"The Ruins": Magnificent and Lovelier the Second Time Around!

Some places appear more enchanting, more majestic - the second time you see them.💚

Bacolod Island Adventure would never be complete without visiting and taking sight of its iconic destination The Ruins which captivates all tourist who visits the island.

The first time I visited Bacolod, I made sure to visit its well-known The Ruins which holds a romantic tale of why it was built yet ended up in its unfortunate destruction. Appreciating its unique structure under broad daylight and the heart-touching story that comes along with it struck my youthful heart way back then.

I thought I’d have the same appreciation and the same feeling when I got to see it the second time, but I was pleasantly surprised. This time, the iconic structure appeared to be shining with its glory. It was illuminating! It was even more heartwarming to witness it this time as I revisited the place together with my one big happy family. This is our first time traveling together, ever since. So, the place and the travel were very memorable, especially for my parents who were having their first island together.

The Ruins, Negros Island, Philippines

Located on the island known to be the sugar basket of the Philippines – NEGROS, stands the iconic, historic, and once magnificent two-story mansion of a wealthy sugarcane businessman of Negros, “The Ruins”. The owner, a haciendero built this beautiful mansion for his loving wife. . . a deceased wife. Yes, you read it right, the mansion was built in loving memory of the Haciendero’s wife who tragically died during the delivery of their 11th child.

People called this structure the Philippines’ Taj Mahal because of its tragic love story. It was said that the owner hired the finest workers and craftsmen to build the mansion to honor his most beloved wife.

Another tragedy befell, during World War 2, the Filipino fighters burned this classic architecture down so that Japanese invaders couldn’t use the mansion as their military headquarters. So nowadays, all that is left are the hauntingly beautiful ruins, the foundation, the floor, or the shell which undoubtedly turned out to be one of the most beautiful ruins in the country.

Our driver-turned-local guide took us to the Ruins at almost sunset. He said the architecture looks even more stunning when its light is ON. True to what he said, my jaw dropped by the time I saw the majestic building in front of me glowing!

I was gazing at the historic mansion for so long while my siblings enjoyed their picture-taking.

Everything was glowing and I could even see the intricate details of the broken yet very beautiful piece. The lights made the classic architecture stand out. From its structure as a whole and the design of its wall and arcs beautifully carved! It was impressive!

I decided to take a tour and immersed myself once again in this magnificent architecture. Those intricate details and designs adorning the arcs and walls will surely transport you to another part of the world. Those designs that only the skillful could do are truly impressive. It speaks not just of art but also of the skilled hands of the workers.

The interior still looks the same. There is still a shop for souvenir items and a living room where tourists watch and listen to the history of the mansion played on a screen. I was happy to see my parents watching the documentary fueled by their curiosity about The Ruins.

The souvenir shop.

The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling added a luxurious ambiance to the whole building. There were also lamps attached to random pillars in the house. Once inside, one couldn’t help but imagine how elegant and spacious this mansion was way back before it succumbed to flames.

There were picture frames about the construction of the Mansion and the recognition it received over time. However, what caught my attention this time was the old typewriter sitting in the corner.

If there are changes or additional features of the ruined mansion it’s the glass in its back part which I think is used to protect and shield the mansion from heat and rain.

I exited the left wing which led me to the fountain. The four-tier fountain is I believe also classic adding another layer of beauty to the mansion.

Outside is a Cafe Shop, a black old black train for kids to play, and a little cute coffee/waiting area where one could relax and watch "The Ruins in a little distance.

As the sun set, the mansion began to glow even more and the intricate details of the designs of the mansion became more evident. On its roof, there was a unique fan-like sculpture/design lining on the roof. The columns, the pillars, the arcs, and those balusters were amazingly crafted! And Yes, the whole architecture of the mansion! It truly is out of the country!

As I stood there, lost in contemplation, I remembered the realization I had when I first laid eyes on it - that there is still beauty in broken and ruined pieces. However, another realization struck me this time, that perhaps some things are meant to be broken for their beauty to truly stand out, and while everything that surrounds it gets dark, the real beauty of these broken pieces’ glows even brighter, just like this “The Ruins”. Haaayyyssst.

That's it for our visit to the beautiful "The Ruins" which made our hearts in awe with its architecture and its story.😍 Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it too. I wish you all safe and well always.

Don't forget to smile often!.😍🤗😊