The Ruins

What The Ruins does

The Ruins is a privately operated heritage tourism destination located in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The site comprises the preserved Italianate ruins of a mansion commissioned in the early 1900s by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson as a monument to his Portuguese wife Maria Braga, and burned by guerrilla forces during World War II in the 1940s to deny its use to Japanese troops. The property is owned and operated by the Lacson-Javellana family, with Mr. Raymund Javellana (great-grandson of Don Mariano) as the current owner. The company has no proprietary software or technology platform; its core asset is the physical ruins, the surrounding Marapara garden, and ancillary facilities including a gazebo dining area.

The business monetizes the site through multiple streams: general admission (P150 adults, P100 senior/PWD, P80 students, free for children under 8), paid professional photoshoot sessions (P1,000 for up to five persons), food and beverage sales via the Gazebo Menu, and exclusive-use bookings as a wedding and special-event venue, with the site closed to walk-in visitors on scheduled private-event dates. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, with visitors arriving on foot, by private vehicle, GRAB/taxi, public transport, or airport shuttle, supported by social media marketing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), a content blog, and earned media coverage in Philippine outlets. There is no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no institutional ownership.

The Ruins is regionally branded as the 'Taj Mahal of the Philippines' and was named Best Heritage Site of the Philippines by Choose Philippines in 2016, with additional international recognition as one of the 12 most fascinating ruins in the world. Operating hours run daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Customer segments include heritage tourists, wedding and corporate event clients, and student/educational groups.

Name

The Ruins

Legal name

The Ruins

Website

https://theruins.com.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ruins is a privately operated heritage tourism destination in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, operating the preserved early-1900s Lacson mansion ruins as a ticketed visitor site, wedding and event venue, photoshoot location, and on-site F&B venue under family ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Tourism

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Iconic Architecture & Signature Buildings (Cathedrals, Palaces, Castles) (THAJACAE), UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI)

Keywords

• Heritage tourism
• Wedding venue
• Tourist attraction
• Event venue
• Historical landmark

Headquarters

HQ city

Talisay City

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Entrance Fees: Visitors pay entrance fees upon arrival. Standard adult admission is P150, with discounted rates for seniors/PWD (P100) and students (P80). Children under 8 enter free with adult supervision.
2. Photoshoot Fees: Professional photography sessions are available for P1,000 covering the first 5 persons including crew. Additional persons pay corresponding entrance fees.
3. Event Venue Rental: The Ruins operates as a wedding destination and hosts special events. The venue is closed on certain dates for exclusive events, indicating revenue is generated through venue rental for weddings and private functions.
4. Food and Beverage (Gazebo Menu): The site offers a Gazebo Menu featuring food and beverages for visitors during operating hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ruins operates as a heritage tourism site housed in the remains of a historic mansion originally built by Don Mariano Lacson in memory of his wife Maria Braga, located in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The site generates revenue through entrance fees from tourists, venue rentals for weddings and private events, photoshoot bookings, and on-site food and beverage service at the Gazebo restaurant.

Product overview

The Ruins is a single heritage tourism destination comprising the preserved ruins of an Italianate mansion built by Don Mariano Lacson in memory of his wife Maria Braga. The site offers multiple visitor experiences including general tourism visits to explore the architectural landmark, a wedding and events venue service for exclusive celebrations, the Marapara Garden for serene experiences, professional photoshoot sessions, and dining at the on-site Gazebo Menu restaurant. The property operates daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM with an entrance fee structure for adults, seniors, students, and children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heritage Site Visit General-admission sightseeing access to the historic mansion ruins originally built by Don Mariano Lacson in memory of his wife Maria Braga, available to tourists and walk-in visitors.
• Wedding and Events Venue Rental Venue rental for weddings, receptions, and private events held on the heritage grounds and in the Marapara Garden, targeted at couples and event organizers seeking a historical setting.
• Marapara Garden Events Use of the landscaped Marapara Garden space on the estate for ceremonies and private celebrations.
• Photoshoot Location Services Booking of the ruins and gardens as a location for pre-wedding, engagement, and commercial photoshoots, sold to couples and professional photographers.
• Gazebo Restaurant On-site restaurant offering a set Gazebo menu of food and beverages to tourists and event guests visiting the heritage site.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Intramuros Administration: Manila's walled Spanish colonial city with preserved heritage sites, fort, and churches. Comparable as a Philippine heritage tourism anchor competing for the same domestic tourist segment and cultural-tourism narrative as The Ruins.
• Fort Santiago: Historic Spanish-colonial fort within Intramuros operating as a ticketed heritage site with educational programming. Similar operating model to The Ruins — preserved colonial structure, walk-in admission fees, and educational tourism positioning in the Philippines.
• Casa Manila: Restored Spanish-colonial house museum within Intramuros offering ticketed heritage tours. Directly comparable as a Philippine heritage attraction monetizing preserved colonial architecture through walk-in admissions and event venue rentals.
• The Mansion (Baguio): Iconic Philippine presidential guest house and heritage venue in Baguio known for weddings and events. Comparable to The Ruins as a Philippine heritage site that doubles as a premium wedding and event venue.

Regional players

• Bahay Tsinoy: Heritage museum in Manila documenting Chinese-Filipino history in a restored mansion. Comparable as a small-scale Philippine heritage tourism site housed in a preserved historic building with ticketed admission and educational programming.
• Miagao Church (UNESCO): UNESCO World Heritage baroque church in Iloilo, Panay Island. Comparable as a Spanish-colonial Philippine heritage landmark on the same Western Visayas regional tourism circuit as The Ruins, competing for similar heritage-tourist itineraries.

Broad incumbents

• The Ruins of St. Paul's: Iconic 17th-century cathedral ruins in Macau, frequently cited alongside The Ruins in Philippine press coverage ('you haven't seen Macau if you don't visit the Ruins of St. Paul's'). Both monetize preserved colonial-era ruins as heritage tourism attractions with strong visual and narrative branding.

Emerging players

• Ta Prohm (Angkor): Famous temple ruin within the Angkor complex in Cambodia, similarly preserved in a partially ruined state and marketed for its atmospheric visual appeal. Comparable as a heritage 'ruin' tourism product with strong photography and romantic positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheRuinsTalisay
• Facebookfacebook.com/theruinstalisay
• Instagraminstagram.com/theruinstalisay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ruins