Information about The Ruins

The Ruins

The Ruins Mansion is the remains of an ancestral home built in 1920 by a wealthy sugar baron named Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson. Don Mariano constructed the mansion as a testament of his love for his Portuguese wife, Cora Maria Osorio Rosa-Braga, after she passed away in 1911. Maria, who was pregnant with their eleventh child at the time, lost her and their baby’s lives after figuring in an accident. 

Don Mariano built the structure in a 440-hectare sugar plantation situated in the border of present-day Talisay and Bacolod. Its architecture was described as Italianate due to deriving inspiration from Italian Architecture. However, it was later set aflame in 1942 by Filipino guerilla fighters employed by the United States Armed Forces during the Second World War. 

This was done in order to prevent its use as a military office by the Invading Japanese Forces. It continuously burned for three days until only its current cement frame was left standing. The original intention was to burn it to the ground. Despite losing the majority of the mansion, its ruins have been recognized as one of the architectural wonders of the Philippines. It has also gained titles such as  the “Taj Majal of the Philippines.” 

Today, the Ruins Mansion is in the private ownership of the great-grandchildren of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Cora Maria Osorio Rosa-Braga. 

How to get there

The most convenient way to get to The Ruins is by taking a taxi straight to the property's entrance. Otherwise, you can take a northbound jeepney in Bacolod City that follows the Batad-Libertad route. Ask the driver to drop you off at the Pepsi Bottling Plant. Here, you can hire a tricycle to take you straight to The Ruins. 

Tickets and entry

Travelers must pay a certain amount to enter the property and get a closer look at The Ruins. 

Best time to visit

The Ruins is open from 2 PM to 8 PM from Tuesdays to Thursdays and from 11 PM to 8 PM from Fridays to Saturdays. It is closed on Mondays. 

It is recommended to visit during the dry season in the Philippines, which usually starts in November and ends around May.