Negros Occidental: Bacolod, Talisay and Silay

 

 Bacolod, Negros Occidental, city of smile  and home of the famous Maskara Festival .

they called city of smile because of the Maskara festival which usually portraits a smiling

mask. the festival began on 1980 because of the tragedy happened to the citizen of Negros

M/V Don Juan a passenger ship collided with the tanker M/V Tacloban City and sank. hundred of the passenger were died in that accident mostly Negrense. In the midst of this tragic events, the local government and other private organization  decided to create this festival to sweep away the pain cause by the accident. Maskara Festival symbolises that no matter how tough the time was, Negros people is going to survive and will never give up.

I took the early flight bound to Bacolod City from Manila with my friend Kuya JP, this tour is a part of multi provinces tour including, Negros Occidental, Guimaras Province, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan and Capiz. from the airport we took a trike going to Silay and paid about 50.

Silay used to be the Paris of Negros because it is a cultural and intellectual hub of the people before, numbers of mansions built there during the sugar cane industry success. hectare of sugarcane plantation can be seen until today. We visited those Mansion and took some pictures of them. those mansions turned into musuem and can be toured inside. unfortunately, we were so early that time, so we are not able to get inside.


this is not one of those beautiful Mansions it is just a replica.

One thing I noticed from this place is that not all the residents are aware that these mansions are existed. we asked for a direction where to find the mansion of Silay and they directed us to the picture above. speechless, we just took a picture of it.

the most famous of the Mansion



 

 

Since we are not allowed to go inside, we decided to enjoy the external beauty of the Mansions. I wondered the feeling of living on those times when these Mansions was built, no cars, no pollution and no technology. People of Negros, specially the bacolodians, possess the sweetest voice accent in the Philippines, their language is Ilonggo and you will never notice if they are mad or not.

Hilofena Museum

After our short tour in Silay to see mansion, we decided to go to Talisay, home of the famous The Ruins and considered to be the Taj Mahal of the Philippines. We took two rides to reach Talisay City, it is about an hour away from Silay. a jeepney driver offered his service to bring us to The Ruins and plus waiting time, we paid him for 200 pesos. the way to Talisay was really exciting we were able to see hectares of sugar plantation, the road was paved and there will be no problem on bringing your own car there. 

 

The Negrense are friendly people, the picture above is the student who helped us to locate the right jeepney going to the Ruins, she never left us until we found the right one. Thank  you Ate

Sugar Crop Plantation

 

THE RUINS:

entrance: 60 pesos

available time: 8:00am to 8pm

souvenir shop available inside

food store available inside

best view: night( because of the beautiful light around the mansion)

 

The Ruins, one of the most famous landmark in Wester visayas, the Taj Mahal of the Philippines, like Taj Mahal the Ruins was built for the love of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson for the love of his life, Maria Braga Lacson a portuguese from Macau. the mansion used to be the most beautiful establishment that time until the world war 2 broke out where the mansion burnt by the american soldiers and filipino guerillia to prevent from using it  by the japanese as their fortress.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ruins has its own garden that has beautiful fountain, plants and where the souvenir shops and food store is located. there are other things to see outside like the big chess where you can use to play or simply take a picture with.

 

Souvenir shop is available inside, they have keychains, shirts etc. the price is little bit higher than the ones you buy outside but rest assured that the quality is great.

 

 

Kuya Mars our tour guide in the ruins, he was  really friendly , . the tour became so exciting because of his story about the Ruins. after the tour, we thanked him for his good service and tell us his personal success story. can you imagine a funny tour guide with Ilonngo sweet accent?

anyway, after our tour in the Ruins and bought some souvenirs in the souvenir shop, we went to Bacolod city to try their own delicacy, Inasal.

according to the locals the best place to try their Inasal is in the Manokan Country just a few minutes away from SM bacolod, the whole place is mostly dedicated to sell Inasal, it was really hard to tell because everyone is selling the same thing. We ended up to Nena's Rose Inasal, why we choose this? because there was a poster outside her eatery where she had a picture with some celebrities and according to her, the eatery was featured in a tv show before.

We made no mistake her Inasal was the best Inasal I ever tried, I dont remember how many cups of rice I consumed, I just remember how satisfying our tour in Bacolod eating their own proud recipe of Inasal bare handedly.

Inasal grilled chicken with cooked rice

after our lunch in Inasal, we went to the San Sebastian Church in Bacolod City, we thank God for giving us a safe trip from Manila and giving us a chance to see how beautiful our country is.

 

 

San Sebastian Church in Bacolod City

I always buy keychain whenever I go to a certain province, I bought keychain in Bacolod City located just few meters away from the church, they were cheap but beautiful, you can asked them to engrave your name or someones name on the keychain itself, they only cost about 15 pesos each, perfect gift for my friend when I get home.

SM City Bacolod

after our tour in Bacolod City, we decided to go to the ferry bound to Iloilo, we chose Supercat and the travel took about 2 hours from Bacolod, it cost us about 200.

 

Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental is the first part of the interconnected provincial tour and we really had a good time ther., I will surely go back to this province to explore more of Negros Occidental.

 

 

How to get ther:

Cebu Pacific and PAL has flights going to Bacolod, flight takes about an hour. from Iloilo you can take a ferry going to Bacolod City.

