Rompin' at the Ruins

Considered as the Taj Mahal of the Philippines, this nearly-a-century old structure is the promise of Don Mariano Lacson to his wife Maria Braga who died in her 11th childbirth.

So enduring was his love for her that the mansion was completed nine years after her death in 1920, only to be burned in order to prevent advancing enemy forces during World War 2 tried to make it a Japanese headquarters.

Now the Sta. Maria, now more popularly known as The Ruins, stands even more beautiful, like a phoenix risen from the ashes.