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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

City of Smiles - Bacolod

After three stressful days and sleepless nights in the the City of Smiles, I finally got the best day-off ever from the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in Bacolod City. It's already my 5th time to visit Bacolod City but honestly, this is my first time to really take a good glimpse of its pristine beauty. I was captured by the warm, welcoming smiles of the Negrenses and I felt like I was never a visitor of their province. With a day and a half left from the meet, I took the chance to explore the city and here are the things I can suggest when you're around the City of Smiles:

1. CALEA CAKEHOUSE AND PASTRIES:
Door No. G1-4 Balay Quince Commercial Building
15th Lacson Street, Bacolod City


We indulged (Janice and I) to some mouth-watering-delicious-yummy chocolate cake and blueberry cheese cake and ate at our heart's content. I even forgot that I was on a diet. I was tempted and I couldn't resist. Thinking about the calories made me missed my running shoes...

2. CAPITOL LAGOON AND PARK

It would be best to visit here by night so you can see the fountain and the various lights complementing each other. Behind me is the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol. The park serves as the resting place for students doing their homeworks and for lovers who didn't even bother to give a damn care with all kinds of people around them. Kids love to play at the chilren's playground.






3. NEGROS MUSEUM 

Located just beside the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol
Entrance Fee for Students: Php 40.00
Entrance Fee for Adults: Php 50.00


(The picture on the left was the Aunt of the late Master Rapper, Francis Magalona who happens to be one of the pretiest ladies in Negros. The antique piano on the right was said to be given by Jose Mari Chan to the Negrenses.)



4. BACOLOD CENTRAL MARKET

Ask the locals on how to get here and you'll reach it without any problems. If you're in with Ukay-Ukay, then this place is for you. You can choose from shirts to bags depending on what perfectly suits you. There are lots of turo-turo and carinderia to choose from if ever you feel like your stomach is already on protest. Native products and dried fish of all kinds are in abundance in this area.


5. DECO'S LAPAZ BATCHOY

It's located just across the Bacolod Central Market. It has been in operation long before and the taste of their Lapaz Batchoy is far better than the ones I have tasted in Iloilo. At Php 59.00, I was superrr-satisfied.
 Good taste, that is!


(Tama lang ang  timpla! Sakto sa Pinoy na Panlasa!)

6. SAN SABASTIAN CHURCH/ BACOLOD CITY CATHEDRAL - CENTENNIAL BELFRY

After nibbling a bowl of Lapaz Batchoy at Deco's, I decided to walk around the area and finally found my feet in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral. I was amazed at how its structure managed to stand the test of time. The centennial belfry is still in existence over the years and its intricate designs  had me in captivity. 




7. ORGANIC MARKET

Located just across Negros Museum. This place is for the Go for Green Lovers. :)

8. GOLDEN FIELD/ FLOW/ MO2 ICE
For parteeey peeps looking fo a perfect chill at night, I would definitely recommend MO2 Ice at Lacson, Mandalagan. They've got great bands performing reggae and ska genres and the Dj's so cool to play great parteey music to groove the night away. Party's also fun at Flow but not on a Wednesday Night. :( If you're looking for Karaoke Bars and Pubs, check out the Golden Field.

9. MERCI PASALUBONG

And finally, before leaving Bacolod, I bought pasalubong at Merci's. I highly recommend Merci's Napoliones . The taste is really heaven. Plus, the butterscotch, the Food  for the Gods

Day-tripping Bacolod City had put a real SMILE on my face. Yes, there will be misadventures and lots of bloopers along the way (mga ka-jologans, ka-bukians and ka-shungaans) but that's part of a wonderful journey in discovering your strength and accepting some of your weak spots. Just Don't be afraid to take risks and never hesitate to approach the locals for directions. They are your best guides. 
You'll be surprised at the results.. 

Plus,  Never take a taxi when you're in a hurry. Walk barefoot and feel the warmth of the city -
 its people, its culture. 






Monday, March 19, 2012

The Ruins


The Story of Mariano Lacson and Maria Braga, and a monument to love that would 
stand the test of time.
(www.theruins.com.ph)

Born to Lucio Lacson and Clara Ledesma in 1865, Mariano Lacson was the youngest of eight. One of his brothers was the revolutionary general, Aniceto.