 

Thank you for reading. Godbless :)

Nueva Vizcaya: Sta.Fe

 

Nueva Vizcaya is one of the province in Cagayan Valley, I visited this province after my short tour in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. I decided to visit one of its own simple yet majestic falls located in brgy.Imugan in the Imugan Mountain. I took a bus from Cabanatuan to Sta.Fe it took me about 3 hours to arrive in the Municipality of Sta. Fe, from there I took a jeepney bound to brgy. Imugan, there are only 2 trips per day one in the early morning and one in  noon same thing if you go back to Sta. Fe municipal hall from brgy. Imugan. the road going up to brgy. Imugan was almost paved and the view was amazing that was the first time I experience topload and it was really great.

 

The jeep bound to brgy. Imugan is located in front of sta. Fe, Municipal Hall

My first time Topload experience

Brgy. Imugan

Upon arriving in Brgy. Imugan, I immediately went to brgy Hall just infront of where the jeepney last stopped. I spoke with brgy. captain who directed me to a small house for my inquiry in Imugan. I went to that small house and the old woman there upon knowing that I was alone, she only gave me instruction on how to get to sir Harold Rice, an american citizen who decided to stay in the mountain of Imugan and owns the recreation center for agriculture and serves as small inn for traveler for 150 per night .

A banner from the blog Ironwulf En Route

the recreation center is located five minutes away from the barangay hall. the road wre roughs so prepare a good pair of shoes on your hike to Imugan Falls. I crossed a steeled bridge that connects the road going to Imugan falls and the recreation center of sir Harold Rice. I visited him and we had a short conversation, I showed my interes in visiting the falls, he allowed me to left my bag before I go to the falls and even offer me food to eat. It was a nice experience to accomodate by a foreigner they prepared me potato fries while waiting for other food to be served, after a few moments we took lunch together, Maling and a fresh fish.

 

My snacks while waiting for our lunch to be served by sir Hrold's wife.

they have fishpond, they have beautiful garden filled with flowers and vegetable, all you could hear was the water flowing in the river beside their house and all you can feel is the cold air from Imugan mountain. it was a very relaxing place. Nextime, I will stay longer here reading books, cooking fresh foods and just spend all day sleeping.

Brgy. Imugan is almost an hour ride from the municipality of Sta. Fe. the people were laid back, transportation are rarely available, they have one of the kindest people I ever met.

I decided to start my hike after my great lunch with them, I walked for 30 minutes before I reach the Imugan Falls, I was alone, I was even afraid that the fairytale might be real, I was afraid to see a dwarf, a fairy or even a monster, it was a different kind of experience to hike alone. after walking for few moments, my stomach turned bad, there were no signs yet of any restroom to use. I could not take it anymore , I ended up eliminating all toxins inside my body in the middle of the mountain, bad thing. I forgot my water to use for washing, I had only one option....goodbye gatorade. looks like a negative thing happened to me but it acted as a sign or a mark to avoid being lost when I get back.

The water was strong enough to move my body there was a moment where I looked after my missing slipper, fortunately I found it. but it took most of my energy but that was fine, I knew for sure that my body will generate once I swim into the falls.



The majestic Falls of Imugan

I indulged myself to the cold water of the falls. I was expecting some other worldy being to visit me because that place was really look like an enchanted paradise filled with fairies, I could also see some strange insects flying while I was there. anyway, there was a small cottage just near the falls where you can leave your things. I brought my camera near the falls and put it on top of the big rock to take a picture of myself, I stayed in the falls for a short time  because honestly I felt that someone was looking at me because I was the only person that time. I considered myself lucky and owned the falls alone. I even saw the toxins I eliminated on my way here, proof that I was in the right direction.



My signature pose

 

 I walk back for 30 minutes and change my clothes in Sir Harolds house, I fixed my things and thanked them for welcoming me. in exchange I gave them small amount for their kindness. they wanted me to stay for a night but I had some things needed to be done. I bid farewell and immediately leave the garden and go to the jeepney terminal I forgot that the jeepney always leave at 2 in the afternoon it was 2:15, sadly, I did not catch the jeep and I could not stay longer in Imugan.

 

 I decided to walk, I knew it would take 3 hours before I reach the National hi-way to catch a bus bound to Manila but I had no option, sir Harold advise me before I left them that If I would not catch the jeepney I can just stay with the recreation center for a night. 

 

I had already been walking  for an hour when a van from the top of Imugan passed by, I took the opportunity to hitch-hike they allowed me to stay on the back since the van has an open back. I thanked God for sending this van or else I still need to walk for so long. I did not even see the face of the driver they just stop me in the national hi-way and let me get off the van. that was another first time in my life. whoever it was I will always thank him in my life.

I took the chance to visit one of the famous attraction in the boundary of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija, the Dalton Pass also called Balete Pass, a historical landmark where the battle between american and japanese took place. it is located 30 minutes away from Sta. Fe Municipal Hall, I took a trike going to the top of the Dalton pass that cost me 60 pesos. I stayed for a moment to take picture but the thick fog really gave me a hardtime to do so I left the place and decided to stay to the junction to wait for the bus bound to Manila.

unfortunately, I had to wait for 2 hours before a bus bound to manila  passed and let me in,not without the help of some police officer who stopped the bus so I can get in since all the previous ones did not stop for me.. after about 5 hours I arrive in Manila, safe and sound.

meet sir Harold Rice ( unfortunately I did not have a picture of his wife) who made the tour possible.





How to get to Imugan.

Ride a bus bound to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela or Cagayan Valley and drop off to Sta. Fe, the first Municipality in Nueava Vizcaya after Nueva Ecija, from Nueva Ecija go to national hi-way and wait for the bus bound to solano, Nueva Vizcaya or Cagayan Valley. from Cagayan Valley, ride a bus bound to Manila and get off in the last munipality in Nueva Vizcaya before Nueva Ecija. travel time usually takes 4 to 4 hours, cost around 300.




Thank you for reading.