"The Ruins" also known as the "Taj Mahal" in Negros Occidental, Talisay City. A true love story that touched my heart. It is a story with a not so happy ending, however a story that must be told.
The ruins is a hereditary home of the family of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson. Don Mariano is a good looking young bachelor who owned 440 hectare plantation in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. Apart from being hard working, Mariano loves seeing the world.
One of his travels from Hongkong, he caught an eye to a woman and immediately fell inlove with Maria Braga, a beautiful Portuguese from Macau. They were so in love until they got married.
They were blessed by God and had 10 children . When Maria got pregnant with the 11th child, she got into an accident. She slipped in the bathroom in her pregnancy with the baby. Maria was in a very weak condition that she couldn't endure the pain. Mariano was trying to call a physician at that time unfortunately they passed away before the physician arrived. Mariano was so brokenhearted and devastated with what happened.
The reason why this house was built is because of the love of Mariano to Maria. In order for him to move on and get his life going with his children, he wanted to remember Maria's love through this mansion for the rest of his life. Don Mariano told his children that they can live in the mansion as long as they are not yet married.
It is said that the pillar of this mansion were made of egg white mixed with cement. As you can see at the right side of the picture below beside thate guy wearing a black shirt, it was designed with the landscape letter "M" that stands for Mariano and Maria. The texture of the wall was very smooth and shiny that everybody can tell that it was made of a very special material. That's how big his love is for his latter wife.
What a wonderful and joyful moment it was in the City of Smiles! It was peaceful place, the people were great and hospitable. And of course the breathtaking story that should be told "The Ruins."