The bachelor Mariano was an avid traveler even then. In one of his visits to Hongkong, he met and fell in love with a Portuguese lady from Macau. Her name was Maria Braga. The fairy tale romance culminated in marriage.


(Maria Braga and Don Mariano Lacson)

Mariano and Maria had ten children. In 1911, while nearing the full term of her 11th pregnancy, Maria had an accident. Both mother and child were lost.

(According to Roger, the tour guide, Maria slipped in the bathroom causing her to fall and it was already four days late when the doctor arrived from Silay. Back in those times, it will take you two days to travel from Silay to Talisay and two days going back since the only mode of transportation before is by walking barefoot or ride horses) 

Heartbroken and inconsolable, Mariano decided to build a mansion in remembrance of Maria, right in the middle of his 440 hectare sugarcane plantation in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. It was in fact designed to be a monument to their enduring love affair.

maria's father, a ship captain, introduced European architectural influences into the design of the mansion, from the over-all Italianate inspiration to the shell details on the roof. The structure of the house was of solid concrete. Interior floors were dressed either in tiles imported from Spain or 20-meter-long hard wood planks that were cut a meter wide.


(Roger told us that this post was a mixture of cement and eggwhites. )


(Two letter M's facing each other, the initials of Mariano and Maria, were molded on every posts of the mansion)



Until the eve of World War II, the mansion served as residence of Mariano and all of his unmarried children. Mariano set the rule that as soon as his children mariied, they should leave the mansion. Mariano himself abide by it, moving to a cottage nearby when he decided to remarry years later to a second wife. (They had three children)



 The bombs of the world war eventually fell. As dictated by the exigencies of the time, the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) recruited guerilla soldiers and instructed them to burn down structures that might be used as headquarters by the Japanese.

Eyewitnesses recount, the mansion of Mariano Lacson smoldered continuously fro three days, but the fire would not consume all of it, leaving behind remionders of a glorious past, and the lover's two initials, this time as if seared and branded on every post of the house.

In 1948, Mariano Lacson died, his monument to love in irreparable ruins.




(The Ruins was opened to the public in January 2008 by Mariano Lacson's great grandson, Raymund Javellana. The mansion has been acclaimed as one of the 12 most fascinating Ruins of the world.)


It was really a great experience to see "The Ruins". I thought I'd be going on a solo trip but the three girls together with ms. Belle joined me and It was more fun to be with them. We had so many bloopers along the way but that was part of our mis(adventures) and everyone had wonderful memories to cherish. :)






Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sikad sa Katungdan - A fun ride with my bike buddy - Abs


It's been 4days since I got "Sticks" from its original rider, Junlie, who also happens to be one of my closest best bud. He left for NJ las March 01, 2012 and left some of his bike stuffs for me. Today, I can't promise to give "Sticks" the ride he always wanted but I'm giving him the ride he truly deserves.

Sunday Morning Ride with Best Buddy Abs:
Jump off point: Kalibo
Time: 6am
Route: Kalibo-Numancia-Calangacang, Makato- Agcawilan-Banay-Banay- Brgy Bliss-Poblacion, Malinao-Ibao, Lezo-Aliputos-Laguinbanua, Numancia-Kalibo


Taken at Calangcang Bridge in Makato, Aklan

5-minute rest..


Finally reached the crossing going to Lilo-an and Poblacion, Malinao. Whoaaahhh! :)


The Ride of my life..


Resting at the corners of Sto. Rosario and San Cristobal Streets just below the RHU_Malinao



Jamming with the Municipal Mayor Ariel Igoy while stopping for a quick snack at the nearby store.





Thirst-quenching Thai-Buko during our stop-over at Dj's place in Laguinbanua, Numancia



This is "Sticks" and looking forward for more rides with him..

(Photo taken last Saturday, March 03, 2012 during my solitary ride.)
Bike Routes: Kalibo-Pook-Caano-Nalook-Puis-Tigayon-Banga-ASU Campus-Estancia-Libtong-Mobo-Laguibanua and back to Kalibo


Enjoying my solitary ride. Fascinated with the scenic views in Brgy. Mobo, Kalibo
Exhaustion is underrated. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Happiness mucchhooo =)

Cheers for more long rides!