APEC is dream come true for our town—Bataan mayor

BAGAC, Bataan – The province of valor sees an overflow of opportunities as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet opens here today. But for a small, mountainous town, it is simply a dream come true.

Finance officials from 21 member economies of APEC plus hundreds of other guests are currently converged in world-class heritage resort Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in this town for the Workshop on Fiscal Management through Transparency and Reforms from June 9-10, and Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting on June 11-12.

Humongous preparations for security, tourism, infrastructure and logistics have been made by the provincial government, and same goes for host Bagac town, one of the smallest and oldest municipalities in Bataan.

“APEC is the culmination of this humble municipality’s dream to be global,” said Bagac Mayor Ramil Del Rosario as the workshop unfolds today after months of planning and groundwork.

The once sleepy town, remembered as one of the two starting points of Death March in World War II, has now captured international attention as it serves home to the 400-hectare heritage resort Las Casas Filipinas built by renowned art collector and architect Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar.

Inside the resort is a recreated village of old houses dated from 18th to 19th centuries encased in a native setting of cobblestone streets, small plazas and outdoor sculpture. The houses are mostly relocated and reconstructed with materials sourced from old houses from different parts of the country, while some are replicas of already existing structures.

For Del Rosario, handling the events of APEC which Philippines hosts every 20 years will spur local economy that covers a wide range of businesses like beach resorts, stores, tourism spots, food industry and souvenirs among many others.

“The gathering of these financial luminaries will open the floodgates of opportunities not only in the Philippines but to the entire Asia Pacific Region as well,” he said. “In the long run, the name recall of Bagac as APEC site could, in the future, boost our tourism industry tremendously.”

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran welcomed the delegates and explained that with the APEC workshop on fiscal management, the Philippines is on track with the sustained economic growth in the region.“In bringing together policymakers, key government officials and stakeholders from the APEC economies, as well as global experts, we anticipate that the discussion in this workshop can produce strategies to further enhance the work in fiscal transparency and reform,” he said.

APEC meetings are held at the Hotel de Oriente, a grand replica of the one located in Binondo, Manila. The hotel sits on the bank of a river, making for a picturesque scene for the APEC delegates. After the meetings, they stay in old casa rooms facing the beach and a river canal like the La Puesta del Sol, La Ribera, Casas San Luis, Jaen I and II, Meycauayan, and the Paseo de Escolta.

At present, there are 27 structures in the recreated town, lined along streets that Las Casas aims to transform guests into “voyeurs of history.” Among those restored are historical principalia or mansions of the noble class; bahay na bato or house of stone; as well as wooden and stilt houses. Las Casas is on track to recreate 50 houses as part of its rebuilding target. This December, a fully functional train will be able to take guests around the resort town.

With the houses and setting themed to depict an old-Philippine nostalgia, cuisines also get the antiquated touch. The heritage resort has six restaurant and bars.The La Bella Teodora, which was formerly located at Biñan, Laguna and owned by Jose Rizal’s mother Teodora Alonzo, offers Italian cuisine; Café Marivent offers Filipino-Spanish cuisine; La Panaderia makes bread, cakes and pastries inspired from centuries-old recipes; La Parilla and Taberna Señor Pepe serves sumptuous meals; while Comida de la Calle makes the mouth water with street food and native Filipino favorites.