bacolod simply because of its proximity and accessibility. With a taxi, we reached the area in just about 15-20 minutes.

It's not difficult to get directions because most of the drivers know about the place. The road is not completely concrete though. Good thing it didn't rain that day. Sugarcane is still cultivated in the area. Getting lost could possibly happen if you don't know where to turn.

Upon arrival, we paid an entrance fee which I no longer remember. But rest assured, it's only minimal. There's no tour guide so we just roam around on our own.


The Ruins is indeed a work of art. Its foundation is solid enough to withstand a fire that lasted for days. As they say, eggshells were added to the wall mixture making it even stronger.


Best time to visit the place is during sunset. It is when it turns gold---giving a more romantic and dramatic effect. But we hadn't had enough time to wait until dusk. After a series of shots, we went back to the taxi to bring us to Bacolod port. We need to be back in Iloilo immediately for we still have to attend a Summit.



Though our visit was short, sure enough, it was worth remembering. Indi ko gid malipatan ang kasadya kag ang kahugyaw nga amon nabatyag!

Photo credits: Glochi & Ally

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