{"id":59907,"date":"2015-08-25T21:43:16","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T13:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=59907"},"modified":"2015-08-25T22:45:31","modified_gmt":"2015-08-25T14:45:31","slug":"her-name-is-mercedes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/08\/25\/her-name-is-mercedes\/","title":{"rendered":"Her Name is Mercedes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"La<\/a>
La Casita Mercedes’ front gate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breathtaking in her unassuming beauty, she is the epitome of grace and elegant simplicity.<\/p>\n

She rises from slumber before the morning sun. She brushes her long, ebony hair and rolls it up in a bun, securing it above her nape. She religiously puts on her baro\u2019t saya, quickly inspecting her modest outfit before heading out the door.<\/p>\n

Day in and day out, without complaint and with great dedication, she fulfills her duties and more. Her hands roughened by hard work, her muscles toughened by labor.<\/p>\n

And her name is Mercedes.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/a>
La Casita Mercedes is located at Fermina cor. Enriquez Street in Poblacion, Makati City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Story of Discovery<\/strong>
\nWhen Filipino-Canadian Jon Ramos returned to the Philippines a few years back after spending nearly three decades abroad, he had one purpose in mind.<\/p>\n

“I came back because I wanted to contribute,” Jon shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe things I learned from my years in Canada\u2014the sensibility of processes, the effectiveness of systems, the importance of cultural preservation\u2014is something I would like to bring back to the Philippines,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI firmly believe there\u2019s economic value in beauty,\u201d Jon said, quoting the late Lee Kuan Yew, adding that he wants to create more beautiful places in the metro that are accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n

Here at home, Jon is a staunch supporter of the preservation of Philippine heritage. Jon believes that uplifting the Philippines would be difficult if we do not preserve our heritage and do nothing to improve our surroundings.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>
One of the rooms on the second floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe need to showcase our heritage,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt\u2019s something we haven\u2019t done very well lately and the government has its hands full. So I think the burden is mostly in the private sector. This, in a way, is my contribution in showcasing our past, our heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jon also has a knack for spotting diamonds in the rough and restoring things to their former glory. So when he happened by a run-down house in the corner of Fermina and Enriquez Streets in Poblacion, Makati, he instantly saw its potential.<\/p>\n

“There were five families sharing this one-story house,” Jon recalled. “It was poorly maintained, almost falling apart. But you can still see its original structure.”<\/p>\n

His discovery of a dilapidated ancestral house in a busy corner inside one of Makati\u2019s oldest spots gave birth to La Casita Mercedes\u2014a project that was two years and a couple of millions in the making.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The staircase lined with the restored abaca rug<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Story of Restoration<\/strong>
\nFor Jon, he chose the name \u201cLa Casita Mercedes\u201d because the name Mercedes is a typically representative of a Filipina in the 1930\u2019s. That\u2019s as far as it goes. In fact, he doesn\u2019t even have a relative named Mercedes. He likes the air of mystery the name invokes in the repurposed pre-war home, now \u201cmade relevant and in tune with the times.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Jon, the house was built between 1933 and 1939, with Spanish and American architectural influences visible in its clapboard walls, use of capiz for the windows, and intricate wooden carvings. When Jon discovered the house in 2013, he knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was never one to back down from a challenge. He took everything on as a labor of love.<\/p>\n

To turn his vision into reality, Jon has to hire around 50 workers for a period of two years to restore the old house.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome parts of the house were already crumbling,\u201d Jon recalled. \u201cWe even had to raise and reinforce the ceiling to accommodate more floors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The indoor courtyard lets light and air into the home and serves as an open space for al fresco dining<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jon also shared how he bought another old house in Caloocan where he salvaged some parts and used it at La Casita Mercedes. For some pieces of the old house\u2014like the wooden carvings and panels\u2014he had the original pieces recreated in a wood shop all the way in Pampanga.<\/p>\n

A tour around La Casita shows lots of tiny details that came from Jon\u2019s years of collecting various knick-knacks from his travels, his life abroad, and even random finds along the street, which includes a framed piece of a vintage Philippine Airlines aircraft (by the desk at the end of the hallway in the second floor) and a long abaca rug thrown away from a restaurant. Jon and his staff painstakingly restored the abaca rug, which now lines the gorgeous staircase in the center of the pre-war home.<\/p>\n

Other than finding the house in Poblacion, Jon has more reasons why he decided to build a bed & breakfast in this location.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in the middle of three upscale neighborhoods: Rockwell, Century City, and Bel-Air,\u201d Jon explained, adding that the costs and practicality of opening a business in Poblacion was a lot more favorable compared to buying a property in a gated community or a more posh part of the city.<\/p>\n

\"Owner<\/a>
La Casita Mercedes owner Jon Ramos (left) with friends Vicky Herrera and Simon Balboa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s something that a lot of people are not expecting,\u201d Jon pointed out, saying the element of surprise in finding a jewel like La Casita in the middle of Poblacion is an added motivation why he decided to pursue his B&B.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this allows some commercial [function], at the same time it\u2019s a place that needs attention,\u201d he said. \u201cI like places that has potential and allows for some creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upon completion, La Casita Mercedes now has eight rooms for quests\u2014painted crisp white with tasteful wooden accents and antique furniture. It also has an indoor courtyard to facilitate light and good ventilation throughout the house, a quaint breakfast nook next to the kitchen, and a roofdeck, which Jon plans to turn into a garden.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The four-poster antique bed in Room 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Story of Fulfillment<\/strong>
\nJon studied political science in California and he earned his master\u2019s degree in education, but he never thought he would be running two properties: the PanAm-inspired Clipper Hotel (also in Makati) and his B&B La Casita Mercedes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been entrepreneurial,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not contented by just staying in one place. I always have to be moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

True enough, an afternoon spent with this dynamic visionary showed this author that he\u2019s an extremely hands-on and dedicated businessman. Jon comments, \u201cYou have to have high standards, but not impossible ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the tediousness of working in the hotel industry, he says he treats the necessity of micromanagement as a \u201cnecessary evil,\u201d but he always enjoys the outcome.<\/p>\n

\"Jon's<\/a>
Jon’s office inside La Casita Mercedes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI find it difficult, but I like the process of creating things. I believe it\u2019s worth it,\u201d Jon said. \u201cI wanted to create something beautiful, something reminiscent of old Makati, old Manila. I think we did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between preserving Philippine heritage and creating beautiful spaces, this author believes that Jon and his staff struck the perfect balance with La Casita Mercedes\u2014elegant in its simplicity, every detail adding more charm in its captivating beauty.<\/p>\n

To experience La Casita Mercedes for yourself, check them out at Fermina cor. Enriquez Streets, Poblacion, Makati City.<\/em><\/p>\n

All photos by Ching Dee. More photos here<\/strong><\/a>. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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