In the hills of Cabuyao City, near the famed coffee farms of Barangay Casile, is an almost-forgotten relic of the nation's history.
This is the Marcos Twin Mansion that was built during the last years of the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. Built during the 1980's, the property was later sequestered as part of the Aquino administration's drive to recover the Marcoses' ill-gotten wealth.
However, the mansion was ordered to be returned to the Marcos family by the Sandiganbayan in 2010. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) continues to oversee the property, regardless of a hold order issued by the Philippine Supreme Court in 2017.
Because it is so far off the usual tourist routes, the Marcos Twin Mansion in Cabuyao doesn't get as many tourist visits as other relics of the Marcos administration such as the "Malacañang of the North" in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
However, it's fast becoming a favorite stopover of cycling enthusiasts who find the uphill climb to Barangay Casile - an alternate route to Tagaytay City - an ideal challenge.
Its derelict appearance has resulted in the use of the mansion as a venue for shooting horror films, such as Regal Entertainment's 2015 film "The Haunted Mansion." The site itself is also rumored to be haunted with lost souls, with locals saying they have heard strange voices inside.
This magnificent mansion serves as both a reminder of the deep and complex history of the nation and a significant point of reference for the locals.
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